In Matthew 1:22-23, the angel came to Joseph before Jesus was born and told him that Mary would be having a baby. The angel says,

“All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

The name Immanuel brings together all of what Jesus was and what he is, “God with us.” He was with them as man on earth, and is with us now. As Jesus says in Matthew 28:20, “lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

Dear Lord, What a joy it is to know that your are with us. In our successes, sorrows, and struggles; To comfort, protect, heal, and save us eternally. Joy to the World. In His name we pray. Amen.

One of the great things about the Bible is how it ties together. The books were all written separately over the course of a couple thousand years, and archaeological evidence continues being found supporting the details. The books are also written with reference to secular kings and rulers that can be cross referenced with other archaeological evidence.

This makes the bible prophecies all the more amazing.

At this Christmas time of year, one prophecy in particular is relevant.

One of the many prophecies about Jesus and which Jesus fulfilled is in Micah 5:2 where the prophet wrote, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.”

Micah wrote this several hundred years prior to Jesus’ birth, but specified the town the Messiah would be born. It would be like someone from a time before the founding of the United States, writing the name of the town from which the next US President would be born; obviously hard to explain outside of the supernatural.

Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us the rich complexity an detail of your story and allowing for the discoveries as time goes on to continually improve support for Bible stories. Help us use this as support for our own faith and in witnessing. In Jesus’ name we pray. Ame

So the angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her she will have a child as a virgin. What incredible faith and trust Mary showed in responding, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Luke 1:38.

In the same way, Joseph, who learns his fiance is pregnant, which in that culture and time would have been a very bad situation. In a dream an angel tells Joseph the child is the Messiah. Matthew 1:24 says, “When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.”

Do you think they had doubts after the visits from the angels? They were human like us, but out of faith and trust in God they continued on the path God led them.

What about us? We read the bible lessons instructing us to give tithes and offerings, commit our plans to the Lord, put God ahead of everything, give God thanks and praise for our blessings. How are we doing? Do we doubt if we follow his direction he will let us down?

In Romans 9:33 Paul says, “But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

And Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

Dear Lord, what great examples you gave us in the story of Mary and Joseph. They accepted your direction and acted in faith. Help us to do the same with our lives, trusting that if we follow your will, you will protect and guide us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

One of the keys to the success of the Industrial Revolution a little over 100 years ago, was the idea of “division of labor,” where by people specialized in separate parts of creating a product or service, rather that the craftsman or artisan method where one person handled all the activities in creating and delivering the product or service.

I think one of the first places this idea may have been introduced was in the early church. As the early church grew, the apostles found they could not do everything the church needed, so the divided up the responsibilities. Acts 6:2-4, says, “So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

Many skills are needed in running our churches, and our pastors cannot do them all. There is a calling for each of us to support our Christian brothers and sisters, and support the operation of our congregations. All are important and bring glory to our Lord.

Dear Lord, help us all find the role by which we can serve your church and glorify you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

You may have heard it said, “God gives you what you pray for or something better.” People who put their faith and trust in God can believe this and see it in their lives. People who do not believe often only see the times that “bad” things happen to people who believe in God, and use this to question believers.

Psalm 25:14 in the Living Bible translation describes one reason why this happens, “Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. With them alone he shares the secrets of his promises.” It sheds some light on why people who don’t believe cannot understand faith.

When we first put our trust in God, surrender ourselves to his will, we then can know that he is guiding and protecting us. It may not be exactly in the ways we want or ask, but we know his ways are better. David says in Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation–so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble.”

Dear Lord, thank you for the confidence we can have that you are always there for us. Help us share this faith with others so that they may come to you and experience this confidence that leads to peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.