By Pastor Tracey Leslie
Scripture:  Matthew 1:18-25

Perhaps you have heard the saying, “You are the only bible some people will ever read.”  The meaning behind that saying, of course, is that when we live according to the Word of God, we reveal –we might even say embody – God’s Word for those who have not yet read the bible.  Now, I don’t know how long that cliche has been around; but I imagine that no one is a better illustration of it than Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus.

By Pastor Tracey Leslie
Scripture:  Luke 1:26-38

Vulnerability is a tough and risky thing.  If you’ve ever rescued an abused or neglected dog you know what I mean.  Yet, if the stray or injured animal is unable to be vulnerable to the human seeking to rescue it, that animal will likely die eventually.  Only if it can take the risk and be vulnerable one more time will it discover that vulnerability can result not only in pain; but it can also result in food, clean water, medicine, safe shelter, and the connection all living creatures yearn for.  Vulnerability is a tough and risky thing.

By Pastor Tracey Leslie
Scripture:  Luke 1:5-20

Several years back a single woman, living alone, was leaving for work when she noticed… it looked as if someone had tried to break into her home.  On her way to work, she dialed the police.  The detective on the other end of the phone listened to her then said, “When you leave work today, don’t go into your house.  Call us and an officer will meet you at your home and check and clear the house before you go inside.”  At the end of the work day, the woman decided it would be fine to just call the officer once she got inside.  Who knows why?  Maybe she was tired or just didn’t think it was that important.  But, someone had broken into her home and was still there and the intruder tortured her and held her captive.  She barely escaped with her life.  The detective who caught the case was the same detective she’d spoken to on the phone.  When he went to the hospital to take her statement, she said to him, “That officer on the phone told me not to go inside until police checked the house.  But I didn’t listen.”  She didn’t heed his words; but he never forgot hers.