The Reality

THE REALITY

Philippians 2:6-8, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedience unto death, even the death of the cross."

Much of what we see and experience of Christmas today is total antipathy to the birth of Jesus that we are supposed to be remembering. We have Christmas trees, decorations, lights, tinsel, Santa Claus, and an over abundance of food. The first Christmas was one of poverty, but Christmas today is commercialized and money is splashed around.

The first Christmas was a very humble one. It was not glamorous. Today, if a couple were so poor that they had to have their baby in a dirty animal stable, the Social Services would take their baby away from them. But 2000 years down the line, it seems that the humility of Christmas has been forgotten.

I think it would be good to remind ourselves of the true reality of Christmas, don't you?

The humility of Mary.

Mary was a humble maiden with a humble lineage. She was not a royal princess. She was not a High Priest's daughter. She was not rich. Mary herself confesses in her song, "He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.... He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree..." (Luke 1:48-49) But God chose this unknown virgin to bring forth His precious Son. He chose her because she was a willing vessel. Often those who have everything materially, are not willing vessels.

God is not looking for riches and material possessions. He is looking for women with obedient hearts - mothers who will welcome to their hearts the children whom God has planned to send them. He is looking for those who have the same spirit Mary had when she said, "Be it unto me according to thy Word." (Luke 1:38) She was totally surrendered to the will of the Lord. In the face of poverty, ridicule, rejection and estrangement, she embraced this child who would be the Savior of the world.

I will never forget going to the famous art gallery in London and seeing a painting of Mary. It was such an anointed picture. The artist had captured the look of total submission and abandonment to the will of God upon her face. It was amazing. I looked and looked at it for hours. The caption was the very words, "Be it unto me according to thy Word."

The humility of Joseph.

Joseph was a humble carpenter from a humble village. Do you remember that Nathanael said of Jesus, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46) His own residents of Nazareth spurned him and asked, "Is not this the carpenter's son?" (Matthew 13:55)

The humility of His birthplace.

Jesus was born in a manger in a barn with the smells and messes of the animals all around.

Jesus was born to be King, but God didn't provide a palace for His Son in which to be born. He didn't provide a doctor, nurses and hospital. There was no cradle, beautifully draped with lace and frills. Only straw! Was there even that? No Christmas card paints the true reality of the scene.

If this was the beginning of the Son of God, why do we, the sons and daughters of God, expect that we should have all the niceties of life? Of course, if God blesses us with them, we will receive them with joy, but should we expect them? Everything surrounding the birth of Jesus was humble. It is interesting that in the body of Christ we have the "Faith movement" and the "Discipleship movement" and so on. But has anyone ever heard of the "Humility movement"? We don't take to this aspect so well, do we? And yet this is how God planned for His beloved Son to be born. And this is how he lived all through His life. Shouldn't humility also be the hallmark of our Christian experience?

Isn't it so amazing that God chose to bring forth His beloved Son through the process of birth? He could have sent him down from Heaven on a chariot of fire! He could have sent a legion of angels to escort Him from the majesty of heaven. But no! He chose for Jesus to be conceived and nurtured in a womb, to be born of a woman, the way that God planned for all human life to come into this world.

Surely this raises birth to a high estate. What a privilege to give birth and give life to children, the very same way that Jesus came into the world? How blessed we are as women.

The humility of Jesus' dedication.

After the days of a mother's purification, the parents took the baby to the temple to be dedicated. They had to bring a lamb to be sacrificed for the dedication. However, if they could not afford a lamb, they brought two turtle doves or young pigeons. (Leviticus 12:6-8) The account in Luke 2:23-24 tells us that Joseph and Mary brought doves or pigeons. They belonged to the poor class. They couldn't afford to bring a lamb. And yet God chose from the poorer class to bring forth the King of kings and Lord of lords.

We don't have to own our own home and have all the modern conveniences before we are ready to have a baby. All we have to have is willing and welcome hearts. God will always provide for the children He sends. The poor who have children are richer than the wealthy who reject children.

May you have a wonderful Christmas together with your family. May God keep all our hearts focused on the humility of His birth, rather than tinsel and toys.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

Prayer:
"Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for leaving the glory of heaven to come to this earth. Thank you for humbling yourself to become a little baby. Thank you for being humiliated for me. Thank you that you came to die, and to die for my sin. How can I ever thank you adequately? But with all my being I worship and love you. Amen."

Quote:
Zechariah 9:9 NAS, "Behold your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey..."

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

Are You Enslaved By Bitterness?

See Bible Study/Article on BITTERNESS

Have you or someone you know ever carried the heavy yoke of bitterness?
It is a dreadful burden to bear, and a poison that infiltrates every area of the mind and body. Like a crippling disease, it takes over the mind and if gripped for too long ruins a person’s health, and spills over onto every person around this poor, imprisoned soul. Proverbs 17: 22---…..a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Hebrews 12:12-15---Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.
Jesus came that we might have life, and life abundantly. Don’t you long to be relieved of this burden? It takes a lot of time and energy to hold on, brooding over an idea, misgiving, or maltreatment. Proverbs 14:30-A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones.
By dying for us, Jesus broke those heavy chains of slavery. Reach out to Him and ask Him to set you free. Psalm 51:15-“And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” Holding on to bitterness is hurting you more than the ones you’re brooding over.. The pastures are greener on the other side of forgiveness….

Ephesians 4:31-32---Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

BITTERNESS IS A PRISON-THE ONLY WAY OUT IS FORGIVENESS:
Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”
7:2- “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”

“Oh God, purge me of all this ugly sin. Cut every vile thing out of me. Make me a vessel fit for Your indwelling presence, fit for Your glory. Oh God, “Not some of self and some of Thee, but NONE of self and ALL of Thee.” “Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord, O to be lost in Thee!” O that it might be no more I, but Christ that lives in me.” “Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way. Hold over my being absolute sway. Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see, Christ only and always living in me.”

For more info. click on the "Article on Bitterness" above the hands.

Train 'em Young!

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Here is a picture of our youngest little lady, delighting in the joy of homemaking. She is really a nice helper. Her sisters have done a fabulous job training her! He he he! She is busy chopping nuts, and I must say, does a fine job. We knew she'd be a good cook............after all she WAS born in the kitchen!
Mrs. Honey Bee

Raising Maidens of Virture~By Stacy McDonald

More than a fashion statement~
make a purity statement!

Do you want your daughter to cherish her purity and honor God by the chaste and lovely way she presents herself?

More than a fill-in-the-blank Bible study, Raising Maidens of Virtue is an engaging tool for mothers to use in training daughters who are approaching womanhood to think biblically. Through stories, allegories, illustrations, and memory-making projects, Raising Maidens of Virtue covers topics such as guarding the tongue, idleness, sibling relationships, honoring parents, contentment, modesty, purity, cleanliness, and feminine biblical beauty.

Godly women are not born, but raised. Stacy McDonald has in this work equipped parents to be about the business of raising up rubies, or rather, that which is more precious still, our daughters. She is a faithful guide, for she is a godly example. - Dr. R. C. Sproul, Jr., Pastor,

Director of the Highlands Study Center , and most importantly, homeschooling father of six
In the face of our culture’s shameless enticement of young women to view their identity and worth only in terms of their sexuality, Stacy McDonald passionately challenges mothers and daughters together to return to a pure and gracious femininity for the God who made us uniquely for His glory. -Tracy Klicka, wife of Sr. Counsel for HSLDA, Chris Klicka

We need young women who cherish their purity and desire to honor their parents through chaste behavior, speech, and dress. We need girls of character who cultivate their minds and emotions to reflect God’s design with joy, intelligence, and delight. – From the Foreword by Jennie Chancey

www.booksonthepath.com

My daughters and I are currently doing this study together. BEAUTIFUL! What a lovely way to strengthen character and confidence as women and to build our relationships as sisters in Christ. You can NOT afford to be left behind on this one. Sincerely, Mrs. Honey-Bee

Homeschoolers and Socialization?

Life in a shoe: Socialization

Did Johnny Guess?

"I love you, Johnny," said mother one day,

"I love you more than I can say."

Then she answered his questions with,

"Don't bother me now,"

And just didn't have time to show him how

to tie his truck to his tractor and plough.

But she washed her windows and scrubbed the floor

and baked and cooked and cleaned some more.

"Bring the boy next door in?" Well I should say not!

You'll mess up the floors and I don't want a spot!"

"No, we don't have time for a story today,

Mother's too busy cooking, so run out and play.

Maybe tomorrow," she said with a sigh.

And Johnny went out almost ready to cry.

"I love you, Johnny," again she said,

As she washed his face and sent him to bed.

Now how do you think that Johnny guessed

Whether 'twas he or the house that she really loved best?

Unknown Author

from

Above Rubies Magazine

Issue # 65, pg. 20

www.aboverubies.org

Most Richly Blessed

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve;
I was made weak
that I might learn to humbly obey.
I asked for Health, that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity,
that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy;
I was given poverty,
that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness,
that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;
I was given life,
that I might enjoy all things.
I received nothing I asked for,
but EVERYTHING I hoped for.
Despite myself............... my unspoken prayers
were answered.
I am, among men, most richly blessed.

`Author unknown, found in the pocket of a dead soldier.`

Title of print above: The Prayer at Valley Forge

Created To Be His Help Meet~By Debi Pearl

Somewhere over the passing years and changing culture, women have lost their way. This book is written to lead them back home. Regardless of how you began your marriage or how dark and lonely the path that has brought you to where you are now, I want you to know that it is possible today to have a marriage so good and so fulfilling that it can only be explained as a miracle.


Michael and Debi Pearl, married for 34 years, now have 5 happily married adult children and a growing number of grandchildren. They are the authors of To Train Up a Child, which has over 450,000 in print in English and is in many other languages. They are the founders of No Greater Joy Ministries. Check out the website at: www.NoGreaterJoy.org

I would love any comments regarding your experiences after reading this book.
xoxoxo MamaHoneyBee

THE GOAL

~The Proverbs 31 Woman~

An eccellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She looks for wool and flax, and works with her hands in delight.

She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.

She rises also while it is still night, and gives food to her household, and portions to her maidens.

She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong.

She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.

She extends her hand to the poor; and she stretches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.

She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children ride up and bless her; her husband also and he praises her saying,

"Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all."

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:10-31 NAS

Family Reformation Magazine

Encouragement for Families Today.
http://www.familyreformation.com/

Welcome~