Last Several Attempts

Good morning, friends.  My last several attempts to log onto my blog have failed.  I'm not sure as to why, but finally, today, it worked! 
I should know better than to say 'I want to write about a new chapter a day from the Bible.'  Having a baby changes everything.  I can make plans of what I want to do, but when it comes down to it....unfortunately...there are not enough hours in the day for everything that needs to get done.  And my blog goes on the back burner.  However, mornings like this, when I have a moment, I want to try and write about what God is doing in my life!

My son is sitting next to me on the couch, kicking his little legs to classical music as he watches Baby Einstein.  3 days ago was his 4 month birthday.  Every moment with him is a blessing.  Even the moments that seem they will never end as he cries, or fusses, or just makes me feel inadequate.  I'm constantly being reminded that he is not mine first.  He belongs to the Lord.  Praise God that He is giving me the opportunity, the blessing, to raise him!!!  I hope I do not take him for granted!

Ever since we left Athens, I have missed my previous job.  Not because I don't LOVE being a stay-at-home mother and wife, but because I miss working for the Kingdom.  Well, I have just been offered a job, one in which I didn't apply for nor know was available, in which I only need to work a few short hours a week, and can do so from home or the office.  If I am in the office, Roman can come too!  Praise God for this opportunity, a little more income, and for it all being a blessing handed down from above.

Have a beautiful day all!!

Luke 1

Silly me.  I should have known better than to say I would blog a new chapter each day of the Bible, and then go out of town for 11 days!  I hope your Christmas and New Years was wonderful.  It was so joyful being with friends and family, and having my little boy to share everything with!  Luke 1 fortells the birth of John the Baptist, born to prepare the way of our Lord.  When his father, Zechariah was told by an angel that his wife would conceive, Zechariah doubted.  His wife, Elizabeth, was advanced in years and barren.  Because of his disbelief, Zechariah was silenced until the birth of John.  While Mary was pregnant, she visited Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. (Luke 1: 41)  She immediately knew Mary was carrying the Lord.  Mary remained with them for about three months and they rejoiced together.  During that time was when Mary wrote her Magnificat: 

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant.  For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name.  And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation.  He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hears; He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent empty away.  He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever."  Luke 1:46-55

 After John's birth, Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophecies regarding God's mercy and his new baby:  "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."  Luke 1: 76-79 And that is just what John did.  Growing strong in the spirit, he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance in Israel.  Goodness, all this talk about babies!  Here is my precious baby boy.  I pray that God has a special purpose for him and will see Roman through to its completion.

This is Roman with his Uncle Christopher.

Matthew 2

We three kings of orient are.....
That's right!  Matthew 2 involves the wise men visiting Jesus!  So many prophecies are fulfilled in this chapter.  The wise men traveled to Bethlehem and upon seeing Jesus, fell down and worshiped Him, and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Prophecy #1 "And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel."

Herod was King during the time of Jesus' birth, and when the wise men asked where they could find 'He who has been born king of the Jews?', Herod and his chief priests and scribes began to plot how to ensure His death.  He asked the wise men to bring back word of where this King was, that he too could go and worship Him.  In a dream, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child and destroy Him."  This fulfills Prophecy #2 "Out of Egypt I called my Son." 

When Herod realized he had been tricked by the wise men, by them returning to their home by way of a different route, he because furious and sent for all of the male children in Bethlehem age 2 and under to be killed.  Looking at my baby boy, sleeping so peacefully next to me, I realize he falls in that age range.  I cannot imagine...nor do I want to...what the mothers went through.  Did Mary ever hear what had happened?  Did she know that God provided protection for her baby?  What was her reaction, if she did hear the horrible news of what had taken place?  Prophecy #3 "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more."

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, telling him to take Mary and the Child, and go to the land of Israel.  They went and lived in a city called Nazareth, fulfilling Prophecy #4 "He shall be called a Nazarene."

I love rereading these chapters and writing about them.  It helps me to be reminded of all the prophecies that were fulfilled.  That could only be fulfilled by the Messiah.  Praise God for keeping His promises!  Great is His faithfulness!