Revelation 1:9-16 ~ His Face was like the sun shining in full strength

Revelation 1:9-16

9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 

14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.




Today I was reading 2 Thessalonians 2 and Isaiah 5 about the Righteousness and Holiness of God. And people just don't live up to the Goodness God is. As I read,  I was comforted not to be the one God would take wrath with - because of the Light of Jesus Christ.

The Blessing of God is those who ask for God's Help and seek God; we find God. Jesus saves us from the Righteous Wrath of God.

We live in a time where we do not hear jokes about Joe Kennedy buying Jack Kennedy's Presidential Win. We live in a time, again, when the Presidency is accused of sin with women. In my lifetime - this has affected four Presidencies. We've been told in this investigation - collusion with Russia for voting. What would this look like to have 325 million citizens have a manual voting system tampered with manually? I think it sounds unlikely.


Animal Farm.
The whole basis is control. Put the people in fear and control them.

Leon Trotsky, Russian, had a specific, unique take on permanent revolution. Leadership of the Left = sow confusion and sow demoralization by using and sowing corrupt morality. When I have talked to people living in large USA cities - very few of them have met crossdressers and transvestites. In my life, I've seen maybe less than a dozen. I've spoken to people who say they've seen maybe two transvestites. I'm not confused. This is a very low number of actual people issue. I'm not confused 2% of the population is homosexual. And Hollywood puts a 2% issue in a lot of entertainment.

Boston recently had 250,000 people gather to say racism is wrong. Martin Luther King's Dream is alive.

Homosexuals. I grew up next door to two men - one was friendly, the other literally growled at my brother and me. Every time. We have gay family. We love them. And sometimes things could be very awkward and uncomfortable - at times. I am not for embracing the new idea there is ONE OPINION. The truth is dictating morals is Fascism. Fascism. Fascism.

Heisman Trophy Winner Kyler Murray is Homophobic because Tweets he sent as a 14-Year-Old. Please tell me - you find this unlikely. And ridiculous.

Recently, we all went to see the movie, "The Green Book."
Racism and Homosexuality.
Conforming to moral standards by use of very, very harsh rudeness.
It was a very, very good movie about overcoming society demands for rudeness. Excellent.

Fortunately, I'm too young to remember this era of hatred. Uplifted - I believe God's Word. Jesus Christ was polite to the woman at the well for Sexual Sins. Polite and Caring to the woman caught in Adultery. I was raised to be polite to people of all races, ages, nations and sexual orientations.

Jesus dealt with Samaritans who were second class. His Disciples said Bring Down Fire. Jesus certainly did not. Jesus is that First Class.

Jesus dealt with the odd society of the Syrian Phoenicians as the mother begged for her child. The woman knew in all circumstances of life - to Look to the Light of the World. God rewarded her to look to Jesus. When we look to the Light of the world - Jesus Christ our God - we find comfort, we are taught how to deal and cope. We look to the future with Hope. We are given gracious courage.

God says every single one of us who hold belief will be persecuted. And Jesus said we will, all people - all - know trouble in this world.

When Zechariah was mute, his own people unfairly treated him mistakenly as if he was deaf. Zechariah did not waste his time fighting details. Zechariah did not waste time on his rights. Zechariah didn't sign up with a Union saying be nice to the deaf. Zechariah did not sign up with a Union suppressing Angelic Visits. Even if Unions get you work.

Zechariah has something to say - for all people. The People Jesus Loves. All People.

Luke 1

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel

For He has visited us 

and accomplished redemption 

for His people

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us

In the house of David His servant—

As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—

Salvation from our enemies,

And from the hand of all who hate us

To show mercy toward our fathers,

And to remember His holy covenant,

The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,

To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,

Might serve Him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;

To give to His people the knowledge of salvation

By the forgiveness of their sins

Because of the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us

To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death

To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!

John 1 ~ Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

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 mankind. 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 the one I spoke about when 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 straps 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.”

Before Abraham Jesus Is

Proverbs 8

I was there when he set the heavens in place,

when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

28 when he established the clouds above

and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

29 when he gave the sea its boundary

so the waters would not overstep his command,

and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

30 Then I was constantly at his side.

I was filled with delight day after day,

rejoicing always in his presence,

31 rejoicing in his whole world

and delighting in mankind.

Deuteronomy 28

"The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. 12"The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13"The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully,

Isaiah 45

I am the Lord, and there is no other;

apart from me there is no God.

I will strengthen you,

though you have not acknowledged me,

6 so that from the rising of the sun

to the place of its setting

people may know there is none besides me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other.

7 I form the light and create darkness,

I bring prosperity and create disaster;

I, the Lord, do all these things.

8 “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness;

let the clouds shower it down.

Let the earth open wide,

let salvation spring up,

let righteousness flourish with it;

I, the Lord, have created it.

Mark 1:10

Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Isaiah 60

“Rise up and shine, for your light has come. The shining-greatness of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For see, darkness will cover the earth. Much darkness will cover the people. But the Lord will rise upon you, and His shining-greatness will be seen upon you.

Nations will come to your light. And kings will see the shining-greatness of the Lord on you.

“Lift up your eyes and look around you, and see. They all gather together. They come to you. Your sons will come from far away, and your daughters will be carried in the arms.

Then you will see and shine with joy. Your heart will be glad and full of joy, because the riches of the sea will be turned to you. And the riches of the nations will come to you.

Praise be to you, Lord,
the God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.

In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.

 In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!

Luke 1:39-55 ~ glorifies the Lord

Mary and Elizabeth painted by Carl Heinrich Bloch

Luke 1:39-55

~ (Today's New International Version)

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!"

46 And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.

50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.

51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful

55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors."

The communion of saints, Matthew Henry says, "It is very good for those who have the work of grace begun in their souls, to communicate one to another." How wonderful for a teenage girl to be able to have someone who believes her and lives the same goal to honor the Lord. It must have been difficult for Mary, no biblical recognition is given to Mary's family except Elizabeth and, later, Joseph.

Matthew 18:20  

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. 

Hebrews 10:25

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

Colossians 3:12-15 

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 

John 13:34-35 

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." 

We all have seasons. I was remembering Alexander, our youngest son, loved to Acolyte and to be a helper with the young children in Sunday School.

Christmas comes in so many seasons.

How to share Christmas?
After 5 Decades, Sharing Christmas by adding up how many seasons Christmas has.

Giving - Windows to see Slices of Christmas Seasons.

Usual Christmas!!! - To continue forever!!!  ~ Until my parents divorced when I was in College. We suddenly didn't have home or family and long near friends ~ to have the always the same Christmas. We were guests with hard circumstances. Blessed, Blessed, Blessed by our Godmother Marilyn. Blessed by Cousins. We knew kindness and sadness. This was a Season. And a Learning Experience of the kindness shown to the very grateful at Christmas.

Young Newlyweds learning all family traditions with so many places to go.
My New Family. My Cousins. My Mother. So many, many places to Go. Uncie's  Blessed and Blessed.
A New Joy.
Endless Happiness fo follow.... A Season.

New and first baby - severely ill  in the Hospital. Son~ Found to be going to live Christmas Day. Turning 30 years old this Christmas time. A terrible Christmas needing prayer became a wonderful miraculous Christmas filled with God's Goodness.  Watching many new in law siblings and happy, happy well toddlers showing promises of Christmas to arrive with happy, happy nieces and nephews.

Ups and Downs

A year old baby who has had Apnea for a year. Probably escaped SID's. A Christmas with a very bright and loved, amazing son - where the parents felt worn out with worry for blue baby. Pneumonia almost Baby. Cal has a wracking cough again baby. Hernia baby operation. A year of lot's of intense fear. We cried at Christmas for the tense year. We were grateful and not grateful.

Grateful to be going to Christmas Family parties. There had been too much scary parenting.

Financial crisis Christmas. One job is gone. One budget is tight. Still back to Joy Christmas. Joy.

Another son has been added in and there is Much Joy. Christmas has Joy. Christmas is Back!!!
And more to Love. More Light. More Joy. More Joy.

The year Daddy died. The motions are gone through. Too much emotion to blend in effectively. I doubt I said much.

The Next Christmas was recovering from missing the last year from sadness. Grief is usually a two year process. Barely scraping up Cal's Birthday.

Christmas would pick up to be beautiful, beautiful again.

Happy Sons. Happy Husband. Happy me. Joy of Christmas, Christmas. For decades!!!

A move outside of Houston. More car trips - more car trips. A car loaded with happy people going to
happy places. Zoom up Zoom over.  How many amazing sunsets are Christmas. And how many small towns have Great Christian Programming. Christmas Gift!!!



Christmas has the ability to take us from our difficulties and give us a vacation of giving.

Meeting Needs. Christmas - for me - is a Vacation from upset and worry. Let God have the worries. He will carry us. And Father God has.

Suddenly a quiet house with sons in College. Christmas has changed. And a loud house going the Zoom Happy Places and quiet again.

Christmas changes from being the blessed Child. Christmas changes from being the blessed newlywed and new parent going to Warm and Wonderful Family Houses.

Christmas changes again with adult sons. It's a different set of ease.

Meeting Christmas yet to be. Looking with Hope to years to come and family yet to be born.

What I learned from volunteering with young mothers - Christmas is a time for women to meet needs. And in giving we are filled. Christmas is Euphoric. And in the Psychologists who put in and received hours for working with the young mothers - we find out Christmas is not a time of unhappiness. It is a time of great joy of changing life and lives. And in January, reality is the time to reexamine life  - with bills. Reality collided with Christmas hopes.

Charles Dickens knew what he was writing - to learn Christmas in our hearts everyday. To live knowing Christmas is one day.

I learned to plan gifts out.
A schedule brought balance. And the adventure was more year round. And the joy of remembering what was tucked away and re-discovered. Just when you thought someone had been to lightly gifted!!!

The Christmas Adventure of Scheduling brought Christmas year round and it made the fact that Adult Children Christmas of Single Young Men is quieter. The let down was gradual instead of a great jarring lump.

The Christmas All Year Long Project - gets past financial bumps. Gets past Strep Throat. Avoids bills. Is an Adventure. Makes less to do.  Lets you get in the much wanted gift suddenly - added more easily. Helps us skate past bumps of the Season.

And starts again every 364 days. (Some years shops earlier and some starts later - not written in concrete!!!)

And meets January a little better than stressed out.




Have a Blessed Christmas! Need a Biblical Analogy? Isaiah says God planned for Christmas for many, many years!



Abba,

It is a Gift to Remember Christmas. Like seasons, we need our difficult ones to appreciate the Good Ones.

Like Christmas Gifts, how lovely it is to write my memories and the Comfort and Help of Christmas All Year in My Heart. Privileged to Share.

God Bless us This Christmas Everyone!

God guide, surround, encourage, support and give us Souls with Love. To fill us and the ones we Love with Jesus Christ. The kind that says, "I'm ok, bless those around me."

Help us to have more Heaven on earth and give more Heaven.

Giving Thanks seeing us and our Nation swing into Christmas - wanting to bless one another.

Let there be more peace and more Heaven on earth for the Nations looking to Abba. More Blessings on us all around the world looking and praying for more of Jesus Christ, His Heavenly Host and all of Heaven on earth. More of God's Good Will.

God Give us Safety and peace.

Merry Christmas in Jesus Christ.

Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 1:57-68 ~ the time came

Luke 1:57-68

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"


Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.

When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel"(which means, God with us).

24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.




Jesus told people He had come for the Sheep of Israel. We also know the sheep seeing the Heavenly Host were calm enough upon seeing all of Heaven singing  -  the Shepherds left to find Jesus.


Now, indeed indeed indeed - we are mixing the figurative with the literal. For good purpose.


Zechariah is a communicator.
He is a Rabbi and all know he has encountered something of Heaven while in the Temple. And his older wife is successfully given a son. Zechariah is mute and now they are making signs to him as if Zechariah is deaf. The sheep of Israel are displaying being sheep. Life is hurrying past. Yes - it's a miracle child - a son. Sure, yep, an angel visited. Something is wrong with the Rabbi - make signs. These are the people who have taken time to show up for this miraculous birth. The Sheep have not taken time to consider the events all the way through. They have a snapshot and are ready to roll on.

Zechariah is a communicator, a teacher, a Rabbi. Zechariah writes what is important. "His name is John." No time is wasted on reproach. The question is answered. Zechariah is mute on the day his son is born. We know suppressing emotion (frustrations of being mute, wonder upon Elizabeth's health) can lead to Hostilities. Zechariah is at terms with all that has occurred. The Teacher is the Comforter and solution is the - step that arrives next. The Problem is Solved.

Zechariah is given 'his voice' back.

Did Zechariah consider his words and the right solution presented? We are not told the emotions leading up to the miracle of restoration. We know instead the actions. Just as the Story of Luke 1 and Luke 2. Emotions are secondary. Actions are first. And we find healing occurs.

The Joy of God with us has crowded out - emotion.

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people"

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

And All His Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

God with us.


Being a Sheep of Israel by adoption of Jesus - this Chapter reminds me, we can blunder making signs at a hearing Rabbi and we are still given the Miracle. Father God does not withhold from the uninformed, the mistaken, the busy or the naive. We are Given the Miracle. We are Given Jesus. God is not First Prize takes all. God is the Shepherd who is looking out for the least of us. The little lamb wandering around is not to be forgotten.


Even seeing Zechariah writing down, "John." The Mercy of God permeates all of the events. Blessings are Everywhere. Even to those who need the Blessing pointed out to them. We all need a few pointers.

Father God, Abba,

We are so Glad You are God. We look to You for Your Willing, Lavish and Abundant Blessings. As we connect the A parts of Life to the B parts of Life and hunt for the C part of Life.

Thank You for Being our God. Thank You for Jesus.

Help us each day to walk in Your Good Works knowing The Blessing of Salvation is a Gift.

Gift this Nation trusting in You to know Your Love and Good Pleasure. Bless us, we ask, during this Holy Season. In ways we could not even know to ask or imagine. Being Blessed to know this Prayer is Your's and goes further with You.

Bless the people knowing to ask with the Holy Spirit for more Heaven upon earth. And to have the faith to believe You will do as Jesus as asked us to Pray.

Covering this day and all those we Love with the Name and Salvation of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 91 ~ His Faithfulness is a Shield and Buckler +

One family member ate a Christmas ornament - make that two family members ate Christmas ornaments. Practice Christmas safety.

The second one was me, before I was two years old - I ate a glass Christmas ornament off of the tree in France. Due to language barriers, the French doctor induced vomiting immediately, he then returned me and had found an interpreter. With all Ipecac accomplished, the interpreter was pretty horrified. With the deed done, my father and the doctor agreed to talk the next day if necessary. Fortunately, not anything happened.

When the other person in our family ate a silver colored ornament, we sat in the waiting room for hours and hours and hours and I began to beg to know why the non-talking toddler did this. As boredom persisted, I cried and he reached in to his mouth and showed me the ornament he had been chewing on, but never swallowed. Immediately, we returned home.

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place-- the Most High, who is my refuge-- 10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. 

14 "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 

15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

We become so familiar with The Christmas Story, we do well to remind ourselves to see how many Miracles God was doing. Our Father God is Perfectly Able.

Let's be Blessings Finders. Only God could do all of this:

A Virgin. A Father, who was poor, engaged his daughter to the Son of David line. She tells her father an Angel has visited. Mary is allowed to leave with haste to visit family.

1. Mary has escaped being stoned to death by her father. Honor allows this. This is not all that unusual.

2. Her cousin is 6 months pregnant and has the same Angel story. God has given Mary credibility. This sounds improbable and yet stands to the Sanhedrin Council. How Credible - the father is a Rabbi. This occurred in the Temple itself. Really? The Rabbi couple are past the child bearing years.

3. What do Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, think of Mary's story? They are having her into their home.

4. Joseph is the Son of Kings of Israel - is he going to stone his betrothed? He has considered this. And has decided to divorce her instead. Mary has been shown mercy.

5. The Angel returns to Joseph in a dream. Miracle.

6. Joseph has decided the dream is a Gift of God and will act upon this. Free Will is working with Mercy. In an ego and heart wrenching time.

7. Joseph decides to take Mary on an 80 mile trip for tax purposes. Her family does not offer to decline the journey of the betrothed couple.

8. Jesus is born not on the side of the road.

9. A barn is not germ free. Mother and child survive.

10. Shepherds visit with miraculous tidings. Having been with animals. Childbirth is far from safe.

11. Mary and Joseph present their son to the Temple. In an age where tribes are known and also your father is known as your last name - Mary and Joseph have wonderful greetings for an unwed (as yet) pregnancy involving Angels.

12. The Marriage takes place. (The Marriage thrives. Other children arrive.) Considering all the difficulty - this is a miracle.

13. The family travels. An unsafe thing to do. For water and food problems. Because of Burglary. To non-kosher Egypt. This would involve sea travel. Germs on ships are notorious. Taking an infant to an area His Mother would not have built antibodies for.

14. They travel back to Judea.

15. They overcome Herod's idea to kill Jesus. From Soothsaying by astronomy. And they survive Herod's Successor.



God has taken them Past 15 or more perilous events.

Is this story in doubt?

1. Not according to The Bible.

2. Several Eyewitness Accounts of the Gospels.

3. According to Isaiah. Prophetically. Even with Nations shall come to the arrival of God's Light, explaining the Magi.

4. The accepted truths of James and Jude - Brothers of Jesus. The Gospel of John who lived with Jesus' Mother, Mary. The two verses in the Gospels explaining that all of Nazareth knew the family of Mary and Joseph.

5. Complete with the commentary of the Historically available Sanhedrin Council discussing the unusual events. Rudely.

6. The Histories written by Josephus of Judea and of 5 Roman Emperors.

7. The Shape of the History of the Roman Empire concerning Jesus Christ.

8. The written Histories of the Disciples and their Disciples. Mark and Polycarp and Timothy. Luke.

9. Countless Changed lives.

Your cares and prayers are well within God's abilities and His Heart. With so many ways His Plan could have been deviated or not accomplished - we see Father God has a plan.

What is the Shield and Buckler?
We know in life, when we face hard crossroads of death, stoning, robbers, familial severe stress, medical death, intense pain of travelling at pregnant week 40, the sadness of a family letting a betrothed woman to travel like this. The need for a hasty departure. We know this causes intense stress and worry.

The Shield and Buckler is evident, the Bible does not tell of the emotional toil. Many times we find crying and despair and intense prayer. This simply isn't recorded. Unto them a Child was Given. Wonderful. During a time of Labor - near death - this is forgotten in the Joy of a Child. God is our Shield and Buckler. Through generations, in all seasons, God gives us strong help in our life.

God Himself tells us our prayers are important to Him. God is our Shield and Buckler. Like the arms of Moses, God is our Help and Comfort.

Let us vacation from our cares and troubles, allowing A Child To Be Given To Us. God Himself, Our Father in Jesus is our Shield and Buckler.


Abba,

This is well-known set of events. And it was perilous. Completely unlikely for fathers and princes to arrive at Jesus by free will. And yet this is a prayer going around the world every day, for Your help.

And for prayers needed of shaky faith improbability, we all have. Knowing how well You make all Things Possible. 

We are Grateful for Your Shield and Your Buckler, Father God.

We ask Your willing blessings. For ourselves and the ones we love.

When You stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the Name of Your Holy Son, Jesus.

Because of Jesus Christ, we will see Mountains move. And the Impossible will happen. You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.

We reach out to touch Jesus - to touch His Heart by asking You in the Name of Jesus, we ask More Heaven upon earth.

For all of our Cares - we Lift to Jesus.

For all of our Loved ones - we Lift to Jesus.

For all of our Nation trusting in You - we Lift to Jesus.

For the Nations around the world looking to Jesus - we ask Your Blessing of Heaven on earth.

Saying thank You for hearing the prayers of Your Beloved world round.

Blessings of Christmas. In Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †