This is the second week in Advent, a time to celebrate Christmas for a whole month, not just a single day. How are you doing at preparing your heart for the season?
From Chapter Three of Be Born in Me:
God chose Mary for an incredible assignment, didn’t He? Think about it, this is the biggest assignment of anyone in the Bible! You think your wife fussed about what to eat and what to do when she was pregnant? Mary is carrying God’s Son. No pressure there! Can you imagine what she thought about having to climb up on the back of a donkey and travel for four days to the city of David? Can you hear her in the cold of the night? “Joseph, sorry I can’t do that, I AM carrying the Son of God here, you know!”
Looking again at Luke 1 we see that the angel, Gabriel, has told Mary that she has been chosen. Mary asks, “How?” The angel replies, “Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.” [1]
Do you know that you have been chosen by God for an assignment today and everyday? How does that make you feel? For some, it is overwhelming. For others it is exciting. For me it is humbling. Humbling, because most days I feel completely inept at doing something for our great (announcer voice here) GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.
But that is the point, isn’t it? For the greatest impact, God uses the everyday person to reach the everyday person. You don’t have to have a Bible degree or years of ministry training. You can grab a cup of coffee and walk to the end of the driveway and share His story with your next door neighbor. You can sit on the floor with a bunch of preschool students and sing simple songs. You can offer a hug to an elderly woman in a nursing home wheelchair.
He has chosen you to carry His message and His love to those around you. And there is no better time to do so than at Christmas. People in our culture are open to hearing about Jesus, and talking about spiritual things, more so during December than any other time of the year. So may He give you the heart of Mary to bring His joy to your world this Advent.
And be encouraged to know that He has chosen you to do so.
Be Born in Me is divided into five sections and includes discussion questions so you can use in a weekly small group, family devotional or class setting.Here’s the link to the amazon web site: http://amzn.to/SNOkND.And here’s the link to the Kindle site: http://amzn.to/RI7ODe.
(c) 2012. Rich Ronald.
Advent starts this weekend. Like the onset of a new season or the New Year, it is a beginning. A time to prepare our hearts for celebrating the birth of the Messiah. It is a time to renew who we are as children of God. A time which allows us to truly celebrate Christmas for four weeks, rather than just a single day.
It is a time to cry out to God with the same prayer as Mary, the mother of Jesus: “Be Born in Me.”
It is every Believer’s cry from the depth of our heart as we ask Jesus to take over our lives. We need Jesus to be born in us, fully and completely.
This new little book is designed to help you celebrate the joy of Christmas by looking back from Mary’s perspective. It takes you into the times and culture of her day.
From Chapter Two of the book:
Francesca Battistelli recorded the song: Be Born in Me. In the first verse there is a lyric that says “Somehow help me see with Heaven’s eyes.” What does this mean?
For starters, it means seeing the potential and possibilities of someone, who the world sees and rejects, with God’s eyes. It means seeing the “least of these” (Matthew 25:40) and accepting them. God sees and accepts everyone who comes to Him, no matter our story. Harlot. Beggar. Murderer. Adulterer. Thief. Pharisee. Sinner. You. Me. Once we’ve bowed our knee to Jesus, God sees us from Jesus’ point of view. All redeemed. All restored. He sees us the way He created us, like a new born baby, fresh, like a new day with no mistakes in it.
May I encourage you as you go through the day today to look around and ponder what you see. The crowded shopping malls. The crazy traffic. The homeless on the corner. The eyes of hope at your dinner table. Can you see as God does?
Yes. When He is born in you.
The booklet is divided into five sections and includes discussion questions so you can use in a weekly small group, family devotional or class setting.
The touch of His words bring healing and salvation
There were ten of us… we were forced to live just outside the gates of the city. One by one our group had grown to its present ten. I think I was the fourth or fifth to join the community. We spent most of our days begging for scraps of food by the road under the shade of a single tree. At night we huddled together and slept in the dust around its trunk. My family had last seen me three years prior.
I’m not even sure how I got it… my skin began to itch and scratch… my fingers and toes began to look different, blood oozed from the simplest scrape. I had heard about leprosy… who hadn’t? Believed that those who had it were responsible for it somehow… surely they had sinned or chosen a lifestyle that wasn’t appropriate. Next thing I knew, I was scolded, yelled at, spit upon, cursed at… told I was “unclean!” And I was forced to the edge of town.
For 12 seasons I had learned to deal with this awful affliction. The touch of my wife? Gone. Holding hands and walking with my daughter? No more. Wrestling with my son? Not a chance. Oh, how I longed for their touch. For anyone’s touch.
I had little in common with the others. They were Jews. I was from Samaria. As castoffs, they observed their traditions as best they could. I just wanted to be normal again.
One day the Teacher they called “Yeshua” walked by. We weren’t really sure what He could do for us. After all, what could anyone do for us? It was so unfair. It wasn’t my fault I was unclean! Oh, how I wanted to be clean… but no one ever recovers from the incurable.
We shouted the same words to him as we called out to everyone: “Have mercy! Have pity!” Ironic now, looking back… we did not cry out “Heal us!”
He broke His stride, stopping long enough to show compassion in His eyes and love on His face. He had nothing to give us. But His look… it was heartfelt, deeply sincere. His followers urged him to move along, but he motioned toward them as if to say “I want to linger here for awhile.”
We kept crying out: “Have mercy! Have pity!” though I, for one, did not know what He could do.
Then He spoke just six words. Six words. “Go. Show yourselves to the priests.”
We were stunned… I was not really sure what that meant. I wanted food. I craved a touch. But all we got from Him were words. Then the murmurings began. The Jews gathered together and moved as one. Like a sheep, I followed the flock. As we shuffled down the road I asked one of the Nine what the priests could do? “Don’t you see,” he said, “the priests can declare that we are clean.”
“But…” I stammered… “we are unclean…”
And with a second and third look, one at a time, we each began to realize the lesions had disappeared. One’s face was not blemished. Another’s hands were no longer bloody. The crusty sores up and down my legs were gone. What was happening?
The pace quickened as the whole group began to see a miracle right before our very eyes. We were being healed! We had been healed!
Suddenly I stopped in my tracks. The others ran ahead. I turned and looked back and saw the Master with a grin from ear to ear. Such joy! Such compassion… I looked as the Nine galloped toward the temple.
“I must go back and say thank you!” I said outloud to no one in particular. “Praise God!” I shouted as I looked and saw my now-healed, outstretched hands.
The thoughts started to swim in my head: Do you know what this means? I can go back and tackle my son. I can squeeze my young daughter’s hand. I can hold and caress my bride again. “Praise God!” I shouted over and over.
I sped with the urgency of a sprinter on the final lap back up to the crest of the hill where He stood. His followers and He… all smiles as I topped the knoll with little breath left. I threw myself at His feet. I couldn’t believe what was happening, what had happened. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I cried. “You don’t know what this means to me!” I said through my tears of joy and relief. And yet, somehow I knew that He indeed knew what it meant to me…
And as He put His hand in my tangled and matted hair He asked, “Were not ten healed? Where are the other nine?” And He looked at His followers and asked with an air of genuine perplexity, “Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Not being a Jew, I didn’t fully grasp what he was saying… I was so thankful… I was healed! I was going home!
Then He said the most intense thing anyone has ever said to me. With an outstretched hand and loving eyes: “Get up. Go. Your faith has healed and saved you.”
Me? Faithful? Me? But I’m a Samaritan. I’m a sinner. Yes, I believed. Yes, I had faith… but it was only because my need was so great. I was desperate! Me? Healed? Yes! And saved? Yes, saved…
I had heard both Jews and Gentiles talk about being saved. It is something everyone longs for, I suppose. I’m not really a religious man… but do I want to spend eternity with Almighty God? Absolutely.
I went on my way as He directed… ran up to the gates of my home, ripping off the ragged bandages with each step. “I’m healed! I’m clean!” I shouted. “Praise God! The Teacher has healed me!”
My wife could not believe her eyes. My daughter squealed with delight. My son, now a young man whom I hardly recognized, gave me the biggest hug of my entire life. Ah, their touch… so sweet.
That was 25 years ago. I’m still clean… not a trace of the disease ever since. And I still believe that what the Teacher did that day — He touched me with His words — is reason to believe He will touch me for all eternity.
__________________
My interpretation of Luke 17:11-19. May you be one to give thanks today, and every day, for His words, His touch!
A little more than a year ago, the worship planning team at Oak Hills Church began planning our Advent season. Worship Minister Jeff Nelson recommended a theme around the song, Be Born in Me (Mary). It was written by Bernie Herms and Nichole Nordeman and beautifully recorded by Francesca Battistelli. It is on the album Music Inspired by TheStory from Word Entertainment.
I admit, I was hesistant at first. “We’re going to preach a song for Advent?” But the more I meditated on the words, the more I let the Holy Spirit work in my heart, the more enthused I became.
Each week the ministers at OHC’s five campuses would unpack a certain line from the song. I had the honor of preaching all four weeks at the North Central Campus.
This booklet is essentially that sermon series.
Have you ever prayed the prayer: “Be Born in Me!”?
It is every Believer’s cry from the depth of our heart as we ask Jesus to take over our lives. We need Jesus to be born in us, fully and completely.
From the Preface of the book:
Can you see her? The angel Gabriel had just left this young teenage girl with the news that in today’s language is an announcement that would “rock her world.” She would become pregnant. The Biblical text says she was “confused” [1] or “shaken.” [2] She was engaged to a man named Joseph, of the lineage of the Tribe of David. She had a deeply devout faith and had found favor with Adonai.
We can imagine in the moments after the angel’s ascension that she is standing alone, dazed and numb. She looks to the heavens and offers a prayer, a song. She completely gives herself to the Father in heaven and cries “Be Born in Me.”
Let’s take a close up look at four lines from the song, four prayers. They were cries from Mary’s heart. Can they be ours?
Be born in me.
Somehow help me see with Heaven’s eyes.
Trembling heart, somehow I believe that You chose me.
Make my heart your Bethlehem.
My prayer for you this coming Christmas season… that you will be able to embrace these prayers and believe all that they capture. May you let Jesus be born in you!
With great joy,
-rich
The booklet is divided into five sections and includes discussion questions so you can use in a weekly small group, family devotional or class setting.
The Christian faith heritage is Jewish because Jesus was Jewish and He is the Lamb of God.
Passover. It’s a Jewish holiday right? Yes… and no. You see, it was a celebration of the Passover where Messiah Jesus met with His disciples for what has traditionally been called “The Last Supper.”
Yep, the great, intimate evening, where Jesus washed His disciples feet and shared what most Christians call “Communion” for the first time, was actually a traditional meal celebrated by the Hebrews for centuries prior to the final evening Jesus would spend with His followers before His crucifixion.
So, the “Holy Eucharist” is actually a Jewish sacrament? Well, at its genesis, yes. You may ask “How can that be?”
Do you know, at this very minute, that God is pursuing you? Even if you’ve been a Believer all of your life, He is pursuing you. He continues to pursue you and wants to deeply connect with you and your heart.
You know when you had that check in your spirit recently? That was God. When you said those words you wanted to take back as soon as they left your lips? That was God. When you acted one way, or didn’t act in another. That was God.
He loves you with His whole heart and His Holy Spirit walks with you, follows you, and even goes after you when you turn away. In 1893 Francis Thompson coined the phrase “the Hound of Heaven” when describing how God unceasingly pursues us, encouraging us to follow Him.
This Advent Daily Devotional is focusing on the gifts God gives us, as uncovered in the book of Ephesians.
The next piece of armor covers your head. We’ve covered our feet with peace, surrounded our waist with truth, and have protected our heart with the grace of Jesus. We have lifted high the shield of faith and have been reminded that God is always closer to us than the enemy.
Next: Ephesians 6:17 “the Helmet of Salvation.” You are saved from your head to your toes. Be wise, wear a helmet! Protect your mind.
In the past 20 years or so, helmets have become a standard part our daily routine. When I learned to ride a bicycle, I never wore a helmet. And I had an accident or two… maybe that’s why I’m the way I am? But now, you wouldn’t think of teaching your child to ride a bike without first wearing a helmet. Why even cowboys and bull riders are wearing helmets instead of cowboy hats. Why? Because they work! They protect your head. They keep you safe. Have you read recently of all the research and technology put into the new NFL football helmets? There are molded shells and something called TPU padding. There is a lot of science going into protecting players’ heads. They’ve come a long way from the leather-heads of the early days of football.
Construction workers, athletes of all types, soldiers, firefighters… all wear helmets. Whether they look cool or not, they protect your head.
So, Paul says here, make sure you know everyday that your salvation saves you, protects you, keeps you in the game… keeps you mentally alert.
And how do you get your salvation? That’s the same question the Roman jailer asked Paul and Silas. Their answer? “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31 (NCV)
And think about Paul’s words in Romans as it relates to transforming our mind, which is the key central point in all our decision making. How do you know what God’s will is? “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) How do you renew your mind? By transforming your thinking. And how do you transform your thinking? By meditating on God and His word and His promises for you.
The infant Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which means “House of Bread.” Fascinating that the One who said in John 6:35 “I am the bread of life” was born in the House of Bread! Feed on His words. Transform your mind. Defeat the enemy.
Keep your head and your thoughts protected. Keep it safe. Wear a helmet! His helmet of salvation.
Father God, thank you for the gift of protection for my mind. Thank you for your word which renews my thinking. May I dwell on you and your thoughts today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Gift of weaponry, the Breastplate of Righteousness
This Advent Daily Devotional is focusing on the gifts God gives us, as uncovered in the book of Ephesians.
There is a new song by Francesca Bastestelli called “Be Born in Me.” It has been the cry of the heart of our family this Advent. There is a line in the chorus that says “I’ll hold you in the beginning, You will hold me in the end, Every moment in the middle, make my heart your Bethlehem.”
What does it mean to “make my heart your Bethlehem?” Well, if we say that Bethlehem is the place where Jesus was born, we are saying to God “make my heart a place where Jesus is born, where he lives.”
If we dig into the story of Bethlehem, we learn that Bethlehem was also the City of David. The place where the young shepherd boy tended his flock, and where he later downed a giant named Goliath with a single stone. It is here where David was anointed by Samuel.
It was also here where Ruth gleaned wheat from nearby fields and met her husband Boaz. Ruth was David’s grandmother.
Bethlehem means “House of Bread.” It makes sense then, that Jesus was born here for he later fed thousands with a few loaves of bread. And he also said that He is “the true bread from heaven” and “the bread of life” (John, Chapter 6).
Does Jesus live in your heart? He came from the House of Bread to give us life, true bread, true sustenance. Jesus is all we really need. He satisfies our greatest hunger and strengthens us spiritually, just as bread does physically. What happens when you don’t eat for a few days? You become weak, right? What happens when you don’t feast on the Bread of Life daily? You become spiritually weak, and you give the enemy an opportunity to break into your spirit and your heart.
So how do you protect your heart? Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place (Ephesians 6:14, NIV).
Where do we get our righteousness? Only from affirming the grace-saving love of Jesus. By dying for us, Jesus’ sacrifice is our covering of righteousness, like when the Old Testament priests offered sacrifices for sin.
Paul is actually saying that accepting Jesus into our heart is one of the weapons of spiritual warfare that will keep us spiritually strong and well fed.
It’s also the reason that Satan hates you. Cover your heart, protect your heart, with the righteousness of Christ. Protect your heart… don’t let the enemy use your heart… don’t give the enemy your heart. He will use worldly “love” to get to you. He will use fleshly “love,” or more appropriately lust, to get to you. It’s one of his most successful schemes.
Your heart belongs to Christ. He bought it with His sacrifice.
Receive this great gift and may it protect your heart.
Father God, my prayer is that Jesus will be born in my heart. And may His sacrifice be my righteousness. And may it cover and protect me from the enemy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
RichRonald.com 