Advent(Dec. 24): Kneel at the Manger

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7

"Mary and Joseph hunched in a stable, awestruck that they were holding in their trembling hands the Son-King, the rescue plan to free His children from darkness.

On the night Jesus was born, there was more happening than we could see. High in the heavens, it wasn't a silent night - it was a cosmic war spinning across space. Jesus came for you, warring against the darkness to win you back to Him. The evil enemy of God, Satan, fell like lightening from heaven - fell out of the sky in a heap."

How do you open up your heart after rejection’s slammed you closed, after you’ve exposed dreams and begged prayers, after you’ve tasted the rot of loss —  after the loss keeps coming and gets caught right there in your gullet?

How do you walk through this hard world with your heart gaping tender open?This night our rescue has come. God has visited our planet, and we can breathe free.

Emmanuel — God with us. God with us and for us and in us and holding us and this is the Christmas miracle that outlasts all of time. 

"Tonight, at the foot of the cradle of Christ, like at the foot of the cross of Christ, there are no big, powerful, or proud people. Tonight we are all children who struggle to the manger with nothing. Tonight, we kneel down before Jesus and reach out our hands that need little - because we want more of God."

 We need some One to touch the wounds of our heart with a warm and gentle hand - to be with us...

• When you don’t think you can forget what she’s said about you —-
• When you don’t think you can forget what he’s done to you —

 When it’s His heart beating in you — you can let go in a heart beat. (source)

You will hurt and you will be held. 

God is our Strength for the way.  And God has healed our hurt with more of Himself. 

Wise men follow more than a star — they follow the God of the scars. Who heals our scars

God takes broken hearts — and gives you His."

And the good things in life are not so much health but holiness, not so much the riches of this world but relationship with God, not so much our plans but His presence — 

 He withholds no good thing from us.

Jesus whispers, 

"The freedom you could never earn, with your raggedy rags - that's what I came to give you. I did it for love, because I could never, no matter what, EVER stop loving you."

Come back again, as I share Day 25 of the Advent Calender...in the book, "Unwrapping the Greatest Gift".(All quotes listed are from the book, unless indicated.)

From December 1st to December 25th

I will be sharing each story in this beautiful book, as well as some of the breathtaking pictures. Won't you join me? Stop by each day to see the stories shared. If you would prefer I email you each days post, please leave your email in the comments section or send me an email at apop12341@hotmail.com 
and let me know. I will make sure each post is sent to you.

To view the whole series on one page, go HERE

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