For Unto Us

 

I would have to say that nobody gives a more detailed account of Jesus’ birth than the Gospel of Luke. From Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel to the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. And so I bring you his account  and why we celebrate Jesus’ birth.

Luke 1: 30-34 NIV

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be, Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

Imagine Mary’s reaction, keep in mind that she was a teenager, unmarried and to become pregnant with God’s only son. How could she explain herself. What would people think of her? She questions Gabriel. How can this be I’m a virgin. But Gabriel responds in kind.

Luke 1: 36-38 NIV

“Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God. I am the Lord’s servant,”Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Mary never questions she simply trusts in God and becomes his faithful servant and accepts that she will be the mother of our Savior.

Luke 1: 56 NIV

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Some say she probably stayed with Elizabeth to conceal her pregnancy because she was not married. She to marry Joseph but wow imagin having to go back and explain what had happened. How would Joseph react.

Matthew 1:19-24 NIV

Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her (Mary) to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will  give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” All took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” – which means, “God with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Seems reasonable that Joseph would flip and think about divorce. Here he thought he was pledged to a virgin and finds out she is pregnant. Mind you he was ready to do it quietly and kindly so as not to make her a public disgrace. But an angel appeared and Joseph chose to trust and do what he was asked to do.

Luke 2:4-7 NIV

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea to Bethlehem the town of David; because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Born in a humble place, homeless in a manger our Savior. A new life,  just as Jesus came to us as a newborn, so should we renew ourselves. So should we become born again in his grace and mercy.  But it gets better than this, while Jesus lay in the manger, more accounts of God proudly announcing the coming of our Savior was told. Reassuring us of God’s gift to mankind.

Luke 2: 13-16 NIV

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the sheperds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord had told us about. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Imagine being a sheperd in your field at night tending to your sheep, minding your own business. You’re discussing the days events and plans for the next day and out of nowhere from the heavens a heavenly host appears and they bring good news about Jesus’ birth. Well you could run for the hills, that would be scary but these sheperds were brave, they chose to go to Bethlehem, verifying what they had heard.

Luke 2:20 NIV

The sheperds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told.

 

Matthew 2:7-12NIV

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the King, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

We know why the Kings chose not to return to King Herod, They had been warned in a dream not to tell Herod where Jesus was. Herod wanted all male babies killed.

And so Joseph took both Mary and Jesus into Nazareth. There he was raised, to fulfill what was said through the prophets. That Jesus would be called a Nazarene.

Jesus started out as an outcast, he was wanted by Herod, to be killed within the very first years of his life. But God kept him safe.

Maybe, you feel the same way about yourself. Maybe you’ve been in trouble with the law, have committed sins you feel you are not worthy of forgiveness. You may have to pay for circumstances you put yourself in the past, but Jesus’ birth is hope for mankind. We have all fallen short in sin. No matter how trivial  someone may say your sin is and to forget about it it’s no big deal. Big or small, sin is sin. But God sent down his son to be sacrificed for the forgiveness of our sins. Through his birth, life, death and resurrection, we are given forgiveness of our sins. We may have to repay through courts of law those things which we have done, but we must understand that we must do this. What’s important is God’s forgiveness and to let go of those bad habits, and sinful nature that has taken us off the journey to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

May this season of hope bring you closer to God. May you see the gift God gave us in order to bring us closer to him. For it is by accepting Christ as your personal Savior, admitting that we are all sinners, and trusting in Jesus’ death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins that we will all be in heaven rejoicing when our time comes. Please pray this prayer and ask Jesus into your heart. Let him guide you in ways that are pleasing to God so that you may find everlasting peace.

God I know I am a sinner, I ask for the forgiveness of my sin. I accept Jesus as my personal Savior. I know there are things I have done in my life I am so ashamed of, but you God are a merciful God. I trust in the death of Jesus on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins. I know that he died and resurrected from the cross so that we may have a way to you God. I know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. I ask you today in my heart and lead me God in ways that are pleasing to you. Give me the words, the actions, the ideas that are pleasing to you and will lead me into a new and improved steward of your word. In Jesus’ name I pray.

Merry Christmas, and may the joy and peace of our Savior be in your hearts,

MIN. Joanne Ives

 

You Are Not Alone!

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Though it’s supposed to be a time for giving thanks and a time of joy, this is also the time when seasonal depression seems to hit home for many. It’s supposed to be a time for family, love, getting together, sharing laughter, food, being thankful, and football games. After Thanksgiving comes the beginning of the holiday season. For most, this is a time of joy for families.

Unfortunately for some, it is also time for seasonal depression, a reminder of lost ones, a feeling of loneliness, an awkward feeling of being an outsider looking into someone else’s happiness only to be reminded how alone they are in this world. This time of year has by far the highest suicide rate.

It is to those individuals, who are feeling alone, that I dedicate this blog to. To those who are feeling hopeless, feeling without direction, or not good enough to feel worthy. Those who feel forgotten, abandoned by family members, unworthy of being loved because of things you may have said and done or not said and done.

When I first got divorced, the holidays became a time of hardship, loneliness, and it was compounded with a feeling of failure, it was very easy for me to feel sorry for myself. Alone during the holidays, I had absolutely no desire to hear about how great my friends’ holidays were or what wonderful plans they had. My parents have passed away, my family a thousand miles away, and I unable to travel due to financial reasons. I was going to be alone and I certainly didn’t want to hear them complain about how they had to entertain their families, or have to put up with a crazy brother or mother-in-law. I felt very alone, sad and all I wanted to do was crawl back into bed and forget about the holidays. Boy, it was far easier to hide away in my room then fake being happy in front of friends or co-workers.

But let me tell you what has changed in my life. During that time of feeling sorry for myself, I felt I had let my boys down. I was divorced. Now what? I didn’t feel I belonged at any church, especially when I’d hear the sermons about how divorce was wrong. So you can imagine, all I could think of was how bad a person I was for divorcing. I had no church to go to since I was feeling unworthy of God ever loving me because I want to get remarried someday. Totally bummed out about how I felt about myself, I was expected to cheerfully get through the holidays. In the famous words of Ebenezer Scrooge, “Bah humbug!” along with a few other choice words that came to mind.

That was 13 years ago, fast forward to today. Since then, I asked God for forgiveness of my sins, every day I grow in my relationship with God. Because I have grown in my relationship with God, I no longer feel alone. I am thankful for His mercy, His abundant grace, and that He loves me. But on my journey into a closer relationship with God, many times I failed to be the example God has wanted me to be. Each time I stumbled, I would beat myself up, sometimes give up because I felt I was not good enough for anyone but most of all God. But through it all, I found myself reaching out to God asking for forgiveness then starting all over again. Realizing that God loves me more than the mistakes I have made and through the blood of Jesus Christ, I am forgiven for my sins both seen and unseen. Jesus is my Savior!

We go through seasons in our lives that make or break us. It may be the loss of a family member, divorce or financial ruin. Whatever the season, God is there to get us through. Most likely to help us grow into a better person, maybe there is a lesson to be learned. As we go through life’s challenges and we find ourselves doing them alone it is a time many feel despair. And we have to remember.

Deuteronomy 4:29 NIV

“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and all your soul.”

The more I seek guidance in God’s word and in prayer the easier my life has become. The more I trust God, the more my life is relieved from everyday stress. He has placed me in very uncomfortable places, some I put myself in and others have me thinking, God are you kidding me? But I see life’s challenges as God’s way of thumping me on the head as He waited lovingly for me to acknowledge Him. Trials I have been through in my life I now see as life lessons teaching me to be strong in my beliefs, and dependent on my God. You are not alone, you are loved, and you are worthy. “seek the Lord your God…..with all your heart and all your soul” He is there waiting to love you back, waiting for you to put your trust in Him. Waiting for you to let go and let God.

Psalm 14:2 NIV

“The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.”

God is looking down at everyone and waits for us to seek him. He delights in those who trust in Him. He wants us all to understand his power, and love for us. So he waits for us to reach up to Him. YOU ARE LOVED! YOU ARE NOT ALONE! All you have to do is invite Jesus into your life.

Acts 17:27 NIV

“God did this so men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each of us.”

God has a purpose for us, He made us in his own image, as children of God. We belong to Him and He loves us like a father. Though you may feel alone you are never alone. Give it to God, talk to him, and ask him to guide you in ways that are pleasing to him. You will begin to see a change in your attitude and way of life. God is love and when we love we want to do things that are pleasing to others. That’s when God is at His best. When you begin to trust God in all that you do, you will begin the see the work he is doing in your life and the purpose and love God has planned for you.

Heavenly Father, I ask that you guide me in ways that are pleasing to you. Help me to recognize the importance of my relationship to you. Help me to remember that when I am feeling alone and saddled with feelings of unworthiness, anxiety, or hopelessness, you are there. I am not alone. Keep me safe from hurt, harm or danger. I ask forgiveness of my sins both known and unknown. Help me understand so I seek you in all that I say and do. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

BE BLESS,

MIN. Joanne Ives

When In Sorrow

There are two events in my life that brought me sorrow that words could not describe. At the age of 6, the loss of my dad. I can still remember just about every detail. It was in March of 1969, we were all at home, my brother, and sister and I were rough housing, playing with our dad as little kids would do back then. I remember, hugging my dad, kissing him on the cheek and telling him I loved him, just as my sister did and brother I believe as well. We were having so much fun, laughing and carrying on. I remember my dad slumping over as if he were pretending to  sleep, making loud groaning  noises we thought he was pretending to snore only when my mom said something to him, he did not respond. We were told to get up and go to our rooms at that time, I could tell my mom was frantic as she kept telling my dad to quit fooling around and wake up. Only we’d come to find out later that my dad, at the age of 35 was having a massive heart attack. It’s March, in Canada and there was the biggest blizzard ever at least in the eyes of a little child it was. My mom called for an ambulance, I believe it took up to 2 hours or so for them to get to our house due to roads being so bad. I still see and hear my mom getting back on the phone, calling the hospital desperately wondering why no one had come yet. I came out of my room to see what was going on only to be told to go back. You see back in 1969, you weren’t CPR trained unless you were an EMT. I’m not sure if that would have helped but I make sure I’m CPR/ First Aid trained to this day. I lost my dad. I can still see my dad as he lay peaceful in his coffin, my sister even kissed him goodbye. That was so brave of her. My poor brother served as an altar boy for my dad’s funeral. Now that’s a testament of strength for a young man.

Fast forward, a little over 30 years later, my mom is out on a dog sled in the winter, taking a ride in the Quebec Mountains. She has a massive stroke while out on a trail I think she never should have been on. They knew CPR but it was too late. They got her to the hospital, hooked her up to life support but she was in the doctor’s words “brain dead” there was no activity in her brain, the machines were keeping her alive. My sister called to let me know they were going to unplug the machines. I was a thousand miles away. My sister did the greatest thing at that moment, she put the phone to my mom’s ear and I was able to tell her how much I loved her, but most importantly goodbye. I wasn’t going to be able to make it there before they unplugged her machines. My mom was gone within 10 minutes or less. My sister said she went peacefully.

The sorrow that comes when you lose a parent is indescribable. Even though you know they won’t always be there, you still have to come to grips that they won’t always be there. I was so fortunate that I knew I was loved by both my mom and my dad. There was no animosity between us making their loss I believe so much easier. I am at peace with the love I had for my mom and dad.

Probably the most comforting of all was that my mom had rekindled her relationship with God, She had found peace with God. We’d had a conversation a week before she passed. We talked about God, in fact I was telling her I was reading a book by Barbara Johnson. I believe it was “Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy!”  And how she had told about the recovery of her husband from a coma. The power of prayer, and a lot of letting go and letting God. It was in that conversation when my mom said, “If I ever become a vegetable, please don’t keep me on life support.” When she said that, my thoughts were, I’m not making that decision ever, somebody else will have to. It was apparent, that God was ready to take my mom home because she left very quickly. She did not suffer. I know God received a great lady that day.

John 14:1-4 NIV

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God: trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms: if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

 

Jesus tells us of his Father’s house, how he’s got a room/place for us there and he’s going to come back and get us so we can be with him. For all who believe in Jesus as their savior, he has a place for us. God sent us his only son, so we can find our way to that place in God’s great house. God is awesome, for I know one day I will be reunited with my mom and dad and family members, just a big old family reunion. This is why I find comfort in Christ for I know he has a place for me.

Father, God, I ask that through your son Jesus, bring comfort to those grieving the loss of a loved one. Through you, heavenly Father I know comfort, strength and peace can come. I pray that each individual suffering, grieving seeks comfort in knowing that through your son Jesus, there is a place for all of us waiting with you in heaven. Guide us here today and in our future in ways that are pleasing to you in all we say and do so that we may all find our way to you. Amen.

God Bless,

Joanne

Lord, Help Me Recognize What You Have In Store For Me

  I often wonder what my purpose in life is as I make it through this crazy world. Am I doing what God has planned for me? Am I fighting him by doing what I feel is a definition of insanity at times while at work. Or is God letting me use this gift of His called “free will” until I realize that I need to rely on him and trust He’s got something better. Hmmm, I tell you what God, am I in the right place? Should I be doing something else? You know my heart. Give this girl a clue, please? Sound familiar? Ever found yourself, lost, alone, confused about your purpose? Today has been one of those days. And then I remembered these verses I read the other day in Psalms.

Psalm 121:1-8

1I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from?2My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.3He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;4indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.5The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;6the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.7The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Wow, this is a mouthful isn’t it? The lesson here is to look up to God and remember that he is the maker of all things. He watches over all of us. I believe He waits patiently for all of us to reach up to Him. He wants us to rely on Him. So he watches over us as we throw our “free will” about the world and hang on to life, instead of trusting God. All the while, God keeps us safe from all harm, always by our side as we go live our lives our way. We get into trouble, we get sick, we meet hardship and every time we pray to God at our weakest moments, God is there. He wants us to rely on Him to get us through. What we also need to remember is that God is with us through good and bad. When you think you’re alone and have no purpose, remember God made you because He has a purpose for you.Remember to praise him through good and  bad.

God, I know I have my moments, I think I have no purpose but you God created us. You God have a purpose for my life. As I struggle with holding on to life here on earth, help me to remember that you have a bigger purpose for me and give me courage daily to do what is pleasing to you in my words, and my actions. I want to walk daily with you Lord, and grow in my relationship with you. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen!     

God Make Our Troubles Go Away, Please!

So you find yourself in the midst of a personal crisis. Have you made your plan yet? Have you found any resources out there that can get you out of it? Have you come to the conclusion that the world is coming to an end as you know it? Are you thinking this you will never survive? Stop …..Think! …… Breathe!…… Be still and know that He is in your place, in your presence, in your future He already knows what’s to come, and He will get you there!

John16:33NIV
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Just so you know, I’ve been through my own personal crisis and I am here to tell you that God through his wicked sense of humor he lets us put ourselves through what I feel is the proverbial “wringer” of disaster, because He also gave us free will. Yikes! Dang that free will, it’s gotten me into places and times in my life I’d rather wished hadn’t past. But through it all, God held my hand, though there were times I was sure He gave up on me, He was with me through each step of the way teaching me.

So, have you got a plan? Do you need some help? If it’s financial do you have a plan to get you through? Lord knows it takes a lot of discipline to get through paying off what you owe. I know I have learned my lesson. Number one lesson no money no fun…..lol Or I better budget that in by golly!!!!!

Know this; we all make mistakes big ones and small ones. Nobody is perfect if we were, we’d all be God. There’s only place for one God in this world. Just saying! Stop when you are overwhelmed, look up and ask God for help, like your own dad, that’s what He’s there for and He lovingly waits for your prayers for His guidance just like a loving parent would. The more you talk to Him the more your relationship with God and Jesus will grow!

Today I mention how easy it is to go into despair and lose sight of your life and future when disaster strikes. TRUSTING IN GOD was part of the plan, yes, but what’s your plan?
Prayers are answered always in God’s time. He knows the outcome of your situation already. The trick is whether God wants you to learn from this situation.
For example: Financial ruin or lack not budgeting your funds from over extending credit cards. All are overwhelming and all of it can lead you to sink into despair…

JOB 6:13 NIV

         “Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?”

I think we’ve all made financial decisions at times we weren’t proud of in our lives. If you haven’t I truly commend you for your ability to stay afloat. This blog is not for you. Single moms / dads divorced and trying to provide for their kids on a single income might over extend credit cards to meet basic needs. It wasn’t so much a bad decision but more like survival/guilt mode. Wanting our kids to have the things they need, not thinking clearly because of guilt. Or maybe it was bad business investments/decisions that find you out of a job and /or business owing more than you ever imagined. It’s not the time to start thinking I had a plan when we should have had one in the first place. No time to cry over spilled milk folks, what’s done is done! It’s now time to make a plan.

God helps those who help themselves. Having a plan gets you through the hardship. Having God by your side brings you peace and comfort in the knowledge that you will make it through. Rest in His love and mercy and make a plan.

Lord, we ask that you give us strength and courage in the midst of whatever chaos we might be enduring at this time. Let us feel your presence and know that you are with us every step of the way out of our personal crisis. Guide us in the right directions that will lead us out into a better place spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally and financially.  We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

GOD BLESS,

JOANNE

Are You There God?

 

“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you”. Psalm 9:10 NIV

Maybe it was that overwhelming power bill, or next month’s rent or mortgage payment. An unexpected hospital stay with the catastrophic hospital bill or loss of someone so near and dear to you heart. Your marriage has come to an end. Maybe you are living with a terminal disease wondering why you’ve been struck down so early in your life. Struggling with an addiction you just can’t shake and wonder how did I get this way. Why did God let me get this way? Where is He? Why me? Why now? If there is a God, He isn’t helping me out right now that’s for sure!

As we go through life’s challenges, it’s easy to think or feel like God is not with us, especially when it seems our prayers are going unanswered. We lose patience with God and figure if He was real He’d fix our situations, right here, right now! Where and why aren’t you fixing this God?????

As I lay on a gurney waiting for a nuclear stress test, soon turned into a nuclear scan of my lungs to rule out and a pulmonary embolism, all I could think of was how am I going to pay for this? Well, I lay there thinking no one knows what I’m going through right now. I’m alone I didn’t have anyone to pray with for positive results. Nobody is out there praying for me because they don’t know what I’m going through right here. right now. I felt so alone and lost. The nurse said well you can cancel these tests, and then you won’t have to worry about any future hospital bills. I can also cancel my life to while I’m at it. HELLO!!!! Needless to say, there was no choice but to go on with the tests. That’s when I got real. That’s when I started praying. I asked God to get me through this embolism free. I was. The nuclear stress test was cancelled due to having had a nuclear scan done of my lungs, there would be overexposure to radiation if they did both on the same day. My assigned cardiologist said they would do the stress test the old fashioned way. Having been a vegetarian and hiker for some time, I was sure that getting on a treadmill and walking on an incline would suit me just fine and I’d pass with flying colors. I was convinced my doctor was trying to kill me on that treadmill. The chest pain I experienced was unbelievable. I failed miserably!  OK God not fair why is this happening? My doctor told me I had to go in for angioplasty to see what was going on. Terrified  of what was to come, unable to tell my sons how much I loved them, unable to ask anyone to pray for me I thought for sure God would not hear my pleas after  all no one is praying for me but me. Would he hear me, I mean I’m sure someone else is far worse off than me here and their cries would surely be heard over mine. It was at that time that I felt an overwhelming calm; in fact, I even requested two salads for dinner I just knew I’d be hungry because I hadn’t eaten all day. Two salads a bit much, umm too much, can you say stress eating. I laugh now because of course that was not what I needed. As I entered the OR to get this angioplasty done again I had this overwhelming calmness over me. I realized that though no one knew what I was going through I wasn’t alone. God was with me, getting me through the procedure. He laid a path for me that would show me the importance of trusting in God and to go on. It turns out I had serious blockage in what is known as the “Widow Maker”. If I had not gone to the hospital, I may not be here today. I realized God was with me from the get go. He blessed me with a quick recovery, no disability, and I was able to return to work. Working both jobs I have slowly paid off my hospital bill.

I am here to say, that when life gets you down, and you’re sinking fast, grab hold of Jesus. Be patient in your requests. Know that He will teach you patience, as you wait, perseverance as you pray daily, courage to keep going, and hopefully life lessons that will stay with you as you continue your journey through life. As you walk and talk more and develop a relationship with Jesus you will be blessed with an inner peace that will get you through.

God Bless,

Joanne