Tag Archives: Dealing with Life Challenges

Five Modern Lessons from the Birth of Jesus: Applying the Nativity Story to Today’s Challenges

Posted on by yolandaberry
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The birth of Jesus is painted like a sweet, fairytale Christmas story but in reality it was harsh, brutal series of events. The Christmas story is far from a glamourous one.

From the day of conception, Joseph contemplated the pregnancy of Mary until an angel appeared to him and told him not to fear. He was instructed to marry a virgin who would give birth to Jesus. The Messiah who would save the world from sin.

Mary, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was also afraid until an angel appeared and told her, “Fear not.” Joseph wondered how he would explain this miraculous conception to the community. Can you imagine the amount of pressure Joseph was under? So he took Mary and hid her away from the judgement and scrutiny of the public.

From Humble Beginnings

Upon the time of delivery, Mary and Joseph traveled for three days on a donkey. Can you imagine being pregnant and traveling for three days on a donkey? They traveled from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, also known as Bethlehem. Luke 2:4

Once they arrived, they had no shelter. They were homeless. There were no hospital or midwife. There were no place to give birth except for a stable where animals resided. Can you imagine the unpleasant smell of herds of animals living in their quarters?

Deception of King Herod

King Herod inquired of the wise men to seek the location of Jesus so that he could come and worship him. The three wise men were led by a star directly to where Jesus was born. They fell down and worshiped the young child and offered gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Upon discerning the instructions within a dream, the three wise men departed in a different direction and did not provide details of where Jesus was born and avoided King Herod.

Escaping the Plans of Execution

After the wise men departed, an angel appeared in a dream and told Joseph to leave Bethlehem and to go to Egypt with Jesus and Mary because King Herod ordered and planned to slaughter all children under the age of two in Bethlehem. Matt 2:13-24

After King Herod died. Joseph received another dream directing him to leave Egypt and enter into Israel. Joseph was warned in another dream to move to Galilee and dwell in a city called Nazareth.

From Journey to Journey

In this timeline of events, there is so much that can be applied in our daily lives during these challenging times. The act of obedience, discernment, humility, grace, faith and courage have essential parts to play in the story of Jesus birth.

  1. Protection under Obedience

When we actively listen to God’s voice, He will lead us directly to where we need to be. It’s not by coincidence, accident, or luck. It’s a divine leading of the Holy Spirit. There is a divine covering of protection when you’re led by God whether by place, action, or deed. He will shield you in every circumstance that you encounter.

2. Discernment of Direction

With each act of obedience, you will receive discernment and direction. The decisions we make are much like a labyrinth with many different paths, decisions, choices and options but in the end when we follow the Lord, we will reach our destination and the designated place where the Lord desires us to be. We will also be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and have a desire to please Him more than people.

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jer 29:11

3. Gift of Humility

The precious gift of humility provides heart-felt appreciation, gratitude, and thanksgiving. When you go through the storms of life, you can understand the struggles, challenges, and obstacles you’re encountering and overcoming. You are humbled by your experiences, and you realize the cost and the Power of God working in your life. You understand that it’s not in your strength but in the strength of God.

4. Guided by Faith

Living by faith is not easy. Human tendencies want to know and experience the certainties of events that will unfold favor and comfort in our lives. Walking in faith is not a cake walk, but in reality we are living by faith everyday. It’s how we utilize our faith in difficult times to navigate through the pitfalls, setbacks, discouragement, heartache, loss and pain. Faith is a gift. It is an exercised skill granted by God. The level of faith is a gift which unwraps underlying fears and fills it with courage, strength, and power. You have greater access to unlock the secret things of God by operating in faith.

Call unto Him and He will answer thee and show you great and mighty things you do not know of.

Jer 33:3

When you tap into a deeper level of faith, you have no doubts or worry. You are building a stronger relationship with the Father who is unshakeable, unmovable and unstoppable. The Lord requires faith because He has need of you. When you tap into a deeper level of faith, you are limitless to the possibilities presented as mountains of obstacles that stand before you.

Faith is the evidence of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

Heb 11:1

5. Under God’s Grace

The grace of God is upon you during the most difficult seasons of your life. He will rest upon you with peace. He will be patient and gentle. The Lord is faithful. He is a loving God and cares for your well-being. He will extend His kindness and mercy upon you. God does not fail. He desires the best for you. He will strengthen and teach you. His hand is upon your life when you walk in obedience with the Lord. His hand is upon you when you fail, make mistakes or do wrong. He is a forgiving God. God does not lie. He will contend and fight your battles.

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Acts 17:28

The five lessons from the Nativity provide helpful guidance on how to navigate through the rough terrain of life. Just like Joseph and Mary, who carried baby Jesus through the devasting attacks upon His life. They journeyed with miraculous protection, direction, and grace. Jesus, who saved the world through His gift of Salvation, provides an eternal hope for our future. Emmanuel, “God with us” surrounds us in this present moment despite the challenges, difficulties, distractions and obstacles that we face in today’s world.

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Bible References

Isaiah 9:6-7

Isaiah 7:14

Matt 1:19

Matt 2:7-12

Luke 2:1-20

Luke 1:30-33

Navigating the Twist and Turns of Life’s Unpredictable Moments

Posted on by yolandaberry
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A few weeks ago, I was crossing the street and my hairbrush fell out of my bag and landed in the middle of the street. I crossed the street just in case a car was coming and then I went to pick up my brush after the last car passed. When I stooped down to pick it up, I lost my balance and fell backwards and landed straight on my back – staring straight up at the sky. It happened so fast that I didn’t even realize what happened.

It took me a minute to gather my thoughts and then I realized I was lying in the middle of the street and had to get up! I looked to the left and a car was further down directly coming towards me. I had a difficult time getting up and realized I had to get both of my bags that was lying in the street. Fortunately, nothing dropped out of my bags which was overflowing with my personal belongings. Although, I hurt my lower back, it could have ended much worse.

Another mishap I had a few months ago, still has me wondering how it happened. I was waiting for the bus in the rain holding my umbrella. Due to damaging winds, my umbrella had a few broken spokes. As I prepared to close the umbrella to get on the bus, my hair got caught in the metal spoke and I couldn’t loose my hair from the umbrella! I started to laugh nervously even though it wasn’t so funny. I got on the bus with the umbrella open as I was bent down trying to loose my hair. I screamed out, “HELP ME, I’M STUCK!” The passengers on the bus just looked at me while I began to laugh as the umbrella spread wide rolling droplets of water in the aisle. I said, “This could only happen to me!” The driver was smiling as a passenger helped me untangle my hair from the umbrella. My hair was tightly coiled within the spoke of the umbrella and it took a few minutes for the passenger to untangle my hair. It was a moment in time that I will never forget.

sidewalk

The last unexpected incident happened when I was walking down the street. I decided to take a shortcut through the grass. Suddenly, I dropped down so fast I thought I was falling into a sinkhole. I screamed so loud as I fell forward, and my bags flung out from the sides of me. I had fallen into a ditch which was the depth the height of my kneecaps. The ditch was covered with grass. I climbed up out of the ditch and shook the dirt off my pants. I was left feeling astonished and a bit irritated. Although these are little, minor mishaps that could have ended badly, when you encounter unexpected occurrences in life, it can throw you a curve ball.

Life is a journey filled with ups and downs, twist and turns and unexpected incidents. These incidents range from minor inconveniences to life-changing events which can catch us off guard. How you respond to life-altering events affects your well-being.

How to Deal with Unexpected Occurrences and Turn Them into Opportunities for Personal Growth and Resilience

Stay Calm and Assess the Situation

It’s important to remain calm because panic and stress will cloud your judgement. Try to evaluate the situation and determine the resolution of the situation. Clear thinking will help you understand the next steps going forward.

Be still and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

Embrace Your Emotions

Allow yourself to feel your emotional response when encountering an unexpected incident. You need time to process your emotions. Don’t judge yourself for your initial reactions.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Phil 4:6-7

Seek Support

Talk with someone you trust who can share a different perspective and offer emotional support and comfort.

A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will ]attain wise counsel.

Prov 1:5

Be Adaptable to Change

Being flexible is so vital to dealing with life-changing events or occurrences. No matter how hard we plan, life can shift in unexpected ways.  You should be pliable and open to shift accordingly to change. Sometimes, you will need to change or adjust your schedule, goals, and expectations. Sometimes, new opportunities are hidden in uncomfortable situations and unexpected setbacks. Although you must be adaptable to change, the Lord does not change. He is our hope in times of difficulties.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my [a]strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the [b]horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

Psalm 18:2

Develop a Plan

Identify a solution and multiple options by weighing the advantages and disadvantages of your plan. Remember, do not be hard on yourself if you must try several options before finding the right solution. There is a lesson in every decision and it’s a valid part of the personal growth and self-development process.

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.

Hab 2:2-3

Take Note of the Lessons Learned

Reflect on the experiences and what you’ve learned. These lessons can help you become more resilient and better prepared for uncertainty and unexpected incidents.

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5:7-8

Maintain a Healthy Routine

When dealing with overwhelming life occurrences, your health is priority to combatting stress levels. Engage in activities that keep you motivated and relaxed. Take care of your body by eating healthy meals, getting enough rest and scheduling regular exercise into your daily routine. You can never be fully prepared to the unexpected occurrences that life can bring but you can build resilience to face life’s uncertainties.

My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.

Prov 4:20-22

Do you react or respond to life’s circumstances or unpredictable situations? How you handle your emotions in any given situation can be crucial to the next steps or next season in your life. Let the Lord lead you in wisdom as you take two steps back. Pause for a moment. Exhale and move forward. You got this!

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It’s all an Illusion

Posted on by yolandaberry
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The enemy’s greatest tactic and strategy is deception. The devil comes to kill, steal and destroy but God comes to give us life more abundantly. John 10:10

If the enemy can blind the eyes of the lost he has won the victory and if he can blind the eyes of a believer he has defeated his greatest opposition. He goes through great lengths to use smokescreens to distort reality and construe misinformation. He is the father of all lies. He will challenge your actions, ideas, motives, character or whatever else he can use to plant, fear, doubt, frustration, or confusion in your mind.

In all effort, he plots, schemes and plans evil devices to destroy or hinder your spirit. If he can gain access to your spirit, heart or mind, he can tamper with your emotions, attitudes, belief systems, thoughts and worst of all your heart posture or composure. He enjoys to provoke, aggravate and taunt you.

The Father’s faithfulness overrides the devil’s wickedness.

Once you have a stony heart, the Holy Spirit cannot dwell there. He desires to plant seeds of bitterness, hate, jealousy, envy, strife and all out destruction in your life.

Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

As a believer, you have authority and power to uproot the seeds that the enemy tries to plant inside your heart or mind. He slithers slowly and gently when he’s aware that you understand his agenda. He proceeds when you are weak or tired.

As a believer, you must constantly be on guard at all times. It states in Ephesians 6 that you should put on the whole armor of the Lord so you will be able to stand in the evil day.

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Esph 6:13

The world is under a great delusion. The truth has blinded the eyes of the masses but there are a few who have awaken to the dark lies and secrets of the enemy. It is slowly being exposed to the masses.

As we become enlightened to the truth, we have a responsibility to expose the truth to others.

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

We will also be held accountable by the Lord for hindering the assignments of the Lord and for the preparation of Jesus return.

Where much is given, much is required. If you have heard that wisdom, you know it means  we are held responsible for what we have. Luke 12:28

So, we must continue to work diligently with our hands to the plow to build the house of the Lord for His glory.

He is coming back for His church without spot or blemish. Eph 5:27

Don’t allow yourself to fall into deception due to a lack of faith, old belief systems or mindsets. It can be pretty scary when you look at the world through the intricate lense with your natural eyes, but we must learn to walk in the Spirit using wisdom and discernment to clear the smokescreens and the traps of the enemy.

Continue to ask the Lord for extra courage and strength so that you will triumph in victory. Amen!