Isaiah 60 ~ you shall be radiant at what you see!

United with the angels, we praise the Holy One... The earth shall send forth light in honor of God's Son.

Isaiah Chapter 60 (New American Bible)

1
1 Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
2
See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; But upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory.
3
Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.
4
Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: Your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
5
Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, For the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
6
Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; All from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
7
All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered for you, the rams of Nebaioth shall be your sacrifices; They will be acceptable offerings on my altar, and I will enhance the splendor of my house.
8
2 What are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their cotes?
9
All the vessels of the sea are assembled, with the ships of Tarshish in the lead, To bring your children from afar with their silver and gold, In the name of the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you.
10
Foreigners shall rebuild your walls, and their kings shall be your attendants; Though I struck you in my wrath, yet in my good will I have shown you mercy.
11
Your gates shall stand open constantly; day and night they shall not be closed But shall admit to you the wealth of nations, and their kings, in the vanguard.
12
For the people or kingdom shall perish that does not serve you; those nations shall be utterly destroyed.
13
3 The glory of Lebanon shall come to you: the cypress, the plane and the pine, To bring beauty to my sanctuary, and glory to the place where I set my feet.
14
The children of your oppressors shall come, bowing low before you; All those who despised you shall fall prostrate at your feet. They shall call you "City of the LORD," "Zion of the Holy One of Israel."
15
Once you were forsaken, hated and unvisited, Now I will make you the pride of the ages, a joy to generation after generation.
16
You shall suck the milk of nations, and be nursed at royal breasts; You shall know that I, the LORD, am your savior, your redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17
In place of bronze I will bring gold, instead of iron, silver; In place of wood, bronze, instead of stones, iron; I will appoint peace your governor, and justice your ruler.
18
No longer shall violence be heard of in your land, or plunder and ruin within your boundaries. You shall call your walls "Salvation" and your gates "Praise."
19
No longer shall the sun be your light by day, Nor the brightness of the moon shine upon you at night; The LORD shall be your light forever, your God shall be your glory.
20
No longer shall your sun go down, or your moon withdraw, For the LORD will be your light forever, and the days of your mourning shall be at an end.
21
Your people shall all be just, they shall always possess the land, They, the bud of my planting, my handiwork to show my glory.
22
The smallest shall become a thousand, the youngest, a mighty nation; I, the LORD, will swiftly accomplish these things when their time comes.

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Epiphany, the wise men visited Jesus & presented their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. You can read the story in Matthew's Gospel here.

This Isaiah passage relates to the Epiphany because its final verse mentions gold and frankincense. The inclusion of 'myrrh' is a significant addition, and perhaps picks up the image of the 'Suffering Servant' Isaiah writes about most poignantly in chapters 52 and 53.

The word 'epiphany' means a moment of sudden and great revelation. Today's passage is full of contrasts suggesting a dramatic change. Verses 1-3 move between the image of darkness, which covers the whole earth, and a glorious light, which will attract all to it. In verse 4's idea develops into an image of movement: people from far-away lands will gather together and families who have been dispersed will be reunited.

But the focus - the worship of God - is always the same, whether it is through the gifts of gold and frankincense, or the proclamation of "the praise of the Lord".

To Ponder
Some people describe their decision to follow Jesus as a dramatic change, whereas for others it is a gradual growing in commitment. Think about your life story, whatever it may be. What epiphanies or moments of revelation have you had, which meant that life could never be the same again?

How have these moments of revelation changed you?

Isaiah spoke these words to offer hope to the Israelites in dark times. How can your moments of revelation support you, or others, when things become difficult?

Bible notes author: Ken Kingston

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1 John 3:11-21 ~ God is greater

1 John 3:11-21 ~ God is greater

I Believe in Love - BarlowGirl
The chorus of this song was written on the wall of a concentration camp and was found after it was over... to think someone going through so much as the holocaust could have so much faith...
-


1 John 3:11-21 (Today's New International Version)

11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a fellow believer is a murderer, and you know that no murderers have eternal life in them.

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God.

Written by Rev. Ken Kingston, Methodist Church U.K. :

"John has themes that he returns to again and again as he writes. In the first part of the letter he talks about God as being light, without any darkness at all. He then goes on to speak about God as love – "this is the message you have heard from the beginning" – we should love another (verse 11), as Jesus loves us.

In this passage there is a reference back to Jesus' teaching of the 'Sermon on the Mount' in Matthew's Gospel (chapters 5-7). Jesus not only says that those who commit murder will be open to judgement, but anyone who is angry or insults their brother or sister will be similarly liable (Matthew 5:21-22). Not to love then, is to be in God's judgement as sin.

Love, as John rightly suggests, should consume our whole being, and be evident from every pore of our body. What we do, what we say and what we think will reveal us to be people of love and people of God."

~ My additional comment would be, this is the love John saw modeled by Jesus. This would be John's eyewitness account of what drew the disciples of Jesus and the crowds Jesus had such compassion upon. We, of course, pale in comparison.

Come, Lord Jesus, dwell in me.



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John 1 ~ Make straight the way for the Lord

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 all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only [Son], who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, "This is he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' ") 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only [Son], who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Messiah."

21 They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."

22 Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' "

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

26 "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One."

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"
They said, "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are you staying?"

39 "Come," he replied, "and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter ).

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."

44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip.

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit."

48 "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."

49 Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel."

50 Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that." 51 He then added, "Very truly I tell you, you will see 'heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on' the Son of Man."

Psalm 103 ~ who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases

Psalm 103

1 Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for mortals, their days are like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children—

18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, my soul.

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Psalm 97 ~ Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart

Light shines Through by James Coleman

Psalm 97

1 The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.

2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

3 Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.

4 His lightning lights 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 peoples see his glory.

7 All who worship images are put to shame,
those who boast in idols—
worship him, all you gods!

8 Zion hears and rejoices
and the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments, LORD.

9 For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.

10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light shines on the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.

Revelation 1:12-15 ~ white as snow

The angelic image seen on Presbyterian Hospital of Charlotte, NC's security camera and tape in the doorway of Chelsea Barton's room. A lot of the family and hospital staff saw the image and identified as an angel. The angel appeared before her family prayfully removed her from a ventilator and placed her in the Lord's hands. Chelsea Barton had a recovery the hospital spokesperson said could only be explained as a miracle.

There were a lot of comments on the photo image, positive and negative from Scripture for Today on December 27th . Please look closely at the hand on the door and the shape of the wings.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,472288,00.html -

Revelation 1:12-15 (Today's New International Version)

12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, [a] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters

a. like Daniel 7:13.

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Isaiah 62:10-12 ~ build up, build up

Good Christian Men Rejoice was a song originated in a pub. It is meant to be sung with a great loud, happy spirit.

Several versions of Good Christian Men Rejoice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2kQOikRAT0&feature=related - choir

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW_u_Ii3TrU - video instructional

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FddZ-SXw0Rw - acoustic

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
News! News!

Jesus Christ is born today:
Ox and ass before him bow
And He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss;
Joy! Joy!
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened the heav'nly door
And man is blessed evermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave;
Peace! Peace!
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
To gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!


Psalms Chapter 34 (New American Bible)
1
I will bless the LORD at all times; praise shall be always in my mouth.
2
My soul will glory in the LORD that the poor may hear and be glad.
3
Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
4
I sought the LORD, who answered me, delivered me from all my fears.
5
Look to God that you may be radiant with joy and your faces may not blush for shame.
6
In my misfortune I called, the LORD heard and saved me from all distress.
7
The angel of the LORD, who encamps with them, delivers all who fear God.
8
Learn to savor how good the LORD is; happy are those who take refuge in him.
9
Fear the LORD, you holy ones; nothing is lacking to those who fear him.
10
The powerful grow poor and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11
Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12
Who among you loves life, takes delight in prosperous days?
13
Keep your tongue from evil, your lips from speaking lies.
14
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15
The LORD has eyes for the just and ears for their cry.
16
The LORD'S face is against evildoers to wipe out their memory from the earth.
17
When the just cry out, the LORD hears and rescues them from all distress.
18
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.
19
Many are the troubles of the just, but the LORD delivers from them all.
20
God watches over all their bones; not a one shall be broken.
21
Evil will slay the wicked; those who hate the just are condemned.
22
The LORD redeems loyal servants; no one is condemned whose refuge is God.


Isaiah 62:10-12

10
Pass through, pass through the gates, prepare the way for the people; Build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, raise up a standard over the nations.
11
See, the LORD proclaims to the ends of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, your savior comes! Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him.
12
They shall be called the holy people, the redeemed of the LORD, And you shall be be called "Frequented," a city that is not forsaken.

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Isaiah 6:1-4 ~ Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,472288,00.html -

Chelsea Banton was dying in Charlotte, North Carolina’s Presbyterian hospital. Her mother, Colleen, had gathered the family together to pray and to remove Chelsea from the ventilator, Chelsea was being given into the Lord’s hands. Colleen was going to take a last photo of her daughter. When the nurse asked, “What is that?” Colleen said," It's an angel." Colleen took a photo of the angel. The hospital security camera also captured the image above.

Colleen Banton knew her daughter had fought for her life for 2 months, & thought the angel came to take Chelsea to heaven. Instead, after the angel left, the ventilator was removed and Chelsea recovered and returned home to celebrate her 15th birthday on Christmas.

Her mother believes it was a miracle – attended by a very real angel bathed in light at the door to the pediatric intensive care unit.

“What was so ironic… is it was a rainy day,” Colleen said. “It had been overcast all day. And the sun only came out at that point.”

To those who doubt her story and photograph, Colleen Banton says: “If they doubt it, that's fine. … But I know what I saw, and the picture's untouched. I didn't make it up. That's just something that I believe.

“I believe that more people have changed since this happened. I know I have. I look at things differently than I used to – because I know God is in control.”

The hospital staff put their Chaplin in charge of discovering the validity of the angel seen, not only on Colleen’s camera, but also on the hospital security camera and tape. Their Chaplin is also a medical doctor. The Chaplin determined the image was not caused by a reflection or from a window, it had never been seen before. The image, the Chaplin said, appeared right before Chelsea recovered and no natural means of recovery was possible for Chelsea.

http://www.foxnews.com/video-search/m/21712322/caught_on_camera.htm?widget=true


Isaiah 6:1-4 (American Standard Version)

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

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Zechariah 2:10-13 ~ the Lord Almighty has sent me to you

Zechariah 2:10-13

10 "Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you," declares the LORD. 11 "Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. 12 The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling."

Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

John 1:1-4
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. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 3:31-36
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The person who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them.



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Luke 2: 8-18 ~ Let us go to see, so they went in haste

Matthew 19: 14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." - Listen


Luke 2:8-18

8
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.
9
The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.
10
The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11
For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.
12
And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
13
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14
"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
15
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."
16
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
17
When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
18
All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.

Psalm 67 ~ may God bless us still

The Nativity painted by Federico Barocci, 1553

Saint Bridget, a Swedish noblewoman, died in 1373, was well known for her visions, recognized to this day as given from the Lord. While on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Birgitta experienced visions of the Virgin and Christ. Her vision of the Birth of Christ enormously influenced Nativity depictions. She saw the Virgin birth, Mary with her long hair flowing, knelt to adore Him, glowing with supernatural light.

Psalm 67

1
May God be gracious to us and bless us; may God's face shine upon us. Selah
2
So shall your rule be known upon the earth, your saving power among all the nations.
3
May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you!
4
May the nations be glad and shout for joy; for you govern the peoples justly, you guide the nations upon the earth. Selah
5
May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you!
6
The earth has yielded its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.
7
May God bless us still; that the ends of the earth may revere our God.

Numbers 6:22

22 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,
‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
24 “May the LORD bless you and keep you;
25 May the LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 May the LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’

The Meek Were Kneeling
by Max Lucado

“Blessed are the meek,” Jesus explained. Blessed are the available.

That’s why the announcement went first to the shepherds. They didn’t ask God if he was sure he knew what he was doing. Had the angel gone to the theologians, they would have first consulted their commentaries. Had he gone to the elite, they would have looked around to see if anyone was watching. Had he gone to the successful, they would have first looked at their calendars.

So he went to the shepherds. Men who didn’t have a reputation to protect or an ax to grind or a ladder to climb. Men who didn’t know enough to tell God that angels don’t sing to sheep and that messiahs aren’t found wrapped in rags and sleeping in a feed trough.

A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high altar in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by silver lamps.

You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. You can also enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor recognizes the birth of the King. There is one stipulation, however. You have to stoop. The door is so low you can’t go in standing up.

The same is true of the Christ. You can see the world standing tall, but to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees.

So …

while the theologians were sleeping

and the elite were dreaming

and the successful were snoring,

the meek were kneeling.

Written by Bob Deffinbaugh -
One of the key words we must deal with is the word “blessed” because it occurs over and over and over again. You will find that in a number of translations, the word is rendered “happy,” and there is a sense in which that is probably true. But, I think you have to say that the word “happy,” just because of the meaning we give to it today, is probably not the best word. But in the Sermon on the Mount, in fact, you would have to say that those who mourn are not really happy. It’s hard to be both, so I reject as a preference making the emphasis on happiness, although there certainly is that. You could say that there is a sense in which there is always joy and delight—that’s always there, and I would certainly be willing to see that in this text. Probably the primary sense of the word “blessed” here is the sense of approval. It is saying that God has expressed His approval on these people. To be blessed is to be approved by God, and I think that probably fits.

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Psalm 29 ~ splendor

The Annunciation, by Henry Tanner, 1898

Luke 1

Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.


Psalm 29

1
Give to the LORD, you heavenly beings, give to the LORD glory and might;
2
Give to the LORD the glory due God's name. Bow down before the LORD'S holy splendor!
3
The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over the mighty waters.
4
The voice of the LORD is power; the voice of the LORD is splendor.
5
The voice of the LORD cracks the cedars; the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon,
6
Makes Lebanon leap like a calf, and Sirion like a young bull.
7
The voice of the LORD strikes with fiery flame;
8
the voice of the LORD rocks the desert; the LORD rocks the desert of Kadesh.
9
The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. All in his palace say, "Glory!"
10
The LORD sits enthroned above the flood! The LORD reigns as king forever!
11
May the LORD give might to his people; may the LORD bless his people with peace!


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Matthew 3 ~ Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance

Matthew 3

1
In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
2
(and) saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
3
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: "A voice of one crying out in the desert, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'"
4
John wore clothing made of camel's hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him
6
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.
7
When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees 7 coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
9
And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
10
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.
12
His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
13
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
14
John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?"
15
Jesus said to him in reply, "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him.
16
After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened (for him), and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (and) coming upon him.
17
And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

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Psalm 49 ~ in times

Saint Joseph with infant Jesus. Painted by Guido Reni in 1635.

Away in a Manger - Listen


1 Timothy 3:16

He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.


When Jesus was born, angels and a great company of heavenly hosts proclaimed and rejoiced over Him. Father God used all manners and ways to proclaim His Son. Even as an infant, Jesus had danger in His life. Joseph was chosen and special in Father God’s heart. A descendant of David, Joseph would have been high on the list of available bachelors in little Nazareth. But Joseph determined to show mercy to his pregnant betrothed. Joseph had wisdom to listen to his dreams. Joseph helped Jesus to grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.


Psalm 49

1 Hear this, all peoples!
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor together!
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life,
8 for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
9 that he should live on forever
and never see the pit.

10 For he sees that even the wise die;
the fool and the stupid alike must perish
and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their homes forever, [1]
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they called lands by their own names.
12 Man in his pomp will not remain;
he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the path of those who have foolish confidence;
yet after them people approve of their boasts. [2] Selah
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright shall rule over them in the morning.
Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah

16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
when the glory of his house increases.
17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
his glory will not go down after him.
18 For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed
—and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
19 his soul will go to the generation of his fathers,
who will never again see light.
20 Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.


Footnotes
[1] 49:11 Septuagint, Syriac, Targum; Hebrew Their inward thought was that their homes were forever
[2] 49:13 Or and of those after them who approve of their boasts


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Isaiah 9:1-7 ~ His dominion is vast and forever peaceful

Isaiah 9:1-7 (New American Bible)


The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.

You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, As they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils.

For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, And the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames.

For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.

His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, From David's throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains By judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!

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Isaiah 8:16-9:1 ~ The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.

Spent much time listening to people telling you about the inadequacies of the church & of the Lord? Sometimes the fear of tragedy & tragedy separates people from God, sometimes it is superstition or new age and sometimes it is being busy.

Isaiah named his two sons & the Lord told him to name one son Mercy and the other “In making speed to the spoil he hasteneth the prey”. The Lord says Israel was offered God as her husband and Israel is letting fear rule her; afraid of tragedy, following spiritual voodoo and offering this to all the people as direction.

This passage acknowledges Israel is fallen and imperfect, but offers the Light of God. God will give His light to the Gentiles. Jesus’ ministry occurs in the land told about at the end of Isaiah 8.


Isaiah 8:16-9:1

16
6 The record is to be folded and the sealed instruction kept among my disciples.
17
For I will trust in the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob; yes, I will wait for him.
18
Look at me and the children whom the Lord has given me: we are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts who dwells on Mount Zion.
19
And when they say to you, "Inquire of mediums and fortune-tellers (who chirp and mutter!); should not a people inquire of their gods, apply to the dead on behalf of the living?"--
20
then this document will furnish its instruction. That kind of thing they will surely say.
21
First he degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; 10 but in the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land West of the Jordan, the District of the Gentiles. Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness; for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.

Chapter 9
1
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.

Footnotes

[6] This people: Judah. Waters of Shiloah: the stream that flows into the pool of Shiloah in Jerusalem, its slow current symbolizing the silent, divine protection which Judah has rejected. God will therefore summon the mighty Assyrian army, symbolized by the River with it’s swift current (Euphrates), to devastate Judah, which, however, will not be entirely destroyed, because it is the land of Immanuel.

10)Zebulun . . . Naphtali: Judea, which was first to be attacked by the Assyrians; God, however, redeems it, as he redeems all his people. Seaward road: from Damascus, across southern Galilee to the Mediterranean Sea. District of the Gentiles: northern Galilee, inhabited by pagans; cf Joshua 20:7; Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:15-16 refers to this, since Jesus began his public mission in Galilee.

Great encouragement given to the people of God in the midst of those distractions; they are assured, 1. That the enemies shall not gain their point against them (v. 9, 10). 2. That if they kept up the fear of God, and kept down the fear of man, they should find God their refuge (v. 11-14), and while others stumbled, and fell into despair, they should be enabled to wait on God, and should see themselves reserved for better times (v. 15-18).

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John 3:22-30 ~ given to him from heaven

This church in England has an advent festival where 50 groups within the church each decorate a Christmas tree. The people attending purchase a ticket; it's a huge charitable project, bringing people from all over, into the church.

John 3:22-30

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”


John the Baptist knew the great truth: Jesus is the light of the world. Father God gives us so many wonderful, good things from heaven. We celebrate all the gifts He so willingly blesses us with at Christmas. We are thrilled in the innocent jumping and leaping - the anticipation - in children at Christmas. Adults look for Christmas lights and Christmas carols in the car.

Suffering can be a great surprise. But Jesus told us we would suffer and He promised He had overcome the world. Recently I was reminded, even Pope John Paul II suffered, physically, near the end of his life.

John knew the repentance he called for was extremely unpopular, and even with so many good gifts in life, John was willing and determined to press on. We do the same as John the Baptist 2,000 years later. With the comfort of the Holy Spirit giving the greatest help, the abundant joy and wonderful gifts we receive in life, we celebrate again and again the light coming into the world. And look forward to many more Christmases.

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Psalm 30 ~ I will exalt you, Lord

Psalm 30

1 I will exalt you, LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 LORD my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.

3 You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.

4 Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.

5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

6 When I felt secure, I said,
"I will never be shaken."

7 LORD, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain [Mount Zion] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.

8 To you, LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:

9 "What is gained if I am silenced,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

10 Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;
LORD, be my help."

11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

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Isaiah 7:10-25 ~ And it shall come to pass

Isaiah 7:10-25 (American Standard Version)

10 And Jehovah spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of Jehovah thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that ye will weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings thou abhorrest shall be forsaken.

17 Jehovah will bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah- even the king of Assyria.

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the clefts of the rocks, and upon all thorn-hedges, and upon all pastures.

20 In that day will the Lord shave with a razor that is hired in the parts beyond the River, even with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet; and it shall also consume the beard.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall keep alive a young cow, and two sheep; 22 and it shall come to pass, that because of the abundance of milk which they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the midst of the land.

23 And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, shall be for briers and thorns. 24 With arrows and with bow shall one come thither, because all the land shall be briers and thorns. 25 And all the hills that were digged with the mattock, thou shalt not come thither for fear of briers and thorns; but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of sheep.


Man and God see things vastly differently. King Ahaz, Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, is shaking with fear for his people & his present worries from Syria and Ephraim – Israel. The King refuses to ask for a sign when asked, remembering and quoting scripture not to test God. And Isaiah begins to tell him that Syria and Israel are not his worry, God has not forgotten his promise to King David. God will deliver his people.

The Savior, Jesus Christ, will be born. Ahaz is worried for today, but the Lord is seeing today sweep into centuries. The triumphant plan of God unfolds, in His time, and for His good purpose.

The new worry of Assyria, not yet even a concern, will be vanquished. God will bring fruitfulness from the desert and fruitful, plentiful areas will be thorns and briars. The Lord is talking about passage of time. The reward of the Lord comes with choosing the good over the evil.

God is pleased with Ahaz and blesses him in verse 17. Ahaz is blessed with a son to be born, Hezekiah. Hezekiah will choose the good over the evil and please God by listening to Him, seeking His paths and leading His people.

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Psalm 26 ~ assembly

I am just old enough to remember when Christmas purchasing and playing Santa for my younger brother changed. Used to be when Christmas toys were purchased, as you paid for them, someone assembled the toys for free for the fortunate child and the adult buyer. Then times changed & the buyer paid an extra fee to have the bicycle or toy assembled. And finally, no assembly was offered.

Life is always assembly required. We have choices to make for every decision in life. David is asking for a prayer to be answered from the Lord in Palm 26. One of the most vivid sermons I remember, from my childhood, was a sermon on prayer; Father Ted said as a father to a teenager, his son made a request for something just about every time he walked into the house. Sometimes it was for an errand, sometimes it was for homework, or a particular something to eat, but he knew when something serious and attention getting was about to be discussed as his son talked earnestly about his son’s performance as a student or as a well-behaving member of the family. Father Ted said he could usually answer his teenager while reading the mail and walking through the room without a lot of deep thought. But Father Ted knew that if his son began a petition, he was going to have to sit down, make eye contact and give thought to the request and the conversation.

Father Ted said we should, as christians, be in prayer conversation with God all the time, but when we really need God’s attention in prayer, we should remember to thank Him for the good gifts we have in life and be able to point out to Him our endeavor to grow in ways that please Him. Psalm 26 is a guide to prayer by a man who was said to be the apple of God's eye. Life is assembly required, and it is about choices that please God, who loves us so much.

Psalm 26

1 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and my mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in your faithfulness.

4 I do not sit with men of falsehood,
nor do I consort with hypocrites.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,
and I will not sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.

8 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

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Luke 21:20-28 ~ redemption

Arch of Titus built in Rome, c. 73 A.D., for fall of Israel

carved depiction - Arch of Titus - of Temple treasures captured & carried in triumph

May 14, 1948

Hebron and Israel reforestation, 2008

Jesus told us the seasons of earth changing events would have signs. 12 years ago, the set of novels called “Left Behind” written by Dr. Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins stirred people’s imaginations about the book of Revelations. But we are extremely fortunate to live in the earth’s history of the last 60 years. When Titus pulled Jerusalem apart, as Jesus foretold, the Romans then built the Titus Arch celebrating the conquest of Israel. After 1,935 years, Roman Jews proudly walked under the Titus Arch, for the first time, because Israel was again a nation, May 14, 1948.

Looking at the signs of the times: we have witnessed, in just a lifespan, the rebirth of Israel. We do not have the miraculous events of the Exodus, but Herman Wouk’s book “The Hope” tells of amazing story of Israel’s birth as a nation, the fantastic against-all-odds struggles & win of the 1967 war.

Just like the Left Behind series, we don’t stop to have the shock and awe realization that we live in an amazing time in the earth’s history. Israel is alive and well.

Some amazing facts about Israel today:
- highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world
- only liberal democracy in the Middle East
- Relative to its population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants come in search of democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity.
- Most books purchased per person
- highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita
- Invented in Israel: cell phone, most of Windows XP & NT, AOL instant messenger, Pentium chip & voice mail
- more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin - 109 per 10,000 people -- as well as one of the highest per capita rates of patents filed.
- highest average living standards in the Middle East. The per capita income in 2000 was over $17,500, exceeding that of the UK.
- fourth largest air force in the world
- most impenetrable flight security. U. S. officials now look to Israel for advice on how to handle airborne security threats.
- third highest rate of entrepreneurship in the world
- more museums per capita than any other country
- only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees, made more remarkable because this was achieved in an area considered mainly desert.


Luke 21:20-28

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

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Isaiah 4:2-6 ~ a refuge and a shelter

Isaiah 4:2-6

2 In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 3 And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. 5 Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. 6 There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

Historically, this is right - the Roman Empire came after numerous struggles with Judea. The people seeking the way of the Lord recognized Herod was choosing the priests. The Essenes left Jerusalem and went to the Dead Sea, proclaiming the Spirit of God was stifled in His Temple.

Jesus is the purification, the cleansing, providing the way, the truth and the life as God did for the Children of Israel in the Exodus. When we look for a refuge and shelter - Jesus is. He is our strong name to call upon. God says there is not a higher name. He is our peace, allowing us to sleep as the storm rages around us. Just as He did during the storm on the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus is our refuge and our shelter. Now and in the day of Isaiah.

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Luke 20: 41-21:4 ~ The Lord said to my Lord

Recently, we’ve had a lot of things occur in our community, in the nation, in the world (all over the news) that are far from encouraging news. People are well known to quit listening to the news when it is a serious and turbulent time. These chapters of Luke are the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Lord encourages giving people and gives them eternal acclaim for their generosity.

When the world says too little, too shabby, too wobbly, not glittering, not sparkling, bent down and creased with worry; God reminds us what is important. God lets us know in Psalm 110 that he isn’t God put neatly into the box labeled “Sunday-sit-up-straighter & put-your-best-foot-forward”. He is the God of establishing His goodness, in His time, in His good purpose. He is Emmanuel; God with us, God as part of our day & part of each circumstance. God is willing to put his Son in the middle of all the goodness and the hypocrisy of man to bring us His plan for our salvation.

Luke 20:41-21:4 (Today's New International Version)

41 Then Jesus said to them, "Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? 42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
43 until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet." ' [from Psalm 110]

44 David calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?"

45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely."

Luke 21

1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 "Truly I tell you," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

Psalm 18:21-50 ~ the ways of the Lord

Yesterday we looked at repentance. This Psalm of David is also in 2 Samuel 22. David is a victorious king agreeing with God all the sacrifices he made not harming King Saul & avoiding bloodshed have benefited David.

There was a famous comedian who became so puffed up in his own success, fame and fortune; he forgot one of his earliest and best appealing qualities - talking about his faith. Like David, he forgot the humility we gain in repentance is a good thing. One of the comedian’s early sayings was God could do what ever He wanted – throw a boat right over a hedge. David would agree with him and says that in v. 29 he can leap right over a wall. Think about how high the surviving walls are in Jerusalem.

With God helping us: He secures all of the high places, giving us light to make the darkness flee.

Carol of the Bells sung by the Barlow Girl - Listen


Psalm 18:21-50

21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all his rules were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
23 I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from my guilt.
24 So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my lamp;
the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
29 For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30 This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

31 For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?—
32 the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand supported me,
and your gentleness made me great.
36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
and did not turn back till they were consumed.
38 I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;
they fell under my feet.
39 For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
you made those who rise against me sink under me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
and those who hated me I destroyed.
41 They cried for help, but there was none to save;
they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
42 I beat them fine as dust before the wind;
I cast them out like the mire of the streets.

43 You delivered me from strife with the people;
you made me the head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
foreigners came cringing to me.
45 Foreigners lost heart
and came trembling out of their fortresses.

46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation—
47 the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
48 who delivered me from my enemies;
yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you rescued me from the man of violence.

49 For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
and sing to your name.
50 Great salvation he brings to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his offspring forever.

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Isaiah 2:1-11 ~ the Lord alone

Yesterday someone asked how I was doing. The truth - although this is a season of grief in my life, I’m not doing too badly. Grieving isn’t a season anyone would ask for & the Lord knows that as a fact. Grief recovery says that guilt is a sign of the grieving process. Grief is also a part of the readings for Advent. Isaiah talks a lot about the need for redemption. I’ve heard plenty of sermons on redemption. Who is a fan of repentance? It makes me feel uncomfortable and wonder which issue to focus on.

The seasons change for a reason, we aren’t supposed to do the same thing all the time.

Romans 12: 2b
be transformed by the renewing of your mind

My son pointed out to me that grief and thanksgiving can go hand in hand. God doesn’t have to give at all. He is not indebted to us. He fills the world with wonders and we can be complacent and careless.

John the Baptist came to make straight, to prepare, the way for Jesus. John the Baptist’s baptism is the baptism of repentance. Isaiah says:

Isaiah 6:5
"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

Acts 20:26 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.

Rick Warren wants to point out each Sunday that redemption is important. “Our actions are changed by our hearts, our hearts are changed by our minds, and our minds are changed by the Word of God. All behavior is based on belief. If somebody gets a divorce it is because they have a belief behind that: "I think I'll be happier" or whatever. Behind every sin is a lie of unbelieving. You think you are doing what's best for you, but you have been deceived. The Bible tells us that Satan deceives us. Change beliefs first. Trying to change behavior without changing beliefs is a waste of time. Say I have a boat on auto pilot headed north. If I want it to head south, I have two options: I could wrestle the steering wheel or (the better way) change the auto pilot. Change always starts in the mind. "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2). The Bible teaches clearly that the way we think affects the way we feel, and the way we feel affects the way we act."

Isaiah 2:1-11

1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2 In the last days
the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.

3 Many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.

5 Come, house of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the LORD.

6 You have abandoned your people,
the house of Jacob.
They are full of superstitions from the East;
they practice divination like the Philistines
and clasp hands with pagans.
7 Their land is full of silver and gold;
there is no end to their treasures.
Their land is full of horses;
there is no end to their chariots.

8 Their land is full of idols;
they bow down to the work of their hands,
to what their fingers have made.

9 So people will be brought low
and everyone humbled—
do not forgive them.

10 Go into the rocks, hide in the ground
from the fearful presence of the LORD
and the splendor of his majesty!

11 The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled
and human pride brought low;
the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

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Luke 20:9-18 ~ the owner of the vineyard

Luke 20:9-18


9 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. 10 When the time came, he sent a servant [1] to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’? [2]

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

Footnotes
[1] 20:10 Greek - bondservant; also verse 11
[2] 20:17 Greek - the head of the corner

Yesterday in Scriptures for Today we read:

Revelations 7: 9-10
9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."

The same Holy Spirit telling us countless numbers exist in heaven, tells us salvation belongs to God and to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Universalism is the theological doctrine all people will eventually be saved - refuted in this passage. This passage is our reminder: Jesus is the cornerstone of our salvation.

Give the gift of Christmas, the only gift that is lasting and meaningful. Be the light of God shining in the world. When God gives you the opportunity, let people know salvation is through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ reaches out to us in our brokenness and redeems us.

Salvation is offered to all the children of God, He asks that we:

Romans 10:9-11
9 If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, "Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame."

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