By: Deb Kitchenmaster
In the midst of changes, even when the world or our circumstances change, there’s the good news of Christmas – the message of Christmas is timeless. Christmas is about the birth of God’s son – Jesus. How he came to give gifts of love, hope, and joy. This Truth does not change from year to year, “Merry Christmas.”
At the core level or heart of Christmas, is the Spirit of giving and connection. Horses, through the reflections of stories, carols, and decorations, remind us of the importance of these values. The mere presence of a horse symbolizes unity, empathy, and the joy of sharing cherished moments.
How would you handle a moment in time, in the midst of culture, society (humanity)? Through your loving connection with Elohim (plural name for the One, True Living God); these words come forth out of your very mouth. “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name, Immanuel (God with us). Isaiah 7:14
Can you imagine? Seven-hundred (that’s right), 700 years after these words were spoken from a godly man’s lips, a virgin by the name of Mary was over-shadowed by the Spirit of the living God, conceived in her womb, and spoke out of her mouth, “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”
Now would be a good time to look at the meaning of the word ‘BEHOLD’ since a MAN DECLARED, “Behold a virgin” and a VIRGIN DECLARED, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.” The word “behold” is used over 1200 times in the King James Version of the Bible. It means, “BE SURE TO SEE.” Or as I like to think of it – don’t miss this! Do you wonder how many people judged Isaiah as ‘a crazy ole man?’ For sure, this declaration tilted human understanding to the max. Yep, faith, trust, and waiting in quietness were certainly required of one’s heart. History tells us the beginning of the words “Merry Christmas” dates back to 1534 in a letter from a bishop to Henry VIII’s chief minister. Records show a timetable of when Virgin Mary conceived the son of God in her womb in the month of December and gave birth to the Son of God, Jesus, in the month of September. This would give credence to the question as to when life begins…conception.
Yet another man of God declares, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! BEHOLD your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). The Son of God, Jesus, is born from a virgin’s womb, born in a place that sheltered animals, his crib was a manger for a while, and now grown, he’s riding on a donkey.
Donkeys are subspecies of the African wild ass. They are known for their ability to carry heavy loads. A donkey is the offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female donkey (jenny). A mule is the offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare). A hinny is the offspring of a stallion horse mating with a female donkey. Ever been called an ass before? Don’t worry about it. Just keep carrying the Presence of the Lord.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant; being made in human likeness and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name that
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
December 20, 2024
