Surprise!

Yesterday was a bit crazy.

But it was a really good day!

Before I got school going my daughter called.

She was requesting our Anne to come help for the day as pregnancy had kept her up most of the night.

Our granddaughter is a busy one-year-old, so we completely understood the desire for extra help.

All of us piled into the car a short time later.

Originally, I was just going to drop Anne off.

When I went in to give my love to Sis, I realized things had changed.

She was having contractions.

We stayed to see if they’d leave.

They didn’t.

Thankfully, our son-in-law was only a little over an hour away, so he headed home.

We are staying at their house so it’s more comfortable for our granddaughter.

Our school day had major changes, but valuable lessons in it all.

It was obvious that our sweet little girl was trying to figure out why her parents had not returned.

But good news was on the way!

There’s nothing like that moment when you see a text from your son-in-law after hours of waiting.

Our precious grandson was born yesterday evening and we are so thankful!

What a wonderful surprise!

He wasn’t due until the 26th of this month, but God’s timing is perfect.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 40:5 KJV — Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for our grandson. Please continue to heal and strengthen our daughter. Please keep Your hand upon this precious baby. Lord, from the moment we heard another baby was on the way I have lifted them up to You. Please bring this child up in Your ways and give his parents the understanding of how to raise him to love and honor You. Lord, place Your hand upon him and guide his steps that he might be a godly man, a mighty man of valor. Lord Jesus, thank You so much for this precious new gift! We are humbled by Your blessings. Thank You. May Your name be glorified throughout the whole Earth. Amen.

Christmas Eve

“For unto us…”

The day Jesus Christ was born,
salvation for all of humanity,
came into view.

The world has never been the same place.

Praise God!

Jesus came humbly,
with the enormous duty to pay once for all sins,
yet everything about Him,
including His birth,
teaches about the character of God.

The lives touched by God during this Earth changing event,
are examples of the goodness of the Lord.

Even today there’s people who don’t know,
don’t fully grasp the meaning of this,
yet the example is in Scripture.

They were busy.

Their lives were wrapped up in the long list of tasks.

The things required to be completed to continue their livelihood was the only focus.

But…

“lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for,  behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you;  Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,  lying in a manager. ‘ ” Lk 2:9-12

God stepped into the sheperds’ lives and the Bible records they didn’t shrug it off. They searched until they had found Jesus for themselves and then they shared the good news with many others. Lk. 2:17

The birth of Christ wasn’t something that these men had been watching for.

It wasn’t part of their focus.

But it affected them deeply.

However Jesus being born was not a surprise.

God had announced the occasion hundreds of years before.

His prophets had given words of what He would be and why He was coming.

And there were those who had paid close attention.

There were people looking, searching,  watching for the event.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down,  and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures,  they presented unto him gifts; gold,  and frankincense,  and myrrh.” Mt. 2:10-11

These men had been focused.

They understood the enormous promise of the birth of Christ.

They had gone to great lengths to reach Him.

It had cost them but it was worth it.

They had found Jesus.

Which are you?

Are you searching,  seeking, looking for Jesus this Christmas?

Or is He really not your focus?

Both groups were never the same after a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
And that is my prayer for you this Christmas.

No matter what gifts you receive or don’t this Christmas, I pray you are changed by a personal experience with Jesus,  the baby who became a man, the man who is God and paid for all sin, the God who is in heaven preparing a place for those who will accept the gift of Salvation.

                   MERRY CHRISTMAS!