Fulfilled Promises in the Christmas Story
Monica Brislawn
When I read the Christmas story this year, I observe God’s faithfulness. God is attentive to his word and keeps his promises. Are you looking to him this Christmas season? Look to him in confidence; just as he kept his word to bring about the birth of the Messiah, he is still watching over his word for us today.
In the Christmas narratives, we see God’s faithfulness to fulfill many of his promises. We see Mary giving birth to our Savior in line with Isaiah’s words (Isaiah 7:14) and Christ is born in Bethlehem as promised by Micah (Micah 5:2). Jesus’ life is saved in Egypt since there had been a mandate to kill all the babes in Bethlehem in hopes of exterminating Christ (Hosea 11:1 and Jeremiah 31:15). God also promised Jesus would settle in Nazareth and be called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23).
During this Christmas season, I am rejoicing once again how God has provided for my needs. His provision is not something I could have engineered or planned. Here at the end of the year, I can rejoice and exult and once again say, “The Lord has shown up!”
For several years I have served Southern California churches in the accounting and finance departments. When I am not serving a church directly, I have been in the commercial sector on short-term assignments. It has been quite an adventure since I never know where I will be working each year until the opportunities present themselves. I am very dependent on the Lord for work.
In early 2025, an elder of a South Orange County church called, someone I had consulted for 10 years ago. His work was urgent. Could I get started immediately? Being part “nurse” as well as accountant, I jumped in and served the church for a few months during a challenging season. Once the most difficult things were accomplished, I believed the Lord asked me to step down and wait on him for the next steps. While it is so easy to explain I was waiting on the Lord, I confess I was anxious—would the Lord find work for me again? Is my work life over? How was God going to provide for my needs?
After a few months, I received a call. It was another church which also had a need in the area of accounting and finance. It was amazing—the South County church and this church in East Los Angeles County were very much alike, having similar cultures, philosophies of ministry, and organizational structure. The work in the South County church was nice preparation for doing the work in East Los Angeles County. God was providing another way to serve his church coupled with providing for my needs at the same time. I could only proclaim, “Thank You, Lord, for showing up!” Showing up and allowing me to serve his church; showing up and providing for my needs!
Do you need the Lord to “show up” for you too? Are you looking to him? Read the Christmas story again and rejoice in God’s faithfulness to his word. God will fulfill his promises for you. He can show up and accomplish things on your behalf.
Monica Brislawn resides in Southern California. She is an accountant by trade and has served on accounting and finance teams in both the commercial and ministry spaces. She also holds a master’s degree in theology and enjoys talking about the Scriptures with others. She works way too much and needs to take some college courses on how to have fun.
While serving as the Director of Women’s Ministries for a church, she was introduced to NEWIM and found a place to share with others the rewards and challenges of ministry. There she has also been encouraged by the many role models who serve God’s purposes, no matter what age or stage of life.
Reach out and say hello to Monica monicabrislawn@gmail.com.