Awestruck Wonder

Have you ever just stopped to think about nature and all its beauty? God created everything just as it should be. Think about how tall the majestic mountains are and how the valleys provide cooling shade amongst the canopy of trees? The intriguing and mysterious depth of all the oceans. The warmth of the sun, it’s strategically placed to maintain enough warmth to keep us from freezing and far away to keep us from burning. The detail and function of every plant and animal in the kingdom, every living organism. God created science and the building blocks of life. Lifegiver. Creator. Sustained. Provider. Father. His plan unfolded in a miraculous way. 

Jesus came and showed God’s power in human form. Divinity in the flesh. He came to earth just like me and you, a baby from his nurturing mother’s womb. From the beginning conception was even miraculous, a young virgin. His birth was just like any other child, except in a barn because the inns were crowded. As a child, his wisdom grew as he learned and taught in the synagogues. Wise beyond his years. A normal kid and teenager with his parents and younger siblings. A hardworking carpenter’s son like his dad Joseph who loved to fish. He grew up into a young adult, and started his ministry at age 30. 

His first miracle was at a wedding of some family friends, Mary his mother was with him. They had run out of wine, and all they had were pictures and jars of water. Jesus, provided the wine. Wine was symbolic of joy. Jesus brought wherever he went. He calmed the storm by saying peace, be still. He walked out of the water and called one of his beloved disciples to join him in by doing it too. He fed thousands with just a little snack of a lunch meant for one little boy. He can multiply even the smallest of things in our lives if we have faith to just let Him work! He healed the blind, and opened their eyes to wonders they had never seen before literally and spiritually! He opened deaf ears and the first thing they heard was the voice of truth, the Son of God! He healed the mute, their first words were praises to Him! He healed the sick and hurting from all ailments and afflicting diseases.  He helped the lame to stand and walk in truth and life! He spoke the truth and changed lives for the better. He brought a dead man, who had been in the grave for four whole days, back to life! Can you imagine?! Everything he did struck up wonder and amazement! 

What are some examples in your life or in the lives of others around that you’ve seen His power and glory displayed? Are you in need of a MIRACLE? Ask Him! Seek Him! 

Here are two song links and MEMORY VERSES for you to study and ponder on your heart:

“It’s a Wonder Just to Know You”- feat. Laurel Taylor and People & Songs https://youtu.be/pfg_TAt4IgA 

“Wonder” – Hillsong United https://youtu.be/haQ1earucJ0 

Psalms 40:5 NIV

“Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.”

Luke 5:26 (ESV)”And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

Love, Heather H. Carnley

The Shepherds Visit the Lamb of God-The Advent Series (Part 4)

A life lived outdoors, weathering the elements whether heat or cold, rainy or snowy. The beasts and predators must be kept at bay as well. No one or no thing gets to their sheep. The flock must be protected. The phrase “I didn’t choose this life, this life chose me” may simply apply to these shepherds. Their job was never taken lightly. A shepherd’s sole responsibility is the safety, care, well-being of their flock. According to wikipedia’s google search results about shepherds: “Some flocks may include as many as 1,000 sheep. The shepherd will graze the animals, herding them to areas of good forage, and keeping a watchful eye out for poisonous plants. Shepherds often live in trailers or other mobile quarters.” As a shepherd you had to know where the good hiding places were and the good grazing places were and what plants were harmful. Shepherds were and are very much hunter-gatherers as well as protectors. Although their jobs were similar to farmers and farm-hands, shepherds were often paid to watch the sheep of others. Shepherds also lived outside of the society, or the outskirts near their pastures presumably. Shepherds were and are largely nomadic. Most shepherds were males without children, and families. New shepherds were often recruited externally. Shepherd could quite possibly seem rather lonely, just you and your flock and maybe a few other shepherd comrades nearby. They were indeed rugged and hardworking, and what we would call “blue collar boys” today. In biblical times they were often thought of as lowly positions in society.

As more research shows, typically the youngest son in the family in chosen to shepherd the sheep. As the each older son grows up, he transfers his responsibilities from sheep raising and shepherding-to helping his father with farming duties like sowing, plowing, and harvesting the crops, and passes on the shepherd’s task to the next little brother. The job is passed from oldest to youngest until all have been the family shepherd. Leaving the very youngest to remain the shepherd. We see this in the book of 1 Samuel, when Jesse raised his family of eight sons and David was his youngest son “And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep” (1Sam. 16:11). David, was the family shepherd. We see in scripture that it was prophesied in Isaiah 11:1 “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”
Isaiah 11:1 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/isa.11.1.ESV

Read and reflect on Luke 2:8-20

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
Luke 2:8‭-‬20 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.2.8-20.ESV

The angel, went to the lowly and lonely, far out in an isolated pasture on a cold winter’s night…the shepherds in the country. The same way Samuel found young David, the king of Israel the angels told them that the NEW King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace had been born in the city of David! The shepherds knew all about preparing the spotless and perfect lamb for Passover, yet little did they know they were about to meet the Lamb of God. What a moment!

Jesus, Son of God and Son of man. King of kings, Lord of lord’s. Prince of Peace. Jeshua. Messiah. The Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God. He is called and named many things, to Mary and Joseph that’s their baby boy and pride and joy. Jesus was called the Christ, or the Messiah when he entered into his ministry at age 30 after his baptism by John his cousin. The name “Christ” means anointed one or the Messiah. He had been prophesied and chosen by God the Father long before He was born, He knew everything and existed in heaven with the Father. The angels were sent to shepherds, the chosen caretakers. Shepherds often anointed or poured oil over their sheeps heads to keep burrs, briars, and bugs off as a protection from the sun and harsh elements as well. Jesus, the chosen anointed one is the Lamb of God, yet HE is also our shepherd who guides and guards us, cares for and protects as well as anoints us with his blessing of protection. God revealed his perfect plan to all who listened when the time had come…yet His story is still unfolding and we get to be a part of the story…

Follow along next week as we follow the wise men as they followed the star…

In the true spirit and anticipation of Christmas season, Heather H. Carnley