Category Archives: 2013 Christmas Devotional

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went  from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the cityContinue reading “Day 19-The Journeys We Don’t Want To Take”

 All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee. (Luke 2: 3-4)                  In Matthew, we last saw Joseph in Bethlehem. In Luke, Mary was with Elizabeth. Matthews tells us that when Joseph awoke from the dream in which he was instructed to wedContinue reading “Day 18-The Unplanned Wedding That Scripture Doesn’t Mention”

And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. (Luke 1: 56)                                 On the approach to the Church of the Visitation in Ein Karem, Israel, the hillsides are covered with olive trees. The church itself is built atop anContinue reading “Day 17-Who Is Your Mary? Who Is Your Elizabeth?”

For he had looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty one has done great things for me, and holy is his name. his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with hisContinue reading “Day 16-A Most Unnerving Song”

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 1: 46-47)                         For nine or ten days Mary had carried in her heart the most astounding secret: She was pregnant, and the child was to be the long-awaited messianic king, Israel’s deliverer. Yet she had been afraidContinue reading “Day 15-How Mary Found Her Joy”

WEEK THREE Ein Karem  When the angel Gabriel told Mary she was pregnant, she also learned that her older cousin Elizabeth was expecting a child. Now, Mary knew that Elizabeth had longed to have a child with her husband Zachariah the priest, and she knew that Elizabeth was past childbearing age. Clearly, this was aContinue reading “Week Three-Ein Karem”

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb.  And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed areContinue reading “Day 14 – Elizabeth Said to Her, “Blessed Are You…””

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25)   Joseph was perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old when he was engaged to Mary.Continue reading “Day 13 Joseph Did What the Lord Commanded”

But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20)   It is not by accidentContinue reading “Day 12 – Joseph’s Dreams”

Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. (Matthew 1:18b-19) We often read Matthew’s account of Joseph’s “annunciation”-that is, his learningContinue reading “Day 11 – Being a Righteous Man”