Listen Now
Dear friend,
Join me on a journey from the past to today.
This season, we remember the birth of Jesus. His parents, Mary and step-father, Joseph, had to travel to Bethlehem. It wasn’t an easy trip like hopping on a bus. The journey was 70-90 miles over hilly dirt paths. It took about seven bumpy days with no rest stops, and Mary was very pregnant. They traveled under orders from the Roman government to sign up for a census for taxes. Everything had to be done in person.
Today, we often need many papers for meetings and interviews. It can be stressful, but Angie Kidd’s tips in “No Problem! It’s in My Vital Bag” will help you stay organized.
Back to our journey. Mary and Joseph didn’t ride in a fancy carriage. Joseph guided the donkey he got for Mary to ride on. They were poor. Travel was dangerous back then. They likely joined a group of travelers to avoid robbers or slave traders.
In our day, slave trading may take the form of sex trafficking. Leslie King shares real life lessons in her article that you or someone you know might relate to.
Let’s fast forward in our journey to after Jesus was born. God’s plan unfolded in a simple place — a cave — where humble people kept their animals. The sky lit up with angels announcing His birth with singing to the shepherds who worked the nightshift in a field. Music and lights filled the air, making it special.
In “Holiday Pick One,” we offer ideas to make your Christmas bright and joyful without spending much. Just pick one idea to try!
The Bible tells about Mary’s experiences, that she “kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Keep that in the back of your mind while reading Debbie Wells’s advice in “How Close Can They Get to Your Heart? You Decide!”
You are a treasure to me, and I enjoy putting together this magazine for you. My personal prayer is that if you only know of Jesus as a baby, that before the new year, you will come to know Him as the One who forgives you of your sins and connects you with God forever.
On the journey with you,
Crystal Knapp
Editor-in-Chief & Founder
Reach UP magazine
