Hallie and I wish our warmest Christmas-New Year’s greeting to you and yours!
† Faithfully, each day speak to your Lord who is with you and yours.
Dear America First-Ohio Friend!
Our perspective: what happened these 12 days of Christmas, December 25 (Christmas) through January 6, (Epiphany, “Three Kings’ Day”) is the reality that binds one calendar year to the next. Today, on this ‘tabula rasa’ January day, we’re personally encouraged, even quite hopeful with “just a simple word” – and wish to share our discovery with you!
Once in a while, we see it happen! A clear, articulate, well-planned, truthful word gets spoken ... is understood–and big things happen! Like a miracle–that word, just at the right time, not only makes sense–its downright precious! That word is a puzzle-key, a foundation, a direction, an answer. It can even breathe life and hope into our 2023 black-is-white, up-is-down, boy-is-girl, need-another-jab world.
And its not fantastical Christian thinking to say that this particular word suited up with a human genome, flesh, blood, was born, takes deep breaths, already has a mission ... even lives next door!
What Hallie and I are learning anew is out of this world amazing! God actually spoke His son to the whole world in that Bethlehem manger. The Apostle John sharpens our insight: “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.”
Quite a thought: God’s Word to us has muscle, voice, sinew – a presence in real-time who looks a person in the eye ...call us by name and reaches out to welcome us!
And this year, we’ve had our eyes further opened by Jesus’ manger. Mangers, animal feeding troughs, in ancient Israel were made of stone–not what you would see in a modern day nativity scene. Not comfortable, but great protection. Experts in this matter, the priests, would put their newborn lambs in stone mangers for protection. But not just any lamb, these unblemished, perfect lambs had a special purpose–to be used as the temple’s sacrifice for sins. Bethlehem, where Jesus was born was famous as a source for unblemished lambs for sacrifice. To keep these lambs perfect, they would wrap them tightly in cloth strips and lie them in the manger to keep them safe before their trip to Jerusalem
This is the only time mangers are mentioned in the Jesus birth story–being told to shepherds. In Luke 2 it says “This will be a sign for you, you will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger.” The shepherds may not have fully understood this powerful parallel! But they were quite familiar with the cloth strips, knew their purpose and also knew exactly where in familiar Bethlehem to find this newborn.
What we know, but discover anew: The planning of our Father in Heaven is wild, centuries long, thorough, beyond imagination - some might even think ‘reckless!’ This baby, God’s very Son, He who literally is the flesh-and-blood Word of God also was God’s perfect, sacrificial lamb! This Messiah chooses to become the blood-sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice to reconcile us back to God! This Perfect Lamb is our WHY for celebrating Christmas! He’s the grace and peace that links each and every old/new year.
This Jesus ... this Word is exactly what we share with you and your family as we wish you wellness, safety and joy in 2024!
Also, its been said: “The sequence of 12/31/23 feels like a ‘mental preparation’ for a year that will bring a completely new energetic landscape. It’s almost like it is screaming… “Okay, let’s get ready for this, 123…123!”
In other words, the ball has dropped, now it’s GO TIME! 2023 brought times into each of our lives that have now become part of who we each are in our personal story. As we welcome this new day and new year, let these 12 Christmas days shape our future, focus, truthfulness and determination–just like they do each day. † I am grateful God is our Sure Foundation who is always with us. Remember the strength God instills in you to Walk Boldly and Be His. † Remember Whose You Are. Turn to Him.
† Faithfully, each day speak to your Lord who is with you and yours.
STEVE & HALLIE 1/1/2024
(419) 512-0664 hallieandsteve@america-first-ohio.net
Substack: https://networkingwethepeople.substack.com