Matthew 1-3

This is such an exciting time in the Bible, when Jesus Christ comes to earth! I think it is so interesting how each of the 4 Gospels gives a similar but differing account of the same events. I had it explained to me once that its as if 4 different people standing on 4 different corners saw the same event happen, ie. a car accident, and then each shared from their own point of view and perspective what they had seen and experienced.

Jesus' family tree (Genealogy) - I agree these genealogies can get tiring but this is actually an interesting one to see what family and lineage Jesus was born into. After studying Abraham in the Old Testament and knowing the promise God made to him about his lineage its so amazing that Jesus was "born from his family".

The birth of Jesus - this account is not very detailed about the actual birth but more of the things going on before it happened. I can only imagine the "scandal" that surrounded Mary and Joseph with her ending up pregnant before they were married back in that time. Mary must have been such a humble and trusting girl to know the Lord had a special plan for her life and the life of the child in her womb. Also, Joseph must have been very distraught with what to do with his now pregnant fiancée and if their marriage should even happen. How amazing God's grace was in their life to lead them together amidst the stress and pressures of the world. My prayer is that I too would be a woman that would seek God first and foremost no matter what the status quo of the world would be.

Wise Men Visit - interesting to know that the wise men were not at the actual birth of Christ but came to visit them a few years later when Jesus was a toddler.

Fleeing Egypt/ Returning to Nazareth - Joseph had to be so in tune with God and where He was leading him and his family. May I pray much for Jason and his ability to know God's will for himself and his family.

John the Baptist/ Baptism of Jesus - John spoke with such authority about what Jesus was going to do and how we all must truly trust in Christ and not in ourselves. Its so amazing how Christ allowed John to baptize him of water as a symbol of what HE had come to earth to do - To die, be buried and raise from the dead!