Bethlehem in 1638 A.D.
Bethlehem today
Bethlehem in 1868
Bethlehem in 1868
This is Bethlehem, showing Bethlehem has not changed. To David - this looks like home.
2 Samuel 23:13-17
13 And three of the thirty chief men went down and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem.
15 And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!”
15 And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!”
16 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the Lord 17 and said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?”
Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.
Oh, there is no place like home for the Holidays!
Except... when you are King David and home is a war zone.
The Cave of Adullam is where Psalm 142 was written and David started out with 200 men after Saul decided to kill him.
Cave of Adullam
Inside the Cave of Adullam looks about the same as the time of David
We relate to the Beauty and Wonder of Christmas, then we become Adults.
John 8:36
Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free
Ecclesiastes 1:18
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
the more knowledge, the more grief.
Proverbs 3:13
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
and the man that getteth understanding.
John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
These verses perfectly relate to the Peace passing understanding, the Disciples rarely displayed. Is the Peace not true? Yes, the Peace of God is true. Instantaneously, earned, found in God's Faith, practiced and given like lightning, steady or fleeting.
How do all the emotions fit together?
Recently, I read someone remarked, nowhere in the Bible does God promise us perfection of Life's happiness. Jesus assures us life will see trouble, just as He says life is Joy. And the article I read went on to say, Scriptures teach us how to understand suffering and overcome. Reduce suffering and keep a loving heart with Joy Jesus understood. This is the Faith Jesus gives us to become strong.
Psychologists have Holy Day stress. A friend of ours remarked, in his Psychologist practice, much seen is the repeat of the false hope and Hype of Christmas, now, perfectly forever, everyone can be made happy and end dysfunction with the right Christmas. This year we will get it right.
Somehow, I don't really think 2021 lends itself this way. Which is difficult for the Christmas Thrilled at Heart.
And people who are empty nesters, both old and young, feel the glow of small children and the avalanche of activities are missing. The Christmas pure Joy and Sparkle isn't glowing. The smiling face of wonder. Christmas has quiet. Yeah, well, so did the first God Planned Christmas for Mary and Joseph. Traveling to Bethlehem probably wasn't a heavily pregnant sing-a-long event. Doubtful, Heli and Jacob, Joseph's father, were blowing kisses. What were they thinking, Mary would do fine for so many miles? Pregnancy was risky. No room at the Inn? What about home?
Both the Magi and the Mary and Joseph had journeys as part of Christmas. Mary and Joseph traveled on to Egypt after Jerusalem and the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. The Prodigal Son is also a Journey.
David was on a Journey as well.
Psalm 73
Truly God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious
of the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pangs until death;
their bodies are fat and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
violence covers them as a garment.
7 Their eyes swell out through fatness;
their hearts overflow with follies.
8 They scoff and speak with malice;
loftily they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens,
and their tongue struts through the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn back to them,
and find no fault in them
11 And they say, “How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day long I have been stricken
and rebuked every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end.
18 Truly you set them in slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment,
swept away utterly by terrors!
20 Like a dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
21 When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28 But for me
it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
Article Below is:
Celia Rodríguez Ruiz. Clinical health psychologist. Specialist in pedagogy and child and youth psychology. Director of Education and Learn. Author of the collection Stimulate Reading and Writing Processes.
At Christmas, emotions on the surface
The expectation for gifts, the experience of Christmas symbols, family dinners and meals, the kisses and hugs of family, friends and loved ones, the parade of kings ... are the many events that can generate intense emotions at Christmas. The most common are these:
Scripture for Today Blogspot:
Even when Angels of God appear, people God loves have doubts. Act badly. Zechariah didn't show up to greet Mary. He isn't even recorded. When Zechariah finally connects all that has happened to him, Mary isn't there. Human growth isn't necessarily seen. It's doubtful they wrote each other off as they experienced their Christmas. Hope for each other.
1. Joy and illusion for the reunion with the family, for the gifts, etc.
Herod was playing Joy and Illusion. This didn't go well for his family and his mind. Or those around him. The Old Testament records what we wouldn't today want to sing from the rooftops. Yet, the Message of Christmas and the Old Testament is a "Come as you are Prayer Life." If we can't be honest with God who we are, we are truly stuck and frozen. Unable to grow into His Light. God knew Aaron would come in as a Holy Priest and make a mess. God knew this of Abraham and the Disciples of Jesus.
2. Sadness due to absences, When a family member can no longer be with us, the children also experience sadness.
Jesus knew sadness when John the Baptist died, even if they had some words as John the Baptist faced death. The feeding of the Multitudes and Jesus going to pray was probably Jesus giving John the Baptist a Memorial Service. That same part of Scriptures has Jesus raising Peter out of his doubts and the water. Ministry Two By Two. Share the Ministry.
3. Angered Holidays and Christmas are a break with the routines of children, they get used to doing what they want and when we set limits they get angry. The anger usually contrasts with the positive and idyllic emotions of the moment.
When Jesus and His Brothers got into a, "You think so much of yourself", "If you are so famous go out and be famous, go on" fight or disagreement, this was during one of the High Holy Days of Jesus' Life. Jesus didn't egg them one, but Jesus didn't meet the jab by having His Mouth open and His head say mere words. Jesus gave them the long loose lead rope of you go on.
Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out
4. Frustration, when your expectations are not met. Sometimes, they expect many gifts and do not have what they want.
Jesus experienced this when the 72 Disciples Left regarding Communion. And Jesus displayed the need to know what Peter would say. Peter had a rare moment when Peter could see the importance of Jesus and could offer support.
5. Jealousy. At Christmas we meet with other family members and other children of the family appear, sometimes the children may feel jealous because of the attention received by the other children.
Judas is Jealous. Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? God kindly explains in Psalm 73 above.
6. Apathy, sadness, and discouragement at the end of the holidays and having to resume the daily routine.
Jesus was seen going across the Sea of Galilee, quite visibly doing His Father' work. A life of Prayer. Diligence, even in the Life Jesus called Joy, was His example. Depression and aging take away the desire to fight to be in Life. Self-control is a gift of His Holy Spirit. To see yourself as ready and prepared, is a Comfort and Teaching of the Holy Spirit.
The emotional contrast characteristic of Christmas
Emotions are something natural that emerges in people, both positive and negative. It is normal to experience emotions and all of them fulfill their function. But in the Christmas season there is a curious process that affects adults as well as children.
Romans 14:1-23
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.
Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks
At Christmas, we have very intense emotions and there is often a great emotional contrast and a rollercoaster ride, which can leave us emotionally exhausted.
Jesus knew about stress. He fished. He prayed, He rested. Jesus spoke the truth and was merciful. God calls the Holy Spirit Comfort, Comforter and Teacher.
Negative emotions, are amplified, before the obligation to feel especially good in an idyllic time.
Tips to manage emotions at Christmas
1. Try to keep your routines. .Even if you do different and special things and even if we have celebrations, it is important to maintain certain routines as much as possible. By removing the indicated days or the day that we have a scheduled activity or celebration, we keep (more or less) the schedules of going to bed, meals, etc.
2. Express your emotions and help them express theirs. Emotions are something natural and are part of people. It is good to express them and to name what happens to us inside.
3. Look for activities that help everyone to disconnect and relax like outdoor walks, readings, watch a movie.
4. Remember with joy those who are and help your children remember them like that.
Children of God in Jesus Christ.
5. Pay attention to your jealousy. When there are several children at home, we should try to avoid attitudes on our part that feed jealousy and dedicate time and space to each child. In the case that jealousy appears, sometimes it is inevitable, we will treat it naturally, we will avoid forcing them to repress them.
6. Be patient with everyone these days and do not skimp on signs of affection.
Celia Rodríguez Ruiz. Clinical health psychologist. Specialist in pedagogy and child and youth psychology. Director of Education and Learn. Author of the collection Stimulate Reading and Writing Processes.
It may interest you:
- Do you give away toys? Give emotions
Jacob was given all the spotted, any spot, Lambs.
The same can be said of Jesus!
By You all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
Jesus brings many sons to glory.
For Jesus is come to our Father's glory with His angels,
and He will reward each person according to what he has done.
Today:
We are remembering Good Prayer Blessed to God. Like Hebrews 11. For 20 years, we have seen Wayne donate 40 hours a week to Church Office, difficult and demanding work for Volunteer Time. Wayne's Gracious Gift. We have seen Dee run Altar Guild. Bible Study and Daughter's of the Cross. We have seen Dee study St. Stephen's Ministry, work Pro-Life and take Amazing Father Francis and Judith MacNutt Prayer Ministry Class. And in this Ministry Class we prayed and found our group alone prayed for a 2nd time mouth cancer patient, who graciously accepted prayer for the first time and arrived at surgery to find no oral cancer. Healed. Completely. We prayed for an 89-year-old Priest to stay forever in bed dying of heart failure, who got up and began to go 2 miles a day in exercise and make trips to Texas and the grocery store. We prayed Hurricane Ike wouldn't crush our houses with trees and found this last summer, our answered prayers held as I lost a Magnolia without damage and Dee lost her two huge Oaks without damage. Hurricane Ike saw a tornado in our backyard, trees flung East, South and West and didn't damage our home. Our friend lost the stairs to her home's garage apartment and no damage to their home.
We prayed over knitted blankets and heard the comfort and healing the hospital patients found in the Lord Jesus and in our group's prayers. We prayed for Elliott to live and Elliott found remission, we pray for total healing. Jesus heard us pray twice for financial restitution and found this 3 times. We prayed for Wayne to survive a botched pacemaker and he did. Jesus heard us pray for Wayne to survive his trauma for the hip operation and Wayne did well. Jesus heard us pray for Wayne's sudden bleeding eye and Jesus healed Wayne. Dee had a no big deal nose skin cancer and literally had half of her nose shaved off two summers ago like a skeleton. Dee's next two surgeries Jesus heard us all pray again
and Jesus restored Dee's nose to a hundred percent of normal.
Jesus has been hearing us pray in Amazing and Wondrous Ways.
We ask Jesus today for those suffering,
who need His Help. His Love and Mercy.
Lord Jesus please heal, love, forgive, and heal them all
in Your Love and Mercy. Amen.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among
those with whom He is pleased!”
Father God, help us to do the Good Works You have prepared us to walk in.
For the ones we Love and the People You have given us.
For our Churches, places of work, our states and Nation.
The People who are Your Beloved, to ALL
cover them with Your Name in strength and mercy.
We live abundantly on the Word of God, You have provided.
We Pray for the Republic.
We the People all have Family and Loved Ones
we have fought and lived and died
for our Freedoms.
One Nation Under God
with
Liberty and Justice for All.
We pray for Truth.
Knowing in the Truth is where Peace and Integrity
with Love and Courtesy Dwell.
Jesus, please dwell in us.
Jesus, please dwell in those we Love.
Favor our Nation, dwell in us. Please.
We ask to know to seek You first in all aspects of Life.
Knowing we will see and be more of Heaven on earth.
Proverbs 16:9
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Isaiah 40:31
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Abba, Father God,
You have told us to always pray with Hope.
Jesus help us in this Nation to be in Your Word and see more Joy.
Covered in God's Love,
The end of Trouble.
Help this Virus end quickly, safely
We rest in the Hands of Our Good Father.
In Jesus Christ. Amen.
God Himself Bless, Sustain, Comfort, Guide
Jesus Christ Live in us.
Help us to seek You first.
Amen!
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