
Happy New Year!


We’ve all been there as moms, frazzled, tired and plain ol’ worn out. We can’t focus nor see past the circumstances before us. We turn to the left and to the right for advice from trusted sources only to realize their well-meaning intentions were just not for you, your marriage, your kids, and where you are in your momma life! We begin to hide away, sink into darkness, feeling convicted or judged by every, “You need to do this”, “You must do that”, “I guarantee if you do this or did this better,” ahhh!!! And you wonder, are they really listening, do they hear your hearts plea? More often than not (myself included), the advice given or received is out of pride and a chance to elevate the very things deemed the “right way” in their eyes. This brings on feelings of condemnation to the very person who just needed a true listening ear, encouragement and a helping hand. In reading the book of Job, I find his plight very similar to ours today, not just as moms, but everyone.

Ohh how I love the story of Mary and her simple yet profound statement in Luke 1:38, “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” She knew all to well what could happen. She could be stoned to death, lose her husband to be, Joseph, as well as a social outcast and she humbled herself to Gods will and placed her trust in the One who created her! Her song so beautiful, not condemning at all for her assigned lot but offering praises to God, affirming Him and his faithfulness to His people! What a powerful example she is to us today!
Today we read about the birth of John the Baptist and Zachariah’s prophecy as he was filled with the Holy Spirit after the birth of John!

Mary, Did You Know?
“After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.”
Luke 2:17-19
It’s the Christmas Season once again and the past year has gone by so fast. Our children have grown physically as well as emotionally; the gentle flapping of their wings in preparation to one day soar. This has left this momma’s heart deep in thought as they experience the ups and downs of life. Some things encountered have revealed the ugliness within my heart. Others left a void where lack of human understanding left me asking, “Why Lord? Why this? Why now?”
Yesterday we left off in Luke Chapter 1 with Zechariah and Elizabeth becoming pregnant in their old age. Zechariah was made unable to speak until the birth of his son, John, because he doubted what the angel said was true. Elizabeth remained in seclusion for five months and reflected on what the Lord had done for her by showing her his favor and took away her disgrace among the people as it was considered shameful to be barren and unable to conceive a child.
Today, the birth of Christ is foretold to Mary! What is your reaction to her simple yet so profound statement? See my previous blog “Mary: I am the Lord’s Servant” for my take. Grab a cuppa coffee and let’s begin!

To me, there is nothing more enjoyable at Christmas than reveling over the birth of Jesus, our Savior and King! It seems every year, something more profound reveals what was unnoticed to me before. It was a few years ago that Mary made center stage. It wasn’t so much as her being chosen or what she did but in what she said that caused me to look at Mary and life a bit more differently.
It is almost Christmas! All activities have come to completion for the year and I sit here this evening, pausing and reflecting on Christ’s birth. As I sit, I’m overcome with the urge to share the events before and leading to our Saviour’s birth. These words are not my own but those taken from The Holy Bible NIV version from Luke Chapters 1 and 2. Over the next few days, I hope you will join me as I share the ultimate Christmas story. So snuggle in and unwrap with me The Ultimate Gift and see Jesus’ story unfold to His birth!

“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. “
I was recently asked by a friend how I celebrated Christmas. The intent of the question was to get ideas on how to celebrate with less emphasis on presents and Santa and more on Jesus.
My immediate answer included practical advice like reading the story of Christ’s birth on Christmas Eve and attending church sponsored events with the family throughout the season. The truth is, I really hadn’t given it much thought in a long while.