Thankful Thursday

I’m thankful for all the little annoyances of late, like cold weather and broken car and UPS no-shows, that serve as needed reminders that I am not in control. God is—and he can be trusted. I’m thankful that I have no place I need to go today, and no way to get there, either, so I have a quiet day at home in the midst of the busy holiday season. I’m thankful that my list of things to do before Christmas has only a few more things for me to do.

I’m thankful that all of the family will be here for Christmas dinner this year.

I’m thankful that the Father sent. I’m thankful that the Holy Spirit conceived. I’m thankful that the Son came and died for us.

On Thursdays throughout this year, I’m posting a few thoughts of thanksgiving along with Kim at the Upward Call and others.

A Trinitarian Christmas

This was done up very quickly from a few texts I could come up with off the top of my head. If I were to search and study more carefully, I’m sure there would be more I could add. (What would you add?)

The Spirit

• carried along.  

  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit  (1 Peter 1:21 ESV).

• conceived.   

  Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-20 ESV).

  And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God (Luke 1:34-35 ESV).

The Son

• came.

  The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people  did not receive him (John 1:9-11 ESV).

• became.

  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14 ESV).

The Father

• gave.

  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16 ESV).

• sent.

  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3:17 ESV).

A Catechism for Girls and Boys

Part I: Questions about God, Man, and Sin

13. Q. Can God do all things?
      A. Yes. God can do all his holy will.

(Click through to read scriptural proofs.)

Click to read more ...