Matthew 1:18-24 ~ the birth of Jesus the Messiah

The Nativity, painted by Ted Henninger

Matthew 1:18-24
Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

8 Now the birth of Jesus Christ [the Christ] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed [engaged] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). (Isaiah 7:14)

24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife

Jesus is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning 'God is salvation'.

Mary had choices, the angel heard Mary agree to God's plan. Joseph, also, had choices multiplying after looking for compassion. Jesus had choices as well. Yesterday, we saw Jesus' family come to speak to Him as the trouble promised to increase, today we see the Pharisees wonder if Jesus will flee:

John 7:30-35
Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version
30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. 31 Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?"

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him. 33 Jesus said, "I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come."

35 The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, 'You will look for me, but you will not find me,' and 'Where I am, you cannot come'?"

John 12:19-28
Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!"

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

Jesus, being in the world, was presented with options. Jesus, being God, wanted to fulfill God's plan of salvation. Because Jesus is our atonement, He is our Messiah. Thank you, Father, for the gift of Your Son. Thank you, Jesus, for your willingness to be grace and truth living among us. Thank you, Holy Spirit, You never depart from us.

Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Joshua 1:5
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Proverbs 3:3
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Matthew 28:20
I am with you always


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1 John 2 ~ when He appears

Kissing the Face of God, painted by Morgan Weistling

John 1:9
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

1 John 2 ~ (Today's New International Version)

1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Those who say, "I know him," but do not do what he commands are liars, and the truth is not in them. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

9 Those who claim to be in the light but hate a fellow believer are still in the darkness. 10 Those who love their fellow believers live in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But those who hate a fellow believer are in the darkness and walk around in the darkness; they do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

12 I am writing to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young people,
because you have overcome the evil one.

14 I write to you, dear children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young people,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If you love the world, love for the Father is not in you. 16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful people, the lust of their eyes and their boasting about what they have and do—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Messiah. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.

26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

Christmas is a time of family. The joys of love and the trepidation of personality and communication. When Jesus was manifest in the flesh, what did his family do to abide in Him? Here is the Son of God, in His youth found favor both with God and man. Jesus asks we keep the commandments, love each other in clear bright light, put away the darkness of envy and self-centeredness.

Remember Jesus declared only God is good, so... no family issues there... except... the rest of the family is only human.

John 7:1-5, Jesus' brothers want Him to see some trouble
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

Matthew 12:46-50, after Jesus declared the ruling people of the temple to be vile and evil, His brothers want the trouble to die down
While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Mark 6:3, Jesus biblically records how his brothers think of Him
"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor."

This is Jesus loving His brother in clear light. He understands the situation, not whitewashing it. So 1 Corinthians 13 tells us love conquers all, why did Jesus give Mary as a son to his disciple John? Wasn't Jesus being less than loving to assume His brothers would do a poor job with Mary? Jesus knew love conquers all. He waited patiently for His brothers James, Joseph, Judas and Simon (and his sisters) to grow into the potential He saw in them.

Acts and the later books in the Scriptures tell us about Jesus' brothers after the Resurrection. James is the reported author of the book of James, Josephus describes him as the brother of Jesus called the Christ. Judas, brother of Christ, is believed to be the author Jude.

1 Corinthians 9:5, Paul tells us of Jesus' brothers
Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas [Peter]?

Hebrews 2:10-12, Jesus speaks of us as His brothers, but also His own brothers
In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says,
"I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

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Psalm 97 ~ Rejoice in the Lord!

His Name Shall be Called Wonderful, by Simon Dewey

Psalm 97

1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coast lands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
4 His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!

8 Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O Lord.
9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.

10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!

This is the Psalm I flung open the Bible & read after our Sunday Church Services were over. Oh, I was looking for SOLACE!! My good friend has been in charge of table care for 35 years and she has never had a fire in the church. I have been doing table care for less than a year and there was a fire, this Sunday, on my watch.

New types of candles had been placed under a air vent (due to a huge amount of air pushing the flame from the heating/ac system) that are battery charged and they were mistakenly lighted using fire. I remember thinking times have changed, God isn't just God of fire - but God of all things - even the combustible battery. About 20 minutes into the service, heads started turning towards the chapel. I looked over and... quite literally... there was a foot and a half solid red flame which looked as it had engulfed the chapel tapestry. I made the gasp of 100 people put together and ran to the chapel. Our deacon made it first and the fire was extinguished with people blowing on it. The deacon agreed with me it looked like the tapestry had been involved, (Praise GOD it wasn't) she - like me - didn't know how it would be put out. (Praise GOD we could put it out) We were so fortunate the other 5 combustible batteries didn't blow up. (Thank GOD). The Pastor, about 10 minutes later, said we are blessed the church didn't burn later in the day. Our Pastor was very calm. I wasn't inside.

Being in a Christian community is a great thing. Human events happen like the fire. (Like a car where you know you looked both right and left, but the car accident still happens). Human words fly out, but we don't go home and not return. Christians are flawed. It's like Ghandi said he liked our Christ, but not our Christians. What a blasted shame. Because Christian community still shines. People have an understanding in a Christian community that mistakes will happen, but we need forgiveness. We receive this forgiveness only because of the free gift in Jesus Christ. And because we do, we forgive one another.

Oh, and thank you, Father God, the giant heating system didn't blow the flame onto the church. Thank you, Father God, for my church family who helped me when my daughter died. Thank you, Father God, for my church family who all survived (literally) and overcame when a near tragedy occured. Rejoice in the Lord!!

Again I say Rejoice - Listen

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Psalm 121 ~ He will keep your life

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

Listen - Enya - Silent Night, in Irish

Soon it will be Monday morning in Christmas Advent of 2009. Many people have quit reading the news, too many things to do, errands and Christmas traffic.

That's right, it is a burden. Family to buy gifts for who are hard to please, but people will try their earnest best to please them. In the midst of the noise, the errands, the late gift, the trip to the doctor- something from my memory springs forward. My son, when he was in 2nd grade - wanted to know, wanted to know, wanted to know, how can Santa be alive when he really was the 3rd century bishop in Turkey? How? How? The perfect answer sprang forth. (Rather like football when the team from behind intercepts the ball.) " Santa is the Spirit of Giving." It became a mantra.

How perfect is this answer? It is completely win, win!! It pleases the Lord, who is the Spirit of Giving. It would please poor downtrodden St. Nicholas of Myra, a bishop, who was known to be a secret gift giver. St. Nicholas had no desire to usurp the Christ Child. It puzzles the children, it pleases the children, it can be repeated until the child gives up!

It answers all the adult humbug. Yes, it is a burden. Yes, you can give a gift you tried to please with and it might not please. So what! You have pleased the Spirit of Giving. It is really touching to think about the lengths people go to bring some joy to each other.

Gratitude eases the burden - emotionally, financially, and physically. Aren't there lonely people due to poor choices, time and circumstance who would love to have someone to be burdened with? To have someone to care for is a blessing!

The best gift is always love. Even soldiers in the World War I trenches found peace during Christmas 1914 & 1915. Relax and find your Silent Night. Read Luke 2 out loud. Talk about St. Nicholas and how he really was a light of God. Discuss the Spirit of Giving. Get in the car with the ones you love, sing to each other, see some lights, watch "The Bishop's Wife". Cary Grant is angelic & divine with his understanding and love.

God will keep your life. Rest in Him.

Psalm 46:10
It is he who makes war to cease in all the world;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear
and burns shields with fire.

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Matthew 11:16-19 ~ actions

Holy Family, painted by Bartoleme Esteban Perez Murillo

Matthew 11:16-19

16 "To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17 " 'We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.'

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

~ Wisdom is proved by her actions ... does this mean God helps those who help themselves??

All of Israel waited for the Messiah... when will He be here... why then was Herod (the Great) not eating & drinking in celebration? How did Israel get itself into the situation of a Jewish King of Israel not wanting a Messiah? Kings of Israel are sometimes terrible kings, but the Herods were biblically some of the worst. What is the kink in this history?

(Lots of Herod kings - read or not at your pleasure) (The Herodian Dynasty of Roman Iudaea Province: Herod the Great (c. 74-4 BC), reconstructed the Second Temple - killed his family - Bethlehem massacre, Herod Archelaus (23 BC-c. AD 18) of Samaria, Judea, and Idumea, Herod Antipas (20 BC-c. AD 40) of Galilee and Peraea, ordered John the Baptist's death and as mocking Jesus, Herod Agrippa I (c. 10 BC-AD 44) king of Judea, called "Herod" in the Acts of the Apostles. Herod II, sometimes called Herod Philip I, Herod Philip II (4 BC-AD 34), tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis. Herod III, king of Chalcis (AD 41-48), Herod Agrippa II (AD 27-100), tetrarch of Chalcis also described in Acts of the Apostles as "King Agrippa" sat before Paul of Tarsus. )

The kink in the Herod dynasty... great actions begin this dynasty starting with Hannukah. This Jewish history comes straight from (the first Christian council approving the 80 books of the bible - The Council of Nicea-) the Book of Maccabees II. There is not any doubt this is historically accurate. Yes, this history is written in the Dead Sea Scrolls and approved by the only Christian church in 343 A.D.

(Action 1) 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Action 1 This desocration is the reason the prophets at the end of the Old Testament were so intense about injustice: Israel had problems with false gods and false sacrifices on the hills of Israel, but this was getting closer with the rise in strength of evil - allowing it into the area used as the temple and exalted as the main practice of worship.

Hannukah is about action 2. Hannukah celebrates Mattathias and, his son, Judah Maccabee being the only men brave enough to stop Jews, having a false High Priest, have Hellenic sacrifices in the temple. False Jews had already allowed a statue of Zeus to be placed in The Temple. Israel would not see the Temple desocrated without trouble. The false High Priest had already outlawed true Jewish sacrifices.

(Action 3) The line of King David is interupted & (4) Samaritan Herod the Great married a descendant Maccabee princess, Mariamne, and had the last male Maccabee heir drowned in his Jericho palace (Action 5). This probably is why the Scriptures are no longer directly recording Herods rise to power, even if he was the great (re-) builder of the 2nd Temple.

~ Wisdom is proved by her actions. Herod the Great certainly lived by that motto, he rode to power on the approach of the Roman Empire. Appointed King of the Jews by the Roman Senate (action 6) - changed sides, married politically (7), murdered a descendent of a hero of Israel, put priests in only at his own pleasure (8), and ultimately murdered Mariamne (9). Financially, Herod was a great King of Israel - building the 2nd Temple (10), Caesaria (11), and transitioning Roman prosperity into Israel. But the Lord sees the soul and Wisdom comes from the Lord. Walking the tightrope of pleasing Rome and builder of the Temple of God took its toil on Herod the Great. Herod not only murdered his wife, he murdered 3 of his sons (12,13,14) (God abhors child sacrifice) and almost murdered his brother. Murdered small male babies in the tiny town of Bethlehem in the attempt to murder the Messiah (15).

The Historian Josephus records Herod "never stopped avenging and punishing every day those who had chosen to be of the party of his enemies." Josephus provides more clues about Herod's tomb which he calls Herod's monuments:

"So they threw down all the hedges and walls which the inhabitants had made about their gardens and groves of trees, and cut down all the fruit trees that lay between them and the wall of the city, and filled up all the hollow places and the chasms, and demolished the rocky precipices with iron instruments; and thereby made all the place level from Scopus to Herod's monuments, which adjoined to the pool called the Serpent's Pool."

On May 7, 2007, an Israeli team of archaeologists of the Hebrew University led by Netzer, announced they had discovered Herod's tomb. The site is located at the exact location given by Josephus, but after 2,000 years, no body was discovered.

The Holy Family had the action of listening to God & having peace:

Luke 2:13-15
An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

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Psalm 145 ~ the glory of the Majesty

Luke 2:13
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying

Gloria in Excelsis Deo - Listen

Psalm 145 ~

1 I will extol thee, my God, O King; And I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

2 Every day will I bless thee; And I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

3 Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised; And his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall laud thy works to another, And shall declare thy mighty acts.

5 Of the glorious majesty of thine honor, And of thy wondrous works, will I meditate.

6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts; And I will declare thy greatness.

7 They shall utter the memory of thy great goodness, And shall sing of thy righteousness.

8 Jehovah is gracious, and merciful; Slow to anger, and of great lovingkindness.

9 Jehovah is good to all; And his tender mercies are over all his works.

10 All thy works shall give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah; And thy saints shall bless thee.

11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, And talk of thy power;

12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, And the glory of the majesty of his kingdom.

13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And thy dominion `endureth' throughout all generations.

14 Jehovah upholdeth all that fall, And raiseth up all those that are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all wait for thee; And thou givest them their food in due season.

16 Thou openest thy hand, And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

17 Jehovah is righteous in all his ways, And gracious in all his works.

18 Jehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth.

19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.

20 Jehovah preserveth all them that love him; But all the wicked will he destroy.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of Jehovah; And let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

~ To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, And the glory of the majesty of his kingdom.

Luke 2:8-15

There were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.

And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Recently we were in the more isolated areas of the country. It was our first cold night of the season and it was so clear. I went outside and happened to look up. I forgot, I had forgotten ~ Amazing, the night sky away from the city. Amazing. To look up see endless stars. To hear the quiet. To be part of something so vast, so beyond human capability.

The many generations before us, the ones to come, the universe we didn't create or contain. We might not have ever been born. But we were chosen, created, loved, special and important to a loving Father. The Light of the World with a Kingdom more mighty that the sky and stars.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.


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Luke 2:10~ Good News of great joy

A Light to the Nations, by Greg Olson

… Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1: 21

…His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Might God,
…The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6

… God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord & Christ Acts 2:36

…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! John 1:29

…they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, the song of The Lamb Revelation 15:3


…Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Revelation 5:5


..and the Bright & Morning Star Revelation 22:16


..and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life 1 John 1:1


…we have and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous 1 John 2:1


…whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us. Luke 1:78


…Before Abraham, I Am. John 8:58


…And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1: 34

…are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25


…We have found the Messiah which, is being interpreted, the Christ. John 1:41


…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6


…through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter 2: 20

..a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16

…I am the Light of the World. John 8:12

…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… John 1:9

…I am Alpha & Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come

The Almighty Revelation 1:8

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.


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Psalm 8 ~ our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8

1 LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what are mere mortals that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?

5 You have made them a little lower than the heavenly
beings and crowned them with glory and honor.

6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,

8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Do you remember the angel craze of the 1980s? I was a newlywed & began collecting items for our first Christmas tree. Angels were plentiful. We have angels of every shape and size. There is a baseball angel, my sons adored playing baseball for over a decade. I figure somewhere in all the celestial host, there is an angel who really does like baseball. He is one of the few males. My deepest chagrin, my angels are all women. Sure, I've added antique lace to them and gorgeous flowing mantles. Angels from the '80s are pat you on the head, beautiful women. But this is not so:

Luke 1:11-13
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John."

Raphael is "one of the seven who stand before the Lord." Revelation 8:2 also refers to the seven angels who stand before the Lord. The seven are Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Raguel, Remiel, Saraqael, and Uriel, named in Enoch and Tobit (20:1-8), books found in the Dead Sea Scrolls and in the Bible defined by the first Christian Council - Nicaea.

Tobit 12:15
I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.

Revelation 8:2
Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

Luke 1:19
"I am Gabriel," the angel answered. "I stand in the presence of God, who sent me to speak to you and tell you this good news."

All of the angels, named by the Lord God Almighty, end in -el. Messengers of God. I am. Abba. Jehovah. Yahweh. King of Kings. The salvation message of Jesus Christ brought to us by the angels, is God's message. It is the same for us today, as it was for shepherds.

Luke 1:37
For no word from God will ever fail.

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Matthew 22:23-33 ~ the Scriptures

Road to Bethlehem by Joseph Brickey

Matthew 22:23-33

23 On that day Sadducees approached him, saying that there is no resurrection. They put this question to him, 24 saying, "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies without children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up descendants for his brother.' 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died and, having no descendants, left his wife to his brother. 26 The same happened with the second and the third, through all seven. 27 Finally the woman died. 28 Now at the resurrection, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had been married to her."

29 Jesus said to them in reply, "You are misled because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven. 31 And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you 18 by God, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." 33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

At the time of Jesus' birth there was a parallel to the time of Jane Austen, people were fascinated with marriage. And human nature loves to see who can get away with what. Run your mind over Jesus being questioned about divorce, adultery and or stoning, the Samaritan woman at the well with multiple marriages - one not quite & Jesus making wine from water at a wedding.

Jewish betrothal required Joseph to have 3 options. He'd been asked to have Mary stoned. He'd have to complete the marriage ceremony quickly & live with the 500 to 1,500 people in Nazareth. (Where the 3rd century Church reports the Romans putting Jesus' great, great nephews to death in an attempt to kill off the spread of Christianity). Or divorce Mary. Joseph, not being the father, decided for compassionate divorce. This is when Father God spoke to Joseph in a life-changing manner.

Given Mary was great with child when they departed, as family for Bethlehem, Joseph must have considered his options for a time. Maybe one of the reasons Joseph took his time deciding all the options was ostracism. Remember the Samaritan woman at the well was not welcome at the prime times, she would have to go in the heat of the day to avoid the others. Joseph knew the chances for Mary to be given in marriage to another would have been slim.

Joseph would have to offer himself as the "price" for Mary, his intended bride. Mary & Joseph had a year of betrothal, Joseph building their house & Mary preparing for the grooms arrival. The wedding party would begin with a parade as the groom came to the bride's house, not entering the brides house, but the bride came out to meet him. The two, accompanied by their wedding party, returned together to the groom's home for the marriage ceremony.

God offered a "price" for us. We are the bride, the Lamb's wife - the believing community, the church. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, we are the delight of God. We are the apple of His eye - because of Him, we are - perfect, trustworthy, wise, joyful, radiant, pure and precious. He gives us His reward and He raises us up.

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.


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Psalm 143 ~ Your steadfast love

Psalm 143

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
I have fled to you for refuge!
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!

11 For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.


Did Jesus look like Joseph? God did promise David Jesus would be his son.

What do we know about Joseph, the Foster Father of Jesus, who by the blessing of the Holy Spirit linked Jesus to the house of David? It would be difficult to know if Jesus and Joseph looked alike, but what type of Father was Joseph? Jesus' hometown was given a biblical say:

Matthew 13:55-56
"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"

Mark records this somewhat differently & implies Jesus learned Joseph's trade.

Mark 6:3
"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

Joseph has been given a tradition of being the old duffer who was passed over, but c'mon this Child was/is precious to God. There are a lot of blended families today, God's Child heads the list.

Was Joseph thrilled to find out about the blessed event.... we know he wasn't. Joseph was an innocent, good man who saw wickedness (initial voices told him) ruining his life plans forever. Joseph was being called to have his betrothed stoned to death. Joseph instead, because of his compassion to Mary, received Divine Guidance. Joseph's actions are of a man who left his own plans behind and moved for the sake of his child & his wife. He left his town of Nazareth, for the years they went into hiding in Egypt, returning only when it was safe. God gave Jesus a family in Matthew 1, but in Matthew 13, we can tell Joseph gave Jesus his family.

Did Jesus look like Joseph? It is important. Yes, we see in Matthew 13:55, Joseph looked like Jesus.



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Isaiah 30:19-26 ~ This is the way; walk in it

Isaiah 30:19-26 (Today's New International Version)

19 People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." 22 Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, "Away with you!"

23 He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows. 24 The oxen and donkeys that work the soil will eat fodder and mash, spread out with fork and shovel. 25 In the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall, streams of water will flow on every high mountain and every lofty hill. 26 The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

What type of men seek a King? The wise men sought a King and went to a King's palace. They were seeking a new King and went to knock on the old King's door? They must have believed the old King had a new heir. It seems to me wise men would have asked people on the way to King Herod's palace, "Were you pleased about the new prince?" Once they put aside the image of pomp and circumstance, they heard prophetic directions, but fully anticipated returning to old King Herod with news of his upsurp King. It wasn't until Jesus - the way, the truth did they understand to avoid Herod. Not just a King, but the Son of God. The baby in the manger changed their kingship idolatry image, changed their hearts to seek Him.

We, as the children of God, have the same conflicts today. Me, me, me & me. In reality, we are the people God has made. We are the sheep of His pasture. It is not we who have made us, but God Himself.

Matthew 2:1-13

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6 " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.

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Today we are asking prayer for Erica, 15 years old. It is a prayer and optional fasting day to pray for Erica to have good health.

Prayer has come in from all over the country and Scripture has been sent by email. I was blessed by this and thought you might be too:

I know this one by heart, but couldn’t remember where it was located – finally found it. Will you pass it along to Erica for me. I prayed this verse a thousand times when I felt so alone.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8


Another one I keep in my bible is “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7


From: G.K. Friday, December 4, 2009, 2:38 PM
an excerpt from Max Lucado:

The events leading up to Jesus' birth can be summarized by the angel's words, "God can do anything!"

Psalm 77:14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

Eph. 3:20 With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.

From: Galvan
1 John 5:14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us---whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.

Psalms 31:1-2
In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame, deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge; a strong fortress to save me.

I have spent the most part of the afternoon reading my Bible....thank you for reminding me of the real reason for the season....to be there for one another.
God bless you and your family....

Flori

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (Read all of Romans 8)

Psalm 102:1-2
Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call answer me quickly.

Julie

Psalm 27:7-9
"Hear my voice when I call, O Lord;be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, Seek his face! Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior."

Thank you for sending all the scriptures. You have taken a day without direction other than to pray and fast and are truly channeling our efforts.

Psalm 33:20-21
"We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. "

This comes from a friend and neighbor.

Psalm 34:17 (NCV)
"The Lord hears good people when they cry out to him, and he saves them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed. "

The response from everyone is so awsome. Some scripture from a good friend in MO.

Ephesians 6: 12
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Colossians 2:8
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosohy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

1 Peter 5:8-9
" Be self-controlled and alert, Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings

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12/29/09 Update on Erica, she is progressing really well. Erica has discovered how much Jesus loves her and we are continuing to pray with her for good health. Thanks very much for continuing to pray for Erica.

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Amos 4:6-13 ~ declares the Lord

The Annunciation, painted by Henry Ossawa Tanner in 1898.

Amos 4:6-13 (New International Version)

6 "I gave you empty stomachs [a] in every city
and lack of bread in every town,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

7 "I also withheld rain from you
when the harvest was still three months away.
I sent rain on one town,
but withheld it from another.
One field had rain;
another had none and dried up.

8 People staggered from town to town for water
but did not get enough to drink,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

9 "Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards,
I struck them with blight and mildew.
Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

10 "I sent plagues among you
as I did to Egypt.
I killed your young men with the sword,
along with your captured horses.
I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

11 "I overthrew some of you
as I [b] overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

12 "Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel,
and because I will do this to you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel."

13 He who forms the mountains,
creates the wind,
and reveals his thoughts to man,
he who turns dawn to darkness,
and treads the high places of the earth—
the LORD God Almighty is his name.

Footnotes:
a.Amos 4:6 Hebrew you cleanness of teeth
b.Amos 4:11 Hebrew God

Do you want the Good News or the bad news first? We'll start with truth; We are a fickle people, restless & hard to please. Scripture for Today blogspot looked two days ago at blesssings, we read:

Isaiah 65:23
They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them.

Hmmmm I wondered, where does that place me...I've lost an infant daughter. So, being part of the hard-to-please, the Prophets at the end of the Old Testament doesn't make me thrilled when I read they are the Scripture for today. I am officially a foot dragger. Wow, hard to please me.

Verse 6 - national unemployment - check, we have that. A 50 year drought, check. Water becoming the next oil, Texas billionaire buying up the aquifer, check. Bug creating sap and then fungus on my front trees, check.

But the power and beauty in verse 12 & 13!

~ prepare to meet your God, O Israel.
He who forms the mountains,
creates the wind,
and reveals his thoughts to man,
he who turns dawn to darkness,
and treads the high places of the earth—
the LORD God Almighty is his name.

The Prophets of the Old Testament witness and proclaim great injustice predicting the judgement of God. My problem is without Jesus, this convicts me. Now, the Good News: the Prophets were right, injustice prevails in such gigantic proportion God is about to intervene!

Mary, innocent teenager during Israel's occupation by the Roman Empire, knew something of suffering; she lived what the ending Old Testament Prophets wrote about.

Luke 1:46-56
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.
And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy.

Mary might have wondered over Isaiah 65:23, she might have wondered about Amos and the other prophets, but like us, Mary had not been given up on.

Isaiah 7:10-13

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 11 "Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test." Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

The Lord did not give up on Ahaz, on Mary and He will not give up on us.




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Ezekiel 44 ~ they alone

When you plan (or planned) your child's arrival in this world, did you want a stable and a trough? When you hope for your child's future, do you long for a world of opportunities fit for a king? The Scripture begins with the prophet Ezekiel explaining Jesus' triumphant entry into the temple during Palm Sunday, through the East Gate.

All of the burdens of being a priest fall on Jesus. It's a long list today's parent wouldn't want for their child. Different from a Christmas card, this list is difficult and separates a priest from the people. Different in holiness, different in dress, different in life expectations - this is a leader trained in knowing how to deal with detestable people in charge of the Temple.

God doesn't ask the priest to bend down to the expectations of the crowd or pop culture, God expects holiness to look very different from the ordinary, wide-path of life.

Just as Ezekiel 44 says the glory of God filled the temple - let's see, hindsight, the way God the Father saw His Priest, King, Son Jesus fulfill Ezekiel 44:

Ezekiel 44 (Today's New International Version)


1 Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. 2 The LORD said to me, "This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it. 3 The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the LORD. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way."

4 Then the man brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple. I looked and saw the glory of the LORD filling the temple of the LORD, and I fell facedown.

After the steep descent from the Mount of Olives into the Kidron Valley, telling us in John 11 of Jesus' stay overnight in the Mount of Olives, Jesus entered the city, presumably through an eastern gate which led directly to the Temple precincts. The now closed Golden Gate.

John 12:12-31
"The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna!' 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Blessed is the King of Israel!'".

The glory of the Lord filled the Temple...

Matthew 21:15,16
But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.

"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,
" 'From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise'"

5 The LORD said to me, "Son of man, look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything I tell you concerning all the regulations and instructions regarding the temple of the LORD. Give attention to the entrance to the temple and all the exits of the sanctuary. 6 Say to the rebellious house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Enough of your detestable practices, house of Israel! 7 In addition to all your other detestable practices, you brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart and flesh into my sanctuary, desecrating my temple while you offered me food, fat and blood, and you broke my covenant. 8 Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary. 9 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites.

Matthew 21:12,13
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'"

10 " 'The Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray and who wandered from me after their idols must bear the consequences of their sin. 11 They may serve in my sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and serving in it; they may slaughter the burnt offerings and sacrifices for the people and stand before the people and serve them. 12 But because they served them in the presence of their idols and made the house of Israel fall into sin, therefore I have sworn with uplifted hand that they must bear the consequences of their sin, declares the Sovereign LORD. 13 They are not to come near to serve me as priests or come near any of my holy things or my most holy offerings; they must bear the shame of their detestable practices. 14 And I will appoint them to guard the temple for all the work that is to be done in it.

15 " 'But the Levitical priests, who are descendants of Zadok and who guarded my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat and blood, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table to minister before me and serve me as guards.

John 11:47-53

47Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
"What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

49Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! 50You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."

51He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

17 " 'When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen clothes; they must not wear any woolen garment while ministering at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple. 18 They are to wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them perspire. 19 When they go out into the outer court where the people are, they are to take off the clothes they have been ministering in and are to leave them in the sacred rooms, and put on other clothes, so that the people are not consecrated through contact with their garments.

Matthew 9:21,22

She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.

Luke 7:37,38,44-47

When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

20 " 'They must not shave their heads or let their hair grow long, but they are to keep the hair of their heads trimmed. 21 No priest is to drink wine when he enters the inner court. 22 They must not marry widows or divorced women; they may marry only virgins of Israelite descent or widows of priests. 23 They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.

Luke 2:52
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Luke 11:27,28
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

24 " 'In any dispute, the priests are to serve as judges and decide it according to my ordinances. They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed festivals, and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy.

Matthew 5: 17-20

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven

25 " 'A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person; however, if the dead person was his father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister, then he may defile himself. 26 After he is cleansed, he must wait seven days. 27 On the day he goes into the inner court of the sanctuary to minister in the sanctuary, he is to offer a sin offering for himself, declares the Sovereign LORD.

John 11:38-42

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

28 " 'I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession. 29 They will eat the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings; and everything in Israel devoted to the LORD will belong to them. 30 The best of all the first fruits and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal so that a blessing may rest on your household. 31 The priests must not eat anything, whether bird or animal, found dead or torn by wild animals.

Matthew 8:19-22

Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Matthew 4:19

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

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Luke 10:21-24 ~ Blessed

Movie: "The Nativity Story" (2006). Up in popularity this week 17% -IMDB Internet Movie Database

Luke 10:21-24 - Listen


21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Isaiah 30:18
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isaiah 65:23
They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them.

Matthew 16:16,17
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven."

Christianity isn't a religion; it is a relationship. Christianity is not a philosophy; its approach to life is concrete. It isn't just Jingle Bells, this is a preparation for a Birthday. When Jesus was born the angels didn't send out a Coca-Cola commercial guaranteed to make us feel good. It wasn't like a Christmas card saying, " Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men."

No, what the angels said, as messengers of God Almighty, was:

Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.

How did Abraham please God?

Romans 4:2-4 (New American Standard Bible)
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."

Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Consider the shepherds, called forth by God, they heard the message and what did they do?

Luke 2:8-15
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.


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Hebrews 3 ~ fix your thoughts on Jesus

William Kurelek, artist.

Luke 2

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.



Hebrews 3

1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 "Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house," [a] bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God's house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

7 So, as the Holy Spirit says:
"Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion,
during the time of testing in the wilderness,

9 where your ancestors tested and tried me,
though for forty years they saw what I did.

10 That is why I was angry with that generation;
I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray,
and they have not known my ways.'

11 So I declared on oath in my anger,
'They shall never enter my rest.' " [b]

12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold firmly till the end our original conviction. 15 As has just been said:
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion." [c]

16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed (disbelieved)? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.


Footnotes:
a.Hebrews 3:5 Num. 12:7
b.Hebrews 3:11 Psalm 95:7-11
c.Hebrews 3:15 Psalm 95:7,8

Scripture for today blogspot does not have a sermon series, there are about 9 different Eccumenical sites, I pray and choose one before it is read. The readings for the approach of Christmas, and into the Advent season, are really pointing out to me the importance of keeping Jesus Christ in Christmas.

Today is an interesting idea, we are always able to substitute our own name when Israel is the subject in the Bible. These are not pagans the Lord speaks of, but people on a journey called forth by God. They had seen with their eyes the glories of the Lord. They are people like us, people with choices. They were free only because of the Lord's miracles. Just like Mary and Joseph, they could have done their own thing, but chose instead to be the Lord's. Today is a reminder, we all have choices, it is necessary and important to fix our thoughts on Jesus if we are to stay and belong to Him.

We belong to such a loving Church family; we are all pretty open about the choices needed to be made in college, and raising a young family, to return with a teachable heart and make the choice to be part of a church community. What I'm trying to say is, being a college student or an adult for the first time gives us freedoms, we have all tried and abused our mature choices and fledgling choices ~ it is important to continue to pray for each other.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.

1 Corinthians 10:11-15
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation [or testing] has overtaken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted [tested] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

I pray each day for God to deliver, protect and captivate my family with His love. May you share in that prayer for the ones you love and for ourselves.

Merry Christmas!!

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Luke 21:25-36 ~ My Words will not pass away

First Sunday of Advent!

Luke 21:25-36 (New Revised Standard Version)

"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."


~ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.


Facebook has really intrigued me and gotten my interest for about 2 months, but my interest has peaked and it's beginning to get a bit old hat. At first I wanted to answer everyone's Facebook (or FB) to nurture all of my friends, but selfishness has sneaked in and I really want others to respond equally as nurturing to my status updates.

Still, with texting and all the ways to connect to people we care about, the best method is face to face communication. Even when old friends tell each other the same stories, the care is there. Each year we pull out our Christmas decorations. Some years, we play Christmas carols and everyone helps; some years it seems arduous and I am fractious (thank the Lord for spell check), and by the end of it, I have been so grumpy, and other hard words, that I am ashamed.

Recently, our Pastor was telling me Advent used to be equally as penitent as Lent. Some church years we look to the joy of the Lord's coming again. I know without a doubt, I see Christmas as the joy Father God looked upon the mess humans can make and decided to wade into the midst of us to live. To be the hope we all crave. Christmas to me is the gift of God's child; innocence coming into the world, willingly, with all of God's wisdom and all of His might.

Even if you are like me and sometimes get the Christmas Scrooge, I see the message to keep Christ in Christmas and I rejoice. Ultimately, we are in a temporary season celebrating what is eternal. Unlike FB, texting, visting face to face ~ just like the fig tree, but today using a Christmas tree, we have a season coming to us saying, "Rejoice! All that is temporary will one day be gone, but God's Word is arriving!!"

John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

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