Grace

Grace is defined as kindness, a few synonyms of grace include majesty, elegance, blessing and favor.

A few days ago, our sweet tabby cat Nemo was playing with ornaments on our Christmas tree. I felt like it was Providence that he chose the shining silver ornament he fixated on with the word, Grace. As Nemo was spinning it around I was thinking about the message of Christmas and the gift of Jesus.

Christmas, gives us an opportunity to realize the love of our Father God, and the grace and mercy that He showed by sending His Son, Jesus, to the earth as a baby to provide a bridge between His children; you and I.

From the beginning of time, God always wanted a relationship with his children, including Adam and Eve. Sadly, however, sin entered the garden with a bite of an apple from the forbidden tree of knowledge. The relationship between Father God and humans, His children, was forever changed.

Thankfully, God made a way to restore our relationship by sending His Son Jesus to earth.

His mother, Mary was a teenager, and Jesus’ adoptive father, a carpenter were given visitations by angels for a God given destiny to unfold. They both chose to obey God. The conception was supernatural something our human minds may not understand. God was the Father.

Luke 1:27-33,35,38 NIrV
He was sent to a virgin. The girl was engaged to a man named Joseph. He came from the family line of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. [28] The angel greeted her and said, “The Lord has blessed you in a special way. He is with you.” [29] Mary was very upset because of his words. She wondered what kind of greeting this could be. [30] But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary. God is very pleased with you. [31] You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must call him Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king like his father David of long ago. [33] The Son of the Most High God will rule forever over his people. They are from the family line of Jacob. That kingdom will never end.” [35] The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of the Most High God will cover you. So the holy one that is born will be called the Son of God. [38] “I serve the Lord,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me just as you said it would.” Then the angel left her.

Matthew 1:20-23 AMPC
But as he was thinking this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary [as] your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of (from, out of) the Holy Spirit. [21] She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Savior], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God]. [22] All this took place that it might be fulfilled which the Lord had spoken through the prophet, [23] Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel-which, when translated, means, God with us.

Jesus came in a manger, wrapped in swaddling cloth, and He walked this earth experiencing what it is to be both human and our Savior died for our sins on a cross at 33 years old. Jesus obeyed His Father in unconditional love.

Just as Jesus had a destiny so do each of His children. There is a purpose for your life, our life journey was conceived before we were born. We have to trust and obey the Lord has the best plan.

Step by step, moment to moment with our mind fixed on seeking Jesus and His plan, we will achieve our destiny when we allow Jesus to be the authority in our life.

Jesus made the loving decision to take upon Himself all of our sin, He was beaten and bruised for our sin. Pause for a minute and think about that pain and amazing gift for us.

What an unconditional love our Father God in heaven, had for us in sending His Son to the Earth. God has always wanted a relationship with His child. He gives us free will to choose Him.

Emmanuel is the Hebrew word for God with us! The life of Jesus started in a manger to bring hope for each day, a connection from heaven to earth and it’s the eternal circle of eternal life.

This Christmas breathe in the breath of God, it’s already in your lungs, so breathe deeply of the unconditional love of the Savior Jesus, and breathe in the grace, mercy, and hope for your destiny.

Prayer: We thank you, Lord for your Majesty and your favor over our lives. We thank you, Lord for coming as a baby in a manger to bring Hope to the world we thank you, Lord for choosing to obey your Father in heaven so we could be blessed. We thank you, Lord for what an amazing love You have shown to each of us in Jesus mighty name amen.

Grace, Peace and love to you and your families! Merry Christmas! Emmanuel He is with us!