Baby Jesus, the Mighty One!

The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
   speaks and summons the earth 
   from the rising of the sun to where it sets.

From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.

Our God comes and will not be silent;
   a fire devours before him,
   and around him a tempest rages.

Psalms 50:1-3 NIV

Christmas is coming and I love this time of year. It always amazes me that Jesus came as a baby. He came down to earth and lived as one of us. Except without sin. This Jesus who humbled himself and became obedient to the point of dying on the cross for our sins. He is the Mighty One, God, the LORD of the whole earth. He is who we worship, trust and follow. 

Whatever the chaos, drama, or stress the season may bring, the real point is that we remember, celebrate and worship Jesus, who came in the flesh, lived and died for our sins and now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf. 

Praise be to the Mighty One, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Prelude to the Christmas Story, Part 3

Zechariah’s Song 
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn[C] of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the path of peace.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit[D]; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Luke 1:67-80 (NIV)

Prelude to the Christmas Story, Part 2

Mary’s Song

And Mary said: 
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 
     for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. 
From now on all generations will call me blessed, 
     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. 
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
     from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
     he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
     but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
     but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
     remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever,
     just as he promised our ancestors.” 
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Luke 1:46-56 (NIV)