Saturday, December 22, 2018

Christmas!


23 December 2018
05:32

Christmas is about unexpected gifts that always don't seem like it,
A turning upside down of your world that you don't quite understand,
Sometimes a taking away of shame, sometimes the possibility of ridicule and rejection from those who do not understand God's actions,
Sometimes you become mute, sometimes you burst into praise,
Babies in the womb leap for joy at encountering the messiah...even when he's less than a month old incarnate!
Christmas is about dreams with seemingly strange instructions that demand obedience,
Christmas is about how even world events work together to fulfil to the letter God's promises about the birth of the messiah,
Christmas is about faith and about believing that what God said will come to pass because He said so!
Christmas is about riff raff like shepherds encountering the baby Jesus because of an angelic visitation.
Christmas is about angels leaving heaven to come and proclaim the birth of the Messiah.
Christmas is about Wise men leaving everything to encounter the new born king.
Christmas is about enemies trying to kill the new born king but finding themselves fulfilling scripture.
Christmas is about the scribes and Pharisees who knew all the scriptures but failed to recognise the visitation of God.
Christmas is about you and I embracing all that Christ brings and living life joyfully because we know God is with us (Emmanuel!)
Will you be a Mary this Christmas and believe God's word?
Will you be a Joseph this Christmas and obey God's instructions?
Will you be the shepherds and visit the baby Jesus?
Will you be the wise men and leave everything to encounter the new born king?
Will you, unlike the Pharisees and scribes, see the Messiah in the scriptures you are so familiar with?
Will you, like the angels, sing a song of joy at the incarnation?
Will you have faith that all of God's promises to you will be fulfilled?
Will you trust?
Will you have a Mary Christmas...regardless of whatever may be happening around?

Cheers!
Angela Azumah Alu
23/12/18
Image from: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Christmas-Nativity-Scene-Jesus-Birthday-Edible-Cake-Topper-1-4-FROSTING-sheet-/252371282086

Thursday, December 13, 2018

It will all end in praise!

Shall we accept the joys but not the sorrow from what He brings?
He is the one who dispenses both sometimes in seemingly equal measure.
Do we think we deserve only good because we belong to Him?
Who fed us that lie?
Do we not know how our salvation was won?
What witness have we if there are no valleys or mountains?
How does He prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies if there are no enemies?
How do we make a sacrifice of praise if there is no sorrow we praise Him through?
What witness have we if there is no reason for which our praise demands attention?
Tis the summons of the LORD of all flesh!
Will you answer in a way that shows your faith or not?
He is the LORD, the God of all the flesh! Is there anything too hard for Him?
He is the God of the impossible who makes the dry land bloom and rejoice.
Cheers!

Angela Azumah Alu
14/12/18



Image courtesy of: https://www.google.com/search?q=it+will+all+end+in+praise&oq=it&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i65l2j69i60l2j69i57.2050j0j7&client=ms-android-samsung&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=9t35gaoWSZft3M: