Few more weeks until Christmas.. Open door explores choices, actions, consequences this week...
(MSG)Matthew 1: 18-25 -- The Birth of Jesus The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—'God saves'—because he will save his people from their sins." This would bring the prophet's embryonic sermon to full term: Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us").
Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.
- Every day life is made up of decisions.. expected and often unexpected... Choices...
- Choices have consequences... acceptance, scorn, money, change, inclusion, exclusion.
- Choose to embrace your faith as the guiding principle for your actions... Faith is a choice, not an emotion, or a whim...
Joseph's model for use?
Discern, Debate, Decide, Do, and Don't look back!
Obeying God's will mean participating in something bigger than you, more significant than you, usually more than you can possibly do on your own.
Join in the journey! your love story with your family, your neighbors, your God provides you opportunities to BE LOVE SERVE and REPEAT.. every day...
To Christmas and beyond...
