Barbara Rainey's Blog, page 18

When God Doesn’t Give You What You Desperately Want

Today’s post is by Kristen Clark.  Kristen has confronted first hand what it’s like to ask God for a deep desire of our hearts, but to receive in answer what can be perceived as a deep disappointment. We hope you will enjoy her story and hearing about God’s work in her life.

 

Standing in my bathroom on a warm April afternoon, I held the most unexpected news in my hands. I was pregnant. Against all odds, I had conceived again. After two miscarriages early in my marriage, I wondered if I would ever see those double blue lines. For six years I prayed for a baby. I was hopeful. But as each year slowly ticked by, my diagnosis of unexplained infertility loomed like a mysterious fog that wouldn’t lift.

But here I was.

I wanted to embrace the joy of this miraculous news, but I was deeply afraid to celebrate. I silently prayed, Please, God. Protect this little life inside of me.

The weeks slowly continued to tick by. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then I hit week eleven. I began to experience some light bleeding. I scheduled an extra appointment with my doctor to check things out. My heart was torn between fear and hope as I walked into her office. Please, God. Please.

My doctor greeted me warmly and reassured me that everything was probably fine. As she conducted the ultrasound, her demeanor suddenly changed. She got quiet as she observed the screen. Then, without looking at me, she softly said, “I’m so sorry, honey, but there’s no longer a heartbeat.”

Her words stabbed me in the chest. Lying on my back, I stared at the ceiling in silence, gripping my husband’s hand. Silent tears streamed down my face. I had no words to speak. All I could do was cry.

My dreams, longings, and hopes of motherhood came crashing down around me, again.

As I type these words today, I still have yet to experience a healthy pregnancy. As I’ve wrestled with my own unfulfilled longings to get pregnant, I’ve asked God why so many times. I’ve cried and wondered why God would give this good gift to other women but not to me. I’ve prayed fervently and sincerely, wondering why God wasn’t answering my prayers. Why wasn’t He giving me what I so desperately wanted—especially something that He calls a good thing?

Unfulfilled longings are painfully hard to deal with. But I don’t have to tell you that. You’ve been there too. You’ve wrestled with your own unfulfilled longings and unanswered prayers. Maybe even right now. Just like me, you’ve poured out your heart to God.

God, please bring me a Godly husband.

God, please restore my broken marriage.

God, please heal my loved one who’s sick.

God, please open the door for a better job.

God, please give me a baby.

God, please help my friend to know you as their Savior.

God, please mend this strained relationship with my in-laws.

There’s that moment when we all feel desperate. We’re done waiting, and we just want what we want. We want to take control to make it happen. We’re weary and exhausted and wonder if God has completely forgotten us.

Friend, I’ve been there time and time again. It’s so hard. But here’s something I want you to consider. Maybe God is answering your prayers, He’s just not giving you the answer you desire. I used to think that God wasn’t answering my prayers when I didn’t get pregnant. But over the past decade God has helped me to see that He was answering my prayers all along. He just wasn’t saying “yes.”

It took me a while to catch on, but I eventually realized that God answers prayers in one of three ways:

He says “yes” and gives me what I prayed for.He says “no” and closes the door in that area.He says “wait” and wants me to patiently wait for an answer down the road.

Out of those three options, I think the hardest one is “wait.”

But here’s the truth. God knows the waiting is hard for us as humans. He knows it’s challenging for us. Ultimately, though, He knows it’s good for us. The waiting causes us to come face-to-face with our own inability to do anything about it. The waiting forces us to look in the mirror and acknowledge that we’re not in control. As I share in my book, Not Part of the Plan, “God knows that our greatest need isn’t to get what we want out of life but to get more God into our life.” And if we’re totally honest with ourselves, one of the best ways for us to see our need for Him is through the lens of our unfulfilled longings.”

 

You see, God cares deeply about our prayers and unfulfilled longings, but He is graciously calling us to pursue something better. Something more satisfying. Something eternal. He is calling us to find our true hope in Him alone. Our relationship with God is the deepest and truest need of our heart. It’s the only thing that can bring genuine satisfaction to our soul. Yes, our desires are great, but they shouldn’t be our greatest desire. Our Heavenly Father is lovingly and graciously pushing us toward true and lasting hope.

As women of faith, God is helping us see that our greatest need isn’t to get what we want, but to know Him more fully and to love Him more deeply. We will find peace in the midst of our desperate longings when we entrust them to our Heavenly Father. When we open our hands in surrender, and give our burdens to the One who holds all things together, we find peace. As Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Sister, there is so much God wants to do in your life during the waiting. There is so much wisdom to be gained in the wanting. I don’t know what’s weighing on your heart today, but I do know this: by faith, you can choose to put your trust in the one true God who is with you in the midst of your circumstances.

Whether or not God ever gives you the longings of your heart, you can find lasting peace and fulfillment right now. For additional encouragement, I created a beautiful printable sheet for you with 15 specific verses that will give you hope during hard times. You can download it for free here.

 

AUTHOR BIO:

Kristen Clark is the author of five book, host of the popular podcast, The Girl Defined Show, and founder of Girl Defined Ministries. In a world that continues to shift further away from God’s design, she is passionate about linking arms with modern women and helping them discover God’s radical and beautiful design for femininity. Her first book, Girl Defined: Discovering God’s Radical Design for Beauty, Femininity and Identity continues to resonate with women all around the world. Her most recent book, Not Part of the Plan: Trusting God with the Twists and Turns of Your Story helps you know how to trust God right now thrive in your own story. Kristen loves the Sisterhood and would consider it an honor to connect with you through social media, email, or at GirlDefined.com.

The post When God Doesn’t Give You What You Desperately Want appeared first on Ever Thine Home.

Spiritual Life Skills? (Do I Even Have Time for That?)

It’s a true delight to introduce you to my friend Janel Breitenstein who I’ve known since her family moved to Little Rock when she was in high school. Since she graduated from college she and I have worked together on quite a few writing projects. She has also been a frequent guest writer on the Ever Thine Home blog since it began in 2011. Now she’s written her first book in which she encourages moms and dads alike to become intentional with their kids. Janel is a true model of all she’s written about in this book with her four kids and her husband John. It’s an honor to have her on the blog today. 

 

It was the season we’d been waiting for. We toted stadium chairs and water bottles, smeared on sunscreen, and invited the family. My son Baden, all pale-blond curls and Bambi-size blue eyes, yanked on a shirt three sizes too big and strapped shin guards above preschool cleats.

When the throaty whistle sounded, my son’s legs rotated in high gear. We soon saw he seemed to fall down a lot on purpose and enjoyed bodychecking the other four-year-olds. (That was at least one conversation with him on the sidelines.) But the grin, the apple-red cheeks, and the smell of little-boy sweat in his hair? Golden.

The inevitable moment came either in that game or the next—I can’t remember. He powered a shot directly into the goal. Victorious! The crowd goes wild!

Only of course it didn’t, because, hey. Oops. Wrong goal.

That kid’s a teenager now, hopefully not smiting too many young women with those eyes. I wish the goals for our kids were still peewee-sized.

As parents, we help our kids aim for certain goals. We make sacrifices in the form of events and practices and particular diets and I’ll-have-to-subtract-this-from-your-college-fund uniforms and equipment. Or music or academics or Scouts or pure survival. We cut hot dogs in pieces so they won’t choke. We teach them to clean the toilet well instead of disgustingly. We show them how to drive in a downpour and avoid turning underwear a pale pink in the laundry.

We concentrate on the goals that matter in the moment.

But what if in focusing on the immediate and the seemingly urgent, we miss the best?

 

The Life Skills We Don’t Think About

If we don’t play this parenting game strategically, we’ll hit someone’s goals. But they might not be the ones we intended. Worse, we may miss out on winning the game of our kids’ lifetime.

 

 

How can we make space for what matters eternally? How can we squirrel away life skills in our kids that make them want to connect with God?

 

Could spiritual life skills be as natural to them as brushing their teeth (okay, I’m still reminding my 12-year-old) or putting their clothes in the hamper? (Yikes. Maybe not that one either.)

 

If Only I Had Time for That

Over sixteen years and two continents, my husband, John, and I have sweated and conditioned ourselves for God’s long game—trusting that whatever good work God has begun in our kids, he will bring to a winning finish (Philippians 1:6).

Our part has been anything but error-free. Sometimes we fumble and feel far from a win. And our opponents (spiritual, cultural, internal within us, internal within our kids) are real.

Meanwhile, my family is trying to survive as much as yours.

There are chores to supervise—and cleaning with kids in the house, as the saying goes, is like brushing

one’s teeth while eating Oreos. There’s schoolwork to monitor and correct. (“No, there is no such thing as a kilomoleter. Or a hoxagon.”) There are attitudes and inane squabbles I occasionally wish I could trade in for a pair of power heels. As it is, Lego shrapnel skewers the soles of my feet. And I recently found my teenager’s toenail clipping on the table.

 

Oops. Wrong goal

But these aren’t the issues that concern me most. I can probably get my kids to scrub dishes, do their homework, and maybe even clean up Legos. (If I can’t, maybe the military?) Yet, what if I fail to teach them what really matters—like the faith, hope, and love that don’t fade (1 Corinthians 13:13)?

What if they leave our house of insanity with a prayer lifestyle resembling a stiff visit to an elderly grandparent? What if their sexual values end up more smudgy than my bathroom mirror? What if my kids stink at apologizing, thus trailing broken relationships behind them instead of just random dirty gym socks?

None of us need more stuff to do. But our kids do need spiritual life skills. We can seize small moments to teach our children these skills, like we would with, well, the toenail clipping. (Sometimes teaching a

life skill looks like “Here is what not to do.”)

We can create space for what matters and work toward the most important goals—the right ones.

 

“So What Do You Have in Mind?”

Teaching spiritual life skills can actually be…fun. And/or worked into your other daily routines.

First, take time to pray about goals God would have for your kids. What are three to five spiritual life skills you’d like to focus on right now in your kids’ lives?

Maybe those goals are more typical, like prayer or knowledge of God’s Word—or perhaps they’re honing in on community, simplicity, identity, holy sexuality.

Then, you’re likely moving on to the “how.” Got ideas for easy ways to work your goals into habits your family already has—or to make these life skills engaging for your kids?

Try working one or two of these into your daily moments with your kids!

Pray when your kids get up, or as they’re pulling on backpacks to walk out the door. I pray with my arm over my youngest, who’s 12, while he’s snuggled under the covers as I’m getting him up in the morning.Gather apples of different sizes, shapes (some misshapen, old, bruised), and colors, and slice them horizontally. Show your kids that all their seeds are arranged as a star. In my language: All people are made in the image of God. He has inlaid his value and craftsmanship in us—no matter what the outside says (see 1 Samuel 16:7).Create a paper chain or paper booklet with a prayer request on each link. Tear a page or a link off each day at a specified time (before bedtime, before afternoon snack, etc.), and pray together.Help kids anticipate the need for self-control: Before you enter an environment, remind kids what behavior you expect. “Okay, guys, we’re almost to the store. I expect you to… ”Give some “training wheels” for Scripture meditation: Just before lights-out, read one verse to think about as your kids fall asleep.Plot out a treasure hunt (complete with a map or clues) to help kids find the “better than gold” (Psalm 19:10) Scripture verses hidden around your house.

Even then—our goal in teaching life skills isn’t “Try harder” or even “Try smarter.” It is God who begins this mind-blowing work in our families. He will also grow it into unerasable completion.

Love ideas like these? Grab dozens more in Janel’s book, Permanent Markers: Spiritual Life Skills to Write on Your Kids’ Hearts.

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Create in Me in 2022

As an artist I especially enjoy thinking of Jesus, who created the universe, “who holds all things together” (Colossians 1:17) as the Divine Artist. The maker of snowflakes! The intricate delicacy of each tiny crystalline form speaks of brilliant design. (If you want a reminder, look at these stunning photos.)

The Trinity of Beauty cannot create anything that is not spilling over with wonder. Even in our broken, imperfect state we who were made in His image still have the capacity to reflect some of His perfect, breath-stealing artistry.

What if I could take a weeklong workshop with one of the greats like Michelangelo or Rembrandt? Would I gladly hand one of these masters my brush for his touch of genius on my canvas?

Without question.

The Eternal Artist, my personal Creator, longs to add strokes of beauty to my life. Philippians 3:21 tells us that Christ will “transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

In his book, The Evidential Power of Beauty, Thomas Dubay wrote, “Divine beauty is so endless, so unspeakable, that Scripture has a special word for it, glory.” Too often I have wanted to paint life my way, but more and more I’m asking Him to complete what He began in me, which is glorious and more than breath-taking.

As we begin a new year we usually think of new beginnings, which is right and good because our God is a God of new beginnings. But rather than ambitiously make a list of all the things you want to change or do or become, start with asking the One who made you what He envisions for your life in 2022.

Let’s start this first week of the new year listening to Him not to everyone’s goals on social media.

List a few goals or character qualities or personal achievements you sense He is leading you to focus on for this year. Then pray and ask God to do the work in and through you which is His specialty.

And if you aren’t sure what to pray, start with these words to an old hymn which will be beautiful music to His ears: “Have Thy Own Way, Lord.”

Keep praying this throughout the year and watch for how the One who knows how to perfectly create beauty in you will do exactly that.

Happy New Year to all with hope for you in ’22!

If you enjoyed this post from Barbara, be sure to read some past New Year’s posts:

“New Beginnings, New Ideas” “New Beginnings, New Prayers, New Love for Jesus in 2018”

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Friends and Family #12 – Looking Forward to 2022

 

Merry Christmas everyone!

December began with three days for Dennis and me in a cabin at Mount Magazine, the highest mountain in Arkansas. The views are truly impressive. We enjoyed the slower pace and the opportunity to focus on writing with no distractions. I started a writing series of blog posts on “Disappointed With God” last summer, and it’s now turning into a book. So that was my focus while on the mountain. Eager to get it finalized so I can share it with all of you.

We returned and I finally began decorating for Christmas on the weekend of December 11-12. Much later than normal but it couldn’t be helped. I do a lot of golds and whites and “winter” décor so I can leave it up through January. Though it seems a lot of work for just a couple weeks, knowing I can keep a lot of it up longer makes it more worth it. I also like following the old traditions of the church of celebrating the 12 days of Christmas which last until January 6. Works for me!

 

This is our little table where we eat every night. I’ve had fun using small bristle brush trees this year.

 

Another little vignette in my dining room w more little trees.

It’s one of my favorites. Will be up through January!

 

Savoring the wonder of what Jesus did is the goal of Christmas decorating, it seems. And I believe the twinkle lights I leave up are a great reminder of the Light of the World who came for me and you. (By the way, my blog post yesterday on Monday December 27 is about savoring. Hope you’ll read it and share it, too!)

Also this month we had two days of strategic planning for the year 2022. This was the first time we created a master calendar for the entire year and it felt so good. Obviously we can adjust and change things as the Spirit leads, but to have clear direction for new Etsy items, cards for Easter, a new devotion for the week of and week after Easter, new ebook ideas for summer and fall and more all listed on paper will be a huge help in getting ahead and in time management. 

I hope you feel a sense of anticipation for these ideas God has given for this new year.

And as we approach the new year, we still need many of you who love Ever Thine Home and have benefited from the blog to join others in meeting our end-of-year matching challenge. 

We are a bit over half-way to our goal and we’d so appreciate your support as we close out 2021.

We still have a few of my new book, Will You Follow the Star? which I’d love to send you for a donation of any amount. It will give you a jump on an activity with your kids or grandkids for gift giving for next year!

You can give online or if you prefer to mail a check, you can send it to Ever Thine Home, PO Box 242407, Little Rock, AR 72223.

To those of you who have given already, THANK YOU!

May you savor the Savior this week and find time to rest and be refreshed.

 

Ever His,

Barbara

 

P.S. I want to thank those who wrote to say you are praying for us in our “trial” which still has not ended. We do see a small light ahead so we are hopeful. Once it’s all behind us I hope to share the circumstances and what God has been teaching us.

The post Friends and Family #12 – Looking Forward to 2022 appeared first on Ever Thine Home.

3 Ways to Savor the Savior This Week

Stop for a minute.

Yes, Christmas Day is now over, but don’t hurry to box up the ornaments and purge the regalia from your home!

Recently on December 26 a national morning show featured an “expert” happily talking about packing away decorations and properly disposing of your Christmas tree. “It’s time to move on” was the message.

But I want to suggest a different message.

Before you move on from Christmas, take time to savor the hope and joy of the message, to savor the meaning of this miraculous moment.

The word savor is often associated with a fine meal and it means letting food linger on your palate so you can fully enjoy the flavors. Meditate might be an appropriate synonym for savor in the spiritual realm. Another synonym is ponder.

In liturgical churches such as Anglican, Episcopalian, Catholic and some more traditional Protestant churches, Christmas is celebrated for 12 days from December 25 through January 6. Sadly, by then most of us are weary of the perpetual commercial messages promoting shallow cheer because we’ve been inundated with seasonal merchandise and music since before Thanksgiving.

The real message and truth of this annual season is worthy to be savored. Now that the false Christmas content has ceased, it’s an opportunity for true disciples of Jesus to savor His arrival in our darkened world.

 

Letting the moments of remembering Christ’s birth linger allows the stupendous meaning of this pivotal event to settle more deeply in our souls. 

 

So I hope you will join me in slowing down this week and allow the true message to linger longer. Keep the Christmas music playing. Allow the lights and the sparkle to remind you for a few more days that the Light of the World has come and most importantly will come again!

And as you take down your decorations here are three ways to savor the arrival of Jesus.

With each ornament you remove from your tree, ask your children to name a gift Jesus has given and say “I’m thankful Jesus gave me …”Evaluate your décor and find things you can leave up for a while longer. I keep out all my bottle brush trees into January because they are more wintry than they are Christmasy.Keep twinkle lights up or find new places to use them for the month of January. One of the happiest of all our decorating is the use of Christmas lights which remind us Jesus is the Light of the World. There is no reason to take them down, especially the clear or white ones because again they remind us of Who Jesus is in our dark world.

May you and yours savor the Savior a little longer this season.

 

If you didn’t have the opportunity to read all my “Newborn Babe” series, last week, these would give you a great opportunity to savor the Christmas message:

 

“The Newborn Babe Is the Lion of Judah”

“The Newborn Babe is the Savior”

“The Newborn Babe is the Mediator”

“The Newborn Babe is Lord of Lords”

“The Newborn Babe is the Son of David”

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The Newborn Babe Is Lord of Lords

Have your children or you ever acted bossy over a younger brother or sister?

Were your parents heavy handed and authoritative?

Has a friend you thought was a friend actually been more of a master?

Maybe you played for a coach who acted like a dictator or a 5-star-general.

Our world is full of small kingdoms, small dominions ruled by small lords who control others to make themselves feel strong or powerful. We see them in alleyways, in schools, in workplaces, and even in churches. Often those who want to lord power over others are insecure, weak or fearful, yet they brandish authority in order to appear important and in control.

Yes, God has given us institutions with leaders for our good. But sadly those in positions of authority too often create their own little kingdoms at their followers’ expense.

But this kind of rule is not like our God.

In 1 Timothy 6:15, the apostle Paul describes Jesus as “the King of kings and Lord of lords.” Note that “Lord of lords” is paired with “King of kings” because they are inseparable like two sides of a coin. Jesus could not be King over all if He is not Lord over all.

Jesus is not like any of lord we experience in life which is why He is named Lord of all lords.

He is infinitely superior because He is perfect in every attribute, therefore His rule is perfect and always good and in love.

Jesus, sent from God, came to rescue and release us from the domain of darkness. When we make Him Lord of our lives we are set free from our destiny with spiritual eternal death and are placed in Him where “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us … ”(Ephesians 1:7-8).

An engraved invitation, stamped with the seal of the King, waits with your name on it. In His limitless love and grace this invitation is always extended to you. The King of kings and Lord of Lords waits with patience for your response.

But the time is near for His return to earth and one day it will be too late to respond to His invitation. Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done” (Revelation 22:12)

This Christmas will you receive His gift?

Will you make Him your Lord?

The One who “on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16) is coming soon. May you and yours belong to the kingdom and lordship of Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas!

This is part of a five-part series on the names of Jesus.  Here are the other four posts in the series:

“The Newborn Babe Is the Lion of Judah”

“The Newborn Babe is the Savior”

“The Newborn Babe is the Mediator”

“The Newborn Babe is the Son of David”

The post The Newborn Babe Is Lord of Lords appeared first on Ever Thine Home.

The Newborn Babe is Lord of Lords

Have your children or you ever acted bossy over a younger brother or sister?

Were your parents heavy handed and authoritative?

Has a friend you thought was a friend actually been more of a master?

Maybe you played for a coach who acted like a dictator or a 5-star-general.

Our world is full of small kingdoms, small dominions ruled by small lords who control others to make themselves feel strong or powerful. We see them in alleyways, in schools, in workplaces, and even in churches. Often those who want to lord power over others are insecure, weak or fearful, yet they brandish authority in order to appear important and in control.

Yes, God has given us institutions with leaders for our good. But sadly those in positions of authority too often create their own little kingdoms at their followers’ expense.

But this kind of rule is not like our God.

In 1 Timothy 6:15, the apostle Paul describes Jesus as “the King of kings and Lord of lords.” Note that “Lord of lords” is paired with “King of kings” because they are inseparable like two sides of a coin. Jesus could not be King over all if He is not Lord over all.

Jesus is not like any of lord we experience in life which is why He is named Lord of all lords.

He is infinitely superior because He is perfect in every attribute, therefore His rule is perfect and always good and in love.

Jesus, sent from God, came to rescue and release us from the domain of darkness. When we make Him Lord of our lives we are set free from our destiny with spiritual eternal death and are placed in Him where “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us … ”(Ephesians 1:7-8).

An engraved invitation, stamped with the seal of the King, waits with your name on it. In His limitless love and grace this invitation is always extended to you. The King of kings and Lord of Lords waits with patience for your response.

But the time is near for His return to earth and one day it will be too late to respond to His invitation. Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done” (Revelation 22:12)

This Christmas will you receive His gift?

Will you make Him your Lord?

The One who “on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16) is coming soon. May you and yours belong to the kingdom and lordship of Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas!

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The Newborn Babe Is Our Mediator

One of the biggest challenges in parenting is sibling rivalry. Without question it was the most difficult part of parenting for us. Period. It is as old as Adam and Eve who saw their first two sons compete so strongly that Cain killed Abel. It’s been with us all ever since. So …

What do squabbling brothers or sisters need?

What do playground disputes need?

Who is often called when adults need help solving problems?

What is the name of the person hired to resolve rivalry issues in businesses or churches or marriages?

A mediator.

From professionals like lawyers and judges whose job is to solve disputes and problems to hard working yet beleaguered moms and dads, all of us need a mediator, a peacemaker. We all need someone to step in and resolve difficult problems.

1 Timothy 2:5 tells us, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” This is what Jesus has done on our behalf—as our Mediator He came to earth to bring us back to His Father, to resolve our differences, to bridge the gap between us. Without His intercession we could not make peace with God whom we have offended.

How have we offended God? Simply and profoundly by our selfishness, our sin, and our pride. Once Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, every person ever born is infected with the disease of self-centeredness. As a result, our natural bent is to want our own way rather than the perfect way of our Father.

Jesus is named the Mediator of a new covenant, or agreement, “that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15). By accepting Jesus as our Mediator, our debts to God are cancelled, our opposition to God is removed, and our distance to God bridged.

He has opened a new and living way for us to draw near to the throne of God! On the day we die and appear in heaven, Jesus will say to the Father, “Mine. I paid for this one.” The gates will swing wide; we will be welcomed into eternal happiness, because Jesus the Mediator has made us right with God!

Will you thank Him today that He has mediated your right standing with God the ruler of the universe?

This Christmas will you remember to thank Him every day for coming to earth on your behalf?

His mediation is the reason we can celebrate with extravagance!

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The Newborn Babe Is the Son of David

Does your family have traditions that have been passed down for generations?

At our house these traditions included reading the Christmas story and placing the manger scene in the most prominent place in the house, with the kids always arguing over who got to place baby Jesus in the center where He was worshiped by all.

Our traditions also included making my mother’s cutout Christmas butter cookies and pecan tassies while playing Christmas carols. Baking together as a family ensured Christmas was the same comforting experience as always.

Knowing that generations in your family and believers around the world have celebrated the glorious truth of Christmas morning makes our celebrations today richer. But what if you could prove your ancestors were royalty, how would you feel? A little taller? More important perhaps?

For centuries, the Jewish people have kept meticulous genealogical records to prove their ancestry and to watch for the promised King who would one day deliver them and rule in righteousness.

One genealogy started with young David, a boy who lived with sheep, slept out in the open, and felt more comfortable in the hills and valleys surrounding his hometown, Bethlehem, than in its streets.  His seven older brothers were well known in the region of Judah. But David was seldom seen because of his duties pasturing his father’s flocks.

At just the right time though, God called David from obscurity and anointed him king over His people Israel. Soon after, David killed Goliath, began to lead men into battle defeating Israel’s foes, and years later received from God a very important pronouncement that his throne would last forever. Only a son of David could be the future king of God’s people.

One thousand years later, Matthew wrote an eyewitness account of the life of Jesus. In his first sentence he wrote, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). Declaring Jesus to be the Son of David was significant. It was a title of profound meaning. Every Jewish family knew that the future king and Messiah would come from David’s line: a man born to one of his descendants.

Not only did the record books prove Jesus’ direct connection to King David, but many who lived in His day recognized Jesus as the Son of David.

A woman who wasn’t Jewish, who should not have known the prophesies of a coming son of David, came to find Jesus and begged Him to heal her daughter. “Lord, Son of David,” she called Him (Matthew 15:22).Two blind men, who saw with clarity that Jesus was sent from God with the ability to heal, called him, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Matthew 20:30).Even children, especially little ones, understood the truth about this person named Jesus and they weren’t afraid to say so, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:15).

Though Jesus was genetically linked to David, He was more than any human king. Only God can give sight to the blind and raise the dead to life.

Jesus was divine.

Jesus was the forever Heir to David’s throne.

Will you be so bold to declare who Jesus is this week as your family prepares for Christmas? Share the truth of His lineage and prophesy fulfilled with your family so that they know the significance of the one we worship and receive in a few days on Christmas morning.

Remember, Jesus came to rule a kingdom of hearts.

Will you be like the children who proclaimed him Son of David? Is He king of your life and your heart?

You can invite Him in this Christmas.

This is part of a five-part series on the names of Jesus. Be sure to read the other four parts:

“The Newborn Babe Is the Lion of Judah”

“The Newborn Babe is the Savior”

“The Newborn Babe is the Mediator”

“The Newborn Babe is Lord of Lords”

 

The post The Newborn Babe Is the Son of David appeared first on Ever Thine Home.

The Newborn Babe is the Son of David

Does your family have traditions that have been passed down for generations?

At our house these traditions included reading the Christmas story and placing the manger scene in the most prominent place in the house, with the kids always arguing over who got to place baby Jesus in the center where He was worshiped by all.

Our traditions also included making my mother’s cutout Christmas butter cookies and pecan tassies while playing Christmas carols. Baking together as a family ensured Christmas was the same comforting experience as always.

Knowing that generations in your family and believers around the world have celebrated the glorious truth of Christmas morning makes our celebrations today richer. But what if you could prove your ancestors were royalty, how would you feel? A little taller? More important perhaps?

For centuries, the Jewish people have kept meticulous genealogical records to prove their ancestry and to watch for the promised King who would one day deliver them and rule in righteousness.

One genealogy started with young David, a boy who lived with sheep, slept out in the open, and felt more comfortable in the hills and valleys surrounding his hometown, Bethlehem, than in its streets.  His seven older brothers were well known in the region of Judah. But David was seldom seen because of his duties pasturing his father’s flocks.

At just the right time though, God called David from obscurity and anointed him king over His people Israel. Soon after, David killed Goliath, began to lead men into battle defeating Israel’s foes, and years later received from God a very important pronouncement that his throne would last forever. Only a son of David could be the future king of God’s people.

One thousand years later, Matthew wrote an eyewitness account of the life of Jesus. In his first sentence he wrote, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). Declaring Jesus to be the Son of David was significant. It was a title of profound meaning. Every Jewish family knew that the future king and Messiah would come from David’s line: a man born to one of his descendants.

Not only did the record books prove Jesus’ direct connection to King David, but many who lived in His day recognized Jesus as the Son of David.

A woman who wasn’t Jewish, who should not have known the prophesies of a coming son of David, came to find Jesus and begged Him to heal her daughter. “Lord, Son of David,” she called Him (Matthew 15:22).Two blind men, who saw with clarity that Jesus was sent from God with the ability to heal, called him, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Matthew 20:30).Even children, especially little ones, understood the truth about this person named Jesus and they weren’t afraid to say so, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:15).

Though Jesus was genetically linked to David, He was more than any human king. Only God can give sight to the blind and raise the dead to life.

Jesus was divine.

Jesus was the forever Heir to David’s throne.

Will you be so bold to declare who Jesus is this week as your family prepares for Christmas? Share the truth of His lineage and prophesy fulfilled with your family so that they know the significance of the one we worship and receive in a few days on Christmas morning.

Remember, Jesus came to rule a kingdom of hearts.

Will you be like the children who proclaimed him Son of David? Is He king of your life and your heart?

You can invite Him in this Christmas.

 

The post The Newborn Babe is the Son of David appeared first on Ever Thine Home.