Psalm 33: 20-22 “Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” (vs. 22)

 

You know that great hymn “My Hope is in the Lord”? We talk and sing about hope as if we really get it, but often we are left really asking ourselves what is Christian hope?  As I finished up this psalm and read a bunch of articles on hope, I came up with this acrostic for Hope.

 

H: Humility
First, we need to see ourselves as who we really are in light of who God is.  We are sinful creatures in need of a Sovereign Savior.  There is no hope in me, but there is hope in my ability to humble myself before God (2 Chron. 7:14, James 4:10).

 

O: Obedience – during bends in the road/Uuexpected randomness of life
All I have to do is look through Scripture at those that God met along the road and brought them through and I see obedience over and over again.  Hope came into the world on Christmas because of the obedience of two people in spite of the craziness of it all.

 

P: Promises and Purposes
The basis for our hope is found in the way God has kept His promises in the past. Our story begins in the Garden of Eden in those tragic few moments after Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit. From that moment sin spread out across the earth, staining everything it touched.

 

What would God do? How would He deal with people who had chosen to turn away from Him? Would He destroy Adam and Eve and start over again? No, hHope begins with the simple observation that God didn’t give up on the human race. God was determined to do something! He would not let Satan win the battle for planet earth.

 

The rest of the Old Testament is the unfolding of God’s plan to counteract what happened in Eden. At that point in time God made a promise that, while vague, was the first glimmer of hope after the fall. The promise in its purest form was this: God would do something about sin by sending someone to the earth, and that it was and is His desire to have a relationship with us and to be our God and to lead us into a life full and victorious.

 

E: Expectation
We can also find hope in the present, help that comes from the Lord. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in the time of trouble.”  I find it comforting that God’s help comes “in” the time of trouble. First, you’ve got to be in trouble (something that isn’t difficult for most of us). Second, when we are in the midst of trouble, God sends His help and proves to be our refuge and our strength. There is great hope in the help God supplies in the midst of our troubles. Be patient. Wait on the Lord. Those who hope in Him will not be put to shame.

 

God’s PLANS: It’s very possible that with each New Year you are reminded of your problems and the things in life that are not the way you wish they were. And you may even feel like giving up. In his sermon on this topic, Pastor Walt Gerber reminds us that we have two grounds for hope even in the darkest moments: 1) God is at work engineering your circumstances in ways that you cannot see, and 2) He can forge good out of what seems hopeless and even evil.

 

FUTURE HOPE: Finally, there is great hope in what the future holds for the children of God. “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” 1 Corinthians 13:12. “Now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” 1 John 3:2.

 

Hope means better days are coming. Things won’t always be the way they are now. May you Rest and Live Daily in HOPE!

 

Dr. Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor

 

Who are you? What or who dictates how you live your life? How do you respond to life situations and relationships? Is it the Word of God? The Spirit of God?

….Are you a mother…sister….daughter…wife…..princess?

There was a time in my life where I had no set standard for how I lived. I mean, I had my own set of life rules and morals but I could tweak them to fit any current situation. I had no solid ground for which I based reactions and responses and my identity was unclear. I was not constant. I allowed life situations and people to be the voice of who I was as a woman, a wife, a mother and a friend. Sometimes I was good or bad, mean, sweet, generous, stingy, ugly, pretty, lazy, patient, warm, cold….on and on. Everyone had an opinion of me. The problem was I allowed their opinion to create self-doubt and insecurity in me. My heart and mind would receive what was said and my outward behavior would reflect it. If I was hurt or wounded I would behave in a way that would most suit the situation in providing healing, as temporary as it may have been. I may have overeaten, complained, sulked, been sad, manipulated emotions, retreated, defended, attacked or even prayed. But more often than not, it was a reaction based on emotion and not a healthy response. I did not stop in the midst of feeling what I was feeling and be still and go to God because I was not grounded on who I was in Christ. I was not grounded in Truth. My identity was unclear. So what is truth.

     ………….The truth is God chose me……The truth is I am God’s masterpiece……The truth is I am forgiven…..The truth is the Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me…..The truth is God said I was worth dying for, that nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate me from His love; He said I was precious and that He delights in me. It is God’s grace and favor that fills me with love, not man’s. The truth is He is my provider, my shield, my fortress, my rock, my redeemer, my friend, my creator, my love, my sustainer, and my King.  So who am I today? I am a daughter of the King. I am royalty, a princess. I am a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter and a friend. There is a standard set for a princess of the King. God and God alone gets to say who I am. So out of love for my God I stand on truth, my identity is sealed and it cannot be shaken or altered. So with the strength of the Holy Spirit I make it my aim to allow love to be my highest goal to be a godly mother ….a godly wife…..a godly woman.

But you are a chosen people; a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 1Peter 2:9 NIV

Kim Spicer
WoC Graduate
Princess of the King 

Romans 3:23-24 “…For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. “

These two verses encapsulate the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s all in there. Our need, and God’s provision.

Memorize these two verses and you have a mighty tool in your evangelistic tool belt that you always have with you. You will be ready, well prepared. “…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” 1 Peter 3:15

.Many of us can recite vs. 23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That is only the first half of the gospel.  We are sinners.  We fall short and cannot bridge the gap on our own.  Verse 24, however, is a vital part to the truth. 

A person is justified by God’s grace…  Justified means declared righteous. Adoption gives a good picture of this.  A child chosen for adoption becomes the adopted parents’ child because the parents made a love choice.  They and the courts declare that child is now officially the child of the new parents.  That declaration does not make the new parents the biological parents but they are the true parents through that declaration.  Justification is similar in that God chose to justify, declare His child righteous.  That declaration did not instantly make us righteous, but it was declared so and for all concerned, we are now justified, righteous. 

This justification takes place by God’s grace AS A GIFT… it cannot be earned.  There are not grace “points” that we earn by doing various things.  This verse clearly states grace is free.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23.  What we earn for our sin is death.  We don’t earn a gift or else it’s not a gift but wages, our due.  Romans 4:4 “Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.”  Romans 3:24 says we are justified by his grace as a gift… not by our labors, good deeds or works, not by putting money in the offering, not being the right religion, not by ANYTHING we DO. 

The gift of redemption is provided by God through Jesus’ shed blood on the Cross. Propitiation is a fancy word for gaining or regaining the favor or goodwill of:  TO APPEASE; an atoning sacrifice. (Merriam – Webster on-line).  It required blood – blood of great value.  “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” Hebrews 9:22.

All that, the gift of justification, of redemption, of propitiation is received by faith.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God not a result of works, so that no one may boast”  Ephesians 2:8-9.

I have given you several supporting verses of the simple gospel truths in today’s Victory Call, but Romans 3:23-24 sums it up nicely.  Memorize these two verses and then get ready. God will use you to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost. 

Will you take up the challenge and pray that God will send needy people your way that He wants to give His precious gift?  Will you join me?

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt is part of the ministry team at America’s Keswick.  She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study.  Diane has been married to her husband John over 27 years.  She has 2 adult children and 3 grandchildren and 3 adult step-children with 7 grandchildren making 10 in all.  She delights reading and teaching, but mostly laughing at the funny things her grandchildren say and do.  

 

 

Many of you know I have been dealing with excruciating pain in my left ankle for over a month and a half. Some doctors say it is gout, but others say no, it is not gout. While they “discussed” the matter, I was still in extreme pain and my steps were very limited. Although rising in the morning had become a time I dreaded, I still found a way to spend time with God each morning. I must admit, though, that my devotional time had become more routine than refreshing. One day I woke up and caught two words that kept appearing on the page; endures forever. What endures forever…the pain? NO!  His Faithful Love! I cried out to the LORD… I need evidence of Your faithful love, Lord!  This really hurts! 

I wish I could tell you that the pain left instantly, but no, the pain was still with me.   But what also stayed was HIS FAITHFUL LOVE! I was reminded that His love endures forever…even when I am crotchety and lose patience with everyone around me; even when I lose patience with God Himself; even when the pain seems more than I can bear; even when the doctors can’t agree on the diagnosis OR the treatment…HIS FAITHFUL LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.

On Christmas eve, I was completely unaware that one of my doctors whom I had not seen for over a year was present at the second service and saw me attempt to walk. He sought me out after the service and told me I was coming in to see him on Thursday. So I went…not expecting much. But he listened to my story and my concerns and gave me an injection. HIS FAITHFUL LOVE ENDURES FOREVER! God cared enough to arrange that I needed to stay for the second service, something I don’t usually do.

Needless to say, the pain is gone and I am walking fairly well. HIS FAITHFUL LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.

Marilyn Willett HeavilinIs a wife and mother; author & International conference speaker Author of Roses In December,
December’s Song
Becoming A Woman of Honor,
Profound Common Sense
When Your Dreams Die,
Grief Is A Family Affair,
I’m Listening, Lord

 

“There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” ~~Corrie Ten Boom

“They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.”  ~~Isaiah 40:31

I am currently in a season, a seemingly long season of waiting, and as I wait, Abba Father is faithfully teaching me how-to-wait on Him. It ain’t easy, nor is it by any means comfy. In fact, half the time I don’t even know how to feel about, and yet, I wait.

I came across the following blog from Ray Ortlund in the midst of this “wait” and as I know God is always present-tense working in our collective lives, I share it with you in assurance that He will speak to you wherever you are as you too “wait”.

“Trusting God is not comfortable.  It doesn’t belong in a Hallmark card picture – a colorful valley, a quaint village, a church steeple, with a sentimental slogan.  Trusting God can be extremely uncomfortable, even painful.

Rabbi David Kimchi, one of the early Hebrew lexicographers, defined the verb “wait” in Isaiah 40:31 with reference to the medieval German verb for “twist.”  That is, waiting on the Lord can involve tension and pressure and stress.  How could it be otherwise?  Waiting is pent-up irresolution.  It is not easy to wait trustingly for the Lord:

“Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, . . . so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.”  ~~Psalm 123:2

“My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.”  ~~Psalm 130:6

“I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.”  Psalm 143:6

My point is this: You may be going through hell right now.  You may be bewildered, gasping, frightened.  But that doesn’t mean you aren’t trusting God.  It might mean you are trusting God.

Isaiah really understood something.  He understood that it’s in this tension that our strength is renewed.  How so?  There is something about coming to the end of ourselves and our own strength and wisdom – that’s when our hearts finally crack open, and the love of God pours in.

When we have nothing of our own left, when nothing will suffice but that which is directly and immediately of God, that’s when God alone is our sufficiency, and we find Him to be so.  He’s worth the wait.”1

Stephanie Paul

Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An “instrument of change” in the Redeemer’s Hand, in the lives of wounded and hurting women. Currently serving as a part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Woman of Character Program Director.

1 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2012/06/25/trusting-god-is-not-easy/

Psalm 33:13-19

In this part of Psalm 33 the psalmist takes a look at God’s divine power and strength. Key ideas are that He sees – looks and observes; He rules – enthroned; as well as He guides – fashioning hearts. So, what do I do with those ideas?  I can rejoice in His watching, because in His watching I have hope. 
 
His Watching Is Absolute: v. 13-15 – He misses NOTHING! That means He sees my sin, yes, but it also means He doesn’t miss that evil that is going on around us that appears to go unnoticed or recognized by the world.
* “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do,” Heb 4:13.
* He knows every deed, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good,” Prov. 15:3.
* He knows every thought, “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off,” Ps. 139:2.
* He knows every motive behind every action, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings,” Jer. 17:10.
* He hears every idle word, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment,” Matt. 12:36.

His Watching Is Aware: v. 16-17 – God watches the heathen as they make their plans and set their armies in place. He sees their vain efforts to alter His plans and seek to obtain their own salvation through dominating their enemies. He sees them as they live for this world and give no thought to the world to come. These two verses are just a reminder that God knows what the wicked are up to. Sometimes I think we think He forgets, but He never does! He sees it all and one day He will judge them according to their works.

His Watching Is Affectionate: v. 18-19 – God has just told us that the destinies of nations are in His hands. The decisions that will determine the course of this world are not made in Washington, Moscow or Beijing. The decisions that will affect the course of this world are made in Heaven by the sovereign God who occupies the throne as the Ruler of all things. But, while God sovereignly controls everything that takes place in His creation, He still has time for the individual.

      His “eye” is on those who “fear Him” and on those who “hope in His mercy”. Those individuals who have looked to the Lord for their salvation are the recipients of His watch care and of His promise that He will secure them and supply them.

He sees everything that happens to you. He sees all the pain. He sees all the problems. He sees all the attacks of your enemies. He sees the hurts, the fears, the valleys and the sorrows. Nothing escapes His view! FEAR NOT, God will take care of His own, Matt. 6:25-33.
     
While a lost world lives in fear, we the people of God can rest in His sovereign arms.  His eye is on your life and He knows more about your needs than you do! He will not fail you. He will not desert you. He loves you and He will take care of you until you join Him in glory.

He is worthy to be praised for the fact that He watches over all things, especially the needs of His people! Are you thankful that He alone decides what plans succeed? 

Dr. Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
 

I already started my 2013 devotional before the New Year. I chose “The Quiet Place” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss for this year; however, I peeked and began reading it the last week of December. I am glad that I did because each day she wrote focusing on one letter of the word P-R-I-O-R-I-T-I-E-S. Here are her main thoughts. May we begin the year with these priorities!

P-Prayer;
R-Review God’s priorities;
I-Inventory – determining in practical terms whether our lives bear out the chief purposes of God;
O-Order our schedule according to God’s priorities;
R-Resist the tyranny of the urgent;
I-Input from others to help us determine God’s priorities for various seasons of life;
T-Take advantage of the time God gives you;
I-Identify the “little foxes” that rob you of your time and “clutter” your life;
E-Experience each moment and season to its absolute fullest;
S-Stay sensitive and fully surrendered to Him.

Nancy also mentions, “Not until about a hundred years ago did the word priorities (plural) even exist.  Priority was simply a singular word, from the Latin prior, meaning “first.” And only one thing can be first, right? Leave it to our own harried generation to turn “priority” into a dozen competing alternatives vying for our attention. The number one priority for every child of God – married, single, young, old, male, female, in every season of life – is our walk with God.”

Blessings,

Kathy Withers

Kathy’s on staff at America’s KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 26 years.  They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local Church and has previously served as a Teaching Director for Community Bible Study. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God’s Word.

Yes, I too am concerned about the future. I have no idea what will happen in 2013. The world seems topsy turvy. So many changes have occurred in my lifetime…many of those changes are hard to adjust to. At this writing we have the Fiscal Cliff hanging over our heads which could mean a major raise in our taxes and Russian President Putin has just signed a bill prohibiting adoption of Russian children to all Americans. Reportedly this is in response to an action taken by the USA…a ‘get even’ response, but children are being used as pawns.

Just the above mentioned issues are enough to discourage our hearts, but in the midst of all of this, I received a forward via e-mail.  This has served as a reminder to me about the facts that are still true and always will be. Let me share the list with you.
_________

 TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2013

With all the problems the world is facing, it can be unsettling to the mind. Today, we share with you ten predictions that are true!

 1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

 2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on earth.

 3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

 4. God will still honor the praises of His people.

 5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

 6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

 7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

 8. There will still be room at the Cross.

 9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

Isn’t it great To Remember Who Is Really In Control, and that “the Word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:25).

We hope you found this encouraging. Sometimes we need the reminder of just “WHO” is really in control.

Till the nets are full, keep on fishing.

I found this list to be very encouraging and a good reminder that while God may allow negative happenings to enter our lives and our country, He is still in control.

I believe our daily prayer should be, “Come quickly Lord Jesus.”

Marilyn Willett Heavilin
Is a wife and mother; author & International conference speaker
 Author of Roses In December,
December’s Song
Becoming A Woman of Honor,
Profound Common Sense
When Your Dreams Die,
Grief Is A Family Affair,
I’m Listening, Lord

 

Psalm 33:10-12

Often when we think about God’s will, we tend to focus on what He wants us to do.  In this psalm we learn that He has a will that will be accomplished in spite of anyone or anything, and in that we can find reason for comfort and hope.   

There are four things that the psalmist finds comforting about God’s will in Psalm 33:10-12.
> People and Nations will not succeed
> Blessed is the nation that loves God
> His purposes will succeed (Reason for Hope – His promises)
> WE SHOULD REJOICE IN HIS WILL

His will is and will Dominate: vs. 10 – We can make all the plans we want, which we are all doing this new year, but God’s will is going to be accomplished. If you look at all that is going on in this world, between countries and in our country, it is possible to become filled with fear. Well, God says Fear Not – because He is in control of all things. He will have the final word, because His will is dominant. “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” Psa. 115:3.

His will is Determined: v. 11 – Nothing takes place that is not a part of His divine plan for the world. I know that doesn’t sit well with a lot of people and often with me when I look around and see the hurt and pain, including the taking of innocent lives. As humans we want control; we want to believe we can understand and therefore fix it all. We want to believe it can be a certain way and we can have it that way. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but what you or I think, want, or plan doesn’t matter in the least. God has determined what will take place in this world and that is what is going to happen.

* “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it,” Isa. 46:9-11.
* “Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places,” Ps. 135:6.
* “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, what doest thou?” Dan. 4:35.

Be comforted in these days of trouble and confusion – God is in control of all things.

His will is Desirable/Good: v. 12 – The psalmist mentions the nations that honor God – He says they will be blessed. This can be seen in the history of America. Our nation was founded and ruled by a series of men who, although not perfect, acknowledged God and declared their dependence upon Him. Unfortunately over time our nation is slowing declaring its independence from God. The result of that choice is evident in our world and the news on a daily basis.  There is a lesson in this for the individual as well.

* Isa. 29:15-16 says, “Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?”
* Rom. 9:19-21, “Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?”
   
As you start a new year – Praise God that He is a sovereign God and that His will is going to be accomplished in earth and Heaven, no matter how hard the devil or fallen man works against Him!

Dr. Lynne Jahns
 Christian Counselor

 

Yesterday we began reviewing the story of the Wise Men.  Before we continue let us review the Scripture again.

Matthew 2:1-12 (NKJV)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a RulerWho will shepherd My people Israel.'”

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the East, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
**********************
Well, getting back to our story……..Once the wise men left Jerusalem after having seen King Herod, the star once again appeared in the sky.  It went before them.  The Word tells us the star was over the house of the child.  When they went in they saw King Jesus and His mother.  What joy must have filled their hearts as they finally reached their destination and fell before the one they knew to be the King of kKings (v.9-10). They worshiped Him and gave Him the gifts they had brought with them (v.11).

Mary must have invited the men to spend at least one night, for before we read of them starting their journey home they were warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod.  They must have believed the warning for they left for their own country by a different route (v. 12).

All the pictures we see during the Christmas season of the wise men show us three men coming to worship the infant Jesus, still in the manger.  When we submit ourselves to the reading of the Word we find out the real story.  Wise men from the east followed a star and they brought three symbolic, valuable gifts to King Jesus, who was no longer an infant although likely very young.  King Herod must have thought Jesus was under two years old for in his fear of having Jesus take away his position he ordered the slaying of all male children less than two years of age (Matt. 2:16).  From the time Jesus was young the enemy tried to kill him.  But He had a destiny and it would be fulfilled.

So what can we learn from these wise men?
1. These were men who had eyes to see what God was doing on the earth in their lifetime.  They must have known the Word of the prophet Micah and believed it could come to pass in their very imperfect world (Micah 5:2).
2. It appears that they sought the TRUTH no matter what the cost.  A long journey on camels could not have been a pleasant journey.  The cost of their gifts were surely of great value.  Now they may have been wealthy but even so they were willing to spend a great deal of money and time to follow where they believed God was doing a great work.
3. I wonder why they went into Jerusalem.  Did they no longer see the star?  Did they get weary and go into Jerusalem for some rest or supplies?  The Word doesn’t make it clear but it was very unfortunate as it alerted King Herod that the King of the Jews was born.  Many innocent male children under two were killed.
4. When they left Jerusalem God restored His light in the form of a star to lead them.  They followed and did not depart from His plan.
5. They humbled themselves and worshiped Jesus.  They gave Him significant symbolic gifts.
6. They chose to obeyed God rather than man.  Regardless of how young King Jesus was, regardless of the fact that He was not living as one would expect a King, regardless of the fact that King Herod could have sent an army against them, they made a choice to believe a dream they knew God gave them and sought another route to their own country.

What does this mean for you and me?
1. I pray we will be women who know the Word in this New Year and trust that God will still fulfill His Word in our imperfect world.
2. I pray we will be willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to follow hard after our Lord.  I don’t say this lightly as I do believe it is may get more challenging to faithfully follow our Lord. 
3. I pray we will not get weary in doing good.  For we shall reap if we do not get weary (Gal. 6:9).
4. I pray we will be children of light, and give our heavenly Father good gifts.  For the fruit of the light is all goodness and righteousness and truth, and we will try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord (Eph. 5 8-10).
5. I pray we will humble ourselves before our Lord and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (James 4:10; John 4:24).
6. I pray we will have the wisdom to discern what the Spirit of God is saying to us, be it in a dream, through a fellow believer, or His Word.

As Revelation often says, may we have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to us, His church (Rev. 2:7a, 11, 17a, 29; Rev. 3:6, 13,22).

God Bless you and yours in 2013,
Patricia Wenzel
WOC Graduate