Luke 1:1-4 KJV
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

The begining of Luke the record keeper, writer name is given has Theophilus the same as the name in Acts chapter 1. It important to note this historian, and recorder keep as one that recording the records of Doctor named Luke, who prescribe in detail the things he knew about at the time of Christ. Paul also had recorded in Acts the things recorded he knew about the testimony and records of Peter. History recorded of those present at the time of Christ is important to us as readers. Yet it even more important that upon faith we see the miracles of Christ as in scripture in our own life unfolding to increase our faith. Every year I set out to retell the Christmas story and try to examine it from different angles. Yet what we know about the author of Luke is that he is convinced Christ was born of Virgin and also convinced of Christ death and resurrection. Convinced of the miracles of healing. Healing that no doctor had been able to do through known medicine, from diseases like leprosy to the blind, deaf and lame walking. The record kept to authorize a testimony of faith from the very begining and before the conception of Christ it would begin.

All four gospels are recorded for the accuracy and spread of the gospel despite other testimonies after the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. All four Gospel a symbol of faith, stories that define the legends of Christ journey while on earth, and directions of his walk and trek through Israel and even some surrounding areas of his day. Christ not ashamed of going to the Gentiles. but his first appearance and knowledge came to those that would receive him in their hearts with joy of hearing the news of first the messenger/forerunner of Jesus to the Messiah, Jesus himself.

Ever wonder how someone can write daily a devotional, when so many things in the world continues to change constantly. It simple, God's word does not change, the miracles and stories of faith stay the same, though they impact our life, when we pray and ask God to change our world round us for his glory and honor, it does not change his word or the truth that is contained in his word. The word of God being the most stable predictable thing in my life, and yet it defined by the will of God how it played out in my life and yours. I been through several things since I began writting in 2006 that most would of said take a day off, wait til the problem is resolved before continue writting. What I learned most Americans go to work at the minimum 2-5 days a week, never taking a day off despite what going on around them, but when ask how often they read God's word, some will say never, others say daily, and others when in church, but in general study went out when the job came in. Jobs are only as consistent as the need of supply and demand. God's word is needed to not only follow Christ, but to know what the will of God is in your life. God's presence in the time of prayer and meditation on his word even if only a few minutes, is important for growth, understanding and not be taken in by lies of the devil that definitely in our world today. Faith in Christ changes people lives for the better, but faith takes work and perservance. Perservance is learned over time, just like persistency must come sooner or later to understand how God's word will help in one's life.

This morning I was thinking on this lesson as I ran to get bread from the store and only thought was will it be like another Christmas remembering the story, or can I testify of something that is real in my life. As I fixed the home page on this website go to the daily page and you can access the home page that way by clicking buttons only two buttons, not twenty i assure you, my end of New Year thoughts ran in my head of what have I learned this hear concerning my faith, what is my journey of faith. This year ends with a freezer full of meat and can goods on the shelf, where I wonder if I would even have supplies back six month's ago. It was rough year for my husband and I, and yet this year I felt a little more settled despite my husband health issues and even my own sprained back. Oh I sprained my back doing household work. I can bench press 90 lbs. It never makes any sense, because it was less then 15 lbs I lifted. As spasm hit this morning to remind me I was in pain, I thought only a few more weeks before spasms should be medical gone. God is able to do it immediately. Meaning it only a reminder of pain I once had and only going to have a few weeks this time hopefully, til well, unless God removes it before my body heals. With a few choice words flying as spasm hit, and hubby saying what wrong forgeting his pain for a moment to try and figure what wrong with me. I not myself right now. God reminding me can you say a blessing in your pain. Hmm, you try it. It not easy feat when other words are more memorized when in pain.

There is a point. I learned several things about faith even in times of misery. There are blessing that surround us. Whether it be food on the table, a pair of shoes, clothes on one's back, and pet's in our home, and their food supply is equally stocked. Meaning if we had to have given them up, it would of crushed my husband and I. I am not ashamred to say I am financially poor, I be more ashamed to say if I was spiritually poor. One can know all scripture and have no faith. One can have faith and have no scriptured memorized or known. Earlier believers some had scrolls others only had the testimony of others that read from scrolls, or testified of the work of God. Some believable and others stories repeated around the campfire at night. To be rich in faith is knowing God will is enough right now. Knowing God will supply our needs according to his purpose and will for our life. Knowing even in hardship the lesson that were learned even years ago still are true today, God grace is sufficient. To just be still and know God is who he is despite our situation, aggravation, and our own journey of difficulty from time to time. The sorrow of a death, the sorrow of not being able to go see loved ones when we desire it. To put off those things we wish we could not, but know that time marches on and those things that will change will change and those things that can't be undone will not be done.

What does it mean, God's grace is sufficient for the journey. I not living on the street, I am blessed, I have food for my belly, I am blessed, I have family, friends, and pets I am blessed. I have comfort of God's grace in times of difficulty I am blessed. I have God's joy in times of difficulty I am blessed. I have God's joy in the time of celebration I am blessed. I have the Joy of the Lord even in sorrow I am blessed.

As I look to Christmas story and I see the difficulties of the elderly like Zacharias and Elizabeth, I can not help but think of their joy in old age, with wondering why did God decide now, instead of when we were young and more able. I can not think of Mary's and Joseph's fear, joy, and expectancy of this life within Mary, which also came with a journey of obeying God and going into a strange land instead of immediately home. The journey with the journey of joy. The journey of taking flight to Egypt, or returning to Galilee in the land of Nazareth. To know they were part of the will of God in a very special way, comparing nothing to our world in which we live in. For God's will in their life was going to change the whole world and not just a little town, or county, city, or nation, but the world they lived in. Impact of the social world God invokes on his people changes things greatly in our world.

Ever get the opportunity to see God work panoramicly around the world in political and social world, you know God is moving in his people. Christmas is celebrated by more then one country, more then one area and more then one location around the globe. It celebrated mostly in the hearts of the believers the true meaning of Christmas. It does something economics, political world as never been able to stop or start or transform. If Grinch and scrooge steal Christmas they somehow learn their heart can't grow without simply caring about others and not all their greed stolen or earned. Christmas comes with or with bobbles and twinkling lights of man, it comes with the twinkling lights of God's creation in the sky. It comes with heart of joy, of love and peace to all who carry the hope within their hearts.

No matter if you eating a ham/ turkey or a slice of bread, Christmas will still come to the heart. To make stone soup, or to carry only the message of Christ in one's soul can never compare to Mary delivery of Jesus that first Christmas morning. Christ first covering of swaddling cloth in a manger of straw, because their was no room in the inn, because of one decree of one king. Yet God's will had to be done. Hold to your treasure of faith in your earthen vessel. Hold to the nuggets of faith, because when the Bible not handy and the road seems rocky, faith still exist deep within that earthen vessel you call your own body. Disciples of faith that walked arm and arm with their Savior had to be told. This book of Luke with the other three Gospel tells the story of Jesus. His birth only recorded in Luke.

Dear Heavenly Father, despite difficulty and hardships, and journey unforseen by our eyes, you hold your will of our life in your hands. We trust you that your will, will be accomplished in the lives of your people. That our earthen vessels will carry the true meaning of Christmas in our hearts. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 4:6-18 KJV
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.