Merry Christmas Eve

Today is the day before the day that we have set aside

to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Not only do we celebrate in thankfulness the birth of Christ,

but also His life, and ultimately His death on the cross for our sins.

"For the grace of God has appeared..." in the person of Jesus Christ, 100% God and 100% man...

"...bringing salvation for all people,..." He came to live and die for the penalty that sin had accrued.

"...training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,..." The grace of God that appeared and provided salvation, also trains us as we are still in this world. To live how? Like Him!

"...waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,..." We are waiting for the ultimate revealing of our sanctification when we stand with Him in heaven.

"...who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." This is the Baby born in a manger. He gave Himself for me!

(Titus 2:11-14)

"Christ is All"

Oh, Lover to the uttermost,

May I read the meltings of Your heart to me

in the manger of Your birth,

in the garden of Your agony,

in the cross of Your suffering,

in the tomb of Your resurrection,

in the heaven of Your intercession.

Bold in this thought I defy my adversary...

Deepen in me a sense of my holy relationship to You....

I think of Your glory and my vileness,

Your majesty and my meanness,

Your beauty and my deformity,

Your purity and my filth,

Your righteousness and my iniquity.

You have loved me everlastingly, unchangeably, may I love You as I am loved;

You have given Yourself for me, may I give myself to You;

You have died for me, may I live to You,

in every moment of my time,

in every movement of my mind,

in every pulse of my heart.

May I never dally with the world and its allurements, but walk by Your side, listen to Your voice, be clothed with Your grace, and adorned with Your righteousness." ~ Valley of Vision

Joseph is in prison.

We all know the stories from the Bible about the "great Bible heroes". Men and women like Noah, Abraham, Moses, Deborah, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Ruth, Esther, Isaiah, David, Jonathan, and so many more are a part of the "hall of fame".

Why do we love the stories so much?

What is it that makes them so.....cool?

Recently, in my devotions, I have been reading through some of these familiar stories about the great men and women in the Old Testament. I wasn't surprised by some of the things that I have learned, but they are encouraging nonetheless!

Joseph.

the second youngest son of Rachel (who was Jacob's favorite wife)

favorite son of Jacob

hated by his brothers

dreamed odd things

loved God.

When he was just a young man, his father told him to go and check up on his brothers who were shepherding sheep in a distant pasture. Joseph, being the obedient, favorite son, did as his father told him. But when his brothers saw him coming from afar off, they began to plot about what they could do to him. Death was the decision. Yet, by God's providence, one of Joseph's brothers stood up for him and persuaded his brothers to just throw their little brother into the pit. When Joseph arrived, they overpowered him and cast him into a pit to die. Then, eyeing the Midianite traders that were passing by, they immediately saw the potential for profit that could be made off their little brother. So they brought him up from the pit and sold him to the traders who were on their way to Egypt.

Thinking that they had been clever in getting rid of the nuisance, they also thought of a way to fool their father. Dipping Joseph's robe in animal blood, they told their father that his beloved son was dead.

Cruel. Heartless. Unthinkable. How could anyone do that to their own brother?

Well, we know the story. Joseph is sold to a prominent Egyptian ruler and soon made the head servant in his house. Because of the rulers lying wife, Joseph is accused and sent to prison. In prison, however, he is made the head servant of the prison guard. Finally, after many years, he is released and made the 2nd in command of the whole land of Egypt!

How does this all happen?

What was God doing in all of this?

Why did God allow this to happen to a man who loved Him?

What was the purpose?

1. God is sovereign.

2. God uses hard times to teach us to trust Him.

3. God loves us and wants our best.

First of all, God is sovereign! This means that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING happens outside of the all-powerful, all-knowing hands of God. What an amazing truth to bring to mind over and over again!

I have been reminded a lot lately about the sovereignty of God. I can trust Him because He is in control of everything that happens!

Secondly, God uses hard times in our lives to teach us to trust Him. For Joseph, God wanted him to be abandoned by his family so that he would trust God. He allowed him to be sold into slavery so that he would trust God. He allowed him to be the head servant in Potiphar's house so that he would trust God. He allowed him to be thrown into prison for something he didn't do so that he would trust God. He allowed the butler to forget him in prison so that he would trust God. He allowed him to be released from prison and made second in command to Pharaoh so that he would trust God.

In my own life, I know that God is teaching me to trust Him more by not allowing me to have what I think I want or need. Because I am not at the place that I want/need, then I am forced to a place of trusting God. (which is a good place to be!)

Finally, God's love for us is un-bounding and He truly desires our best. During those times when things are not going so well, we would be wise to remember God's great love for His children. He is not like some evil puppeteer, moving us around so that we are hurt, but a gracious Father who cherishes His children.

So why do we love these "stories" so much? What makes them so cool?

I love them because they are real-life accounts of real people who have hard times too. These Bible "heroes" are just like you and me. Sometimes, the same things that God taught them, He is teaching me. And through it all, God's character is revealed more fully!

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, the apostle Paul is pleading with the Lord concerning a trial that had come into his life. After requesting three times, the Lord simply told him that His grace was enough! It says,

"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

It's the end of the Semester!

I can't believe that these words are coming out of my mouth! Time is flying!

It seems like yesterday that I was diligently stuffing my car to the max! I did get everything in...:) Then I pulled out of my family's driveway and started heading toward Missouri!

After arriving at my "new" home for the next 5 months, I began the transition of being a senior (in body) and a freshman (in mind)! At times, it was a challenge, but the Lord has taught me a lot of things, and gave me the grace to live outside of my "comfort" zone! I am so thankful for the new experiences, friends, challenges, and classes that I have been able to be apart of here at Calvary Bible College. I am looking forward to what the Lord is going to teach me next semester! :)

But now as time continues to move on...

It's time to go home for Christmas!!!

King David is in a cave.

King David. Mighty Man. Warrior. Man after God's own heart. Strong. Courageous. Noble. Honorable. God-fearing.

This is not the kind of person that you would imagine would be running for his life, and hiding in caves. Yet, this is exactly what David had to do. The simple fact is that his own master was trying to kill him! Even though David had been anointed the king of Israel, he was waiting for the throne to be given to him. During that time, he was called to go and serve before king Saul. For David's obedience, the Lord prospered him in all that he did. He was the Lord's chosen king over the house of Israel.

So why was he in a cave? Saul was trying to kill him.

Now, imagine that cave. What would that be like? How would a person feel about hiding in a place like that? It was probably not very comfortable. It was Dark. Wet. Musty. Cramped. Cold. Hard. Not ideal!

For all of this, we have a record of two psalms that he possible wrote during this time. (Ps. 57 & 142)

What was David saying about being in a cave?

Be merciful to me, O God!

In You my soul takes refuge!

I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings till the storm of destruction passed by!

I cry out to God Most High.

God will fulfill His purpose for me.

He will save me, and put to shame those who trample me.

God will send out His faithfulness and His steadfast love.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let Your glory be over all the earth!

My heart is steadfast, O Lord.

I will sing and make melody.

I will give thanks to You!

I cry out to You, and plead for mercy.

I pour out my complaint and trouble before You.

My spirit is fainting, but You know my way!

Though no one cares for me, You are my refuge and portion in the land of the living.

Deliver me from my enemies, so that I may give You thanks.

You will deal bountifully with me!

I think that there are times in all of our lives when we feel like David did. He was lonely, tired, stressed, discouraged, and weak. Yet, for all of that he did not lose his focus on the Lord. God had promised him the throne of Israel, and David knew that God would not fail on any part of His promise to him.

I am not in a cave, but sometimes I fell like I am. Sometimes the circumstances of life rush over me, and I am discouraged, lonely, stressed, and tired. Yet, the God of David is also my God! What does God say?

I will not leave you, nor forsake you.

I love you.

You are My child.

I am in control.

Trust Me.

Rest in Me.