December 21, 2012

Good morning all-

In the last month quite a few things have happened all around the world.  The news is full of negativity and so is the world.  I wonder what it was like the year Jesus was born?  I would imagine much of the same.  People were dying, wars were breaking out and disasters were happening.  The difference between then and now is our media and our entire communication system.  Just think, 20 years ago, there wasn't away for me to communicate in Mandarin, Chinese, German, Russian or any other language.  The most I knew was a little Japanese and English, which is still most of our problem in the US.  We know our language.  Today, I can communicate to women in every country and in most languages.  How?  Because God wants all of us to know His story and hopefully, we will choose Him.

Life is never easy.  Even if you have a roof over your head, money in your pocket and a man at your side, you will have challenges.  Mary had a good man at her side, he worked and was obedient to God. Really, she had more than most people do today.  She might not have had a place to put her head but he made sure that she was protected and loved.  The Bible doesn't detail their relationship but it does share Joseph's faithfulness to God.  So, even in their lives they would encounter challenges, trials and loss.  Life wasn't easy then or now.  I don't know why we expect it to be.

Roads are paved and paths are set all across the world.  We never know when our number will be selected and God will call us to do a great work.  Someone invented the Internet, cameras, light bulbs, and mass media.  Someone took it upon themselves to develop a translator for Microsoft Word so that we can read in other languages and Joseph chose Mary so that Jesus could be born into a family.  Coincidence?  I think not.  Every road taken, every invention, every relationship, every child, every event in History has a purpose, we just have to seek it.

We are part of a huge passion play with many characters.  The play was painstakingly written with curve balls, mysteries and miracles.  It began the night the angel came to Mary and ended on a cross.  This season we need to remember that a baby was born and that He died for you and me.  In the coming months and years stories will come across the news that will frighten us, sicken us and make us feel helpless.  I would ask you to turn those feelings over to Jesus because He is the great comforter.  Although we might not understand the evil that lurks, He does.  He was tempted in the desert and still went on that cross.

Our Father isn't some mythical creature.  The God we serve is real.  He was born as man, tempted as man and died as man.  Our lives depend on knowing this one fact.  If we believe with all our hearts and all our minds, we will have eternal life.  Our table is set, our feast is being readied, take the cross my sisters and send someone the best gift you can, the gift of Jesus.

Over the next few days I will be with family and friends celebrating the birth of my dear Lord.  This time of year is beautiful to me and holds many wonderful memories of being with my parents and holding great traditions.  Many of those traditions are changing but the one thing that remains is that I am loved, I'm not alone and Jesus is always near.  I pray that you find Jesus the way that I have and that we would continue to pray for the families that lost loved ones this year.  Their memories will feel like wounds but someday Jesus will restore them and they will remember the joy of the memories that were made.  At the end of the day, we only have a couple things to hold onto.  We can choose to believe that Jesus is who He said He was and we can walk and talk about Him.  He's all we need this Christmas season.  May the joy of the season wash over your families and may Jesus be revealed in a mighty way.  The world is looking for answers but they find them in all the wrong places.  Please let Jesus be the reason for this season and hug your loved ones.

With all my heart, thank you for supporting me this year.  I will be writing spontaneously through the next 5 days.  I have lots of people to love this season.  May God bless you and keep you until tomorrow...

My prayer today:

O, Lord, I pray that the women all around the world would look toward you.  I pray that we would be faithful warriors for you and that you would bring about a change in this darkened world.  People are seeking answers, control and comfort and yet, without You there is none.  I believe that You set Your eyes on Mary to fulfill Your greatest prophesy and through her virginal womb, You brought Jesus.  You watched over them and helped them until He grew of age.  He was Your Son and You know what it's like to watch Your only child die.  This life, although full of joys, comes with many burdens, some of which are much to bare.  But You know all things, You were tempted by the best and You intentionally hung on a cross so that we could have life.  As I write, I hear the angels singing, the choir in masses singing, HOLY HOLY IS THE LORD.  Those words are on my heart of late.  Why?  Because many are mourning loved ones, possessions and hunger.  Tremendous disasters have occurred this year, senseless loss of life, great storms and many know the pangs of hunger.  In all of it, I see Your hand, sending faithful servants to love those that are less fortunate.  May the women that read this blog and even me throughout the coming days and weeks become more faithful, love more deeply and honor You by serving You.  I was lost but now I'm found.  Thank You for loving us so much and may we be blessed as we seek Your face.  Please forgive us of our sins and right our paths, fulfill Your commission through our lives and help men everywhere seek You too.  We need our men to bow down before their maker before the world destructs itself.  Be with us today and leading to Your birthday and may we rejoice in our Lord, our Savior, our Friend.  Thank You Jesus for coming to this earth and for giving of Your life, no present is greater than Your love for us.  May we treasure that and love You more.  For everything You are and for everything You will be, thank You for saving the world.  In Jesus name, AMEN

Until tomorrow...