6 Things We Learn From the Christmas Story

The birth of Jesus lies at the center of the Christmas story.

But have you ever wondered how Jesus’ earthly parents would describe the events? Or what we can learn from His parents and His story to apply to our lives today?

In looking at the overall story, we learn valuable lessons from both Joseph and Mary.

Like how Joseph teaches us three ways to always trust God.

(1.) Always Trust God’s Promises: Christmas Story

The gospel of Matthew paints the scene of a man engaged to a young woman. Yet Mary’s with child before they marry. This situation was completely unacceptable in this time period. 

In fact, the engagement period was a commitment similar to marriage today—a vow to remain true to your betrothed and sexually pure. 

Matthew 1:19 describes Joseph as a “just man” who did not want to put Mary to shame in public, so planned to divorce her privately. But in a dream, an angel proclaimed to Joseph the child was conceived through the Holy Spirit. Joseph took Mary for his wife.

God promises if we move forward in His timing, His ultimate will and purpose is completed, not only in the present, but also in the future.

(2.) Always Trust God’s Protection

After the birth of Christ, an angel warns Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt because Herod wanted to destroy Jesus (Matthew 2:13-15). Once again, Joseph is completely obedient to the Lord. 

When we are completely obedient to the Lord, He is working behind the scenes on our behalf. 

It’s My Birthday: 5 Scriptures for Life Focus

Do you enjoy celebrating birthdays? How do you handle getting older? And is there a way to celebrate another year along with a life focus?

Today, December 1st, is my birthday.

And, of course, my twin sister, Sharon, made an appearance in the world this same day a few minutes after me.

So let’s reflect on scriptures that help us celebrate birthdays with life focus.

(1.) A Heart Completely God’s: Life Focus

“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NASB, 1995 edition)

My life verse since college, I wanted to start here. Because accepting Christ into my heart as Savior at sixteen made me a child of the Most High God. And I desire to stay focused on giving my heart completely to Him. 

This isn’t a half-hearted devotion to the Lord as secondary in my life. No, I make Him number one with my highest devotion and attention. 

Reflection: Is our heart divided between God and the world or completely His?

Prayer: Lord, I continue to welcome You into my heart to reign supremely. Help my heart stay undivided and completely Yours. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(2.) Celebrating Who I Am: Body, Soul, Spirit

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:14-15 (ESV)

10 Thanksgiving Scriptures With Prayers

We spent the last few weeks on thankful hearts and giving thanks for our spiritual blessings in Christ. But since I enjoy praying specific Bible verses, I’m sharing some of my favorite thanksgiving scriptures with prayers for each.

Because sometimes we need reminding to say,

“Thank you, God.”

Thanksgiving Scriptures: Give Thanks

(1.) “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Psalm 100:4 (ESV)

Prayer: Lord, I bless your holy name. You are matchless and deserve all the glory arnd honor due your name. I praise you, Lord, with thanksgiving for who you are, my God, and for all your wonderful attributes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(2.) “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1 (ESV)

Prayer: Father, thank you for your goodness to me. You’re a good, good Father. Thank you for your love toward me that lasts forever! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(3.) “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.” Isaiah 12:4b (ESV)

Prayer: Lord, I’m so thankful for your wondrous works in my life. Help me exalt your name and share my testimony of salvation and Jesus to everyone who knows me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Giving Thanks for Every Spiritual Blessing

It’s that time of year when we focus on giving thanks.

Likewise, we’ve heard it said to count our blessings. 

But if we look at the shocking amount of blessings God extends to us, they are hard to number.

Maybe you give thanks for family, friends, shelter, provision, and health.

Still, God has promised us every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.

Perhaps our hearts need reminding of these spiritual blessings from God’s Word.

Giving Thanks to Our Generous God

In Paul’s letter to the Church at Ephesus, he first greets the saints who were faithful, then he continues:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us IN Christ with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:3 (ESV, emphasis added)

First, Paul calls God “blessed.” We bless Him as our Father.

But I find it interesting how we bless God, then go on to state the reason is none other than the fact He has blessed us. And not only blessed, but in Christ, we’re blessed with every spiritual blessing.

If we draw out the forms of the word “bless” to summarize, here’s what it says in a nutshell.

Blessed be God, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.

Wow! It should really motivate us in giving thanks to a good and generous God.

Giving Thanks for Spiritual Blessings 

The letter to the church at Ephesus goes on to remind us of the many spiritual blessings in chapter 1:

Chosen by God– “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” (v. 4)

8 Ingredients for a Thankful Heart

Do you have favorite recipes? I sure do. Whether it’s our favorite foods or trying something new, recipes assist in the desired result. And it’s fascinating how all the specific ingredients work together to make a tasty food.

Every Thanksgiving, I gather the ingredients and follow a special recipe to make my Grandmother Clarkston’s lemon pie.

Yum! It’s my favorite dessert of all time! With our thankful holiday just around the corner, this mouth-watering pie is a must have for me.

Recipe Measures and Ingredients

Recipes always call for measurements—a cup of this or a tablespoon of that. Likewise, we often make other measures in life. 

In the last few years, we experienced the pandemic and other life-altering events. So now, more than ever before, putting the right measures in place help stir up a thankful heart.

Stirring up a Thankful Heart

But where do we find the recipe for a thankful heart? What ingredients work together to make a heart full of thanksgiving?

A real thankful heart never comes easy. Because we don’t have to look far to see devastation, need, loss, hurt, lack and hopelessness. 

You see, these factors only affect our heart if we allow it. We decide whether our hearts turn hard toward God or thankful. 

Our circumstances never dictate true thankfulness in our heart.

So here are eight ingredients to stir up a T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L heart.

Thankful Heart Ingredients

T – Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)

The first bite of lemon pie always reminds me of its goodness. Similarly, God reminds us over and over He’s a good, good Father. God alone is reason enough to give thanks.   

4 Wrong Self Definitions and Expectations

Have you ever adopted the wrong self definitions and expectations of yourself? My hand’s raised.

Like in this example:

You’re the pastor’s wife? You’re not what I expected.

Have you ever been anyone’s “not what I expected”? 

If you’ve lived any amount of time on this earth, it’s highly likely. And this certainly wasn’t my first rodeo for not meeting someone’s expectations, and it wouldn’t be my last. 

False Definitions and Expectations

Because all the wrong ways others attempt to define us or we attempt to define ourselves, have circulated for countless ages. Really, these false dictionary-attempting claims started in the beginning and in our beginning. 

So, let’s look at 4 areas that should never be part of our self definitions or expectations.

And let’s discover how God defines who we are from the book of Truth. 

(1.) Roots are wrong self definitions.

Plants have roots. Those of us who color our hair have roots. People have roots from childhood and family experiences. 

Although I started going to church in elementary school, I didn’t have a spiritual upbringing or grounding in God’s Word. So when my parents divorced, I felt unseen and unheard and unloved. 

But when I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior at sixteen, and later had mentors in college and as a woman, I began to grow spiritual roots. 

Our root-system in Christ most accurately describes us: loved, chosen, forgiven, and redeemed. 

If your childhood became cut off from a secure source of parents or family. If decisions in your teen and young adult years caused root-damage. Or, if your marriage feels dried up instead of nourishing, the Lord is your source of nourishment for healthy roots, now. 

As we walk closely with the Lord, we become rooted and established in the faith (Colossians 2:6-7).

Jesus establishes our correct identity in Him. 

21 Declarations for Identity and Belonging

Every step closer tied my stomach in knots. On the kitchen counter laid the evidence that my biological father existed. 

Around seven-years-old at the time, my birth certificate brought a painful reminder that my real dad was missing from my young and vulnerable life. Soon, I had a new dad enter the picture, my wonderful step-father Wendell, who loved and cared for me. 

Still, my heart ached to know deep down:

Who am I? And more importantly, Whose am I?

Likewise, have you ever struggled with questions about identity and belonging?

Who and Whose: Identity and Belonging

Sometimes we separate who we are with whose we are. But the two were always meant to be one and the same.

My father came back into my life a few years later.

My twin sister and I lived with one dad (step) and visited the other. I wasn’t sure whether or not to call both “Dad.” Because they were different as night and day in personality, discipline, showing affection, communication, and opinions.

It was all confusing.

Identity and Belonging: Never Separated

When I came to know Christ as Lord and Savior at sixteen, I began a new life in Christ with a brand new father, my heavenly Father. 

And God, the Father, not only wants us to rest in who we are in Him, but to also find our security in whose we are, we belong to Him.

Because at our very core, who we are and whose we are can never be separated. 

So let’s look at 21 powerful declarations to connect who we are and whose we are. 

Defeat Rejection for Good with God’s Promises

I gasped reading the text on my phone. The hard-to-swallow message caused a long-buried hurt to resurface, rejection. Maybe like me, you wish for an antidote to defeat rejection for good.

Although I have felt the sting of rejection throughout my life, this was a lesson from the school of hard knocks, adult education department. 

Rejection happens in every stage of life.

Perhaps like me, rejection yanked the rug out from under your fragile heart too many times. 

But whether people introduced us to rejection early in life, later, or both, there are promises we need to cling to whenever people reject us.

And these truths change our perspective as we compare rejection from people to acceptance from God.

(1.) Defeat Rejection for Good: Rejection is something done to me, not who I am.

Rejection leaves a hole in our soul wider than the Grand Canyon. Yet, we make the mistake of equating what is done to us as a title to wear. The actions of others should never pen the labels we stick on ourselves.     

Because rejection is an action, not a person. Rejection does not make me a reject. 

On the flip side, acceptance is not only an action, but also a living being—God. So there’s no need for me to have an identity crisis. I take my cue about who I am from the great I AM.

We are patterned in the image of our Creator. Accepted. Valued. Precious. 

An Empty Tomb for Every Empty Space

God provided an empty tomb for every empty space in our lives.

Does it ever seem like you took a crash course on how to manage current life that you never signed up for? The sinking feeling of emptiness that seems to linger on and on.

I experienced emptiness from an empty womb after I lost a baby to miscarriage, an emptiness from a broken heart when my father died, and plenty of other empty spaces throughout the years.

Whether it was the loss we experienced during the pandemic, a natural disaster, a family trauma or inner turmoil, you and I know how much empty wreaks havoc on our minds and hearts.

Because we can almost always mark a moment when empty made an entry point in our story.

Still, empty doesn’t define who we are, we were misinformed by the enemy of our souls.

Empty Tomb: Jesus Steps Into Our Empty

Those daydreams of shining knights coming to save the day and us. The people we hope will swoop in as a hero over our difficult circumstances and life’s unexpected curve balls. The ones we want to fill in our empty.

They all have cracks in their armor or holes in their capes. 

But Jesus steps in and rescues us from areas in our life marked: Empty found, Rescue needed.

These are our real needs. These are the areas where a true rescue needs to take place. Like how Jesus offers to fill our emptiness with living water and soul refreshing. Such as forgiveness, mercy, and grace for sin. And unconditional love and real peace only found in our Savior.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV)

We Already Possess Power Over Fear

Has fear ever plagued your mind? Have you ever lost a battle to fear? My hand is raised. It doesn’t have to be this way for children of God. Because God is not the source of fear. And He already provided us with power over fear for the victory.

Fear stalks us. And when we least expect it, it grabs us in the darkness with a relentless grip, refusing to let go or loosen its hold. It sets in as our uninvited companion. 

Power Over Fear: What-ifs

Fear lives in the what-ifs plaguing our mind. It’s our worst nightmare, sleepless nights refuse us any rest. 

Instead, fear whispers the worst-case scenarios to our heart. Afraid of the unknown, it wrestles with our spirit pinning us in a position of panic. 

That fearful feeling sets in. I know it all too well. And I’m betting so do you. 

Fear Messes With Our Wellness

Being afraid always messes with our emotional and spiritual wellness.

It happens when we face surgery. Or, when cancer pays a visit to us or a family member. When our child is bullied or a bully in our own path lurks nearby. Or, if our child lost her way and we fear for her well-being. 

Likewise, with job loss, financial woes or fill in the blank with what makes you most afraid.

Power Over Fear: A Terrible Co-pilot

It even rides side-saddle with me when driving in inclement weather. You see, once upon a time an ice-and-snow-covered highway, on top of a mountain, spun me into circles then slid me into a ditch.

That day fear slipped into my passenger seat, buckling in for the long-haul. Ever since I battle anxiety like a dreadful enemy while driving during the least hint of snow or heavy rain.

Yet, fear is a terrible co-pilot in life. One we need to kick to the curb.

Fearless Calls Us By Name