Got Faith?

July 12, 2017 / Karen / 4 Comments

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ~ Hebrews 11:1, KJV.

As a child, I used to hope for all kinds of things, especially at Christmas or my birthday. Sometimes books or board games or tea party sets. But what I hoped for most were dolls.

When I would go shopping downtown with my mother, I always sweet-talked her into visiting the toy department where beautiful dolls were displayed. Perched on wall shelves and inside sparkling glass cases were Shirley Temple dolls with different outfits and hats. Jenny dolls dressed in tutus and ballet slippers. Betsy-wetsy dolls with bottles, blankets, and diapers. Dolls dressed in bridal dresses with veils and high heels. And Barbie dolls with her dream home, sports car, and wardrobe along with must-haves Ken and Midge.

I had complete faith in my parents that they would fulfill my childhood wishes on those special days. Looking back, I can’t ever remember being disappointed.

I had put my faith in God at a young age. But childhood turned into teen years and then adulthood. As the season of dating began at sweet sixteen, I had faith that my life would continue as it always had, with few disappointments. I would meet a wonderful man someday, and by the time I graduated from college, a wedding would follow, and I would live happily ever after.

But those dreams didn’t come true for me. Instead, I lived through two heartbreaking divorces. Although I’ve been single for twenty-two years, I have two precious daughters whom I wouldn’t trade for the world. They are part of my dreams that DID come true.

Have you lived through disappointment at times in your life? Sometimes it comes unexpectedly, as it did for me. But instead of throwing away my faith and agreeing with the expression, Happily ever after? That fairy tale? —I hold onto my dreams and continue to hope. Trusting the Lord for a good future where my dreams will still come true have prevented me from falling into an attitude of bitterness, depression, and despair.

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope’ ~ Jeremiah 29:11, NASB.

I can hear some laughter across the virtual meadows–sounds way too Pollyanna-ish?

Let’s consider Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her dream of a wedding and a happily-ever-after life with her betrothed, Joseph, took a different turn. In fact, as a respected young woman in Nazareth, her entire life turned upside-down when the angel Gabriel appeared to her, announcing that she had been chosen by God to carry and give birth to His Son. She believed the message of the angel and rejoiced that God was trusting her for the sacred role of bringing the Savior into the world.

On the other hand, think of the difficulties confronting her. In those days, a woman was stoned to death if she were pregnant without a husband.

After Joseph had found out the news, he wanted to rid himself of his obligation to Mary without doing her harm. He believed she was guilty of adultery (well, wouldn’t you?) until an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, reassuring him that Mary’s word was true.

Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit ~ Matthew 1:20, NASB.

So, out of faith, this couple began their adventure. You’d think it would have been an easy road, seeing as how they were to be the parents of the Son of God, but just the opposite occurred.

Right before the baby was due, they had to travel to Bethlehem for a census. Mary had to leave her family and ride uncomfortably all the way on a donkey.
Upon arrival, Mary went into labor.
The town had no rooms available where they could stay, so a barn full of animals became Jesus’s delivery room.
Months later, the Lord warned Joseph in a dream that Herod was searching for the Child to kill Him. The family arose that night and fled to Egypt.
Years later after Herod died, the family again uprooted to resettle in Nazareth.

Mary and Joseph had to boldly live out their faith, but rumors swirled about the true parentage of Jesus. What did the people of Nazareth think of Him, even after He had begun His ministry and was working great miracles?

And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.’ And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief ~ Matthew 13:57, NASB.

It’s hard to imagine the Son of God growing up in the shadow of wagging tongues and disbelief in the midst of those amazing miracles—and ultimately, His crucifixion and death, based on jealousy, betrayal, and lies.

But through it all, Mary chose faith. She believed God’s word to her from the first proclamation uttered by Gabriel. No matter the trials she had to endure, she clung to hope, trusting God no matter the circumstances—even watching her Son suffer and die on a cross.

God didn’t disappoint her. Fifty days after Jesus’s resurrection and ascension, she received the baptism of the Holy Spirit along with others waiting in the Upper Room.

As we walk down our individual paths of life, we must cling to hope and live by our faith, in spite of the hardships thrown at us along the way. Sometimes God doesn’t permit us to fully understand, but He expects us to be obedient and trust Him. With His strength, we can endure through it all.

And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing ~ James 1:4, NASB.

How important is our faith in God?

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him ~ Hebrews 11:6, NASB.

I will say YES to trusting God. I will place all my faith in Him today and every day.

Will you?

Christmas: The Birth of Hope

December 21, 2016December 21, 2016 / Karen / 2 Comments

Do you think Mary dreamed God-given dreams? Perhaps even becoming the Mother of God? From their study of the scriptures, every girl knew of the promise that Messiah would one day be born of a virgin. So, can you imagine her shock when Gabriel appeared, unfolding God’s purpose for her life? Chosen above every other woman, Mary listened as the angel told her she would carry the Promised One, Messiah, in her womb. She even discussed with this heavenly messenger the biological technicality of how this pregnancy were possible, seeing as how she was a virgin. All she had to do was trust God and the Holy Spirit would deposit this immaculate conception inside her—a marvelous mystery of scripture fulfilled.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel ~ Isaiah 7:14 NASB.

Like Mary’s physical womb, God fills up our spiritual wombs with godly hope and dreams. We must guard them carefully to avoid spiritual abortion. Our enemy, described as a roaring lion, is secretly lurking to devour us and steal our deepest desires.

But sometimes God may give us a dream and then call us to move. And it may seem to make absolutely no sense.

God moved Mary in the last days of her pregnancy due to a census registration in the land. Instead of staying home in her nice, warm bed surrounded by family and friends, Joseph placed her on the back of a donkey and led her to Bethlehem.

Why did God do that to her at a time so close to her delivery date?

When they arrived, Mary was in hard labor. Although imperative that Joseph find a place for her immediately, even that was tenuous. No room at the inn for a mother-to-be. But a smelly stable full of animals and straw was available. I imagine that Mary was grateful for any place she could lie and give birth to Jesus, even if it meant being surrounded by a chorus of moos, baas, and neighs of animals witnessing this great event.

The blessing of the birth taking place in Bethlehem is also a fulfillment of scripture.

‘But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth from Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity’ ~ Micah 5:2 NASB.

It’s easy to understand from a human perspective how a stable in Bethlehem would be God’s perfect plan. In Nazareth, Mary’s reputation was tarnished by this out-of-wedlock pregnancy. Which of those prejudiced townsfolk would have understood that this was the Savior of the World? This great event had to take place where Mary and Joseph were strangers, as well as apart from crowds registering for the census.

The angels appeared in the skies that night to the shepherds in the fields, who came running to witness the miracle told to them. Could that announcement have been possible in Nazareth? With all the gossip during those nine months, perhaps no one would have believed that Messiah, instead of an illigitimate baby, had been born.

God always brings glory to Himself, and that is what He did the night of Jesus’s birth. He glorified His name through the birth of His Son, who was born both fully God and fully man. The sinless One was born to die thirty-three years later for the sins of every person. The time to worship Him is now as we celebrate His divine entrance into the world.

No matter what trials you face in this life, Jesus brings ultimate hope. Like Mary, may you conceive and carry God-given dreams, and may this Christmas season birth in you the hope of heaven.

The Manger-Throne

December 24, 2015 / Karen / 2 Comments

How does the manger in Bethlehem compare with God’s throne room in heaven?

According to the fourth chapter of Revelation, John glimpsed into heaven’s awesome arena of praise and worship where God Almighty sat on His throne, His appearance like a jasper stone and a sardius. Encircling the throne was a rainbow like an emerald, and around it twenty-four thrones, each with a seated elder clothed in white garments and wearing golden crowns.

Do you think heaven is a place of hushed quiet with angels floating on clouds, strumming harps? Contrary to what we may imagine, John reveals that it’s full of flashes of lightening and peals of thunder amidst seven burning lamps and a crystal sea.

Wow. A bit intimidating, but certainly communicating His holiness.

The most curious—dare I say scariest—sight of all were the four living creatures. Eyes all around and within, each having six wings and different in appearance: a lion, a calf, a face of a man, and a flying eagle. They never cease worshiping God, declaring, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come” (Revelation 4:8b, NASB).

John describes the climax of this worship. When the living creatures praise Him who lives forever, the elders will fall down, casting their crowns before Him who sits on the throne and worshiping, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created” (Revelation 4:11, NASB).

Can this worship and praise compare to our Savior’s birth in Bethlehem?

Jesus, sent from heaven by His Father God to be born of the Virgin Mary, was wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger, according to the second chapter of Luke. She placed her baby in an animals’ feeding trough, packed with clean straw, which became His earthly throne. His entry into the world was to a humble dwelling, announced by a heavenly host to poor shepherds rather than to royalty. After all, doesn’t it make sense that this perfect Lamb, sent to be the final sin sacrifice, would be born in a cave where the animals dwelled? His kingdom has never been of this world.

Nearby shepherds, who had been watching their flocks at night, were the first to receive the birth announcement and a personal invitation to come and see the newborn King. An angel of the Lord had suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord had shone all around, causing them to be terribly frightened. The angel had told them not to fear, but that he was bringing them good news of great joy for all people; “…for today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11, NASB).

Just as in heaven, a multitude of angels appeared, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14, NASB).

The sign the angel gave the shepherds was that they would find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. They hurried straight to Bethlehem, finding the Holy family exactly as they had been told. Surrounded by the animals, Mary and Joseph listened with amazement as the shepherds recounted their story of the angels’ rejoicing at His birth. Upon beholding the Child, they fell to their knees and worshiped the newborn king.

But the story doesn’t stop there. The animals surrounding the manger-throne, the angelic host singing praises and rejoicing at Messiah’s birth, drawing shepherd-witnesses to the miraculous event—these preceded the arrival of the three magi. Just as the twenty-four crowned elders surround God’s throne in heaven, so these three kings traveled to worship at the manger-throne in Bethlehem.

How did they know about Christ’s miraculous birth? The second chapter of Matthew tells us that they saw His star in the east and followed it until it stood over the place where the Child was.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him (Matthew 2:10-11a, NASB). Just as the elders cast their crowns before the throne of God, so these kings from the east bowed before Jesus, laying precious gifts at the foot of the manger: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

A little more than two thousand years ago on this night, Christ was born. Like the shepherds and the Magi, let’s bow before Him with praise and worship, laying at His feet our most precious possession: our hearts.