Zechariah's Unbelief

Luke 1:18-20

A decade ago, I dreamed of having many children—each one unique in the interests they would share with me, the activities we could do together, the joy they would bring to my life. But I have struggled in romance, and with each passing year my dreams get smaller, my hope dwindles a little more.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is watching “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. I enjoy the innocent love story between Rudolph and Clarice, and I hope a little more when they sing, “There’s always tomorrow for dreams to come true.” Then, the misfit toys depress me when they think they’ve been forgotten and cry out in despair, “I haven’t any dreams left to dream!” In spite of their hopelessness, Santa comes to turn their despair to joy by bringing children into their lives.

For many, the holidays are more a painful reminder of what we lack than a joyful celebration. Some of our longings will always be longings; others are felt for only a time. One day, like Zechariah, we may be awed by the plans God has made for us. We can trust that God will fulfill His promise at the proper time.

QUESTIONS:

1. What do you long for this holiday season?

2. What longings of your past is God granting in your present?

PRAYER:

Lord, I trust Your plans for me—plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.

Star Bradley

Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23

Do you sometimes feel alone? Are the holidays difficult for you? We all have those days or even seasons when we feel alone, abandoned.  Take a look at how both of the scripture verses for today tell us God is with us.  Both verses predict or announce the arrival of Immanuel which means God with us.

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Matthew 1:23)

God sent His son so we would not feel alone, so we would know we are not alone.  This first Christmas without my husband isn't near as difficult as I thought it would be.  Why?  Because I am not alone.  I am spending part of the holiday season with family in Ohio and part with family in Wisconsin, and all of the holiday season with Jesus.  It is so important we stay close, to family and to God.  How do we do this? 

We stay close to family by spending time with them, talking and sharing meals and family fun.  We stay close to Jesus by talking to Him, sharing our hearts and having fun with Him.  I manage to stay close to God by reading His Word, journaling my thoughts and spending time in His presence.  How do you stay close to God during the busy holidays?

It is so good to know that Jesus is with us...Immanuel.