Thoughts on Persistence

Thoughts on Persistence
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Saturday, December 26, 2015

Internet Church - Top 5

What a marvelous time of the year.  I can’t remember a more enjoyable Christmas season.

This week I’m kicking back and recharging my brain.  That gives you the chance to review some of my best and most popular posts. 

Enjoy.

See you on the other side of the new year.


P Michael Biggs







Saturday, December 19, 2015

The Birth of Jesus - the Son of God

Based on The Gospel of Luke

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, in Galilee, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, favored one.  God is with you.”

Mary was troubled at his words and wondered. 

The angel said, “Do not be afraid Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son.  You are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come and overshadow you.  The holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  For with God nothing is impossible.”

Mary answered, “Let it be done to me as you have said. For I am the Lord’s servant,”

Meanwhile, the local ruler, Caesar Augustus, issued a decree that a census be taken of the entire Roman world.  Everyone had to go to their own home town to register.
Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the town of David.  He belonged to the line of David. He took Mary also, who was pledged to be married to him, and she was expecting a child.  While there, she gave birth to her firstborn son.  She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Now shepherds were nearby watching a flock of sheep on this night.  Suddenly the angel of God appeared to them, and the God’s glory shone around them.  They were terrified. 

The angel assured them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all the people.  Today in Bethlehem a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.  Look for this sign:  find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of angels appeared praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels left, the shepherds said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

After seeing all of this the shepherds spread the word about what they had seen and heard.  All who heard it were amazed. 

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.


Merry Christmas from Up-Words
Michael and Carolyn Biggs
Offering Hope
Encouragement and Inspiration
One Word at a Time



Saturday, December 12, 2015

But I'm Just A ...

Mary’s words in response to the angel haunt me today.  They are simple and humble words.  They were meant to deflect the great honor that was being bestowed on her.

Her words:  “How can this be, since I am just a virgin?”

The phrase “I am just a …” stops me. 

Some of you might say,
“But I’m just a salesman.”
“I’m only a housewife.”
“Me, I work at a health club.”
“Don’t look at me.  I work at a big box store.”
“Who me?  I’m just a writer?”

The fact is this … God uses the available, the open-hearted.  He especially uses these kinds of people.

The Christmas story is one of hope – hope that God might see me and offer his light on my bleak and shadowy life.

We don’t think it can happen.  Mary wondered why this should happen to her. 

It happens because we dare to open our hearts and minds to the great God of the universe and say in effect, “Come in.  Come and do with my life whatever it is you want to do.  I am willing to be obedient.”

That is how Mary responded.

Here is what I think … with God we are all possibilities in the making.  He wants to take the raw material of our lives and do some molding and shaping, stretching and enlarging.  He wants to use us in unheard of ways.

Are we willing?

May we all respond with this kind of humble obedience.

Merry Christmas.

  
P Michael Biggs
Offering Hope
Encouragement Inspiration
One Word at a Time


Saturday, December 5, 2015

Let There Be Light

In the beginning there was darkness.  And the darkness covered all the earth.  And God, the great creator was not happy, for He was about to create His ultimate masterpiece – mankind. 

How will they see?  How can they make their way in this world that I am creating for them?

And He spoke the word.

Let there be light. 

And it was so.  And the light did shine.

The light became his son. 

One of the leaders of the day, Herod, didn’t like the way this new light brought light to the world, so he tried to snuff it out.  He was threatened by the light.

Yet the light beamed more brightly than ever.

It grew, and blazed and illuminated the whole world.

This light became Jesus the Christ, the Redeemer and Savior of the world.

He became grace for all mankind, offered freely, and offered willingly.

Many still reject His light.  Yet it still shines. 

And still today, His light reaches for every man, every woman.

Will you come into the light?

He offers illumination for every path, and warmth for every cold and impersonal situation we may face.

Merry Christmas.

Internet Church
Offering Hope for Mankind