Women of Promise

       One Christmas memory from my childhood is of a particular Christmas cantata my dad sang in.  The title was "Born to Die" and the theme song is burned in my heart and mind to this day. I find myself singing its words many times a year, but especially during the Christmas season. It is a beautiful melody and the words are even more powerful.  As we prepare our hearts for this Christmas weekend, I encourage you to take time to think through the reason Jesus came. This wasn't just a vacation from Heaven or a time to check out how the mortals live. This was an intentional and pre-ordained coming of God to earth as a man who was destined to die a crucifixion death. Jesus knew all of this and He knew the anguish and pain that bearing the sins of the world would bring. He knew that He would experience the agony of separation from God as He did this. We know the grave didn't hold Him. Praise God! Jesus defeated death allowing us to live forever with Him!...

       Forgive me as I share again from 2 years ago. May the faithfulness of our Savior bring us all to our knees in thanksgiving and worship this Christmas season. Merry Christmas!  This beautiful season has been full of beautiful reminders of what Jesus's birth means to the people of God.  I have been blessed as I have meditated on the wonder of God giving His Only Son to be born in full humanity to a humble, blessed virgin girl.  The plan of redemption was set in motion with this glorious event.  This simple, poorly-written little piece is just a bit of the swirl of thoughts going through my mind this Christmas season.  Our Faithful Father, full of grace and love is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving, at Christmas and always! Merry Christmas! Promise Fulfilled To Adam and Eve In shame and guilt hidden, Grace was extended; A promise was given. The penalty: death. No sin enters heaven To rescue man's plight A promise was given. To Abram's...

            One of the reasons that the Christmas season is so beautiful is the reminder of the faithfulness of God. Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, God promised that He would come. Jesus came, just as promised -- in the exact way that was foretold so many years before. We can trust God to always keep His promises. He is faithful and true.      As I reflected on this in amazement this morning, God brought the following song to mind. This is part of a collection of hymns dating back to the ancient church.  It is thought to be the oldest hymn that we have record of. The author, Marcus Aurelius Prudentious Clemens (there's a name for ya!) lived in the 4th century after Christ, and was a lawyer and a judge. He began writing poetry at the age of 57. (I love random facts.) This lovely hymn points to this truth that Jesus perfectly fulfilled the prophecy of God, particularly the 3rd stanza: Of The Father's Love Begotten Of the Fat...