Happy December! Christmas is on its way and we couldn’t think of a better way to ready our hearts together than by spending the whole month reading through the story of Jesus’ birth and finding some practical ways to love others. Together, we will work through an Advent reading plan provided by LCBC Church through YouVersion. Our prayer is that as you read about the greatest story ever told, your hearts will be readied for Christ’s arrival.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
The story now shifts to Joseph and Mary and they leave Nazareth to go and register for the Census in Bethlehem where Jesus is born.
Pray
Pray that you would have the same kind of openness to God’s plan no matter where it leads you. Mary and Joseph probably had different expectations for the delivery of their child – but God’s plans are not our plans. Pray that you would be open to God’s plans especially when they are different from your plans.
Practice
Go out at some point today and purchase a gift card to a gas station or grocery store or Amazon and ask for God to lead you to someone to give it to. Be open to God’s leading.
