December
2007
When Life Challenges
2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2:2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirin’i-us was governor of Syria. 2:3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 2:5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 2:6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. 2:7 And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Key Point: When faced with stressful difficulties, we can claim the promise of the Holy Spirit’s power to bring good out of even bad situations
Difficulties faced by the “Holy Family”
- Press of traveling despite responsibilities at home
- Government regulations impinging on freedom
- Trauma of going to an unfamiliar area
- Busy, crowded housing facilities
- Low finances
- No place to stay; no adequate facility for birth
- No family to celebrate
- Surrounded by animals; potential infections
What challenges are you facing today?
- Global – war, genocide, pandemics
- National – racism, poverty, political division
- Local – economic turndown, employment issues, educational challenges
- Personal – clash of values, conflict in relationships, feelings of unworthiness, shame and guilt, spiritual distractions
What are we to learn from the Bible?
What do we want to do differently in the next three weeks?
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