Merry Christmas! I hope this blog post finds you and yours well. It’s been a wild ride the past few years but we know God is sovereign and will reign forevermore. Take time out to relax, unwind and reflect on the birth of Jesus as you color today’s free downloadable coloring page. Grab a cup of hot cocoa or tea put on some Christmas music as you reflect on how God orchestrated everything, down to last detail. God is in the details. He loves you!
“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” – Like 2:12
The sign was a baby wrapped in cloths. King James Versions says “swaddling cloths.” By definition swaddling means wrapping. We have read that so many times it’s easy to overlook that. But these cloths have significant meaning. When the angels told the shepherds they would find Jesus in swaddling cloths they knew exactly what was being told to them. According to Levitical law the newborn lambs that were to be sacrificed for Passover, they were to be wrapped in strips of linen as soon as they were born so that they would remain blemish free and be protected from any bruising.
We know that Jesus later became crucified on the Jewish Passover as the “Lamb of God.” When Jesus was sacrificed as the Lamb of God, he was tied down and his body was wrapped in cloths at his burial. The Hebrew word for “wrapped” is “chattal, which means to wrap up or tie down. Interesting.
If you haven’t seen The Chosen Christmas Special – The Messengers, it’s a must see. There’s a touching scene between the Marys, Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ mother. I don’t want spoil it for those who haven’t seen it so you’ll just have to watch it. Hint, It has to do with cloths. You can see it on YouTube or through The Chosen app.
Merry Christmas!
Happy Memorize Monday!!! It’s almost 2022!! Where has time gone. Today’s scripture is taken from Luke 1:46-55, known as Mary’s Song, commonly know as the “Magnificat,” literally song of praise. It’s also similar to the psalm of Hannah when she gave birth to Samuel. Mary prices God for His faithfulness to keep HIs promises. Ponder the faithfulness of God today as Mary pondered and “treasured these things in her heart.” – Luke 2:19. Praise God for His faithfulness to keep His promises today and all through the year!
Has this happened to you? You have been so distraught nothing is comforting? You try everything, listening to Christian music, worship music, listening to a podcast or a sermon online and nothing seems to stick. Not even just reading scripture? It’s ok it happens. We are human.
If there was ever a person who knew anxiety it was Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane – Matthew 26:36-36 – Jesus was about to be crucified, on a cross, separated from His Father in Heaven, v.38 – “My anguish is so great that I feel as if I’m dying. Wait here, and stay awake with me.” He knows anxiety. He experienced every emotion we, His creation has felt, feels and will feel. But noticed He asked for His friends to be stay with Him. (there’s more on that).
So what is one to do? Well first, for myself, I try to realize that God sees my heart and nothing goes unnoticed by Him. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:13. Whether or not I feel this or believe it at the time, this is truth. It’s in the Bible, the Bible is infallible, it’s timeless and I know I can trust it. I can choose to believe it or not, I can have the faith of a mustard seed or not but the fact remains, God sees me, I am known by Him. “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” – Like 12:7. He created me and formed me in my mother’s womb, – Psalm 139:13. He will never leave me nor forsake me, – Deuteronomy 31:6. Truth!
It also helps me if I can count my blessings, I know that can sound so cliché. There are days I am thankful for being able to get out of bed and put my two feet on the floor. Some days I am just thankful for being able to hold a pencil. Joni Eareckson Tada, she is paralyzed from the neck down and paints with a paintbrush between her teeth. She has an incredible story and ministry that God works through. Sometimes it helps to see how God has worked in other people’s lives. Bethany Hamilton survived a shark attack when she was 13. She’s not thankful she is missing her left arm, but she is thankful for where God has brought her spiritually. And as an athlete, she still surfs and competes with one arm. God had given her an amazing ministry encouraging others who are physically disabled. That difficult time in her life, God used for His glory. If you haven’t seen Soul Surfer, I highly recommend it. Nick Vujicic is another inspiration. He was born without limbs and God has worked amazing things in his life. The Bible tells us to give thanks in all things. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “give thanks IN all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We don’t necessarily have to be thankful FOR all things but thankful IN all things
Another thing I do is reach out to others for prayer. This is very humbling for me because it makes me feel weak. Know what? I am. I need God’s help. God sometimes provides that for us through friends. Jesus had His disciples/friends with Him in the Garden and in Exodus 17:12 – God provided Aaron and Hur to stand beside him with stones to put under his arms to keep them lifted up. We weren’t meant to do life alone. God has provided community through our churches, friends, family, support groups, we just need to reach out. Jesus had community, He had His disciples, followers, and His family.
God still loves us even on the hard days when scripture doesn’t seem to be working. Remember to go with what you know, recall how God has provided in the past. Reach out to a friend for prayer. God is still in control, He sees you, He sees your heart. Be strong and courageous.
Malachi 4:2 – “The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.” Where have we heard that phrase before; “healing in his wings?” Here’s something really interesting. The Hebrew word for “wings” is “kanafim” which also means corners. Hold on to that thought.
Malachi prophesied that ” … the Sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.” Jewish believers gave the name Sun of Righteousness to the coming Messiah. Malachi was referencing Jesus’ ability to heal with the corners of his robe. Kanafim also means “corners.” Are you seeing a parallel? In the book of Mark 5:25-34, is the story about the woman who had been bleeding for over 12 years knew the scriptures. She knew all she had to do was touch the corners of Jesus’ garment and she would be healed.
25 … And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
And so we see this phrase used in a beloved Christmas song, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”
Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Wow! Kinda adds new meaning to the old Christmas carol. I bet you will be thinking corners the next time you sing Hark the Herald Angels Sing. I know I will.
Merry Christmas!
Happy Monday! Here is today’s Memorize Monday free coloring page. Luke 2:10, “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.'”
Salvation for the world has arrived!! As we prepare for Christmas, take time to ponder the birth of Christ. Imagine what it was like for the shepherds. What if you were there. Would you be startled, afraid? Would you run away? Would you feel threatened or in awesome wonder?
These shepherds ran, but they ran to see baby Jesus in a manger and as they went, they passed the word along the way for others to come and see. When they arrived can you imagine? What did they see? I imagine these shepherds were Jewish and they had read the scriptures. Since the birth of Jesus was prophesied in Isaiah 9:6 “Unto us a child is born;” his prophetic promise of a “special child who would bring light into a darkened world and be the prince of peace provides comfort to readers of all generations.” Even still, not expecting this wondrous announcement, they most likely were a little scared, it probably took them a few minutes to recall what they had known.
Take some time today to reflect what it may have been like herding sheep in the thick of the night and angels appearing in the sky to tell you that the Messiah has come, Salvation is here.
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” Psalm 107:1
Happy Monday! Hope you are enjoying these free coloring pages to help with memorizing God’s word. With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner it’s good time of year to reflect on our generosity and gratefulness. Generosity is cultivated through being grateful. When we are thankful, it changes everything about our outlook and attitude. We become generous with our time, our love, compassion, our finances, our time; we want to share what we have with others.
And think about this when we are generous today we are laying stones for the next generation like in the book of Joshua. By donating our time, our money, our resources, we are laying stones and building God’s Kingdom so that one day others will see how God worked through us and ask, “What do these stones mean to you?” Joshua 4:6.
Memorize Monday – free coloring page, Colossians 3:15- “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” God asks us to be thankful. If you want to know the will of God, be thankful. Yes God has more than that for us to do, but it’s a good place to start if you are looking to do God’s will. We were called to be thankful and the peace of God to rule in our hearts. There are many benefits to being thankful. Being thankful can improve mental and physical health. Having a heart of gratitude can foster empathy and allow us to be content with what we already have. For are you thankful for today? Share in the comments and if you find encouragement in the post, please like and share.
The Kedge Anchor 
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