Stumbled upon this devo from Christmas 2014, thought it was worth sharing….enjoy!
Merry Christmas!  

From Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:1-20

Another Christmas is right around the corner.  Soon we will come together with our family and friends to celebrate our Savior’s birth. When God through His one and only begotten Son took on flesh and lived among us.  God – fully God and yet fully man!

Immanuel God with us!  

Our only response should be WORSHIP!  

Hearts fully surrendered and hands fully submitted...

As I was praying about what to share this Christmas Eve God reminded me about an incident that happened at our house a few weeks back.  My grandson Camden was playing with the little manger scene on my kitchen table and accidentally broke off Joseph’s hand.  Later that week I noticed Joseph’s head was missing!  So, my manger scene had a handless and headless Joseph.  I couldn’t have that and because it was a cheap set I threw Joseph in the trash and went about my business.  A few days passed and as I sat down to write a devotional to share tonight,  The Holy Spirit used the headless and handless Joseph to teach me a spiritual truth.  Joseph was M.I.A!  

My manger scene is missing a key player in this very important event.  Joseph is MIA!  We know according to the biblical account that Joseph could have responded to God’s call on his life by “putting Mary away”; he could have run away.  He could have said no!

Thankfully, unlike my headless and handless Joseph that is now MIA; the real Joseph was fully surrendered and fully submitted to God’s plan and purpose. 

His head was “on straight” (with the help of an angel)

His heart was fully engaged.

His hands were completely yielded and open to receive the Christ child as his earthly son. 

Joseph was all in to fulfill his role as the King of King’s earthly father.  Joseph was definitely not MIA! 

Mary was just a young girl yet her response to God’s will, word and way was worship.  She could have said no. 

She could have gone MIA but her response was complete surrender and full submission.

So, how about us?

Are we “all in” head, heart and hands fully surrendered and submitted to our part in His story?  Or are we MIA? 

Is Christ Adonai’ (Master) of your whole life? 

Who or what takes up residence in the manger of your heart? 

Let our response to God’s call on our lives be authentic worship each and every day!  

Hearts fully surrendered

Head & Hands fully submitted

Don’t let it be said of us that we were M.I.A. this Christmas!