The Hebrew Month of Tevet 2020-21
I was walking through the Christmas section at Walmart and heard this:
It's going to be a MERRY Christmas.
This story is very merry. There was once a man who didn't believe in God. He did not like any religious holidays, especially Christmas. His wife and children did believe and she raised their children to have faith in God and Jesus despite what their dad believed. One snowy Christmas Eve his wife and kids went to a service. She asked him to go but he refused. He said, that story is nonsense. Why would God lower Himself to come to earth as a man? That's ridiculous.
He stayed home and the snow turned to a blizzard. As he sat in front of the fire he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another thump. He went outside to see what was beating against the window. In the field near the house he saw a flock of wild geese. Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn't go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm with no food or shelter. They flapped their wings and flew around the field in circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window.
The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay. They could wait out the storm there. He opened the barn doors wide and waited, hoping they would notice and go inside. The geese didn't seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. The man tried to get their attention but that scared them and they moved further away. He got some bread, broke it up and made a bread crumb trail leading to the barn. The geese didn't catch on. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn. They scattered in every direction.
Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe. Why don't they follow me? Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm? Then he had a transition moment. If only I were a goose, then I could save them. He went into his barn, got one of his own geese. He carried it in his arms and circled around behind the flock of wild geese. He released his goose, it flew through the flock and into the barn. One by one the other geese followed it to safety.
He stood silently as the words he had spoken replayed in his mind, if only I were a goose then I could save them. Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier - why would God want to be like us? That's ridiculous. Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. God had His Son become like us so He could show us the way and save us. He realized that was the meaning of Christmas.
Years of doubt and disbelief vanished like the passing storm. He fell to his knees and prayed his first prayer. Thank you God for coming in human form to get me out of the storm. (author unknown)
That story paints such a neat picture of what God did for us and what He continually does for us. There's a storm raging right now but we've been led to a place of safety in Him. Our focus is on Jesus and because of that and that only, we will have a MERRY Christmas. And that MERRY Christmas leads us to a HAPPY New Year.
The goose story is so characteristic of the Hebrew month of Tevet. During the "stormy" seasons we have clarity in the midst of it all. There are "aha" moments that transition us out of doubt and hopelessness into revelation and inspiration.
The Hebrew letter for Tevet is Ayin. Ayin means to see. Things supernaturally come into view. We see what we could not see. In the middle of the darkest time, we see. Things move from potential to manifestation.
DeeAnn and I are on a journey to discover fullness in Him and to do more. Our prayer is that these newsletters and weekly messages on our website would be a catalyst for breakthrough in your life. Your support through finances and prayer have been much appreciated. Please consider giving in this new year on a monthly basis. Covenant partners empower the potential in everyone to find their place in the kingdom. Your giving helps move us forward into exploring other avenues of expression and blessing.
Merry and Happy,
Sandy Newman and DeeAnn Ward