Luke 1 ~ And the child grew and became strong in spirit

2014 IKEA Commercial on the Letter not going to St. Nick

Luke 1

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile 
a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us,  
2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word 
have delivered them to us, 
3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 
4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.



5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”


 

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.


39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”


46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.


67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71
that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72
to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78
because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Boy reading, painted by Liz Swindle

Exactly

Father God sees with great wisdom what we really want to give our Loves Ones for Christmas.


Father God really does know.

To Give a Great Light.
Knowledge of Salvation.
God's Tender Mercy.
For all of us to Grow and Become Strong in His Spirit.
And this to be accompanied with Love, Joy, Peace.

Jesus completes this idea like this:

Luke 13
18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

What Strengthens us in life? This is definitely something we'd like to gift wrap for our kids at Christmas.

We would have to start with building Character
for Love, Joy, Peace, Faith, Hope, Kindness to remain.



Life is all about finding gratitude.
~If you do not Look to see your daily blessings from Father God, you are not feeling nourished enough to see with clarity the tools provided for us to work with our gifts and talents.
~When we believe Life is meaningful and has purpose,
we know we are on a quest to build ourselves Up to Father God.
~We are all headed in a destination.

Psalm 138

This starts with an attitude of ability, provision. Believing God will provide.

Going to "God's House" bringing the kids, to feed and nourish positive attitudes.
If nothing else, to glimpse the Glory of God Almighty, far greater than ourselves. The Ancient of Days. Jesus, the Bible tells us, sees all of the Heavens.

In Prayer, we have answers. We have to believe "No" or "Not yet" are an answer. However, the power, the glory, the awe, the wonder, the mystery
- when we Know -
Father God has heard and answered us, "Yes."

Because, we asked and believed His Will is Good. We are emboldened with Answered Prayers. Filled with Wonder at The Majesty and Mercy of our Father.

When our eyes are opened to the Positive Gifts of God, we are pleased to see others Blessed. God has many, many Blessings. God does not deplete Blessings, to be generous.
The Glory of God - is - Great.

Knowing whatever our self esteem level is - Father God is kindly to the lowly.

Trouble? The Prodigal Son is helped, why should we despair? Peace is Blessing of God, but the Scriptures show us in almost every Chapter - we are developed when we worry, strive, think, lean, plod, hope, endure.


Your love, Lord Father, Our God, endures forever—
You will not abandon the works of Your hands.

The Sepulcher, painted by Dan Burr

Just as we learn Jesus would enfold us in His arms and gather us like a hen and her chicks, we know Father God would run to see us - way in the distance - coming Home.

And we will continue to run this race with character, salt, verve, and stamina.

Where The River Flows - Collective Soul

Father God is here for us.


Father God, You have Written Your Word,

Blessed are those who are invited to the Lamb!

An angel standing in the sun, cries in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God."

Hear the sound of a great multitude,
like the roar of rushing waters
and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
for true and just are his judgments.

We delight to sit in His Light.

Let Jesus lead us to the banquet hall,
and let His banner over me be Love.

See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear,
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.

The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, we will be called, His Beloved,
my beautiful one, come with me.

Father God, we welcome Your Great Love to flow in the ones we Love, the people You have given us. Flow ceaselessly, let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream. In Abundance, bless all those who call upon You in Faith. Bless our Churches, work places, states and nations calling upon You. Bless us with the gift of Peace, Love, Joy and Diligent Faith in You. Strengthen us to Your Glory. In Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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James 3:13-18 ~ righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace

Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand

James 3:13-18

~ (New Revised Standard Version)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 

But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.

But the wisdom from above is 
first pure,
then peaceable, 
gentle, 
willing to yield, 
full of mercy and good fruits, 
without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Wisdom from heaven, or spiritual wisdom is a great prayer request. Even King Solomon missed out on spiritual wisdom from his youth and began again in his later years. God's hand did not leave Solomon. Jesus was repeating His Father's Word to Moses, Joshua.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Jesus knew exactly how to nurture people, it didn't win popularity contests; Jesus looked for a life holding true meaning, not simple or grand, pleasures in life. What could be more important than to know the Lord and work according to His pleasure?

A life of Meaning.

How will we immediately have and hold a meaningful Christmas?

Read Scripture. A verse a day. Find the Word that holds your heart.

This Christmas - listen to Christian Radio. Sing. Tell Others.

Remember what holding Christmas in your heart is - remembering Jesus knew what He was here to do. And how He felt
about His Beloved - me and you - and having Him live in our Heart.

John 17
I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

Father GOD,
With great gratitude, for Your Word. For Your Promises. For Your Plans.

For the JOY You brought to this Life You are the Light in all of mankind.

We come to You for Life Abundantly. 

We lift up our Loved Ones, the People You have delighted to give us. We lift up our Churches believing in Jesus Christ and His Word. We lift up the States and this Nation to establish Goodness pleasing to You. We rejoice in the people of the World proclaiming Jesus as Lord.

Since the dawn of the first sunrise, You have called Your creation good. Let us bring Your goodness forth, pleasing to You. Ancient of Days, Our Great and Compassionate Shepherd.

Thank You for the Expectation of Your Goodness and Love. We ask for Spiritual Wisdom to Your Glory.

In Jesus,
Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Romans 8 ~ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 8

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 

3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.


12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.



15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 

36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.




I've known two people recently with Christmas anxieties.

Reasons for stress. Life just is pretty difficult when stress hits us at Christmas. In Houston,
places are not as full as the oil prices have helped the economy in other towns.

A woman I know has joy this month because her Master's degree is finished in Decemeber
and with the graduation is going several states over to visit her family. And her hours she has
worked required for her Master's are significant and substantial - that has finished as well.
And as Christmas gets closer, her husband was laid off. They are young and this is their first hurdle as a real life worry happens. Her worries are valid. And yet, God has absolutely prepared them - they are three fold. God has created an environment where they can be moved exactly where He needs them in their Journey for Him.

Ecclesiastes 4:12
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

God has left a calling card here.




A woman from our Church Bible Study, a Pastorate, had gone to Dubai to visit her two year old grandson and just as she arrived, her daughter- in-law's mother - a 30 hour flight away - needed her daughter - her operation has gone badly and complications have happened. Her daughter-in-law's mother is on life supported artificially. In the middle of Christmas difficulties - God has provided this family with the grandson having 103' fever - only with the most compassionate Grandmother care - as this daughter goes 30 hours immediately to see her mother.

God has left His Calling Card.



The one thing we miss if we are in Christmas stress, is knowing how many people know how to do their lives - even when it is stressful.

A gift God gives us - a very durable gift.


2 Timothy 3

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.


Luke 21:19
Stand firm, and you will win life.

It would be difficult to say all things work for good when the crisis is not yours and even trite.
However these are Christian people. And in the years to come, they will know and tell, decades from
now, how God made circumstance survivable, providing the framework of faith and circumstance - to allow - hope, endurance, Character and Love to go forth in His Good Plan.

The Newest News Story is young people reading Leviticus to people asking for their Qur'an comments. It's an old shock value story. Spiritual matters need eyes of faith, and have to be read with Spiritual Discernment. Or we go the direction of labeling Jews with Stars marked "Jude."

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

It is these who cause divisions, worldly people

Beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.


Father God, be with the people who are burdened and allow the people having Peace to share their Peace with those in discomfort.

We ask Your infinite delight in Blessing to cover our Loved Ones, the People You have Given us
in Your Goodness. Protect us from harm and hurt we ask You. And help us to see with Joy, the Path You will help us to adhere to. Knowing people pray and You delight and we lift our heavy concerns to You knowing You will carry them. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Job 19:25-27 ~ I know that my Redeemer lives

"My Redeemer Lives" Nicole C. Mullen live in Cincinnati. Beautiful, such praise brings tears to my eyes.

 

Job 19:25-27

²⁵ I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

²⁶ And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;

²⁷ I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

We know Mary and Joseph had plans. Joseph was building a home in Nazareth. Acts 10:34 tells us in the Kings James Version that God is no respecter of persons. Jonah found this out. Daniel did as well, and this worked to Danie's great favor. Joseph discovered this from being imprisoned.

God tells us He doesn't want lukewarm people. Jesus didn't tell us to polish our halos. He said Be Salt. And Be Light.

Paul found many times, God sent Paul on God's journey.

What did Jesus see about His parent's lives? The town of Nazareth saw them as a seamless family. God does not tell us in the sweet bye and bye and leave us. Jesus tells us always, He does not forsake us. 

 

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2 Corinthians 13:8-14 

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. 10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all..

Father God, this is the Call of the Christmas Season.
We ask You to bless us and help us to be the Joy Your Holy Spirit delights to live in.

Help us keep Christmas in our heart all the days of our life.

In Jesus the Lord,
 Amen. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 81 ~ Raise a song

Psalm 81

1 Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! 2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. 3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
 

4 For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob.
 

5 He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known: 6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.

7 In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah   8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!

O Israel, if you would but listen to me! 9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
 

10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. 13 Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.
 

15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. 16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”  


 

Seems David complains and complains, and as the reader you are agreeing with him! That's right, tell us, tell God about it! Suddenly David does an about face .... when one is "hep up" agreeing with David .... and he says..... like in   

Psalm 108: 10  
Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 11 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies.

Some days we feel like David. Like Jesus carrying His cross. Then David throws a curve in a verse latter in the same  

Psalm 108: 12  
Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 13 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.


 Read Psalm 81 again, or just let a verse jump in your memory.... For me this Psalm hinges on:

 

  I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. In distress you called, and I delivered you

 Some days I say, please Father, help me to carry that burden..... and other days the verse puts a little jolt of "Noooo.... I want that..... more...."  

Regardless, I reach the verse:  

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it  

And I say to Him, I can think of a whole lot of blessings!!! And I won't bow down to another god!!! 
Watch Father God!!  

So what about these Davidic turn-around Psalms? David is Not window dressing, thresh David down, shake him around - David trusts God. Even when the Ziphites went to tell Saul where David was, in Psalm 54; David trusts God. David grew up hearing, then living the mighty works of God. He heard stories about the Heavens long before his descendant Hezekiah would ask God to turn the hands of time back. David knew of Joshua:  


Joshua 10:12-14  
At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

“Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”  

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

Genesis 18:14 

Is anything too hard for the LORD?  

Jeremiah 32:27 

I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?


  Matthew 19:26  

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

 David waited expectantly, like Paul did, to see what God would plan. David trusted God. As we can.

Father God, a Merry Christmas to us all God bless us every one, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord!!! May the Lord God Almighty, Father of us all believing Jesus Christ, may He see Mercy and Bless us all with Peace. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 12 ~ listened to Him with delight

Mark 12

1 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.

6 "He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

7 "But the tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9 "What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven't you read this passage of Scripture:
" 'The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;

11 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes' ?"

12 Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn't we?"

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?"
"Caesar's," they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
And they were amazed at him.

18 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 19 "Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. 21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. 22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"

24 Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.






 

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet." '
37 David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?"

The large crowd listened to him with delight.





 


38 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely."

 


41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Matthew 25:14
For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.


A puzzle.  Life is filled with opportunities to grow and solve and become more a Child of God.

 
Proverbs 14:10
The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.


The parable is an internal mirror. 

The fruitfulness of our lives is something to pray about. We are in His Hands. What I can do with my work, my words, my actions, I shall endeavor for Him. The results of my faith He is who He says He is. My Hope. I understand His promises are for me. And the Love He gives me in my weakness, in forgiveness and He never fails. I Love because HE continues to love me. 




Father God, let me be as fruitful for You as You would allow me to be. Keep my faith fighting the good fight. And the heart to be open to You.

Help the ones I love to remain with me on Your Path. Where we are held to us our gifts and talents to please You and in doing so we are pleased.  Help me to be fruitful for the people You have given me. Bless our Churches, States, Nation and all of Your Beloved all over the World.  In Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Revelation 4 ~ there before me was a door standing open in heaven

 

Revelation 4

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven.

And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 


4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”

Given that the New Heaven is a culmination of all the efforts of Truth, Grace upon Grace of Jesus. Heaven is of course the culmination of existing with God Almighty Father of all who Believe in His Word upholding us, every day and always. Heaven was bought with a price of Jesus.

We would be tempted to say God is so far above us, Father God is unknowable, unreachable and like the stars or the sun. Instead, Father God has told us when we have seen Jesus, we have seen Father God. Is God Spirit? Yes, but not Spirit alone. Father God wanted us to know almost immediately when He began creation, He saw us as His Children and created us in His image.

John was explained to like Daniel, like Isaiah, exactly the same as Moses, we will see Father God in our time.

Jasper and Ruby are the color of the Throne of God.

There is no wonder why Christmas is Red and Green.

May Jesus the Lord be with us this Christmas, now and always. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †