Jesus' Birth- from Joseph's perspective

I was scared but honored to be the father of Jesus. I really didn't know Mary very well but we got along and she was as scared as I was. She was very close to God and so was I. I was a carpenter and that was all I really knew how to do.  When I found out that Mary was pregnant (even before we were married) I was shocked and scared. When Mary came to me and told me that she was pregnant with a child from the Holy Spirit, at first I intended to divorce her secretly because I didn't want to disgrace her But that is when the LORD came to me in a dream and told me not to be afraid and to take Mary as my wife. That is a night I will NEVER forget!  We had to travel to Bethlehem to be counted by Caesar Augustus, we had to go to Bethlehem because I was of the house and lineage of David. After a long journey, Mary realized that she was about to give birth so we went to go see if there was any room in the Inn. There wasn't. We ended up staying in a stable and baby Jesus was born in a manger. Shepherds came and told us what the angels said to them. Now when Jesus was  12 years old we went to the temple according to custom, after the feast we returned and we didn't realize that Jesus was still in Jerusalem, in the temple. We searched for Him. Then we went back to Jerusalem and searched and searched. I was scared but I didn't lose hope. After 3 DAYS of searching we found Jesus in the temple sitting with the teachers listening and asking them questions. When Mary asked Jesus why He was there and how He had caused us great distress, Jesus said "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" Mary and I did not understand. Jesus was a great Son, and I am honored to have Him as my Son.
                                                                                    - Joseph

Believe

JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU.

Yet we are so stubborn, prideful, and hurt from the past that we don't believe.

We think we can handle it on our own...but if someone asked you "are you ready for Jesus to return?" I bet you that you would hesitate. I am NOT trying to sound mean or anything, I am just saying how WE (even as Christians ) get so wrapped up in what the world gives and then we just throw Jesus of to the curb. Maybe this ISN'T you specifically but we all do it spiritually! Like the time you disobey your parents or you stole that shirt, you ARE throwing Jesus to the curb, because you are not listening to His warnings, you are just putting on your headphones and drowning Him out.

JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD.



We know this, but we are so into the world and what the world has to offer and give us that we don't really care anymore. We need to understand how important it is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead! Jesus could have not have come back and not rise again. But he did, and it is significant for many reasons. 1) To fulfill the prophecies. 2) to show how He really is the Son of God. Many more too!

Now it is your turn to do your part, don't worry your part is simple and you get something in return. ALL you have to do is...BELEIVE.

What do you get in return? ETERNAL LIFE.

Before you think "THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE" Look at the next picture :)



Words



Have you realized how much your words matter? Have you realized that you can hurt someone with your words? Have you realized that you can encourage someone with your words?

When we gossip we are not ENCOURAGING we are HURTING someone...even if you are not saying it directly to their face, the person we are telling it to may tell that EXACT person. I know, it is hard not to gossip. Proverbs 21: 23 pretty much sums it up:

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

That verse goes for gossip, criticism, and any form of where your mouth is getting you in trouble. Do you like it when people gossip about you? I am sure you don't. Imagine how the person that YOU are gossiping about makes THEM feel. Luke 6:31 makes a VERY good point:

Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

The True King

Our true king, Jesus Christ was born in a stable.

Our true king, Jesus Christ was laying in a manger.

Our true king, Jesus Christ was NOT in a palace.

Our true king, Jesus Christ was NOT laying in a crib.

Jesus Christ was so humble that He came down and was born as a baby and He didn't get special "treatment" because He was Jesus. He got the lowest of all.  I haven't really thought about how humble Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem and born in a stable and lied in a manger. During Christmastime, we tend to just think about presents and parties (don't get me wrong those are all good things and, yes, I do tend to think about them....a lot....too)

But let, you and I both, start thinking more about what Jesus has done for us. How He humbled himself and how He died for us on the cross. Now that is a present that I am GLAD I received!

Jealousy

We are all jealous of something or of someone...right? Whether it is what the person has, or the person's talents, hair, money, clothes. No matter what it is we all fall into the JEALOUSY TRAP! Satan wants us to be jealous because when we are jealous we don't focus on what we have and what God has already given us. I know that I fall into the JEALOUSY TRAP really easily and I have found that I am never really happy when I am jealous and that is another reason why Satan wants us to be jealous too. BUT we are not going to listen to the devil by being jealous...right? RIGHT. We are going to be happy with what we have! Obviously it is TOTALLY fine to want something but when that "thing" becomes the CENTER of your life and that is ALL you are thinking about...then there is a problem.

So even when it is HARD try not to fall into the trap of jealousy.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for all of the things you have given us. Please help us not fall into the trap of jealousy, but to be happy with what we already have. Amen

Faith

2 Chronicles 19:9

Then he charged them saying, "Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and wholeheartedly.



What is Faith?

1.confidence or trust in a person or thing:

faith in another's ability.

 

2.belief that is not based on proof:

He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.

 

3.belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion:

the firm faith of the Pilgrims.

4.

belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.:

to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.

5.

a system of religious belief:

the Christian faith; the Jewish faith.

6.

the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc.:

Failure to appear would be breaking faith.

7.

the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc.:

He was the only one who proved his faith during our recent troubles.


There are many different definitions of what faith means.
According to these definitions has your thoughts on faith changed?
According to these definitions are you FAITHFUL to GOD?




A good example of faithfulness is the apostle Paul, who was the Saul who PERSECUTED Christians , Paul was thrown into prison for his beliefs and later was persecuted but even through those hard times Paul stuck to the Word of God just like we should today. Imagine if Paul didn't stick to his beliefs and went back to persecuting Christians...He would not be such a good guy...right?  Just like us...if we don't stick to our faith and our beliefs in Jesus Christ we will not receive Eternal Life with Him. I am CERTAIN that Paul is in Heaven with Jesus.
       Now It is your turn to be like Paul, I am not saying you are going to be persecuted, but have faith in God even in when it comes to a life or death situation.

Thanksgiving or THANKS AND GIVING??

           

 I have found myself saying how close Christmas is, when Thanksgiving is just 2 days away. Most People (yes, counting me) When you think of Thanksgiving you probably think of these 2 things:

1. Turkey or a BIG meal
2. Pilgrims

Don’t get me wrong, those are the big parts of Thanksgiving but NOT ALL of it… In the word THANKSGIVING what 2 words stand out to you? THANKS AND GIVING…RIGHT?  Well that is what Thanksgiving is ALL about. Now what are you thankful for? (In the “comments” say what you are thankful for) I am thankful for LOTS of things: God, Family, Friends, Food, House, Water, School, Teacher…and the list goes ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND…(you get the point) . Now I want you to focus on being thankful for what you have! And in the process I want you to practice the GIVING part of ThanksGIVING! Now I Hope ALL of you have a…

                                                HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Footprints in the Sand...And a Little Anxiety!

      ANXIETY.

I love this quote especially because I am the kind of person that gets anxious a lot. I will be honest…I get anxious with almost anything: From being late for school from what I will wear the next day. I am starting to realize that being anxious doesn’t solve your problem…Who does then?

GOD.

God helps you…in this quote it is saying that through all if the hard times (when you see only one set of footprints) That is God carrying you through whatever is hard for you…or in my case…whatever you are anxious about!

Like I said before…being anxious or scared does not help the problem…

   IT MAKES IT WORSE.

When people usually get anxious about something they usually focus on just that one thing that they have anxiety over…right? When you could be ENJOYING everything else that you have or things you are able to do! I have 3 simple words for you (and myself too)

DON’T BE ANXIOUS.

Now here is this phrase that I like and I think you will like it too:

GIVE IT ALL TO GOD.

Give all of your fears, anxieties, worries, give them all to God.

Let Him carry you for through the tough times…because we cannot handle it on our own. We need God to carry us, we need God to help us, WE NEED GOD!

Dear God, Help us not to be anxious, but when we do become anxious, please help us to let you carry us and to give it all to you...thank you for taking all of our fears, worries, and sufferings to you! Amen.