Luke 2:8-15 ~ the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go!"

Biblical?

May God, our Holy Father, lift His Face and Smile upon us to explore humor. Numbers 6

Isaac - Abraham was good at believing Father God. Most of the time. And in believing Father God - Abraham is counted as Righteous and known as a Friend of God's. Isaac ~ Long awaited is called "Laughter."

Sarah laughed at the Angels to hear them tell that old tale about a baby to people long past the time. Her laughter was forgiven, God Blessed them and her Laughter was made part of of His Story and Isaac was Named.



There are many books written on the Humor of Jesus in the Gospels. Scholars report when they laughed reading the Bible and, sometimes, no one else found it as funny. Two people agree part of the Gospel is funny and someone else disagrees.


The Truth - when the Scriptures are read with Love and warmth - there are funny parts in the Scriptures. What is funny today, might not be humorous in a month. The Bible is Living and Active. Comforting and Teaching.

And on the Road to Emmaus - The Disciples found their hearts were warm. Jesus has told us several times in the Gospels - "Blessed is he, who finds no offense in Me." The key word is "Blessed." Jesus came to fulfill the Law and to be Freedom. Liberty!

Our God made breakfast on the beach for the Disciples who had run off. And after Breakfast was finished, our Disciples, we love with Jesus - had a sibling argument about John. Jesus is God, He lasted 40 more days with His Disciples. And still gave the Holy Spirit. And Jesus will come back.




What stays with me as Humor in the Gospels? John 1 - Nathaniel doubts anything good comes from Nazareth. Another one -  turn the other cheek. This matches with Proverbs about opening the mouth and shutting the mouth with wisdom. I always feel comfort with "turn the other cheek". I feel as if Jesus has placed me under His Wing and we smile. This is tender to me. Let us build 3 tents and stay right here.




Thinking about Luke 2...

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

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



The Tenderness of our Father. The Shepherds would not have left a flock in great distress. The sheep were not afraid of the Heavenly Host. Our God is Tender and Mercy.

John 5:17

Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."



Abba, 

Our Thanksgiving is for the continual finding of good works of our Father God.

 In Jesus, we live, move and have our being. We put our trust in You. And give thanks. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 1:66-79 ~ The Hand of the Lord was with him

Reprint from 12/6/2017
with additional

Luke 1:66-79

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."




Father God, we would ask You to bless us. In Jesus, Amen.

To receive a blessing from God - something is required of you.

To just be a 'receiver' from God. God tells us He will bless whom He will.

And what pleases God...

Absolutely to have - faith - in God's Love. The Hope God Loves you. Abraham believed God and this was credited to him as righteousness. Abraham was known to be a friend of God. Abraham received the Gift God had for Abraham, by faith.

Jesus Christ. God's Christmas Gift to us. Just as Jesus didn't just feed thousands in miraculous God Work's, Jesus has fed us and millenniums of the Children of God.



Zechariah's prompting in Luke's Gospel, Chapter 1, of the Holy Spirit is our gift in God's Son Jesus.

If God is for us, who can take our Blessings?
Jesus has made our Blessings secure.

When I think of the feeding of the multitudes, I believe the groups of 50 received the 5 loaves and 2 fish. Like the way I've seen 4th stage cancer healed. There was enough.

And the next group of 50 received some loaves and fish and there was enough. Suddenly the groups passing this along got a little faster passing the next group the loaves and fish - there was enough.

And then Jesus has fed the multitudes, the millenniums and us. Many, many people blessed and fed on the Living Word of God by His Son - our Christmas gift - Jesus.

Abundantly. Abundantly. Abundantly.

Imagine being near the Blessing of Jesus Christ. Let's go as far back as Genesis - Isaac is born. A Blessing spoken of by God Himself, the Almighty, to Abraham and Sarah - what surrounds them? The Blessing of God surrounds them and Genesis records Blessings. The livestock was reproducing amazingly well. Multiplying like Loaves and Fish. That time woolly.


Zechariah headed to a regular day. A Rabbi - a regular day in God's Temple. About the same as all of us - another day on this small planet of green and blue beauty in the middle of a barren solar system and in this small corner giving amazing Light and warmth. Amazing the mountains are colder at the top (closer to the sun) than the valley. The Word of God upholds - Life.

Zechariah entered the Temple.

 Going through the Court of Women, past the Gates history tells us open of their own accord by the Word of God.

Probably, Zechariah looked at the beautiful floors.

And going into The Temple.

Zechariah has now been toe to toe with God's Messenger. We learn reflection, serious reflection on a Gigantic milestone for you and for me. Mankind.

Zechariah has evidenced God is Forgiving and all God.

Zechariah remembers the first start opportunity to sanctuary - he could have refuge from God in the altar horns. He had become mouthy to God's Messenger.  The horns of the altar exist as safety. Zechariah has forgotten the mercy.

He begins where he should have started - God is our Refuge.

God is willing Sanctuary. Fear not.
And for our Father God to be this - He is forgiving and Loving. Salvation. Has God's nature changed? God was willing for Aaron to enter the Holy of Holies and display himself throwing blood. God understands we are not Holy. He Loves us. Immeasurably.

The mercy promised is given.

We have no need to fear God. Creator of All. He is as Holy and as far from our abilities as the Sun itself.

And as Gentle.

The Father of Jesus is Good as His Word and Promise. All of our days.

Jesus has brought us Peace. Showing us the Nature of God Himself.

God's Mercy has Prevailed. The Victory of Jesus is for us.

And Christmas is a Celebration of the end of these fears of doubt and war.

Jesus is our Certainty. And we have found Him to be Joy.

And this is the Announcement of Christ arriving. In our eternal foothold - our soul.



Mercy and Forgiveness, The Graciousness of God Abound.

Elizabeth has the opportunity to shelter a young cousin from 'departing with haste' from her family. God is giving opportunity to share blessings. More than Just the Blessing of a Savior for All of Mankind?

\

The Blessings of the Shepherds to take their Heavenly Host adventure and see more. Blessings. The opportunity to share in Good News with Mary and Joseph. Blessings.

And we should not stop and we should consider - the day the childless Elizabeth and barren Zechariah continued their blessing. All male children are presented to the Temple.

What seems Improbable?

That mankind would be blessed beyond the Birth of their Savior Jesus.

Why? Why Bless Zechariah? Why Bless Elizabeth? Why Bless the Shepherds? Why have the Heavenly Host arrive to the Shepherds? Why Bless Bethlehem?

Why Bless Anna? Why Bless Simeon? Because our God, is Our Father and He feeds the multitudes for millenniums.

We can imagine with a feeling of certainty - Egypt was blessed having young Jesus, Mary and Joseph

His Word is Living and Alive. And we are blessed This Christmas Season.

Abba,

You have shown us our Blessings many times. We are fearfully made. Angels have longed to see. The soul in Promise of Salvation.

We pray Your Blessings upon us. 
Your Blessings upon our Loved Ones. Your Blessings upon the People You have given us. 

Your blessings on our ways of life, Churches, Schools - a place Honoring to You. Fostering nurturing. We pray Your Depth in our areas. In our States, many. In our Nation. 

We pray Christ's Holy Spirit gathering and giving increasing Love upon the Nations. 

And draw strength thinking of the prayers given and received world wide.

 Jesus Christ bring more good Heaven upon this earth. We rely upon Your Word always.


Blessings upon our Nation trusting in God. Blessings upon the Creation as Believers pray for more Heaven on earth each day. Blessing Nations trusting in Him

 Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

2 Peter 1:12-21 ~ The Morning Star rises in your hearts

Rome at Christmas Time , a rare snow.

1 Peter 1:1
In 66 AD, Peter writes from Rome to the Jewish believers in the Roman provinces of Asia Minor – in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.

2 Peter. 1:14-15
In 67 AD, Peter writes again from Rome, where he has been imprisoned and is about to be executed.

Christmas and the New Testament. The New Testament  at the end of James, Peter and John. These - touchingly - are the long road traveled.

Peter is not at home in his fine home on the Sea of Galilee where a house church has formed for the next 300 years. Peter is not thinking he will be Home for Christmas.

C. 1960  Peter's home was found under a byzantine Church and was recovered. He lived here with his wife and his brother Andrew and his mother-in-law. Peter never saw the aeral view of Capernaum - we are one of 5 generations to know aerial views.

Peter moved to Capernaum from Bethsaida near the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Hometown of the Apostles Simon Peter, his brother Andrew, and Philip. A blind man was healed during a journey to their hometown.

What does Peter have to say for the man who came back to Life ~ after 34 years? 
The Son of God -Jesus.

2 Peter 1:12-21

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 

13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body,to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 

15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.


16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 

19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 

20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 

21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Abba,

For all generations - You have been our Blessing.

When we are looking over our city, our lives, our years - You are always there.

And in this safekeeping, we are assured of Your Blessings and ability to have Hope and in overcomimg.

And in this joy, we place our Loved ones in Your care. Knowing You inhale our prayers, You are so close. A Revelation.


We entrust our Faith knowing more Heaven on earth will be seen. Peter never forgot seeing more Heaven on earth.
Giving us, in the Power of the Holy Spirit, our Nation and many others trusting in You.

We pray for Peace, Love, Joy and coughing to be kicked out of the house forever. Healed.

You are the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †