One week until Christmas. There's history. Scripture, reflection and thanksgiving.

Matthew 1:12-17 

   "After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,
Abihud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Elihud,
Elihud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
and Jacob the father of Joseph, 
the husband of Mary, 
and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah."
Reflection. Wonderful, amazing grace.  God's plan for our salvation wasn't thrown together at the last minute.  There's a history. A history that leads directly to  'Jesus, who is called the Messiah.' This is wonderful, amazing grace.  
Thanksgiving. Thank you, Lord God Almighty, for enacting your plan to bring us back. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Amen.