...But God

Matthew 11: 28-29

Creators and Guests

Host
Chad McBeam
Business Leader, Foster Advocate and Fighter of Human Trafficking, Chad enjoys hosting this podcast channel as a way to spread and highlight the great examples of those who live out their faith daily. He can also be seen on occasion on your TV or Film Screen or be heard narrating one of your books as his love of acting has stuck with him since his childhood.
Writer
Aaron Marcarelli
After getting his under-graduate degree from Cal State University San Bernardino where he played college baseball and received all American honors. he was a graduate assistant baseball coach at both Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, Tennessee, and at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.  He received his master’s degree in Teaching from Whitworth, with plans to someday be a head baseball coach at a university.  However, God had other plans.  Aaron started teaching English and History and coaching baseball and other sports at the high school level and found out how much he loves high school kids, and he has been doing that for the past 27 years.     Personally, heI has been married to his wife Sharon for 32 years, they have one daughter, Amanda Parrish, who has been married to Austin Parrish for 2 years. Aaron also has two grandsons Travis age 2 ½ and Aden who is 13 months and are blessed to have another on the way due in May. Aaron loves reading, golfing, and spending time with his wife and grandkids.
LC
Designer
Linda Cowen
Linda Cowen of San Antonio Christian School is our gracious and talented art designer for the But God, weekday morning devotional series.

What is ...But God?

A weekday morning devotional series written by Aaron Marcarelli and hosted by Chad McBeam

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29 NASB2020
Mary and Joseph were weary from the long Journey they needed rest and yet they had no rest. What Mary and Joseph had to go through is in unfathomable. Joseph was required by law to go to his ancestral home in Bethlehem to register for the Census. They had to Travel 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Israel is not easy terrain. It would have taken them almost a week to travel that distance. Mary obviously was 9 months pregnant and probably for the last day was having contractions. She was without family to help her. The only place for them is a barn with animals. That is where Mary has the one who gives us peace and rest. The Journey to Bethlehem and the birth  of Christ was anything but restful and peaceful. Jesus was a baby and was fully human. Therefore Mary and Joseph still did not get a lot of rest. Yet he is the one who gives us rest.
The irony is during Christmas season we often choose to be stressed, we overwhelm ourselves with parties and parades, with shopping and wrapping, we travel great distances wait in TSA lines with other stressed travelers. Mary and Joseph were forced by the Roman government to have weary laden stress filled trip at a time for them that was the least convenient. We also know this trip had to happen to fulfill prophecy. Because the Messiah had to be born in Bethlehem but come from Nazareth. Why do we put ourselves through all this stress at the time of Noel? Why do we say we have no time during the time where we should be focused on Christ and his “adventus”? This too is a time of Noel.

Noel is derived from the Old French word, "nael," meaning “of or born on Christmas.” The name goes back to the birth of Jesus, which was referred to as in the Latin "natalis dies" meaning "day of birth.” It later emerged into Middle English as "Nowel."
We must put God first. We must come to Him first and He will then give us rest.  Parties and parades, shopping, wrapping, gift giving and traveling great distances to see family are are not bad things. If we focus too much on them and not enough of God then we are making those good things our god. We must make God our Good thing, then we will have rest and peace.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provMatthew 6:33 NASB2020

Put Him first, seek Him always. Let us hold each other accountable whether we prepare for the return of our King or are celebrating the birth of our King. This should be our focus all through the year.  
Therefore; consider Hebrews 10: 23-25 “Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Let us always put Him first and always prepare Him room.

Heavenly Father thank you for loving us and giving us your son. Thank you that we have rest and our burdens are not only lifted but carried by you. Help us to lean into you and put you first, not just during Advent but always. Help us to hold each other accountable, help us to be lifted up by others so that we can be healed and saved by you. We pray all these things in Jesus Name Amen…
Shalom Blessings and Press In and Press On!