Taxes. Greeeeat. Put that on your Christmas card! Doesn’t exactly fit the whole “Home for the Holidays” Hallmark Channel vibe now, does it? And not only that, but a disruptive cross country move … at the most inconvenient time. Whose idea was this anyway?

What words from God do you hold close? Are they words of wisdom, promises, commands?

“Surprise!” I am THAT person when it comes to loving surprises. I am also THAT guy when it comes to guessing surprises. My poor wife has tried to surprise me many times, but I just have a knack for picking up on it. The only times she’s managed to stump me was when the gift was so “out of left field” there was no way of guessing it. a self-evaluation which he believes his family and community would be better off if he were never born. I highly doubt Mr. George Bailey is the only person who has ever felt this way.

Are you ready for Christmas? This seems to be the question we all ask each other this time of year. We are just making small talk, but what would happen if we really asked each other this question. What do we really need to be ready for Christmas? To be truly ready we must be patient, wait and filled with anticipation of Jesus’s Birth.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a classic movie my family and I watch during the Christmas season. Spoiler alert: one man’s circumstances lead to a self-evaluation which he believes his family and community would be better off if he were never born. I highly doubt Mr. George Bailey is the only person who has ever felt this way.

All my life, I never really gave those Magi much thought. I mean, we all know about them, we’ve sung the song a thousand times, but have you ever really thought about this whole scenario surrounding their story?

In many ways, the shepherds could be considered the first evangelists in history, even pre-dating the Great Commission mandate. When they heard the news about the birth of Jesus and saw Him for themselves as a baby, they couldn’t help spreading the news of everything they had witnessed. They were expecting the Messiah and they found Him.

The Prince of Peace caused a disturbance in all of Jerusalem. Could it have been any other way? Not likely... Jesus’ interactions with humanity routinely evoked responses such as alarm, excitement, and confusion. For instance, He startled a boat full of disciples one stormy moonlit night while walking across the Sea of Galilee. Remember the uproar when He blindsided Bartimaeus by restoring his eyesight? Let’s not forget how Jesus rattled the crowd, calling forth Lazarus from the grave four days after his death.

At this point in the Gospel of Matthew we read about Joseph receiving a dream to return to Israel from Egypt because Herod is dead. However, Joseph still being afraid to return to Judah due to Archelaus reigning in place of his father Herod, decided to settle in Galilee, in the town called Nazareth. As Matthew points out this was a fulfillment of the prophecy that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene.

Since this is an Advent devotional, I was somewhat surprised to get this verse. Interestingly, my monthly Bible study when I received this verse was entitled, “The Truth About Anxiety: Calming Your Soul in a Chaotic World.” No coincidence! I soon discovered how often the words fear and anxiety appear in scripture, usually accompanied by the word “don’t.” God fully understands that fear and anxiety are a struggle for us humans, especially in light of current events in our world!

Christmas is fast approaching. Are you ready? As the day comes closer our lives become so busy. Shopping, baking, decorating, wrapping, concerts and plays, visits with family and friends, our schedules are never more full! Sure, all those things are wonderful. After all, what would the Christmas season be without cookies, twinkling lights and gift giving? Did I mention cookies? However, will you truly be prepared?

God specializes in “sudden”lies! God also specializes in showing up and showing off when you least expect it! These are the things that mark your life in the now, in your tomorrows and into eternity!

Isn’t it true that sometimes when we experience God, we can feel terrified? Whether we are busily about our duties (tending our sheep) or wandering far from where we should be - often our ‘experience’ of God can challenge us. God can be bigger than we expect, and bigger than we are prepared for.

Faith is not easy. Especially when we are called to believe in a God we cannot see with our eyes or hear with our ears. “Seeing is believing,” we say because it’s easier to believe in the visible as opposed to the invisible. “Show, don’t tell,” was one of the first things I learned about writing.

In the days of Christ this verse refences a long-time faithful prophetess, Anna who gave thanks for the birth of Jesus as she saw Him. Can you imagine gazing upon this child? They had anticipated this coming of the Messiah for many years to bring hope and redemption to their land.

Nearly sixty years had passed since Pompey annexed Judea. Under the iron heel of Rome, the world cried out for mercy. Israel’s faithful remnant prayed for deliverance and in response God sent His Son, born of a woman, under the law.

Think back to someone you have loved. If you had never seen them, how could you have loved them?

Even though I can’t see God physically, I do know He is real and working in my life. There are times when I feel a nudge or a whisper and immediately know it is God speaking to me. If a friend comes to mind, I try to reach out to them. Almost always, they say they needed some encouragement that day. God gave them a hug through me and gave me joy in the process.

This wonderful scripture from Jeremiah reminds me of a time long ago when I was searching for meaning in my life. At the time my dad had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I had two small children and my husband had been laid off. If God was real, would He answer my prayers. I hoped so!

The eternal Son of God breaks through into our reality. He takes on flesh that we could behold His glory. This incarnation of the Messiah, the God-Man, has caused many to rise and many to fall.