Movie: "The Nativity Story" (2006). Up in popularity this week 17% -IMDB Internet Movie Database
Luke 10:21-24 -
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!
We have to really observe to see what surrounds us, with curiosity and joy. Be intentional. Zechariah, a priest, met Gabriel in a Holy Place. And he asked how God could complete a miracle. Mary met Gabriel and asked how God could complete a miracle. God saw two hearts asking a similar question, but saw deeply - one was doubtful and one was worried. Similar yet apart. God deals with humanity tenderly when humanity seeks earnestly. Look for the narrow path, this makes life meaningful.
I had the nicest of blessings surrounding me today.
And without this list on this blog, this would have completely passed me by. And no gratitude would have occurred. Lunch with my husband and son. The gratitude of having family nearby really. Having an acquaintance bless me with a Christmas gift and laugh with joy to have that acknowledged as such! Lord Jesus Christ bless those who give marvelous gifts.
Giving Christmas gifts from the internet to have them arrive as new treasures - to be pleased and have gratitude. Having time and being able to give a message of His - to bless me to recount gratitude. To Love.
To have an old friend of a decade show up to help us and have the items on hand to allow the fix!
Being in relationship with God to tell Him - oh, I'm having a grumpy moment - and knowing that is ok to be real. To have the idea to see something pretty and share an evening beverage with a loved one who will listen and laugh with you. Enjoying the intelligence of bested with amusement.
Getting in the Christmas rush but being relaxed enough to enjoy the children in line in front of you ~ seeing the creative way children pick up what is for sale and fly it like an airplane or rocket - completely immersed in their imaginations instead of irritated by the long line. Seeing how much people will celebrate Christmas with beautiful lights - even the public displays. Realizing the Light of Christmas does still bring the Light of Christ. Seeing Joy.
Knowing tomorrow you will see one of your favorite people on the planet, even if he is fussy from exams. Seeing our young puppy, with his Second Birthday, today respond to conversation as an intelligent creature of God. Having a home to fuss over and bring in Christmas joy. Being able to see the beauty, with the gift of eyesight.
Finding we all claim to be busy and sometimes have the down doldrums of the season. Because this isn't just a season of rush, rush but of expectation worriedly held. Know there is a gift we overlook, when the season has rest, learning to lean into the rest with gratitude instead of caffeinated over expectation.
When we take the time to have real gratitude, we realize again, Church doesn't feed God as much as we are fed. And the Christmas season when received with deliberate gratitude is given for our Joy for what God brings as well. For our many, many blessings, Praise You, Father God, for the oasis You bless and provide. An overwhelming blessing. For providing people to admire and appreciate.
Isaiah 65:23Luke 10:21-24 -
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!
We have to really observe to see what surrounds us, with curiosity and joy. Be intentional. Zechariah, a priest, met Gabriel in a Holy Place. And he asked how God could complete a miracle. Mary met Gabriel and asked how God could complete a miracle. God saw two hearts asking a similar question, but saw deeply - one was doubtful and one was worried. Similar yet apart. God deals with humanity tenderly when humanity seeks earnestly. Look for the narrow path, this makes life meaningful.
I had the nicest of blessings surrounding me today.
And without this list on this blog, this would have completely passed me by. And no gratitude would have occurred. Lunch with my husband and son. The gratitude of having family nearby really. Having an acquaintance bless me with a Christmas gift and laugh with joy to have that acknowledged as such! Lord Jesus Christ bless those who give marvelous gifts.
Giving Christmas gifts from the internet to have them arrive as new treasures - to be pleased and have gratitude. Having time and being able to give a message of His - to bless me to recount gratitude. To Love.
To have an old friend of a decade show up to help us and have the items on hand to allow the fix!
Being in relationship with God to tell Him - oh, I'm having a grumpy moment - and knowing that is ok to be real. To have the idea to see something pretty and share an evening beverage with a loved one who will listen and laugh with you. Enjoying the intelligence of bested with amusement.
Getting in the Christmas rush but being relaxed enough to enjoy the children in line in front of you ~ seeing the creative way children pick up what is for sale and fly it like an airplane or rocket - completely immersed in their imaginations instead of irritated by the long line. Seeing how much people will celebrate Christmas with beautiful lights - even the public displays. Realizing the Light of Christmas does still bring the Light of Christ. Seeing Joy.
Knowing tomorrow you will see one of your favorite people on the planet, even if he is fussy from exams. Seeing our young puppy, with his Second Birthday, today respond to conversation as an intelligent creature of God. Having a home to fuss over and bring in Christmas joy. Being able to see the beauty, with the gift of eyesight.
Finding we all claim to be busy and sometimes have the down doldrums of the season. Because this isn't just a season of rush, rush but of expectation worriedly held. Know there is a gift we overlook, when the season has rest, learning to lean into the rest with gratitude instead of caffeinated over expectation.
When we take the time to have real gratitude, we realize again, Church doesn't feed God as much as we are fed. And the Christmas season when received with deliberate gratitude is given for our Joy for what God brings as well. For our many, many blessings, Praise You, Father God, for the oasis You bless and provide. An overwhelming blessing. For providing people to admire and appreciate.
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 God. When Jesus was born the angels didn't send out a Coca-Cola commercial guaranteed to make us feel good. What is required is a list of good. A deliberate count. The wide highway will cause your blessings to breeze past.
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.
That is a lot of saved - a God sized portion.
“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.
Can we hear this and not be blessed? I think it's not possible. The Gospel will call deep in our hearts, warming us. Blessings and gratitude take time to assess.
God Bless Us All. In Jesus. Praise You God for opening eyes to see blessings. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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