At 10:30 this morning the inmates who wanted to were allowed to attend a Christmas Eve service in the chapel...
It sounds like an incongruity to have a Christmas Eve service in the morning. But whatever privileges are afforded to us, such as being permitted to have this event during work hours, is usually woven around the time slots granted by the administration. Yet it worked out well because we had sixty minutes to worship God and to reflect on the birth of the Savior.
My chaplain, Carl Stiglich, brought forth one of his best sermons ever. He was, in my opinion, filled with the anointing of the Holy Spirit as he spoke about "The Confusion of Joseph." The Scriptures appeared to open for me as my pastor preached from Matthew 1:18-25. He showed the congregation the character traits of Joseph and how he had to wait patiently until the confusion about his wife, Mary, was cleared up. After all, Mary was pregnant. Yet she insisted to her husband that she's never known another man sexually.
Poor Joseph! Seeing the slowly swelling belly of his wife must have been troubling. Nevertheless, although the Scriptures do not reveal much about him, Joseph submitted to the Lord. For when the child was born, as per the instructions of the angel who'd spoken to him in a dream, instead of naming the boy "Joseph Junior," he broke with tradition and gave his son the name "Jesus."
Fortunately for Joseph, because He followed the angel's instructions, God's divine plan was brought forth. In time his confusion was dispelled. And for Christians like myself, we don't always know what the Lord is doing. His ways are not our ways. Sometimes He does things which may not make sense and we become perplexed. Yet if we simply say "Yes" to Jesus and refuse to trust in our own understanding, He will bring forth His plan for our lives. We in turn will be victorious and successful in the maturing of our faith.
D.B.
My chaplain, Carl Stiglich, brought forth one of his best sermons ever. He was, in my opinion, filled with the anointing of the Holy Spirit as he spoke about "The Confusion of Joseph." The Scriptures appeared to open for me as my pastor preached from Matthew 1:18-25. He showed the congregation the character traits of Joseph and how he had to wait patiently until the confusion about his wife, Mary, was cleared up. After all, Mary was pregnant. Yet she insisted to her husband that she's never known another man sexually.
Poor Joseph! Seeing the slowly swelling belly of his wife must have been troubling. Nevertheless, although the Scriptures do not reveal much about him, Joseph submitted to the Lord. For when the child was born, as per the instructions of the angel who'd spoken to him in a dream, instead of naming the boy "Joseph Junior," he broke with tradition and gave his son the name "Jesus."
Fortunately for Joseph, because He followed the angel's instructions, God's divine plan was brought forth. In time his confusion was dispelled. And for Christians like myself, we don't always know what the Lord is doing. His ways are not our ways. Sometimes He does things which may not make sense and we become perplexed. Yet if we simply say "Yes" to Jesus and refuse to trust in our own understanding, He will bring forth His plan for our lives. We in turn will be victorious and successful in the maturing of our faith.
D.B.
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