December 8, 2025

Luke 1:26-38

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[a] the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

 This is a rich text that invites reflection on God's grace, the significance of Mary's faith, ant the miraculous nature of Jesus' birth.  It emphasizes that God's choices often defy societal expectations, as Mary, an ordinary young woman, is chosen for an extraordinary purpose.  This passage encourages believers to embrace their own callings with the same faith and obedience demonstrated by Mary.

For me the key word here is 'obedience.'  We must be obedient to God if we are to receive all the blessings He has for us. 

Monday Coffee Talk

I find myself at a loss for words today.  All is quiet here at my lovely Bungalow by the Bay.  I decorated for the season early this year so that's all done.  Mr D and I enjoy the lights and turn them on when we get up each morning and they stay on until bedtime.  The past several days have been overcast and the glow of the lights have kept the house cheery.  Because I can't get out and shop anymore the girls keep me up on what's out there as they are shoppers!  

Maegan and her girls off to shop til they drop!

Christmas Trivia:

The oldest artificial Christmas tree dates back to the early 1800s in Germany and was made from dyed goose feathers attached to wires.

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Fruits were the first ornaments. In the late 17th century, people used apples, pears, and oranges to decorate Christmas trees.

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In 1836, Alabama became the first state to recognize Christmas as a state holiday, with Arkansas and Louisiana following suit. But it wasn't until 1870 that President Grant declared Christmas a national holiday.

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According to the USPS, the first Christmas stamp in the US featured a wreath, two candles and the phrase "Christmas 1962." It initially sold out pretty quickly and then was restocked with about 862 million being sold by the end of the year.

Christmas Past:

Mr D with all his grands just a few years ago . . . well maybe a little more that a few!  Our youngest grand was born a few years later. Tara was fascinated by the twins, she was always close by.

AND . . . a few years earlier . . .  it's me with Peggy and Rusty!  Look at that hairdo, who knows there may have been some Christmas elves nesting there. lol

Christmas Quotes:

"Peace on earth will come to stay when we live Christmas every day." – Helen Steiner Rice

"When Christ was born so was our hope." – Max Lucado 

Christmas Blessings to All

Until Next Time

 

 ♥

December 3, 2025

24 Days of Christmas

Isaiah 11:1-10

The Reign of Jesse’s Offspring

 

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,

And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

2

The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,

The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

The Spirit of counsel and might,

The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

3

His delight is in the fear of the Lord,

And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,

Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;

4

But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,

And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,

And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.

5

Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,

And faithfulness the belt of His waist.

6

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,

The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;

And a little child shall lead them.

7

The cow and the bear shall graze;

Their young ones shall lie down together;

And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8

The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole,

And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.

9

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,

For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord

As the waters cover the sea.

10

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,

Who shall stand as a banner to the people;

For the Gentiles shall seek Him,

And His resting place shall be glorious.”

 

IN THE FUTURE MESSIANIC KINGDOM THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD INCARNATE IN THE PERSON OF THE MESSIAH WILL ESTABLISH JUSTICE, PEACE AND UNITY

 

Believers can look towards the promise given in Isaiah to receive hope and a reassurance of peace amidst the harsh realities of life and be motivated to continue in the work of Jesus to usher in the era of peace Isaiah promises in the here and now. The promise Isaiah gave to Judah was first fulfilled in Christ, and expanded as He actively brought the kingdom of God. Yet, there is still restoration to come. Therefore, it is imperative that believers look to the prophetic words of Isaiah not only for personal encouragement but strive to reflect the ministry and life of Jesus as he fulfilled the prophetic words. - Kaeley Sells

More Christmas Past:

       My two oldest, Tracey and Tammy, long ago and far                     away♥                                

 

That’s Merica’s mom, Maegan, sitting in her Mom’s (Tammy) lap.

 

My oldest two grands, Maegan & Matt.

Matt is Hazel and Henry's dad.

This is all the grands last Christmas.

These young people are such a delight to be around.

Blessings to All

Until Next Time