Christmas Letter 2021

 “And when the eight days were completed so as to circumcise Him, His name was then called Jesus; the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb...And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with a husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. And she never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. And at that very moment (when Simeon was blessing and prophesying over Christ and the Holy family) she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem...” (Luke 2: 21, 36-38)

    I noticed something that I'd never seen before, while reading the Gospel passages surrounding the birth of Christ this year. Did you notice it in the above passage too? The angel Gabriel knew Jesus' name-- in fact God, His Father, had named Jesus, Himself—before he was even conceived! Isn't that incredible? But did you know that God the Father also knew you before you were born? Before you were even conceived? “Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written; the days that were ordained for me, when as yet, there was not one of them...” (Psalm 139:16) The Bible teaches us that God set apart a people whom He 'foreknew', and chose us to be His very own “before the foundation of the world.' He also “...predestined us to be conformed to the Image of His Son.” (Romans 11:2; Ephesians 1:4, Rom 8:29) These are incredible truths declared to us in the Holy Scriptures; Facts that have been true from all eternity; but only now, with Christ's appearing in human flesh, on earth, could they begin to actually come to pass for us. His birth marked the beginning of our pathway Home to the Father. A lost, prodigal people, finally leaving the pig sty and heading back towards our waiting, longing, and loving Father...

    The other thing I noted in this long passage was Anna. She was an acknowledged prophetess and the daughter of a man named Phanuel. This scripture tells us that Anna had been married for seven years—but then she'd been widowed for the rest of her very long life. We know that most women married young in those days. However, even if she hadn't married until she was 23 and been widowed at the age of 30---it still means she'd have been a widow for at least 54 years (and probably closer to 60, if she'd wed at 17)!!! That is a very long time to live alone. Anna lived in the Temple. Now this was unusual because the temple service was set apart for the tribe of Levi, yet she was from Asher. So, if she lived in the temple, one can assume she was also childless because in those days, sons usually took in their widowed mothers to care for them. So, Anna probably had no where else to turn, when her husband died. No one to look to for help, but God alone. Living in the temple would have given her the opportunity to be provided for out of the donations, or alms, given by the worshippers who came to the temple. A very humbling way of life. Yet, still, God had provided for her needs in this way, and she received it. Indeed she found a new and important role, even as an old widow---of serving God, night and day, with prayers and fastings, in the Temple. She couldn't do much—but she could do that. God had made a place for, and had need of, an old widow who had no one else but Him. Someone who could, and would, give Him the undivided devotion which He deserved. Then, after many years of faithful service, God rewarded her by revealing the Messiah to her old eyes. Now as people came to the temple to worship and seek the way of redemption, or restoration to God, Anna was there to tell them all about Jesus--- and of the way back to God He was initiating...

    Scripture reveals to us then, that from before our very conception, all the the way through until our frail, old age, God has a plan for our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for (your) welfare, and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope...” (Jeremiah 29:11) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them...” (Ephesians 2:10) God has good things planned for our lives. Even before we were born He'd 'prepared' them for us. Even when we are alone, or when we are old and frail, He can still use us, and give our lives fulfillment. And He will give to us the strength needed to do what He requires of us. “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, you who have been borne by Me from birth, and have been carried from the womb; Even to your old age I shall be the same, and even to your graying years I shall bear you! I have done it, and I shall carry you; and I shall bear you, and I shall deliver you.” (Isaiah 46: 3-4) So then we can now pray with confidence, “Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until, (like Anna), I declare Thy strength to this generation...” (Psalm 71:18)

    Our family lost two wonderful men this past year. My brother-in-law Bill Willard, in January, and my brother Joe, in September. Two, new widows have been created, whom God Himself will comfort and carry through to the end. Life will never, ever, be the same for any one of us. But life can still be good. Because God, whose name, Immanuel, means “God is with us.” (Matt 1:23)--is still here with us and still has plans for our time remaining to us. And He has promised us long ago, ”I will never leave you, no, nor will I ever forsake you...”(Hebrews 13:5) He has never yet broken that promise.

Please pray for all widows this Christmas, that they will find,- as we all must, -that Life's greatest fulfillment can only be found by drawing near to God, deep within the Temple of our hearts, and then sharing the love we find there with all those who God brings along our path...

                                    Merry Christmas,

                                        Love in Christ,  Joann

                 

Life Support May 2014

It has been months since I last wrote. I am currently back in Texas, having come here to attend my youngest niece's wedding and stayed over a few extra days to care my folks so my sister Pat and husband Bill could take a break from caring for them. This blog is to tell you about my amazing sister, Pat and her husband, Bill. I have other relatives; each one precious to me in their own ways, but Pat & Bill are special to so many people that I want to pay a tribute to them in my blog.
     Pat was 'going on 10' when I was born, and from the beginning she has mothered me like her own. After my youngest brother Michael died when I was 3, Pat became a surrogate mom to me, of sorts, as our mom struggled with her grief and began a 35 year battle with alcohol, which she finally won after having a stroke on my 38th birthday. During those 35 years, and all the years since, I have always had someone I could turn to for comfort, advice or a place to lay my head. She has never failed me. But one can't praise Pat without equally praising her husband, Bill. Without his love and support she could never have been for others what she has been all these years. Bill entered our world when I was a mere 8 years old. I loved him immediately because of how much I could see he loved my sister. He treated me like a little sister and always has been there for me. Of all my childhood things, the only thing I have left is the stuffed dog he gave me at Christmas when I was 8. In all the years since and the many moves I've made, I have gotten rid of a lot--but I would never part with that silly dog, as it meant so much to me as a little girl that this kind older man loved me enough to spend his own money on me, and not just my sister...and thus it has always been. Bill didn't just take of Pat, but in marrying the oldest sister, he took us all under his wing as well. And we are all immensely grateful. His coming to us helped to stabilize what had become a very rocky boat during my mom's worst years. He gave Pat the added strength she needed to help to keep our world stable until the rest of us kids came of age and went out on our own. However, for me, there were added blessings. As the one in the family who has never married, I left home to live with them, as I could not afford a place of my own at such a young age. I had become a Christian at 18 as a result of their love and example and sharing of the gospel with me, and I am ETERNALLY grateful.

December 2020 Christmas Letter

    "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child..." (Luke 2:4-5 NASB) "...And Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written. 'Fear not, daughter of Zion, behold your King comes sitting on a donkey's colt'..." (John 12:14-15 NASB)

   I have been reading a book lately called 'Flash', about a stray, homeless donkey who was adopted by a family, and the lessons God taught the family using this creature. (written by Rachel Anne Ridge, if you are interested in reading it) So, as I began to mediate on the Christmas Story this year, in order to decide which text to write about, my mind naturally turned to donkeys.  

   Although considered the least among the Equidae family of animals, God honored these creatures in the life of His Son, by allowing them to transport Him in his early years and during His Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem. Now, the Scriptures do not actually state in any of the canonical gospels that Mary rode on a donkey, although it has been shown to be that way in every picture where the Holy family is ever depicted... So where did this idea come from? In my search for this I found that it probably originated from an extrabiblical book called The Protoevangelium of James, and apocryphal gospel probably written about AD 145, which says that Joseph used a donkey to bring Mary to Bethlehem... and the tradition probably came from there:

    " The day of the Lord shall itself bring it to pass as the Lord will. And he saddled the ass, and set her upon it; and his son led it, and Joseph followed. Protoevangelium of James:17" 

It has probably remained as a tradition because it is so probable, given the means of transportation during that time period and the fact that Mary, being pregnant, would have found it hard to walk the 70-80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. So we have never questioned it, accepting it as truth. We do know for a fact, however, that Jesus chose the lowly donkey, or ass as they are also called, to carry him during his Triumphal entrance into Jerusalem; not a horse, or steed as they are known, which is a symbol of strength and pride, but a donkey--lowly, humble, and regarded as an everyday useful being. 

   I find it interesting that God chose to honor the humble one in this way. Yes, it showed the truth that He himself, was humble and lowly in mind --not given to show or grasping at power. But He chose to use an everyday being to do so; an animal that we normally would only use for a pack animal, to carry our burdens on the back of. And here was Jesus, coming that first Christmas Day, and again, later entering Jerusalem--as the One to carry our burdens---to pay the price for our Sin. He Himself is our burden bearer--and He is not ashamed to be associated with the lowly and humble of heart; with those despised and looked down upon by the more impressive members of the family. He not only loves them--he honors them by giving them important roles in his mission to save mankind. Though never acknowledged by others as having any importance, they can be assured that their Lord Himself has placed them where they are and values their contribution to His great Cause. 

   My mind goes especially to the hidden ones that no one thinks of or sees---the prayer warriors and intercessors who carry the burden of all of us on their hearts and who lift us up before the throne of God. They do not hold a visible role; one that might impress the world. But they are vital; vital in the battle of Good vs. Evil, of Right vs. wrong, of God vs. the devil--and they are placed exactly where they are, in the hidden places, alone with their Lord--"FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS..." (Esther 4:14) They are the lowly donkeys of the Lord--still carrying Him into people's spiritual births, into people's battles, into His Triumph in the lives of men and women everywhere. They carry Him to us in their prayers. Yes, it is the Holy Spirit that brings Him to us--but in a unique and wonderful way--he comes to us on the prayers of--on the backs of (or shall we say the knees of) these intercessors. We need them in this battle. In Jesus' Day there was an old widow named Anna, who lived her life, hidden away in the Temple and at 84 was still serving the Lord by praying & fasting...(Luke 2:36-37)She was one of the Lord's spiritual donkey's. She interceded for Israel, until God finally answered, by bringing us the Kingdom, in Jesus...

   2020 has been a horrendous year for all of us--in every nation. I will not dwell on it all, as you have lived it and know what I mean. If you are on this list to get these Christmas Letters, you can be assured that you and your burdens are on my other list--my prayer list--as well--and are being prayed for by me--all of you--at least once a month. Prayer is a vital aspect of our Christian lives. I am witness to the power of prayer, as I was brought out of darkness into God's wonderful Light through someone else's prayers for me, many years ago. And I hope you will choose this year to join God's Intercessors and begin lifting up those around you in prayer as well. Bear their burdens before God's throne, then watch and see what God will do. 2021, is upon us--and every day we are closer to the Lord's return--to his Kingdom coming to "Earth as it is in Heaven".  

 

                    Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

                                    Love in Christ,

                                        Joann

December 2019 Christmas Letter

 

December 10, 2019

Hallelujah! A Savior had been born into the world; One who was sent to take away Sin so mankind might be reconciled to God!! The angels announced it, the shepherds believed it and had gone to see Him in the manger. The wise men later followed His star from the east and came to Herod seeking the whereabouts of this marvelous Child whom they knew to be the King of the Jews. They wanted to worship Him, but they had to find Him first. It wasn’t enough that they should have stayed at home and worshipped Him from a distance. No, they desired to be in His very Presence, whom mankind had long awaited. I am sure their journey was inconvenient, costly, and upset their daily routines. They may even have been laughed at when they told others what they were about to do. It didn’t matter. They knew they had to find Him. So they set out to do so. We do not know what they had to go through to get to where He was----only that they knew it would be worth it in the end. Yet, (some commentators say some two years later), after they finally arrived in Jerusalem where they expected to find this King, and they inquired of the worldly King Herod as to the Child’s location, Herod sent them to Bethlehem, saying a curious thing:

“Go and make careful search for the Child, and when you have found Him, report to me, that I, too, may come and worship Him…” (Matthew 3:8 NASB)

These words jumped out at me as I read the Christmas story this year. We know that Herod’s words were actually uttered in a deceitful manner. However, his words are still instructive to us, many years later…

We may already know that Jesus has been born, that He is the King sent to save us from our sins---yet how much do we long to find Him—to be in His very Presence? Do we find that knowing the Truth about Him has still left us apart from Him in a far country-- like the Wise Men were when they first understood the truth? How much do we want to be in His Presence? What price are we willing to pay; what mocking are we willing to endure, what upset to our routine are we willing to put up with, to obtain that treasured end? God (who cannot lie) promises us in Jeremiah 29:13-14, “…You will seek Me and find Me –when you have searched for Me with all of your heart; and I will be found by you’, declares the Lord…”

I confess that I’ve gotten somewhat complacent and become guilty of having fallen back upon my knowledge about Christ and allowed my desire to be in His actual Presence wane, over time. ‘Life is busy and we only have so much time to do things…etc’… However, I was rebuked as I reread Herod’s words today. Knowing the truth about Christ is in no way as wonderful as knowing He Himself, of being in His actual, loving Presence. God requires of us—yes even those of us who have known the Truth for many years---to take the time to make a CAREFUL search for Him again. If we want to find His Presence again this Christmas (and always) we have to leave the far country and draw near to Him—really seek His face and long for him as the Wise Men did. We have to pay the price, endure what it costs, knowing that it will all be worth it in the end. Then, once we have found Him, whom our hearts desire, we are to REPORT the Good News to others so that they also can come and worship our King with us!

“O Zion, that bringest Good Tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest Good Tidings, lift up thy voice—with strength! Lift it up—be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah: ‘Behold your God!’…” (Isaiah 40:9 KJV)

Jesus Christ, the King has come---Joy to the World! Let every heart Prepare Him room!

Merry Christmas one and all,

Love, Joann

December 2018 Christmas Letter

 

“ …When the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord…And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus… then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; For my eyes have seen Thy salvation, Which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Thy people Israel...” (Luke 2:22-32 NASB)

December 10, 2018

Simeon was a man actively waiting… What are we waiting for? We are all waiting for something or someone in our lives: a child to recover from illness, the next big promotion, our children to come home for a visit, the vacation we’ve been saving for to materialize, a spouse to come on the scene, etc. Some of us are looking forward with hope for the good we expect to be coming—while others of us are waiting in dread—for the ‘other shoe to drop’, for the divorce papers to come in the mail, for the bills to arrive for the month when the money is tight, etc. Regardless—we are all waiting for what we expect to be coming….

Simeon was an old man and was close to death. He had lived his life and had nothing much to look forward to anymore, but death—until God gave him a Promise; and it was a magnificent promise. From the very beginning of time—ever since Adam and Eve had sinned and fallen away from God in the Garden of Eden, mankind had been waiting for God to send us His promised Messiah—the Savior of men, who would redeem us from all that we lost at the Fall and restore us to God. (Gen 3:15) Thousands and thousands of years had passed without the fulfillment of that promise –to the point where many had simply stopped waiting—had given up hoping—had fallen into unbelief, and gone on with living their lives without God; without living in holy expectation of the fulfillment of his wonderful promise. Simeon, however, was a devout and righteous man— and God had blessed him by revealing to him through the Holy Spirit, that—though he felt his life was over with and there was no hope of anything good yet to come---God promised him He would not let him die before allowing his very own eyes to behold the One that all of mankind had been yearning for since the Garden. WHAT A PROMISE!! And Simeon had BELIEVED the Promise God had given him and had been living in great expectation ever since, to see the Coming One with his very own eyes. What that must have done to the soul of this old man---the joy of it must have lighted his life with tremendous happiness and peace!! He knew that at ANY moment the Messiah could appear, and he had to be ready to welcome Him with open arms. The truth was—the Messiah was not just coming for Simeon---he was coming for ALL of Israel—He was coming for ‘whomsoever will’ open their heart to Him, from every tribe and nation and people and tongue of all those who dwell upon the earth. But God had chosen to give this old man HOPE, by giving him a Promise---and his belief in the fulfillment of that promise had given him a reason to live a happy and expectant life.

Advent is not just a time of remembering Jesus’ first coming—but the time of waiting with anticipation for Jesus’s second coming to the earth, as well. And God has also given US a Promise in His Holy Word: that Jesus will, indeed, one day return to earth and establish His Kingdom once and for all among us. Do we BELIEVE His Promise to us? Do we live in Holy expectation of His imminent return—or have we gone the way of all the earth, and forgotten the Promise He has given us? If our souls are weighed down with many a care –while we look for our promotion, for a spouse, for our retirement or vacation---perhaps we are too earthbound—to temporal minded, and we need to lift our eyes up to the horizon and REMEMBER this is NOT ‘all there is’—or all there is going to be. (Hallelujah!) Jesus shed his precious blood for us on Calvary to pay the price for our sins—paid in FULL the debt we owed to God, so that we may be restored to the heavenly Father. There really IS a Coming Day of GLORY for all who Believe and who, like Simeon, have set their houses in order in GREAT EXPECTATION of the return of our loving ‘Master of the house.’ Are we ready, with Simeon to welcome Him with open arms when He comes? Or will He find us too busy with our lower, earthly preoccupations to give Him the welcome He is due? If we are missing our joy this season of Advent, perhaps we are waiting for something LESS than what-- and Who --we know we really need. The Holy Spirit is the one who revealed to Simeon that God was about to fulfill His great promise. And the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to us today this same Messiah’s Spirit among us, even now, as we await His bodily return. May God open our eyes to see His Son in our midst by His Holy Spirit, and help us conform our lives to His Image, and bring Him Glory!

Simeon was given LIFE by the Promise God gave him to live by. He was given his promise because He was devout---meaning that he took the time to call upon God, to draw near to God and give Him the Honor He is due. God has given us promises to gain LIFE by, as well:

“Draw near to God and He WILL draw near to you…” (James 4:8).

“…Seek the Lord, while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon…” (Isaiah 55: 6-7)

It is not by accident that the Bible says it was WISE men who sought out Jesus when He came the first time---for it will be WISE men (and women) who will be the ones to seek Him out the second time as well…..Are you discouraged…feeling lost or hopeless?? Draw near to God and Ask Him to give you a Promise from His Holy Word for you to Live by. His Word gives Life and Hope!

Praying that 2019 will find us all seeking Jesus more diligently, devoutly, and giving Him the Honor He is due, that his Second Advent will come quickly and will not be delayed. Maranatha! ♥

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all,

Love Joann

December 2017 Christmas Letter

 

“Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the East arrived…and they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary

His mother; and they fell down and worshipped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh…”

(Matthew 2:1a, 11)

December 3, 2017

When I was a child, we were encouraged each year to make a list of what we wanted for Christmas. Of course our imaginations would run wild like most children’s, but being from a large family with limited resources, I learned early in life not to ask for, or expect too much. When money is tight, parents often give what a child needs, not necessarily what a child wants. To keep my list short, I only requested things that I truly wanted. It must have surprised my parents therefore when, almost every year, I included on my list (and got) the same thing--an Etch-A-Sketch. {This was a device whereby one could draw pictures on a screen by turning buttons, and erase the picture to start over again by turning it upside down and shaking it. I loved that toy, and was kept happily occupied for hours drawing with it, but it was always broken by the next Christmas —so I always requested another. }

It was therefore comforting to me, the first time I read the Christmas story, to realize that even though His Father had unlimited resources---Jesus Himself only received three gifts for Christmas. Now, for years I have read of the gifts of the magi and subconsciously thought —‘surely these were gifts He only needed: things picked out for Him by His Father, and not things He would have wanted for Himself.’ But when this thought rumbled about in my subconscious this year as I reread the story, it got me thinking:

Of course Jesus and His Father’s will are, and always have been, one. This means, therefore, that Jesus did get what he wanted. I wondered—‘how could that be—why would He have wanted such things?’ In meditating on the gifts themselves, I realized, not only did those gifts represent what Jesus once wanted as an infant—but they are His own ‘short list’ even now of what He wants us to bring Him whenever we approach Him. And He requests the same things year in and year out—because we always ‘break’ our gifts to Him: Myrrh, Frankincense & Gold.

             Myrrh is a resin from a small thorny tree species (Commiphora myrrha), that’s obtained by making deep cuts that cause the tree to ‘bleed’ sap. It was one of the items Joseph’s brothers took in trade for him (Genesis 37:25), was used in the holy anointing oil for High Priests and Kings in Israel (Exodus 30:23; 1 Samuel 10:1), was a perfume used by Esther in preparation for being brought into the King’s Presence (Esther 2:12) It was mixed with the wine (turning it bitter) offered to Jesus at the cross (Mk 15:23) (which He rejected since He’d told his disciples he wouldn’t drink wine again until he drank it new with them in the Kingdom), (Luke 22:18). It was purported to be the thorny branches used in Christ’s crown of thorns and thus represents the bitterness, suffering and affliction caused by sin—since thorns came into the perfect Garden only as a result of sin and rebellion. Myrrh was used as an embalming oil for burial, as it covered odors (John 19:39). It is also a healing balm used to disinfect, and cleanse wounds.

Frankincense is an aromatic resin obtained by the cutting of (in particular) the scraggy but hardy Boswellia sacra trees. The trees are tapped by slashing the bark, which is called ‘striping,’ and allowing the exuded resin to bleed out and harden. These hardened resins are called ‘tears’. Boswellia sacra trees are considered unusual for their ability to grow in environments so hostile, rugged, and unforgiving that they have the ability to grow where there is no soil; sometimes even growing out of solid rock. Therefore this tree is a symbol for resilience, strength and endurance. The initial means of attachment to the rock is unknown, but is accomplished by a bulbous disk-like swelling of the trunk. This growth prevents it from being ripped from the rock during violent storms. This feature is slight or absent in trees grown in rocky soil or gravel. Frankincense was another of the commodities traded in exchange for Joseph. (Gen 37:25 where it’s called ‘aromatic gum’) Frankincense was an important component of the services in the Temple in Jerusalem. It was one of the ingredients of the consecrated incenses offered on the sacred Altar of Incense. (Exodus 30:7-9; 34-38) and therefore, is an emblem of prayer. (Psalm 141:2) God commanded the priests to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, the same time that the daily burnt offering were made. The incense was to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Frankincense was also one of the ingredients in the perfume of the sanctuary (Exodus 30:34), and was used as an accompaniment of the meal-offering (Leviticus 2:1; 2:16; 6:15, 24:7) When burnt it emitted a fragrant odor, and the incense was a symbol of the Divine name (Malachi 1:11, Song of Solomon 1:3). It was often associated with myrrh. (Song of Solomon 3:6; 4:6). An especially "pure" kind, ‘lebhonah zakkah’, in Hebrew, was presented with the showbread (Leviticus 24:7)

Gold— Historically, the value of gold was rooted in its relative rarity, easy handling and minting, easy smelting and fabrication, resistance to corrosion and to most acids, etc. As a precious metal it’s been used for coinage, jewelry, and other arts throughout recorded history. Gold's high malleability, ductility, resistance to corrosion and most other chemical reactions, and conductivity of electricity have led to its continued use in corrosion resistant electrical connections in all types of computerized devices (its chief industrial use). In all ages, gold has served as an article and store of enduring value. Unlike silver, it is highly resistant to oxidation and corruption. It is soft and malleable, warm and beautiful, and holds its value over long periods of time even as other goods and commodities rise and fall. As such, gold has become a universal symbol of love. For example, gold is commonly used to make wedding rings, serving as a symbol of the love between the two partners. In a religious context, gold especially symbolizes spiritual and heavenly love—and, of course, divine love. That is why the most sacred articles of the Tabernacle were to be made of gold, overlaid with gold, or interwoven with gold (Exodus 25:10-40; 28:6-30; 30:1-10), and also why the streets of the New Jerusalem, are made of “gold as pure as glass” (Revelation 21:18,21).

 Christ’s Christmas list is so very short…shall we not give Him what he asks of us?

 We offer the heart of Jesus the healing balm of Myrrh, when we HUMBLE ourselves before him, coming into His Holy Presence, realizing & acknowledging he was sold into bondage in our place and died on our behalf, that He wore the crown of thorns for our sake and acknowledge Him as our King and High Priest. As such, we now willingly agree to die to our self-wills and accept the bitterness, suffering and afflictions of this life which will come to us, as we enter into the fellowship of His sufferings. Such humbling brings us to the Blood of Christ, represented by the bleeding sap—which will cover, cleanse and disinfect the stench of our sin before Him.

We offer Christ the gift of Frankincense when we CONSECRATE our service and sanctify our hearts for consistent COMMUNION with Him. Once we are Christ’s, the Holy Spirit will show us those things that are not in keeping with Christ’s will for us, and will gently show us what needs to be ‘stripped’ from our lives. Despite our tears, we must remain consecrated to Christ regardless of the cost or what storms may assail us. We are to cling to Him and commune with Him in constant prayer, even when there is nothing else on earth to support us; and He will strengthen us and enable us to endure to the end. As His priests we are to intercede for those He has brought around us, sharing His Love and Gospel truth with them, and bring their needs to Him. As such, our prayers will be a soothing aroma before Him—well pleasing in His sight. (2 Corinthians 5:9; 1 Peter 2:5) By clinging to Him in obedience, He will keep us from being torn from our Rock in any storm we may have to go through. We offer all we do with the sweet aroma of Frankincense of the Name of Jesus—though whom only are our sacrifices pleasing to God.

We offer our Beloved Bridegroom the Precious gift of Gold when we express our FAITH & TRUST in Him by allowing His Divine Love to rule in our hearts. When His Love abides within us, we will find ourselves to be easily molded to His will, able to both receive his Word as well as conduct it to others without the corruption of our own acid influences. Our manner will be soft and warm, even when correcting those who oppose God. He will be able to more fully stamp His Image upon our lives, making us a rare jewel in His crown. Our hearts’ deepest LOVE is what Jesus yearns for and deserves, and our trust in Him is what will most perfectly expresses it.

             As for myself, I have but a single wish this Christmas—and this year, it is not for an Etch-A-Sketch: That God would fulfill the following verse in the lives of all of us….

 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now, for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being MORE precious than gold, which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 1:7)

Merry Christmas to you all

                Joann

December 2016 Christmas Letter

“But as for you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.  His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity…”

                                                                                      (Micah 5:2  NASB)

                                                                                                December 10, 2016

    I have always found it interesting that the Christmas story in Matthew actually begins with His geneology. “The book of the geneology of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham…” (Matthew 1:1). I was recently  working on my own family geneology  and was amazed as I considered all those who came before me, in order to get to me. Who were these people, and what did they have to go through, in making me the unique person I am today? Some were born in France, others Ireland, England and many in Quebec. One woman was from the nobility in Canada and was disowned for marrying a commoner, etc. All had their own unique story and place in my history. 

   The genealogy of Jesus Christ is different, however. For, though Matthew’s version of it (Matt chpt 1) traces him back to prove he is the son of Abraham  & David --and thus in line to be the rightful Messiah, Luke’s version of His genealogy  (Luke chptr 3) actually traces Him all the way back to Adam, and declares Him the Son of God.  So, who we are from is important. Where we are from also makes us who we are as well. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The same Bethlehem-Ephrathah that Micah told us was the ‘runt’ of the clans of Judah. I like that. God has often chosen the ‘runts’ of the world to accomplish his purposes—those whom others consider not even worth mentioning—who they may even want to disown for being different.  When the prophet Nathan was sent to anoint the new King of Israel, David’s father and brothers were so sure he didn’t matter, that they did not even call him in from caring for the sheep, for the ceremony.  You can imagine their surprise then when it turned out God wanted ‘the runt’ of the lot to rule over them—over all Israel!! So when the Christmas story tells us that Jesus was ‘born in Bethlehem’, it is telling us, that God has once again chosen the runt—that Jesus deliberately became the runt among His own people, Israel, to come to the world and make all men know they matter with God! No one is insignificant to Him. We are all desired by Him! Hallelujah! 

   But who we are, and where we are from, is not the most important thing about us; nor is our occupation, regardless how lofty a position we may hold. Nicodemus, was the head Rabbi/teacher of all Israel when he was told by Jesus what the most important thing was for a man, as he approached Christ secretly by night to inquire of Him. Jesus told him the real secret of Christmas, the real secret of a successful and fulfilling life: “You must be born again.” Nicodemus responded much like you probably are—“what do you mean by that? How can one be born a second time?” Jesus explained that, there is a spiritual birth a man must have before he not only understands spiritual things, but also before He can be received into heaven. For, just as the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, his mother, and brought Him to her womb, so too, must the Holy Spirit come upon our own hearts and bring forth a new birth within us—that Christ must be formed within us, be ‘born’ in us, creating us as ‘new creatures’ (2 Cor 5:17). Paul tells us in Colossians 1:26-27 that this is “the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been made manifest to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the Glory of this mystery among the Gentiles—which is: CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory!”

    This is the most important thing about a man—has he been born again? Has he received the very Life of Jesus Christ within his heart, and been born of the Holy Spirit? Not, ‘is he a member of the Church’; nor ‘is he a Bible teacher’---for Nicodemus was all of those things already; in fact was he was the CHIEF of those things in Israel---yet Jesus told him that it was simply not enough….Jesus told him “You MUST be born again!” It wasn’t optional. It was the only way back to reconciliation with God the Father; that way which our father Adam had lost for all of us when he fell in Eden. But God had sent His Son Jesus to Bethlehem, and then to Calvary, to provide the way for us to return to Him—to provide the way to restore us to Himself, and the glories of heaven. . . Christmas is about Jesus being born the first time in Bethlehem. But it is also about His coming to provide the way for our own second birth-- into His Kingdom.

    So this Christmas I tell you a mystery---a secret that most will never understand---you must be born again, you CAN be born again!!—and I ask you---have you been ‘born again’?? There is nothing a man can do to make such a birth happen, any more than he did the first time he was born. “The wind blows where it will” Jesus told us. We can no more control the Holy Spirit than we can the wind. We must wait upon His coming—watch for Him, long for Him—but do so expectantly---knowing He will indeed come to us in His own time. What we must do while we wait is humble ourselves before Him; admit we are not worthy to receive His pure life within us—admit we do not deserve to be a part of his people---yet tell Him we do long to be restored to Him. We must confess our sinfulness to Him, and cry out for the deliverance that Jesus died to bring to us…Call upon the Holy Spirit to come into your heart this Christmas, and give you the New Life that Christ died to bring to you. Call upon Him; Cry out to Him, and do not give up until you can truly say in all sincerity that he has indeed had mercy on your soul and been born in you!

     YOU are meant to be the ‘Little Town of Bethlehem’; the runt that God does not want to overlook, or cast out. The original hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem” had 10 verses. (see below for the link to all 10 verses)  However verses 6 & 9 especially make my point this Christmas. I pray you will indeed ‘receive’ the gift that God has sent you this Christmas, and be born again.    


No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive Him
Still the dear Christ enters in….

O Holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today!

Here is the link to the 10 original verses…     and Merry Christmas!!    Joann

http://www.songlyrics.com/traditional/o-little-town-of-bethlehem-lyrics/