Faith & Hope – Bible’s message is all about the meaning of Jesus Christ

The pain of waiting is changed into joy when we meet someone we have longed for.

This begins to make sense when we consider the ways in which God is yet to be done with several projects, so to speak, that he initiated at the beginning of time. Take time with your family on Christmas Eve or morning to read through the story together. We don’t mean to ignore Him, we can just be so busy.

“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain”. Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s flawless Lamb?

I love starting my holiday reading with the true tale of Zechariah and Elizabeth.

To receive Jesus as your Lord, believe and say out loud: Heavenly Father, I come to you in Jesus’ name. Then I sat very still and waited, which is hard for me. These are my promises: “I made them, I will not forsake them” (Isaiah 42:16b).

Do you realize right now, that God, the One who designed and created you, loves you so much that he is watching over you in an affectionate way? That’s one way to hear Mary’s story. I am using the term “religious” for anyone who follows a particular religion. Not as poor as I used to be, either, but I’m still a girl.

“For you, Lord, give light to my lamp; my God brightens my darkness” (Psalm 18:29). We expect to be kept free from temptation by staying close to God, and we expect to be delivered from evil. Why?

“It’s just insane that people could steal Baby Jesus”, Bullington said. And so people put up manger scenes with shepherds, angels, animals, the Magi, and of course the Holy Family with little baby Jesus in the manger at the center. And let’s pray that the Christ in our hearts will be spread about to those we come in contact with. There’s a leaning back, with feet wider apart to keep her balance.

Here’s what Mary said after the angel Gabriel announced to this betrothed but not married young woman that she would “conceive and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins”. They need love and company all other days of the year, not just one. “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day”. “Often, naively, we imagine the illumination of a prophet as a fixed thing, as though he had only to behold, once, in order to know without wavering forever after”. The contrast is with the title, “slaves”, and Jesus predicates that transformation into “the beloved” on a shared commitment to the purposes of God around which this new intimacy revolves.

Perhaps we should look at how that plays out from God’s perspective. We were, however, instantly cleansed the moment we trusted Jesus alone to save us. In the simple, assurance is found in what Jesus said and the Father has willed, not in what we think or do to convince ourselves we are favored of God. It is nearly as though she clearly sees the evil in her world, is overwhelmed by her Facebook timeline, and is looking for someone to come and reverse the social order. We can do that, too.

If you asked me, “What does it mean to be a person of faith? It’s important for you to love them – not in the vague, gauzy way in which we normally talk about love – but “love” as an unqualified commitment to the spiritual well-being and growth of the people in your church as they move ever more deeply into the life that is the body of Christ”.

When the Israelites arrived at the Red Sea with the Egyptians aggressively chasing them, God miraculously parted the waters so His people could cross on dry land. And because Mary trusted, Jesus was born into the world. Then, and not until then, you’ll finally understand Christmas. Read it slowly and out loud.

Are you open to the possibility of God establishing peace in your heart?