“For unto us a child is born …and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6 & 7

The manger scene of Baby Jesus’ birth can seem so irrelevant today.  Nice on a Christmas card, yes,  but not really having any impact on our lives.

This verse from Isaiah can bring freshness to our souls as we ponder how the Baby Jesus actually does impact life today in a very relevant way.

Any need you have in the changing landscape of your personal mosaic can be answered by this Jesus.  This Baby grew up to be our Savior. He rose from the grave and He offers life to us when we believe in Him.

• If you need wisdom or strength, He will be your Counselor;
• If you need a mountain moved, He is your Mighty God;
• If you need comfort, forgiveness and gentle healing, He is your everlasting  Father;
• If your heart is anxious and troubled, He will bring Peace to you.

As you think of yourself standing by that manger bed, know that His birth was just the beginning of God reaching toward humankind … toward you.

Let your heart reach back with thankfulness and acceptance.  Look at the manger scene with the fresh wonder of all He is to you. Every need, every change that you face can be encompassed by all He is…so much more than just a baby!

Invite Him into your changes today! Let joy fill your soul.

Heavenly Father, Fill my heart with the fresh wonder of what that first Christmas means for me… today.  Thank you that any need I have can be encompassed by Jesus. Help me to lean on You to be my Wonderful Counselor, my Mighty God, my Everlasting Father and my Prince of Peace! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Stop for a moment right where you are and whisper a thank you in your heart to Jesus for stepping down from Heaven and coming as a baby. He positioned Himself to be available to you as your Wonderful Councillor, your Mighty God, your Everlasting Father and your Prince of Peace.

What need do you need to bring to Him today?

By Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

If you don’t Jesus and you would like to start a relationship with him, you can start by submitting your will to his.  Below is a sample prayer.  Prayer is talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.

“Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.”

If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, then you can pray this prayer right now and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.

FURTHER READING

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The post Invited to the Manger can be found at Thoughts about God.

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:14 (NKJV)

“The Word became flesh,” John said.  In other words…he was touchable, approachable, reachable.  And, what’s more, he was ordinary.  If he were here today you probably wouldn’t notice him as he walked through a shopping mall.  He wouldn’t turn heads by the clothes he wore or the jewelry he flashed.

“Just call me Jesus,” you can almost hear him say.

He was the kind of fellow you’d invite to watch the Rams-Giants game at your house.  He’d wrestle on the floor with your kids, doze on your couch, and cook steaks on your grill.  He’d laugh at your jokes and tell a few of his own.  And when you spoke, he’d listen to you as if he had all the time in eternity.

And one thing’s for sure, you’d invite him back.

by  Max Lucado
From: God Came Near

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://www.maxlucado.com/info/view/about_max_lucado/

FURTHER READING

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Jesus and Prayer

Why Jesus is Better Than Santa Claus

The post He Was Reachable can be found at Thoughts about God.

Where is my heart today: focused on the news around me or rested in the Savior of the world?

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.” Luke 2:1-3

Jesus was born into a world taken up with Caesar Augustus’ census. People were travelling to get to their own towns so they could register. Bethlehem was bustling with activity—all the inns were full—and I’m sure everyone was talking about the census. It shouldn’t surprise me that this is the time God chooses for Jesus to be born into the world. While everyone is focused on the seemingly important events of the day, Jesus, Savior of the world, is born in a manger.

There is so much demanding our attention in the world every day. Elections, climate change, economic fluctuations, war, natural disasters, personal struggles. It is into this atmosphere—this hustle and bustle—that Jesus chooses to be born into again and again. He pierces through our activity and calls us to come and adore Him … to see the wonder of His birth.

Reflect:  How can I invite Jesus into the activities of my day today?

Where is my heart today: focused on the news around me or rested in the Savior of the world?

Jesus, thank You for coming into my very own story and calling me to see You. Today I adore You and I thank You for the wonder of Your birth.

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

Further Reading

• Christmas Section
• Stories:  Why I Choose God
•  Salvation Explained

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The post Born into the World can be found at Thoughts about God.

She was a simple teenage girl; a girl who found herself pregnant and alone.

Just days earlier, she had been going about her chores happily consumed with thoughts about her upcoming marriage.

But now, everything had changed . . .

It was an angel that broke the news to her of God’s great love and desire to use her as the vessel for His Son to come to earth.  She was amazed that God would consider her, a simple girl with no earthly status or wealth, to carry this precious child and to be His mother!  She was astounded, surprised and a little bit scared all at once.  She couldn’t really comprehend how it would be possible but she trusted her Lord and humbly agreed to His plan.

But now, in the stillness of the night, as her hand felt to the softness of her belly she wondered . . . was it all just a figment of her imagination.  Could it really be true?  Was she pregnant even now as she lay there in her bed?  How could she really know that this was true?

She abruptly sat up in bed!  What had the angel said about her Aunt Elizabeth?  Oh yes, she was pregnant too!  She would go and see her – that was the only way to be sure that this wasn’t all a crazy dream.

She arose early the next morning, packed her bags and made the long trek to their home.
Her thoughts spun round and round in her head as she walked the dusty path. What would Joseph do once he found out she was pregnant?  What would her parents say?  Why hadn’t the angel told them about this?  Why was she the only one who knew?

She knew that if it was true, her life would never be the same.  From now on, she would be changed; there was no going back, no altering of the plan.

When she stepped into the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth, she knew deep down in her heart that what the angel said wasn’t a figment of her imagination or a dream, it was true because there before her was Elizabeth, old and wrinkled and very pregnant indeed, exclaiming her joy at being with the mother of her Lord.  It was true!  It was true! She was to be the mother of the long awaited Messiah.  Oh what joy!

A baby, her BABY would change EVERYTHING!

“And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”  Luke 2:6-7

By Kristi Huseby
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

•  The Christmas Story – the story of Jesus Birth
• Christmas Quotes
• Christmas Prayers
• Christmas articles, poems, prayers and stories

The post A Baby Changes Everything can be found at Thoughts about God.

As I re-juggled my “to do” list of Christmas preparations my thoughts bounced around the changes that have come and how Christmas will be somewhat different this year.  Changes…good changes, challenging changes, hard changes…the interesting mosaic of life. It’s different for all of us, yet we all share in that changing landscape of life. Sometimes finding joy in the changes is easy…sometimes very challenging.

As I pondered the changes in my life, and in our world, I thought about Christmas and the birth of Baby Jesus.  Sometimes that manger scene seems so irrelevant and so far removed from day to day life. Yet an old verse in the Bible brought freshness to my soul this week as I pondered how the Baby Jesus impacts my life today.  It truly gives new cause for joy.

Listen…

“For unto us a child is born …and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6 & 7

Any need you have in life and in the changing landscape of your mosaic can be answered by this Jesus.  If you need wisdom or strength He will be your Counselor; if you need a mountain moved, He is your Mighty God; if you need comfort, forgiveness and gentle healing, He is your everlasting Father; and if your heart is anxious and troubled He will be Peace to you.  Jesus…. our rock and our hope! Jesus … our cause for joy!

Let your heart pause with thankfulness as you prepare for Christmas.  Look at the manger scene with the fresh wonder of all He is to you. Let joy seep into the changes of your life.  No need, no change that you face will not be encompassed by all He is…so much more than just a baby! Invite Him into your changes! Let joy fill your soul.

Prayer & reflection: Heavenly Father, Fill my heart with the fresh wonder of what that first Christmas means for me… today.  Thank you that today or in the future, any need I have can be encompassed by You, Jesus. Let joy flood into my soul as I lean on You to be my Wonderful Counselor, my Mighty God, my Everlasting Father and my Prince of Peace!  Help me to look with expectation to what You will do in my life… and fill me with Your joy!  In Jesus name I pray, Amen

By Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• 10 Reasons to Come to Jesus
• Invited to the Manger 
• Peace I Leave You

The post More than Just a Baby can be found at Thoughts about God.

“I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.” Psalm 16:8-9

Brennan Manning, in his book, The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, tells of an experience he had at an airport. It was just before Christmas

and he was in the Chicago airport waiting to get a flight to Texas for a week-end retreat. But because of a severe storm, he and thousands of others were not going anywhere. The flights were all delayed. Public address systems were blaring, people were at the ticket counter demanding a projected departure time, children were crying, some people were just sitting and staring.

Then he noticed a middle-aged black woman cradling a child in her arms and laughing. Manning asked her,

“Would you mind telling me why you’re so happy?”

“Sho,” she said. “Christmas is coming and dat baby Jesus—He make me laugh.”

According to the Psalm 16, verses 8 & 9, focusing on Jesus at all times is the key to a happy and joyful heart.

How about you?

During the Christmas season, our already busy life become more busy.

Are you ‘setting the Lord before you’ today?

Do you want to have a merry Christmas?

Bring Jesus into all your activities.

Talk to Him all day long.

He will make you laugh!

Father, you fill us with joy in your presence. Give us the grace to remember to enjoy your presence. We want to laugh, Lord. Amen

By Katherine Kehler
Used by permission

Whatever is going on in your world this Christmas, there is no greater gift you could give yourself than to receive the One who came to earth for us. He offers you complete forgiveness, a relationship with Him, a more abundant life and eternal life. As long as we trust in ourselves, our own good life, God will remain distant, and we remain separated from him by our sin. He asks us to empty our hands of our efforts and receive him and his gift.

I’d like to give you the opportunity right now to ask him to come into your life. There is no greater offer, nor more important decision you could make in your life. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him….”

I’ll help you put this into words. You could say to him,

“Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins. Right now I open the door and ask you to come into my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me an eternal relationship with you.”

Unlike other possible relationships, if you asked Jesus into your life right now, he promises never to leave you. Jesus said, (speaking of us as his sheep), “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.”

I found that one of the best ways to get to know him better was to read the gospel of John, which is the fourth book of the New Testament, in the Bible. You’ll be amazed. It seemed like he was speaking straight to me, answering my questions, like an intimate chat over coffee. Also, you might find it helpful to look for a church where the Bible is taught.

There is no greater joy at Christmas than coming into a relationship with Jesus. Too many times we have worn ourselves out, driven by our expectations to have the “perfect” Christmas. It’s a set-up for disappointment.

All of the shopping, decorating, entertaining never fully meets our deepest longings. For Christmas to be special, we simply need to receive Jesus’ gift to us…a relationship with him. Knowing him brings great meaning and enjoyment at Christmas, no matter who knocks over the Christmas tree.

FURTHER READING

More Christmas Articles and Devotionals

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

The post “Dat Baby Jesus – He Makes me Laugh” can be found at Thoughts about God.