Dirty diapers

Formation Toolbox: 

By Benjamin O’Loughlin

Christmas is over. But not just for us. For Jesus, Joseph, and especially Mary, who’s already changed 17 days worth of diapers. Yes, Baby Jesus wore diapers… and Mary had to change them.

That’s what I call faith. Not that changing diapers is anything special. I’m the oldest of 6, and as a kid I put in my fair share of hours changing siblings’ diapers.

Mary changing diapers is faith because there are few things more real, concrete and down to earth than the smell of freshly – or not so freshly – dirtied diapers.

The Annunciation

"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary." Luke 1:26-27

Today marks exactly nine months until Christmas. It was around this time the angel announced to Mary she would give birth to the Lord. Mary was at first afraid of this "birth announcement," but then she rejoiced at the thought of being the mother of the Messiah. She went straight to her cousin, Elizabeth, with the fantastic news.

Elizabeth had good news of her own. Although old and childless, she was also expecting. Mary and Elizabeth had plenty to hob-nob about. For three months these two moms-to-be delighted in their miracles. They probably did all the first-century versions of things expectant mothers do today: knitted baby clothes, collected blankets, diapers, bibs, toys, rattles, and pacifiers (a small piece of chamois, maybe?) I picture them as two birds on a perch, chattering and chirping about their impending families. Expectant mothers deserve this kind of luxury, right?

Disgraced Mary

By Kelly McFadden

In a loud voice she exclaimed, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
Luke 1:42-45

Teen pregnancy is one of the most difficult things a young girl can go through. Some choose abortions so they don’t have to face their parents or friends with news that they are pregnant. Others who carry the child drop out of school and face the challenge of being shunned by family and friends. Let’s face it. Pregnant unwed teens are not looked upon with a great deal of respect, even in this more “tolerant” day and age, let alone throughout history.

The Treasure Box

Written by Kristi Huseby

“[B]ut Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.” (Luke 2:19, NLT)

Did you have a treasure box growing up? I did. In my treasure box I had a very old dollar coin that my Mom had given to me, some chapstick, and various other items that you might have considered junk but to me they were valued possessions.

In Luke 2:19 (NLT) we get the idea that Mary had a treasure box of sorts, only her treasures were memories of Jesus and how his life intersected with hers. Look at what it says, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

What were those things she stored in her “treasure box”? Could it have been the time when the Angel came to tell her that she would bear a child even though she was a virgin? Or what about when she visited with Elizabeth who was old, wrinkled and very pregnant? Did she treasure watching God’s miracle growing within her?

It's a Sister Thing

Michelle McKinney Hammond

WOMEN HAVE THE ABILITY TO NURTURE ONE ANOTHER IN A WAY THAT MYSTIFIES MEN. BUT A DESPERATE NEED FOR ATTENTION WILL TURN THAT CARING INTO COMPETITION.

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Whether you call it connecting or bonding, women do it remarkably well. Certainly, this has been my experience. A recent shopping trip overwhelmingly confirmed my theory.

"Oooh, that looks lovely on you. You should get it!" my admirer told me. It was 7:30 a.m., and my favorite store was having a knock-down, drag-out sale. Take 80 percent off everything!

Oooh, Mama, I was in my glory! And so were my sisters--women I had never seen before in my life.

"Mmm, it's pretty, but you looked slimmer in the other outfit."

"That color is very becoming."

Miracle of Jesus at Cana Wedding

Bible Study Lesson:

• John 2:1-11: The Miracle of turning Water Into Wine

Q. How were wedding celebrations like in eastern cultures? Who were invited? How long do the celebrations last?

• In Eastern cultures, weddings are like social events, where family, friends, distant relatives(extended families), neighbors are all invited. (Parable of the Wedding Banquet)
• Wedding celebration can last for 2-3, even 7 days or more.

Q. The passage begins with 'On the third day', So what was is it referring to? What was Jesus' schedule like?

Let us trace back to Jesus' schedule for that week. Take a note of 'The next day' at the beginning of each verse.

Being a Godly Example to the Next Generation of Women

Some of my fondest memories of childhood were when my sister and I would play dress-up. We loved adorning ourselves with my mother’s dresses and clunking around the house in high heels. I always imagined myself as a movie star or Miss America, gracefully walking the runway while my loyal fans cheered and cameras flashed.

Yet, childish dreams melt away as we grow older. Oh, there are the movie stars and the girls who become Miss America. But most of our paths don’t take that turn.

The harsh reality of life begins to raise its ugly head when we realize that those high heels are uncomfortable! And when that reality hits, many women are left living the life they’d always dreamed in their minds while the life God has given them flies by unnoticed.

Yes, women today are desperately in need of role models who stand firm in their faith and embrace the life God has for them. But where can you find those strong feminine models of faith? Well, the place I continue to look is in the Scriptures.

Women today are desperately in need of role models who stand firm in their faith and embrace the life God has for them.

Now the most familiar passage is of course the Proverbs 31 woman. But there are so many more. We can read about Ruth’s faithfulness, Esther’s bravery, and Mary’s devotion, just to name a few. I love reading these passages and learning what it means to be a woman devoted to God!

Who are our little girls pretending to be today? Who are their models? It’s my prayer that God would give women today the strength to provide the next generation with a strong and loving model of God’s greatest creation—a godly woman!

http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/powerpoint-with-jack-graham/articles/being-a-godly-example-to-the-next-generation-of-women-12942.html 

Jesus Came And Is Coming Again

By Bruce Collins

“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’” Luke 2:9-12NKJV

There is usually joy when a healthy baby is born into this world. When the Lord was born, there was the manifestation of the glory of God. I wonder if that glory looked like a superb display of the northern lights coming from the angel. There were angels, and there was joy. This was the event for which Israel was supposedly waiting. But wait a minute! God didn’t do this right, did He?

In order to be the mother of the Lord, Mary had to appear to be a “loose woman” since she was not married. Isaiah was clear that a virgin would conceive (Isa. 7:14), but how many unmarried women have children out of wedlock without committing sin? Even though her husband Joseph and others accepted what God had done, I have no doubt that the stigma of being conceived before His folks married was something the Lord had to live with as He grew up. I’m sure His miraculous conception was something Mary and Joseph told others, but I’m sure most who heard their story snickered and said, “Sure! Sure!”

Born To Us

The Messiah was to be born a King, but Jesus came from a humble family. One would expect a king to grow up in Jerusalem, not in Nazareth. The Messiah’s family should have believed in Him, but they did not, until after His resurrection (Jn. 7:5). The nation did not understand that their Messiah was to suffer and die before He came to reign, so even though there was joy at the Lord’s birth there was also sorrow. Mary was told that a “sword would pierce her soul” (Lk. 2:35). This child would suffer. So would His mother. He was to be rejected and ridiculed. He was not accepted by the Jews as the promised Messiah. How could this be God’s will? How could this bring joy?

When we understand that the baby at Bethlehem was destined to be the Christ of the Cross because He was born to be the Savior, then and then only will we understand why there was joy “to all people.” This time of year we see a lot of manger scenes. I’ve been thinking that I should put three crosses in my yard with a light on the middle cross and a sign that says, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). True joy comes when we realize that death could not hold the Lord in the grave. He lives, and He’s coming again. The joy of the angels when one sinner repents and believes (Lk. 15:10) is the true joy of this season.

Coming For Us

Just before His crucifixion, Jesus said, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:3). Unbelief caused Israel to miss their Messiah when He came the first time. Unbelief will cause those who reject Him to be deceived when He comes again. In 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 we read, “For this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

The Lord’s second coming will be much like His first. Most will be convinced that His coming didn’t really happen, and that those who suddenly disappeared were not really caught away by the Lord (1 Th. 4:17). Not only will they miss out on the joy of going to heaven without dying, but also they will miss out on the joy of spending eternity with this One who was born in the City of David, announced by angels, foretold in the prophetic Scriptures, proven to be the Messiah by His miracles and teaching, crucified on a cross, raised from the dead and is coming again.


http://www.gtpress.org/gtweb/gtmag/mag06/apr06/feature2.html

Why did Jesus reject His family on earth?

Jesus did not reject His family on earth. In Matthew 12, He taught that His family included not just His immediate relatives but all who are obedient to the Word of God. The door to closeness to Christ is the obedience of faith; all who submit themselves to the practice of the Word may be as near to Him as His own mother and brothers were.

Matthew 12: 46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.

47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.

50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (NIV)

Only those who hear and obey the Word of God are personally related to Jesus and are a part of God’s family. Faith without obedience is not an option in God’s spiritual family. 

Relationship with Christ surpasses family ties no matter how close they may be.

Parallel Verses:

Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.

32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!

35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (NIV)

Luke 8:19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd.

20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” (NIV)

Suggested Readings:    

The International Inductive Study New Testament (New    

        Berkeley Version)

Full Life Study Bible, NIV


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