Yearly Archives: 2013

Obedience of Joseph

Courtesy of my YouVersion app, I’m doing an Advent devotional, written by lifechurch.tv. Like many, I have read the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth repeatedly, year after year. But this time, I’m seeking fresh revelation and God is responding to my request.

In Matthew 1, the account of Joseph, I was drawn to verse 24, which says “And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife.”

Joseph obeyed. He made a choice, and that choice changed his-story and History. I can’t imagine the challenge it must have been to be in his shoes and consider his options. We know from earlier verses that he was considering walking away from the engagement when he heard the news, but God intervened and Joseph obeyed. Lord, help me to always obey You, even in difficult circumstances.

This Christmas, take a break!

The “Advent” season is upon us! This is honestly one of my favorite times of the year. I always loved Christmas growing up, but it took on new life when I got married and again when we had children. There’s something about sharing the special nature of this season with loved ones that makes the celebration even more powerful.

One of the reasons I treasure this season is because I generally take a week or more off from work and enjoy lots of extra family time. I’d encourage you to consider blocking out time for a break in your schedule at some point this month. Whether it’s a break from work or from extracurricular activities, taking a time out to focus on yourself and your family is a valuable way to refresh yourself for the season ahead. In my experience, even when I struggle to make time for a break, I find that things go better when I come back because I have a fresh perspective and new energy.

In the spirit of that “break”, I’ve decided to take the month of December as a break from my typical business/ministry blog topics and focus on reflections on the Christmas story. God is bringing new revelation to the Nativity story this year for me and I’m hoping to share those here and that they may be a ministry to others also. I’ll be back in January with writings on planning, goal setting, etc., but the next few weeks will be a little different. Merry Christmas!

Proclaiming a day of Thanksgiving and Praise

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.” – 1 Chronicles 16:8

We have so much to be thankful for as a nation and as individuals. And it’s important that we remember who those blessings should be credited to. Here’s an excerpt from President Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation which made Thanksgiving a national holiday. It had been celebrated for many years prior to this but only on a state by state basis.

“The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God… No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

Let’s take time today to thank God as the giver of life and all good things! What are you thankful for?