Blessed Christmas

                                                        A Merry and Blessed Christmas to All

 Yes this is a bit late this week, but after a busy busy past two weeks and then travel to family in NW Arkansas, this is the first chance I got to do justice to the blog. 

As I said, God so very much blessed the ministry with donations. On Sunday we packed many bags for the Christmas Distribution, as well as gathered all of the presents for the kiddos in the colonias. Guess I posted pictures of that last week.  All week donations continued to come in, so we collected, wrapped, and packaged, as well as doing a Tuesday distribution, where each family received a small frozen chicken, just right for Christmas dinner. Friday we arrived in the colonias with a truck and trailer load of food as well as a back seat filled with Christmas gifts. As the girls started to unload, another pick up arrived with all of the bags we previously packed (each one containing many canned goods and a small canned ham) and all of the presents we wrapped, followed by a flurry of activity as we prepared to distribute the food and gifts. After the distribution (thank you Lord for providing enough for everyone who showed up, as well as enough gifts for the kids) we gathered for prayer and a short devotion that I had prepared about Joseph and Mary's obedience to the Lord, which I will reprint at the end of this blog. This was followed by gift distribution to the loyal ladies who help out every week, as well as a gift card for us to use for travel. After thanks and praises, a bountiful meal prepared by the ladies. Homemade tamales (a Mexican Christmas tradition), fried rice, potato salad, and various salsas. And for dessert one of the ladies made a scrumptious strawberry flan. we soon left to tie up loose ends and prepare to leave the next day to visit Chaplain Roy and Paula Gee in Joshua, Texas for a short visit and then onto Arkansas to spend Christmas with our daughters, the first time we spent Christmas with them in about 15 years. 

                                                                           tomatoes anyone

                        the baskets ready to fill with a bountiful of food - the purple boxes contain papayas

                                                               boxes full of toys

                                            

                           some of the  kiddos who live in the colonias also received presents   

 this little guy was busy eating quavaus

                                           

While at the Gee's we drove through Christmas in Texas light exhibit which was so very beautiful - it took us at least 30minutes to drive through it all.  

                                                                    a drive through sparkling trees

                                                              country church

                                                                  the reason for the season

                                                             a quiet scene

                                                                  gingerbread house for everyone

                                                  homoring our firefighters

                                                           and emergency workers

Our daughter, where we are staying has decorated house house and patio so beautifully. We sat outside on the pation today with a fire in the outdoor fireplace, just enjoy the beauty (and the relaxation for us)

                                                             Christmas candles she made from 4 x 4 pieces of lumber

                                                              her outdoor tree

                                                               even the deer was decorated

                                          Joseph, An Earthy Father

Matthew 1:18-21

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about. His mother, Mary, was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

When God chose Mary to become the mother of Jesus, she did not fully understand but responded that she was the Lord’s servant.  God also entrusted Joseph to be Jesus’ earthly father. What did God see in Joseph? A righteous man, a man that God knew would act appropriately when he found out Mary was with child which was not his. Joseph’s first reaction was to break the engagement, and quietly put Mary aside, therefore causing her no shame.

Joseph was a man of God and accepted the words of the angel and went about his life, honoring Mary for the humble and obedient woman she was.

Because of his obedience and faith, Jesus was born the Son of God in Bethlehem but raised as Jesus, the son of Joseph of Nazareth. How many times do we questions God’s plans for our lives (who me, Lord, I’m too old, or not smart or strong enough, etc.) thinking that we know better what is good for us. If we were more like Joseph and Mary, accepting God’s direction in our lives by obedience, imagine how much more amazing our lives would be.

Because of Joseph’s faith, prophecy was fulfilled, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means “God is with us”.  Matthew 1:23

As we prepare for Christmas and the birth of our Lord and Savior, let us also remember what His birth means to us. God sent His only Son to earth to save us from our sins, to give us salvation that we do not deserve.   

This is always a special time of the year for us as Christians as we celebrate the first coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We have to focus on what that first coming means. He gave His life so ours could live in Him. This Christmas I encourage you to think about that first Christmas, to allow Jesus to become the Lord of your life. Let Him rule and reign in you so that in all of these present difficulties you can praise and give thanks for Him. Respond like Mary did with the words, “I am the Lord’s servant”.

A safe and wonderful Christmas holiday to all - remember the reason for this beautiful season.