Luke 2:22-35
Originally written 9/19/07
God’s plans are sometimes quiet and without fan fare but like what is told here his plans are in your face. God provided people all along the way to tell the people what is to come. It doesn’t tell us exactly how old Simeon was but he must have been very old since it tells us that Simeon wouldn’t die until he had seen Christ Lord. After Simeon sees Jesus and holds him in his arms he says” Lord now you are letting your servant depart in peace”. The words of praise he speaks are reverent and beautifully poetic. Joseph and Mary are shocked by what Simeon says and then what he does by blessing them. Simeon predictions aren’t all flowers after blessing Mary and Joseph he tells Mary that she will experience a piecing anguish. We have heard before that in the Garden God killed animals and gave Adam and Eve skins to cover themselves and that this act was a prelude to what God would do later by sacrificing Jesus to cover all of our sins. Well God also told Eve you will experience great pain during childbirth. Mary has now been told that she will experience great pain because of the child she bore. Do you think she wanted to run away and keep him safe? She knows that this child is her son but not her son and now she knows his destiny. How would you have felt knowing what your child would have to endure? Could we have given our fears and pain to God to do what Mary did? She must have asked God for peace and guidance everyday of her life. I am learning that out of all the things required of us as Christians this is one of the hardest. To let God cont to give you peace when the world is exploding around you and we need to recognize that when we don’t have peace it is because we have chose to shut out God’s Gifts.
Interpertation now 7/14/10
It still moves me greatly when I read this passage, maybe because I am a mother and I know the joy and pain children can bring. I can picture this in my mind so clearly Mary is watching this man hold her child with love and reverence in his eyes and she is almost bursting with joy.  Suddenly the man turns his eyes upon her and with sympathy and sorrow he warns her what is to come. She probably was very confused and can't imagine how this miracle could ever bring her pain. We know the outcome of the story and we know that Jesus and God with great remorse did deliver Mary unimaginable pain. I wonder how many times throughout his life did God just suround Mary with peace and joy trying to prepare her for what was to come. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he prepared her just as he prepare me for my trials. Thank you Lord for being a loving God and providing us with comfort even when we must hurt. Amen

Luke 2:1-21

originally written on 9/18/07

In this passage it tells us of Jesus birth. Luke reads more like a historical account than the other gospels. He doesn’t give a lot of emotional details. God is always able to work out his plan perfectly. Caesar had decreed that everyone be registered so Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem. I wonder what they were thinking as they left their home. I imagine they were a little unnerved since Mary was very very pregnant at this time. Did they realize how long it would be before they got to see their home again? I know that most of the people were nomadic but I am sure that they had friends and loved ones that they had to leave behind. In verse 5 it talks about Mary being Joseph betrothed wife which means that Mary and Joseph weren’t married yet. In that time era engagement was a binding contract that could only be reversed by divorcing. Jesus is born without fan fare, in a simple and uncomplicated way. This is the precursor of how his life will be lived as a common man with an extraordinary message. We know that the Sheppard’s came to see Jesus, but we don’t know exactly how much time had passed since his birth in this passage it records Jesus circumcision, which would have been carried out eight days after birth, after the Sheppard’s had already seen Jesus. The Sheppard’s were told of Jesus birth by an angel and I think the reason God did this was to have some witnesses to testify about Jesus birth. Think of it would anyone have believed Mary or possibly even Joseph about what had occurred and how important this child was, they in the public’s eyes had been tainted. All in all Luke describes the things he was aware of in chronological order. I think that we need to remember that Jesus was born of a lowly birth. He was a living example of living a simple life.
Interpretation now 7/6/2010
I am still amazed at the way that God chose to orchestrate his plan and how even with Jesus birth he let us see little glimpses at what was to come. I think sometimes we let our fears, others expectations of how we should act and our own ideas of where our paths should be get in the way of God's plan. Now you want to see something really amazing see how God uses all of that to make his plan, no matter what we throw at him, turn out perfectly. God please continue to mold us no matter how we try to get in your way. May we remember the living example of how following you is simple if we keep our eyes and ears on you. Amen.

Luke 1:57-80

Luke 1:57-80
John is born and in this gospel he only gets two verses that announce his birth. Amazing the start of God’s plan is recorded by 2 verses. God bucks tradition at every turn. First we have a woman well advanced in age pregnant. Then we have a virgin birth. The next is we have Elizabeth naming her son John instead giving him his father’s or a family name. It was also unheard of for a woman to name the child that was the father’s right. What happens next should have really given the people around a clue about this child’s birth. As soon as Zacharias writes “His name is John.” his tongue is “loosed” and he is able to speak. Not only did he speak but he praises God. Can you imagine how many things you would have liked to say after 9 months? I wonder if he suddenly had the words to speak about the prophecy or if he had these words already in his mind. He praises God but he also tells everyone of what is to come. I wonder how many that were there realized what he was telling them. God chose to have every aspect of his prophecy stand out and be different than the traditions that had formed. God was telling them even then that things were about to change. How many present at the beginning were just as terrified of change as those who were intricate members of the end. Sometimes God has plans for us that we cant understand and cant see the end of if we trust that he is our Savior shouldn’t we trust that he will hold us close even when everything else is falling away
Interpretation now 6/23/10
The first thing that struck me as I read this passage was that Zacharias and Elizabeth must have had a special marriage and relationship with God. Zacharias doesn't condemn his wife for speaking for him he immediately praises God and confirms that her choice of name was to be followed. God puts everything into motion long before we can even think to ask why. Then we see that Zacharias praises God and all but shouts the blessed plan that God has chosen for his family. Now think on this he has proclaimed what God has in store for his family, I wonder did he every think later I have got to live up to this! I hope he didn't, that is a burden that we should strive not to carry. I pray that all of us live up to God's plan not out of duty but out of love and reverence. Dear Lord remind us to be ourselves and trust that you have been forming the plan you have for us for a very long time. When we have doubts if we can complete the task you set before us may you send someone to remind us of your divine wisdom in all things and that you never fail or make mistakes so your choice of using us can't be wrong. Amen

Luke 1:39-56
originally writtien 9/12/07
In this passage Mary leaves her town to go visit Elizabeth. I wonder if she did this in order to give herself some time to tell her intended Joseph or to accept the reality of what path was before her. It mentions that when Elizabeth heard about Mary imminent arrival the baby in her womb jumped for joy. Elizabeth knew that Mary was pregnant as soon as she laid eyes on her. The angel that had spoken to Zechariah's didn’t tell him that Mary would be carrying the Messiah and that we know of the angel didn’t tell Elizabeth this either. I think that she knew because she was a good and faithful servant always listening with her heart to what God was saying to her. Both Elizabeth and Mary accepted what the Lord told them to do without question. We can’t say that we are able to do the same thing. Elizabeth and Mary are together at Elizabeth’s home and it gives Mary the opportunity to sing God’s praises over the path that has been sat down before her. I hope what we learn that even when God ask us to really hard things that we look upon them as a blessing the way Mary did. We need to look at the fact God is asking us to help him complete a task and if you chose to do these blessing will be heaped upon you most of them from the task you are doing. I mean look at it this way God needs you to help him, now he can chose someone else if you refuse him but if you refuse him think about all of the wonders and blessing you will miss out on. The song “Hands and Feet” talks about us doing things for God because we are his children but it also should remind us that God is a part of us. He ask us to do things because when you are his child he gives you a little piece of him and we should use this not only because of the sacrifices he has made for us but also because he loves us and we love him. If you deny God then you deny a piece of yourself. I think that one of the reason sinners have no peace is because they are denying the loving merciful part of themselves that God has placed in us.
Interpretation Now 6/17/10
I wonder now if maybe God sent Mary to visit Elizabeth because Mary needed the encouragement that Elizabeth would easily supply. God must have felt Mary's fear even if she was more than willing to walk the path set before her. God provided Mary with someone who would understand her fears and her hopes, what a wonderful gift that must have been. Sometimes we are to caught up in what is going on to see the support that God has provided. I ask that the next time something happens will you please look around and see the comfort and support God has offered you. God loves us and is always wanting the best for us. He said that we would have trouble in this world, that we would be persecuted but he also promised we wouldn't be alone and doesn't it stand to reason that God would provide support in the form of his other children here on earth. Dear Lord thank you for seeing to our physical and emotional needs. Thank you for providing everything we need. Amen

Luke 1:26-32

Luke 1:26-32
First Written on 9/11/07
In this passage a messenger of God comes to tell Mary that she has been chosen by God to be the mother of the Messiah. Can you imagine what that must have been like? You are minding your own business and suddenly there is an angel before you. The message that the angel brings her is disturbing because she is an unmarried woman. Think about it the custom of the day was to stone unmarried women who hadn’t kept themselves pure. When the angel is telling Mary about what is going to happen he was asking her to trust in God that she wouldn't be stoned to death. How would we react? When is the last time that God asked us to do something that might cost us our lives? When is the last time that you resisted doing something that God asked you to do? Do we think that God loves us any less than he loved Mary? God is our heavenly Father who will always protect and guide us. He wouldn't ask us to perform a task and then not protect us. The next time God asks us to do something I hope you think of Mary and use her obedience as an inspiration on how we should react. Mary took this task that could have caused her to lose her life and she called it a blessing, rejoicing and praising God for allowing her to do this for him.
Interpretation now 4/8/10
I still think this must have been exceeding mind boggling to Mary. She had her life set, she was planning her marriage and preparing to become a wife and I am sure it seemed like with just one statement from God's Messenger that all of that is drastically different. I know that I would have been speechless, I hate change how about you? I am sure that Mary is certainly thinking about the ramifications from this path that God has set before her. I think that we should stop and think what questions would we have for God's Angel? Would we be able to speak or would we be dumbfounded? I now get from this that change isn't always bad even though sometimes it is very painful. Sometimes you just have to say to God "I trust you" even if you are so scared that you can't even see what you are going to do in the next minute. Dear Lord help us realize that Fear is Satan's tool to keep us from trusting you and that it is also a choice. We can always with your help chose to trust you and let the fear melt away. Amen.

Luke 1:1-25

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE
Luke 1:1-25
First written on 9/7/07.
My bible reports that Luke was a physician and that they are not very sure who Theophilus was. Luke was a logically minded person just from his opening note you can see that he intended to write a historically accurate record. I think that when we read we should take into consideration that there was a writer who intended or not, lent their own personality to the events they were recording. Luke starts his account with John the Baptist. I think that to Luke that is where Jesus story started. In this passage, it tells us about God sending Gabriel to tell Zechariah that he would have a son that he was to name John, "he will be great before the Lord and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother's womb". Okay let us reflect a little bit here on how you would feel if you were told this about your child. I would be praying every day "Lord don't let me mess him up!” This really would scare me and I think it scared Zechariah. I think that his disbelief had to do with the laws of physiology and the awe of being blessed with a child that God recognized as a great man. God chose to teach a lesson thru Zechariah and not the one most often associated with his story. God was teaching us there are no bounds to his power and generosity. Therefore, there is Zechariah coming out of the temple and he cannot speak, despite that, he was somehow able to make people understand that he had a vision. I wonder what that must have looked like and would I have gotten the message Zechariah was trying to convey if I had been there? When Elizabeth found out that she was pregnant, she immediately started praising God, which is not unusual, but she praised him for the child and for lifting her disgrace. How often when God does something do we thank him for every aspect of the outcome? Do you every say thank you God for helping me not to worry, bringing me joy, or allowing me to be your light? I am guilty of that but I hope to remember Zechariah and Elizabeth next time and give God all of the praise he deserves.
Interpretation today 6/5/10
I think on this now and first to say that I would be terrified to raise a child that was announced to me by Gabriel would be an understatement at the same time I think on my first born and I can remember begging God not to totally mess him up. I cannot imagine the pressure that both Zechariah and Elizabeth must have been under and maybe God did not silence Zachariah because he questioned his plan but to prepare him to carry out that plan. I have never stopped to think that maybe to do this properly God needed to prepare Zechariah and Elizabeth just like he prepare us for our individual task. I have been tested and sometimes fell short but maybe it is not the outcome of the testing that we should be looking at but the fact that God is testing us to prepare us. What if he knew that we would come up short and learning to pick ourselves up from failure was the real lesson. Dear Lord thank you for testing us and may we learn what you would have us learn. Amen

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how our interpretation of the Bible changes as we grow? Do you think how different would my view be after a tragedy? I have so we will explore this together. I am Jamie Luther and you will soon learn that I wrote most of this bible study before my husband had an unexpected complication that left him paralyzed. He was paralyzed at first below the waist but now he has recovered a few muscles in his thighs and buttocks that help him with balance. He works hard every day to learn to walk again and to increase his stamina, which was severely crippled. It takes much more energy when you have to consciously tell each muscle to fire. I have not always handled this journey well but I have never wavered in my love for my husband and my family, which I thank God for making sure that unlike so many, my family survived intact. We had a lot of help from a church family that stepped up to the plate and provided everything that we needed emotionally, spiritually and financially. I hope by allowing you insight into my life and my faith that it helps you find a deeper understanding of God’s Love and Devotion to all of us. Thank you for allowing me to share all that I am and I hope that you are blessed by my story.