Prophecy in a Carol

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,   because the Lord has anointed me  to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners – Isaiah 61:1

For 28 years I sang Christmas carols without understanding the words.

Now that I am a precious child of God, Carols bring life and hope.

One of my favorite carols is O Holy NightMy favorite line in the song, “Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, and in His name, all oppression shall cease.”

Jesus humbled Himself and entered the world to break every chain.

I was in chains.  Chains of self-doubt, worry and unbalanced expectations. I saw myself as unlovable, worthless, without a purpose. Jesus changed me when I believed this truth.

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let’s take a look at my favorite verse in O Holy Night and compare it to Scripture.

Chains Shall He break 

He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Psalm 107:14 NIV

I am your servant, LORD, I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. Psalm 116:16 NIV

 

For the slave is our brother

 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant (slave), and coming in the likeness of men Philippians 2:7 NKJV

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother Mathew 12:50 NIV

For He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source, That is why He is not ashamed to call them brothers Hebrews 2:11 ESV

 

And in His name, all oppression shall cease

Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. Deuteronomy 26:7 ESV

From oppression and violence, He redeems their life… Psalm 72:14 ESV

 

I still get chills when I sing this song. In Luke 4:18 Jesus declared that He is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. 

I envision people walking out of jail cells with no shackles, leaping for joy at their newfound freedom. Heads lifted high to greet the sun instead of staring at their feet. Hearts that once craved love now possess complete acceptance in Christ, who is Love.

As we celebrate His birth, let us never forget that He is the Messiah.  The promised one.

Emmanuel, God with us.

He is the only one who breaks chains, heals wounds, and sets the captives free from the bondage of sin. My heart rejoices and I want to fall on my knees in reverence and worship.

Let’s join the angels and praise the Holy one for all He has done for us.
 
 

What effect do Christmas carols have on you? Join the conversation.

 



Jesus Born of a Virgin: God Works Through Us When We Listen

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son -Isaiah 7:14

When God speaks, we must listen, no matter the circumstance.

Stranded with my church group on a dirt road in Togo, Africa,  my head pounded from the smoke of burning feilds. Locals flocked around us to watch our bunch of white men try to repair a tire without any parts. 

Five months before this moment my mind was not on Africa, but was on our baby due March 6th.  We were very excited.  

I had such relief hearing the heartbeat at 13 weeks. With one baby already in heaven, I knew God would not take this one too. Following that appointment, I met a friend for a movie at the IMAX.  I left dizzy and sick to my stomach, I assumed the symptoms were from the 3D movie and vertigo.

Two days later I was balled-up on the floor with stomach cramps.

Another child was gone and  my heart was in pieces.  This goodbye was more difficult than the first.

We now have two babies in heaven. We named our first, Michael Corban (a gift dedicated to God) and the second Talitha Grace (little girl of grace).  Naming our babies gave us closure, even if we truly didn’t know  if they were a boy or girl.

My solace, then and now, is knowing the first face my babies saw was the face of God.

And now here I stand five months later across the globe, broke down on the side of the road. The medication I took for my headache had soothed the pain.

Still on that roadside, the Spirit impressed upon my heart—Go witness to the locals. I dragged myself out of the van.  As my eyes adjusted to the dark I looked to my left, grass huts. In front of me, I saw a few of my fellow missionaries and local tribesmen examining the tire.

I admired how the locals wore western attire. Very clean and crisp.  I wondered how they kept everything so nice amidst all the dirt.   To my right, another group of men joined the midnight party.

In my heart I heard, “Go speak with those men, now.”

I grabbed my husband’s hand, “Let’s go. God gave us these men to witness to.” 

The locals were very happy to meet us.

A few of them understood English.  We shared the Good news of Jesus Christ. 

I sensed that they understood but I wanted to make sure. We asked Pastor Mike, the local pastor traveling with us, to come explain the gospel in their native language (Ewe and French).

As he explained the free gift of eternal life a few men stepped back.  I found out later that Pastor Mike asked them to walk away if they did not want to make a decision for Christ.  He said, “This is a very important decision; do not do it if you are not committed.”

Five men stayed and accepted Christ as Savior.  Hallelujah!  As we were praying the Lord reminded me of the Sunday morning before we left for Africa.  I stood in the front of the Church devastated, missing my child crying out, “Lord if I never have my own child, please give me babes in Christ when I go to Africa.  I only want to serve you Lord”

As I stood there, on that dirt road in Africa, holding my husband’s hand, tears streaming down my face. The Lord spoke to my heart and said, “These are your babes in Christ.”

The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, I listened, and I was able to be part of changing eternity for five men.

The Virgin Mary and Joseph listened to the Angel of God. Gabriel proclaimed that she will give birth.  Mary replied, “How will this be since I am a virgin?”  Gabriel says, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”

Later the angel encouraged Joseph to not fear marrying Mary with these words: “What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” 

Joseph had every right to divorce Mary. In fact, Mary would have been stoned to death for infidelity—but Joseph chose to listen to God’s messenger and married Mary.

They both listened and took part in the greatest event known to mankind. The birth of the Savior of the World.

Aren’t you so glad they listened and obeyed even with unimaginable circumstances?

I know I am so glad I obeyed God and stepped out of that van in Africa.

I am so thankful God allowed me to be obedient and take that mission trip even after facing such pain in my life.

Have you listened to the Spirits prompting in the past?

Has God sent a messenger to you with a word that defies your common sense?

Again when God speaks we must listen, no matter the circumstances.

 

 

Join the conversation. Let us know a crazy step of obedience that you are thankful you have taken.
 
Cherrilynn Bisbano is a collaborator with Jake in this special Christmas Series. She is a writer, speaker, literary agent, and editor.  Her passion for helping people is evident.  She loves Christ, coffee, chocolate, and cats. Managing Editor at Serious Writer & Almost an Author, Acquisitions Reader and Junior Agent for Literary Agent, Cyle Young. Host of Genre Chat www.seriouswriter.com. Speaker with Women Speakers & By Design ministries, Leadership Certified by Christian Leaders Institute. http://bit.ly/2j9vzaT. She is a two-time winner of Flash Fiction Weekly. You can find her published in Amramp, More to Life (MTL), Christian Rep, Refresh, Southern Writer, and other magazines. Cherrilynn is a contributor to, newly released Breaking the Chains. Cherrilynn proudly served in the Navy and Air National Guard earning the John Levitow Military leadership award.  She lives with her fifteen-year-old son, Michael, Jr., and husband of 19 years, Michael, Sr.  
  


Genealogy Doesn’t Lie

The Messiah would be a descendant of King David of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it.  – Isaiah 9:7

 

It’s Christmas morning, you’re in your pajamas with a cup of coffee. You watch your family open presents.

Life is good. You say to yourself.

“Open it,” your loved one says as they hand you the prettiest box you’ve ever seen.

“You’ve been talking about this all year.” The loved smiles.

I talk about many things. It’s too small to be a car, could it be the keys?  You say to yourself.

You unwrap it with care.

“Hurry, it’s only paper, just rip it!” Your loved one is anxious to take a picture of your as you see the surprise.

“A DNA Kit! Thank you!”

They were listening.

All across the world, this scene will play out on Christmas morning. DNA kits have been one of the rave gifts this year, but why geneology for Christmas?

There are many reasons we might want to trace our ancestry. Maybe it’s the novelty of knowing that someone famous is in our lineage. Are other more practical reasons like to trace a family inheritance, trace land ownership, find birth parents, trace medical conditions, validate old family stories, or reconnect with family.

DNA kits help us discover our ancestors through genetic matching. These trending kits guide the user in collecting their own DNA samples and then results are received by mailing the samples in to a lab. The result from the testing are compared to other DNA samples from around the world, detecting similarities that trace back generations and connect us to the lands of our ancestors. Although DNA tests are fun and have become a recent hit, they are not always accurate.

These tests reveal what people groups are in your lineage, not specific individuals, which is still fascinating. With shows Finding Your Roots, Who Do You Think You Are, and Genealogy Roadshow, as well as, websites like https://www.geni.com, http://www.ancestor.com/, https://www.myheritage.com/, and https://www.ancestry.com/cs/finding-your-roots we can trace our lineages.

We can trace our lineage with accurate records.

Jake and Cherrilynn have discovered a pirate, Vikings, WWI General, Cowboy, and Farmer in their combined genealogies. Cherrilynn is a descendant of Sir Francis Drake, a pirate, and a pioneer. Cherrilyn attributes her plundering her sister’s candy and her love for travel to her lineage. Jake has confirmed old family stories of Vikings through his ancestry. Jake finds encouragement in his ministry looking back at the transformation of many Vikings on their hearing of the Gospel.

You may or may not be on the DNA Kit bandwagon this Christmas, but there is a great benefit to knowing our ancestry. Whatever inspires us to solve the mystery of our past, many find healing, strength, and a sense of belonging and purpose through the research.

Matthew and Luke who both tell of the birth of Jesus, also highlight Jesus’ genealogy. Obviously, they didn’t use a DNA kit, but the results are just as incredible. The difference between our lineage and that of Jesus is that his birth was predicted hundreds of years before the event. Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah. Along with other prophets Isaiah told that the Messiah would be a descendant of David, and therefore a descendant of Jesse and Abraham.

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. –  Isaiah 11:10 (NIV84)

But even beyond the prophecies, we learn In Matthew and Luke’s’ lists that Jesus had a King, shepherd, and prostitute in His lineage. The King may be expected in Jesus’ ancestry, but a prostitute? Yes, a prostitute. And in those days shepherds were considered quite lowly. There are also many other unsavory characters in that list, but Jesus wasn’t ashamed of his genealogy. He knew he had a mission and joyfully accepted it. His mission was to be the Savior of the World and bring ultimate peace.

Matthew’s genealogy begins with Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, shows the relationship of Jesus to all Jews—he is their Messiah. This agrees with the theme and purpose of the book of Matthew—to prove that Jesus is the Messiah.

The purpose of the book of Luke is to give a record of the life of Christ as the perfect human Savior. Therefore, the genealogy record of Luke goes back to Adam, to demonstrate the relationship of Jesus to His creation.

He is the Savior of the world.

As you open your gifts this Christmas, as many of your ancestors did in the past, remember the best gift is to know that Jesus’ genealogy proves He is Savior and Lord. It also proves that Jesus was and his later sacrificial death was for everyone. The King, the popper, and yes, even the prostitute.

Genealogy doesn’t lie.

 

 

 

Have you tested your DNA or searched your ancestry? Or is a kit under your tree?

We’d love to hear about it.
 
 
 
 
 
Cherrilynn Bisbano is a collaborator with Jake in this special Christmas Series. She is a writer, speaker, literary agent, and editor.  Her passion for helping people is evident.  She loves Christ, coffee, chocolate, and cats. Managing Editor at Serious Writer & Almost an Author, Acquisitions Reader and Junior Agent for Literary Agent, Cyle Young. Host of Genre Chat www.seriouswriter.com. Speaker with Women Speakers & By Design ministries, Leadership Certified by Christian Leaders Institute. http://bit.ly/2j9vzaT. She is a two-time winner of Flash Fiction Weekly. You can find her published in Amramp, More to Life (MTL), Christian Rep, Refresh, Southern Writer, and other magazines. Cherrilynn is a contributor to, newly released Breaking the Chains. Cherrilynn proudly served in the Navy and Air National Guard earning the John Levitow Military leadership award.  She lives with her fifteen-year-old son, Michael, Jr., and husband of 19 years, Michael, Sr.  
  


God’s Itinerary Will Not Be Denied

Have you ever watched a mystery thriller series? In early episodes, the guilty suspect is revealed to the viewers, but the investigators in the show have no clue. You know how the series of shows will end, but you have no idea how the show will reach the conclusion. The current situations make that final scenario seem impossible to be fulfilled. You sit on the edge of your seat, dying to see the conclusion.

God works like this. He reveals our final destination —but the winding road to the journey’s end, makes His revelation seem impossible.

One example of this in Scripture is Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.

The prophet Micah prophesied seven hundred years before Jesus’ birth that the promised Messiah would come from Bethlehem.           

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. – Micah 5:2 (NIV84)

With this prophecy in mind, imagine that you are an omniscient spectator in the first century watching the unfolding of Jesus’ arrival. As the viewer, you know the Messiah must come from Bethlehem. Yet, for nearly nine months Bethlehem wouldn’t even be in the picture.

Mary and Joseph individually receive news that Mary is pregnant with the Messiah. But it couldn’t be the Messiah for she lives in Nazareth—seventy miles from Bethlehem. So, either the couple is wrong about the Messiah or God is not going to keep His Word. This would make Micah a false prophet or God a liar.

You continue to watch as the plot twists lead Mary in different directions, none of which bring her to Bethlehem. For a brief moment, it seems Joseph will turn Mary in for adultery, and the locals would stone her to death. But Joseph contemplated divorcing her quietly. Suddenly an Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said,

“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.  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Mathew 1:20-21)

He believed the angel and married Mary.

 The story would take another turn as Mary travels to Jericho to visit Zachariah and Elizabeth. The trip brought her closer to Bethlehem, but there was still no reason to travel there. Mary returned to Nazareth, time appears to be running out. Will Micah’s prophecy be vindicated?

While hope for fulfillment seemed bleak, God is at work. Two surprises enterer the story—the Roman census and Joseph’s Davidic roots.

Happening behind the scenes was the rest of the story. The Roman census forced Joseph to travel to Bethlehem leaving us with this fulfillment recorded by Luke.

 Joseph also went up…to Bethlehem …while they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son… – Luke 2:4–7 (NIV84)

God’s plans will never be denied. 

They weren’t thwarted in the birth of Jesus.

They weren’t denied in the countless similar “mystery thrillers” in Scripture.

And they won’t be denied in your life.

 

How does knowing Jesus fulfilled over 100 Prophesies change your life?  Join the conversation.
 
This is a unique Christmas Series collaboration with Author Cherrilynn Ryerson Bisbano. We have both posted this on our sites, check out her blog Truth to Shine
 
 
 
 
Cherrilynn Bisbano is a collaborator with Jake in this special Christmas Series. She is a writer, speaker, literary agent, and editor.  Her passion for helping people is evident.  She loves Christ, coffee, chocolate, and cats. Managing Editor at Serious Writer & Almost an Author, Acquisitions Reader and Junior Agent for Literary Agent, Cyle Young. Host of Genre Chat www.seriouswriter.com. Speaker with Women Speakers & By Design ministries, Leadership Certified by Christian Leaders Institute. http://bit.ly/2j9vzaT. She is a two-time winner of Flash Fiction Weekly. You can find her published in Amramp, More to Life (MTL), Christian Rep, Refresh, Southern Writer, and other magazines. Cherrilynn is a contributor to, newly released Breaking the Chains. Cherrilynn proudly served in the Navy and Air National Guard earning the John Levitow Military leadership award.  She lives with her fifteen-year-old son, Michael, Jr., and husband of 19 years, Michael, Sr.