morning’ juice 8 days

a week ago or even 8 days ago, where were you ? Maybe, just maybe somewhere celebrating the birth of Christ!
(December 25 to January 2)

Now we are screaming into a New Year 2018. The calendar for Mary and Joseph was a bit different compared to how our Gregorian calendar is set. For us, the end of one year and ushering in the new year brings about a feeling of starting over, a new beginning, fresh start, a sense of ahhhh, ok come on let’s do this people.

Not sure Mary and Joseph had this same sense of fresh start as we do in regard to a calendar, but their lives over the past months certainly carried every emotion God has ever blown into our being. They definitely were in the midst of a new start, with the new life in the form of a baby front and center. For those following the law, the customs of the day in Judaism, that meant 8 days after the birth of Immanuel (God with jesUS), they would take off to the temple.

Luk 2:21-24 NLT 21 Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. 22 Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the LORD.” 24 So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord–“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Is that not amazing! I wonder if Mary and Joseph were kinda giggling under their breath knowing that their son was the lamb of God, the one born pure, is dedicated back to God through a purification sacrifice. So they, along with other mama and daddy’s who had given birth to little boys and girls 8 days prior were descending on the temple to follow the requirements.

why 8 days? I mean hello, could we cut ‘em a little slack here? Uh she did just have a child in a freaking barn. Been on the move for quite some time, could this have been ok to do, say on the 18th day?

why 8? well we could say the ol’ God said…but gang, God says a ton and we decide whether or not to beLIeVE and follow, don’t we? Man, I wonder if Mary and Joseph ever even questioned, wrestled, the decision to go?

As they traipse into town and to the temple. A man named…
Luk 2:28-30 NLT 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation,

so why 8 days?

it’s a sign of resurrection, regeneration.

dare we say reborn, new life,

let this 8th day be your fresh start…

Own 2018 through your identity in who God says you are in beLIeVING Jesus Christ. HIM power is all we need to immerse ourselves in the moment given to each of us each day. What if every 8 days we reminded ourselves and each other of our salvation through Christ. That our new life and eternal life is NOW.

45 times during the year that we have a fresh start, a regeneration, this sense of new beginning. Wonder, just wonder how this would flow through us into our homes, at work, in our schools and universities.?

let me know….Jan 10…