Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 21: Read Matthew 2:7-8

Wise Men Come to Visit Jesus

Matthew 2:7-8 reveals King Herod's response to the wise men, who came to ask him where Jesus was to be born. After Herod learned where the baby was to be born, he had a secret meeting with the wise men. He learned from these men the exact time that they first saw the star. King Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem, saying, "Look carefully for the child. When you find him, come tell me so I can worship him too."

King Herod had a secret meeting with the wise men because he desired to know information about the star they had seen, in order that he might devise a plan. Remember King Herod was troubled by the news of the birth of the Savior and had sought information from the priests and the teachers of the law. He could not meet with the wise men in front of these men because they knew that King Herod did not want to worship the baby since they had seen him troubled. After King Herod knew an approximate age for the child, he provided the wise men with the information they needed, that is the birth place of the Savior. King Herod had learned this information from the priests and the teachers of the law. It is not clear why King Herod didn't seek the child himself, but he did give explicit instructions to the wise men to tell him the child's location, under the false pretense that he too wanted to worship the child.

This passage is an example of how God can use someone's evil intent for good. King Herod had evil intentions, but through him the wise men were able to obtain the information they needed to find the Savior. Without King Herod providing this information, it is not clear if the wise men would have been able to find the Savior. They were following a star, yet they had to stop and ask, which makes me believe that the wise men needed further directions. God may have also required the wise men to ask so that King Herod would know the news and be able to act according to God's plan. Either way, the events that unfolded between the wise men and King Herod are often overlooked at Christmas, but are important in understanding the Christmas story. There is a darkness to Christmas and this darkness is needed to intensify the light in the birth of the Savior. Without darkness there is no need for light. 

Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 4: Read Jeremiah 33:14-16

The Good Branch

Jeremiah 33:14-16 states that a time is coming when the Lord is going to fulfill His promise to the people of Israel and Judah. In the appointed time He will make a good branch grow from David's family. This branch will do what is fair and right. At this time the people of Judah will be safe and the people of Jerusalem will know safety. The branch will be named The Lord Does What Is Right.

Branches are an important aspect of a tree. They are the foundation from which fruit grows and becomes ripe. Without branches there would not be fruit. The scriptures state that God will make a good branch grow from David's family. That branch (Jesus) is the strong foundation by which fruit will be produced. The fruit (the people of Judah and Jerusalem) will be safe in the branch that is Jesus. Jesus will do what is fair and right, which means the people can live without fear. The metaphor of the branch and the fruit is a metaphor Jesus Himself used in His teaching of the people. There was darkness then the people saw the Light and the Light removed their heavy burdens. In the Light the people are able to see the good thing that God has promised His people, that is the branch from David's family (Jesus). The branch provided the people safety and a strong foundation from which to grow. The branch is named The Lord Does What Is Right. 

Many people have started putting up their Christmas trees. If you already have your Christmas tree up then take a moment to look at the branches that make up the tree. Natural Christmas trees have both strong and weak branches. In hanging up our ornaments, we look for the strong branches to hold our most favorite and precious ornaments. Why? Because we want our ornaments to be safe and to last for generations to come. We are God's most precious ornaments and so He provided us with the strongest of branches that He knew could support our weight and keep us safe. There are many people that God has made, prophets and saints, but only one that He gave specifically to be our strong branch. Jesus is the one that God has given us to keep us safe and this Christmas He is the gift we should be most grateful to receive.

November Challenge: Day 29

November is almost over and I am reminded that Christmas is fastly approaching. This year Advent starts in November with a reminder that there are only 3 Sundays until Christmas. I actually have a challenge with Advent in mind, but I have it starting December first. I will be sharing more information about this tomorrow. Since Christmas is right around the corner, I am grateful today for coupons/sales, life returning to normal, and a surge in DIY ideas to create a personalized season of giving. 

Today I finished some more Christmas shopping and I was thrilled with the coupons I was able to use in combination with the store's sales. I was able to get one order for half-off with both coupons and existing sales, which meant that I ended up purchasing more items for less money. I didn't need the extra items per say, but I was able to get these items I wanted virtually for free. There was also free, two day shipping on another order I placed, which left me excited for Tuesday when it arrives. This order was for a faux suede jacket for my puppy and I can't wait to see how cute she looks in the jacket. I know there are people who would think this was wasteful, but before I get too much criticism, my puppy is a breed of dog that is sensitive to the cold. She is so sensitive in fact that some days she is even shivering in my house and I have to put her in sweaters before wrapping her in blankets. The sweaters I have made her warm her sufficiently, but are not enough for when she has to leave the house. I am thankful that I will be able to get her jacket soon and that I also was able to purchase it for a good price.

The last few days have shown an increase in my mom's energy and a transfer in responsibilities. Life is slowly returning to normal. I no longer am solely responsible for another's household. This was the first weekend I didn't have to rush to the grocery store to make sure there was food. This is partly because there was so much leftover from last week. I did go to grocery shopping today, but with my mom. She wrote her own grocery list and did the grocery shopping, but I was there for support. I was also able to help her by carrying in and putting away the groceries because there are still some tasks that are challenging. Even with this need for support, life is returning to normal and I am able to concentrate on my own life again. This shift in focus has meant a surge in DIY ideas and more creative projects being completed. DIY is an important aspect of who I am and being able to create items is truly wonderful.

What are you thankful for today?

November Challenge: Day 22

Happy Sunday! Today I am thankful for the gift of repurposing. This afternoon I spent some time transforming old fleece blankets into new pillow covers for my throw pillows. The colors I used (green, plaid, and brown) are a great transition into the Christmas season. I know we haven't celebrated Thanksgiving yet, but I love to start decorating for Christmas early. I enjoy creating many of my holiday decorations, which means I have to start preparing the projects early. Today I finished 2 throw pillows, a lampshade, and a placemat. The projects were completed with a hand-stitched moose applique. I adore the rich colors for this Christmas and have been blessed to find so many complimentary accents. Colors and decorations are not the reason for the season, but I don't think it is wrong to appreciate our  seasonal home decor as long as it doesn't distract us from the true meaning of Christmas. 

I chose to repurpose items I had for my Christmas decor this year because I think it is important to use the items we already have excess of before we go out and buy more. Many people are struggling to get by this season while I am not even using everything I purchased last year or the year before. I don't think there is anything wrong with sticking to a theme, but I always seem to have themed items left over at the end of the year. These items start to add up and so at some point we have to make a crucial decision: do we donate/toss the excess or repurpose it? This year I am trying to repurpose as many of the items as I can. Most of this is in the form of the packaging I will use for baked goods, but also includes using the spools of wrapping paper I already have instead of purchasing more. Repurposing is a fun and rewarding challenge. 

The act of repurposing reminds me of a Biblical truth that I think is especially important in light of current events around the world. God uses circumstances in our lives, circumstances intended for evil, for our good. In essence God takes the evil intent at the heart of our circumstances and repurposes it for our good. He is constantly at work reshaping our lives that in the end our lives would be beautiful masterpieces that reflect the life of His son, Jesus. This act of repurposing I am very grateful for. I love knowing that at the heart of every circumstance God is working it toward my good. It doesn't matter what the original material was. The only thing that matters is the final product. God is a good and perfect craftsman. We are blessed to be in His capable hands as He works in our lives. The Bible itself reflects this very truth. God made use of every person through their flaws, transforming their lives as they allowed Him to repurpose the fabric of their lives, and allowed them to be the wonderful instruments of change that we remember them to be. 

Repurposing is a wonderful thing. What are you thankful for today?