The Women of Christmas

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well! I have had it in my heart for a while to write about the "Women of Christmas." I have written about them a little bit in my series on Women in the Life of Jesus, but there is so much more to explore.

Something that the Lord has been emphasizing during this season, I believe, is the presence of the Holy Spirit. We have heard that under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit would only come on 3 offices, the prophet, priest, and king. I think we can add the judge to that as well because we see Him in the life of Deborah and Sampson for example.

But He would come and leave. It doesn't seem like they have the Holy Spirit permanently residing in them. I think that's why David prayed this in Psalm 51:11,

"Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me."

Do you remember?

But something happens when we get to the New Testament. We start having a transition. Grace is coming.

How does this involve the Women of Christmas? Which women are they? To me the Women of Christmas are Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna.

In Luke's Gospel, chapter 1 and 2, we see the story of Christmas. Luke and Matthew are the only two Gospel writers that mention the birth of Jesus, but Luke is the only one that mentions Elizabeth and Anna.

We also see mention of the Holy Spirit. Just like there was more angelic activity surrounding the birth of Jesus, it also seems as though there was more activity with the Holy Spirit.

Why? I think there is a reason. Everything is significant. It all means something.

Over the next few days, I would like to share a (short) series about the Women of Christmas with you.

Merry Christmas,
Beth

If you would like to read the series Women in the Life of Jesus, click on the highlighted link.

To read the Women of Christmas series, use the following links:

The Women of Christmas: Mary, Part 1

The Women of Christmas: Mary, Part 2

The Women of Christmas: Mary, Part 3 

The Women of Christmas: Elizabeth, Part 1

Five Minute Friday: Stuff on My Mind (Ramblings)

Photo by Marie M on Unsplash

Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and free write about a one-word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "stuff."

As the year is drawing to a close, I have lots of stuff on my mind.

This has been a year of change. We moved again. Moving is hard. You’d think it would get easier the more you do it, but it really doesn’t.

Each time we move, we have to find new doctors, hair stylists, dentists, etc. We also have to find new friends.

I make new friends every place we go and usually keep a few good ones after we leave. Some stay close, and some drift away. I know God has a purpose for each of them.

This move has been hard. Each time I think I have a new friendship figured out; it seems to not go the way I planned. I can sense the Lord leading me to look to Him for comfort, reassurance, and all the things we often look to people for. I am trying.

Other stuff on my mind is what do I do at this point in my life? I am speaking career-wise. I think I always want that solid confirmation, or somehow, I have gotten to the point where I need the solid confirmation. I have taken lots of chances, and seem to keep circling the same mountain, but with not the amount of success I would like.

Maybe that’s the point. My success doesn’t look like everyone else’s success, and if I had the same amount of perceived success as others (in the world’s eyes), how would we all fit?

I am a mom. I love being a mom. I love taking care of my family, and household. How to be content with just that? The mere fact that I am sitting here typing out these words suggests that I should lend myself to writing in some way. But then I feel the guilt about giving attention to this, so there’s always this tug-of-war between being a good mom, writer, minister, etc.

So, this is the stuff going on in my thoughts today. As we wrap up 2024, I pray to feel more settled in my own skin. I want lasting friendships, God-ordained relationships, and to love and nurture my family, and anything else He leads me to do with as much intensified zeal as I can muster. Even if I just need to rest for a bit. Let me rest in resting, Lord.

What stuff is on your mind?

My prayer today is that we continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him, King Jesus. Please guide us, Lord. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who lives in all who believe.

Beth