Christmas 2017
In the year of our meager manger, a snowman made of sand, a lone shepherd, and two sheep showed up for the annual frenzied day-of-decoration at our home.—Sans Mary, Joseph, Jesus, or anyone else.
Continue reading “Missing from the Manger”~Second Wind~
With Christmas days away and money scant for gifts, I determined to live up to my nickname, the Queen of Make-Do.
Continue reading “A Second Wind & Christmas Clementines”
I’ve been trying to figure out how to juggle writing, family, and church, without dropping the ball before Christmas got added to the list. My first impulse is to run and hide from this whole messy madness called Christmas in America. Right now, I’m busy procrastinating to avoid it all…
Honored to have my Christmas article published on Southern Ohio Christian Voice. Please click HERE to continue reading, Wishing You a Holly, Jolly, Holy Christmas.
Once upon a time, there was a family of very meager means. It was Christmas time, and there wasn’t a spare dollar to be had, and for the first time there would not be a Christmas tree, no presents, no stockings hung by the chimney with care. It would just be them, and their bruised idea of a gentle Savior.
Continue reading “The Wisdom of the Grinch”
In all your giving and getting don’t forget The Gift. Sometimes it feels like I’m just running ahead to the next thing without ever being really present in the present, and the urgent and the flashy, crowds out the important that’s right in front of me.
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. They sought shelter but there was no room in the inn. Jesus wants to shelter in your heart. Is there room within?
Are you too busy to be blessed this Christmas? You can be lonely or lost in a crowd. Maybe that something you’re looking for is Someone—the Someone called Jesus and the gift of Himself, His comfort, His peace.
The name “Jesus” means salvation. There is power in His name.
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 (NKJV)
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
He is also called: Lord of Lords, Mighty God, Emmanuel, The Word, Lamb of God, Light of the World, Savior, Son of God, Son of Man, Alpha and Omega, Author and Finisher of our faith, the Resurrection and the Life… His names state His purpose, His plan, and who He is. Savior is the name that redeems us.
I think my favorite name of Jesus is the one that meets me where I am at the time.
Emmanuel means God with us, because Jesus is God incarnate—God in the flesh. He is with us when we become born again. He said he would never leave us or forsake us.
Link to: Noel, by Todd Smith of Selah
God donned human flesh and subjected himself to the human experience. He was born to die so we could live. He endured temptation without sin and defeated sin and death to offer us salvation.
The incarnation proves God’s love for us is such that He walked among us to win us to Himself.
Holy left Heaven and inhabited humanity.
He was willing to go to the extreme to redeem.
It is impossible to save ourselves. If it were possible, Christ wouldn’t have needed to die for us. The only payment for the penalty of sin is a sinless sacrifice. We all fall short. Only Jesus is sinless and therefore able to save. His mercies are new every morning when we stumble.
He is the Way and the way maker.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. II Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)
You see, when God steps in, the impossible becomes possible. Jesus in us overcomes sin and births new life— new life in Christ. The Holy Spirit who conceived Christ and raised Him from the dead, resides in us—that same power. Amazing.
Most kings stay in their comfortable palaces and have little to do with the lowly. Kings are usually served, not servants. Jesus, the King of kings, traded his crown for the cross. He stepped out of Heaven and into humanity to serve and offer salvation to all—from mighty rulers to the humblest of citizens
Link to: Chris Tomlin – Noel (Live) ft. Lauren Daigle
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. II Corinthians 8:9
God chooses the humble for He is Humble. Those who have little, and are not distracted by the fool’s gold of affluence and self-sufficiency are often more aware of their need and open to God.
He gives grace to the humble.
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty I Corinthians 1:27 (NKJV)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV)
God goes where others hesitate or refuse to go.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd and The Lamb of God. His birth was first announced to shepherds
I wonder if Mary and Joseph heard the angel’s proclamation to the shepherds?
“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” John 1:10 KJV
Jesus is the Light of the World who shines in darkness and brings hope for humanity.
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NKJV)
“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” John 10:14 NKJV
Holy became lowly, humility donned humanity and gave Himself to us. What a gift— God, the gift giver, became the Gift and gave Himself.
““I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NKJV
I have no gift to bring, Pa-rup-a-pum-pum. Do you know, the only things we can actually give Jesus are bad and broken things? We can give Him our anger, our hurt, our bitterness, our broken hearts, broken promises, broken lives and dreams, our sin.
Any good things, any abilities I have to offer are gifts from God. The only good in me, is Jesus working in and through me.
All I am really offering when I do anything of value, is giving back to God what is already His which He graced me with.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalms 51:17 (NLT)
I want you God. And You want me. Miracle.
Here I am, Lord; send me. Here’s my heart, Lord; use me.
Give me words to praise You. Words to lead others into Your presence.
Help me to minister to others as You will me to, Lord, and trust You to meet my needs.
I will cast my cares at the foot of the cross, in the hands of my Creator. You can too.
Link to: TobyMac – O Come, All Ye Faithful (Audio)
Oh great glory and grace
Light dispels darkness
When a sinner meets the Savior
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Jesus loves you and He wants you too.
I want to know you more, God. All I want for Christmas and every day, is more of you, Jesus.
Will you give yourself to Him and to others so they can know Him?
Go there, He says. Go to them and bring Me to them. Be My hands and feet and show them My heart, Jesus says.
Do you want the Gift of Him?
God will make much out of little when we give ourselves to Him and His work. He gets the glory that way.
Jesus is the Gift. Go Tell it on the Mountain. Link to: Go Tell It On The Mountain, performed by Victory Chapel, Chicopee MA
Wishing you a blessed Christmas and new year from our house to yours.
© 2017 Rachael M Colby Tattoo It On Your Heart
Tattoo It On Your Heart 