A Year with Jesus

Note from Jesus

Dear Precious One,

Christmas is close! What are you feeling? Is it fear? ...pressure? ...stress? ...worry? ...sadness?

Please don't lose Me in the last minute crush of making travel arrangements, buying gifts, running by the bank, planning family get-togethers, and going to church. If you listen carefully to My story, you will find that the same type of stresses that you have also were part of My birth story, too.

Magi had seen the star and were traveling a long way to come to bring Me presents and worship Me.
My earthly parents-to-be had to make a trip to Bethlehem, My stepfather's ancestral home, to register for the census for tax purposes.
There was no proper place for them to stay or for My mother to give birth to Me.
Shepherds made a trip into town to worship Me and everyone got excited.

Everything about My birth is a connection of your world to the Father and His grace. The Father wants you to know that He knows all about the pressures, inconveniences, detours, problems, unforeseen changes, and wild things that happen in the rush to see family, buy gifts, travel, juggle finances, and do church stuff. He knows these things not just because He is God; He also knows them because, in Me, God entered your world and experienced them - was in the center of them.

Pause and listen to a few words of My story. Listen long enough for these words to touch your heart. If you look and listen for Me, you can find Me, even in the middle of your busy Christmas plans!

Verses to Live

Taxes, census, travel, family history, medical needs, and trouble finding a room? Yep, they are in My story!

Around the time of Elizabeth's amazing pregnancy and John's birth, the emperor in Rome, Caesar Augustus, required everyone in the Roman Empire to participate in a massive census - the first census since Quirinius had become governor of Syria. Each person had to go to his or her ancestral city to be counted.

Mary's fiancée Joseph, from Nazareth in Galilee, had to participate in the census in the same way everyone else did. Because he was a descendant of King David, his ancestral city was Bethlehem, David's birthplace. Mary, who was now late in her pregnancy that the messenger Gabriel had predicted, accompanied Joseph. While in Bethlehem, she went into labor and gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped the baby in a blanket and laid Him in a feeding trough because the inn had no room for them.
(Luke 2:1-7)

Work, travel, surprising lights, unexpected guests, and worship services? Yes, they are in My story, too.

At that moment, the first heavenly messenger was joined by thousands of other messengers - a vast heavenly choir. They praised God.

Heavenly Choir:
To the highest heights of the universe, glory to God! And on earth, peace among all people who bring pleasure to God!
As soon as the heavenly messengers disappeared into heaven, the shepherds were buzzing with conversation.

Shepherds:
Let's rush down to Bethlehem right now! Let's see what's happening! Let's experience what the Lord has told us about.
(Luke 2:13-15)

Are long trips a big part of your Christmas? Yep, they were a part of my birth!

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in the province of Judea, at the time when King Herod reigned. Not long after Jesus was born, magi, wise men or seers from the East, made their way from the East to Jerusalem. These wise men made inquiries.

Wise Men:
Where is this newborn, Who is the King of the Jews? When we were far away in the East we saw His star, and we have followed its glisten and gleam all this way to worship Him.
(Matthew 2:1-2)

Remember, I'm here with you in the middle of the busy craziness of this time of year if you will invite Me in to share it with you!

Response in Prayer

Loving Father, as Christmas approaches, please settle my spirit as I try to open my heart to Your gift of Jesus. I don't want to be distracted by all the things going on around me and miss the gift of Your Son, the love of family, and the many ways Your grace has touched my world. Open my eyes and ears and let the joy of Your presence fill my heart and shine forth in my words and actions as I celebrate the gift of Your love. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.