Genesis 14 ~ they also carried off Abram's nephew Lot

Code of Hammurabi - Stele c. 1800 B.C.

Genesis 14

1 At this time Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim 2 went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim 6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert. 7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazazon Tamar.

8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. 11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

13 One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.

17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.

20 And blessed be God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand."
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself."

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share."

Hammurabi was the king of Babylon, around 1800 BC, at the time of Abraham, & is identified by scholars as the "Amraphel" of the Bible (Genesis 14:1).

Dr. G. A. Barton, professor of Semitic languages at the University of Pennsylvania, stated that while there are similarities between the Hammurabi Stele and the laws of Moses, an entire study of both laws "convinces the student that the laws of the Old Testament are in no essential way dependent upon the Babylonian laws." He states that "such resemblances" arose from "a similarity of antecedents and of general intellectual outlook" between the two cultures, but that "the striking differences show that there was no direct borrowing."

The Hammurabi stele is a structure for the laws, with each offense receiving a specified punishment. The punishments tended to be very harsh, with offenses resulting in death, disfigurement, or retaliation. Even though the people were mostly illiterate, putting the laws into writing suggested the laws were above the power of any earthly king to change. There is no provision for extenuating circumstances to altering prescribed punishment.


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Isaiah 60 ~ I am the Lord

Isaiah 60

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
3 And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.

4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
5 Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult, [1]
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6 A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.
7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you;
the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
they shall come up with acceptance on my altar,
and I will beautify my beautiful house.

8 Who are these that fly like a cloud,
and like doves to their windows?
9 For the coastlands shall hope for me,
the ships of Tarshish first,
to bring your children from afar,
their silver and gold with them,
for the name of the Lord your God,
and for the Holy One of Israel,
because he has made you beautiful.

10 Foreigners shall build up your walls,
and their kings shall minister to you;
for in my wrath I struck you,
but in my favor I have had mercy on you.
11 Your gates shall be open continually;
day and night they shall not be shut,
that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations,
with their kings led in procession.
12 For the nation and kingdom
that will not serve you shall perish;
those nations shall be utterly laid waste.
13 The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,
the cypress, the plane, and the pine,
to beautify the place of my sanctuary,
and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14 The sons of those who afflicted you
shall come bending low to you,
and all who despised you
shall bow down at your feet;
they shall call you the City of the Lord,
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15 Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,
with no one passing through,
I will make you majestic forever,
a joy from age to age.
16 You shall suck the milk of nations;
you shall nurse at the breast of kings;
and you shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior
and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

17 Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
and instead of iron I will bring silver;
instead of wood, bronze,
instead of stones, iron.
I will make your overseers peace
and your taskmasters righteousness.
18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land,
devastation or destruction within your borders;
you shall call your walls Salvation,
and your gates Praise.

19 The sun shall be no more
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give you light; [2]
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory. [3]
20 Your sun shall no more go down,
nor your moon withdraw itself;
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of mourning shall be ended.
21 Your people shall all be righteous;
they shall possess the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
that I might be glorified. [4]
22 The least one shall become a clan,
and the smallest one a mighty nation;
I am the Lord;
in its time I will hasten it.

Footnotes
[1] 60:5 Hebrew your heart shall tremble and grow wide
[2] 60:19 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Targum add by night
[3] 60:19 Or your beauty
[4] 60:21 Or that I might display my beauty

A Blessed Ephiphany for you. Tonight our church, HopePointe Anglican, held our monthly Wednesday night service for healing and prayer. We were lifting up especially a church family member, Jeff. Jeff, 20 years old, was in a serious auto accident on December 29th and is the Neurology ICU after 3 surgeries.

It was a beautiful service with amazing light coming from the candles all over the chancel and the chapel. The Poinsettas were so beautiful. The sermon was about the Light of Jesus from John 1.

Lots of young adults came to the healing service. When the service was over, our Pastor invited people to stay and come up the communion rail for more prayer. No one left. Jeff's parents and brother came up for family prayer. The communion rail became very crowded, several times over. It was a blessed evening filled with the Light of Christ.

As everyone slowly began to make their way back to their seats, Steve & Maggie, Jeff's parents, motioned for Jeff's friend - the driver of the accident - to come to the rail with them. Steve is a big bear of a man. They knelt at the rail, Steve stood up, threw his arms around the young man who has so injured Steve's own son and forgave the young man. A crowded church, weeping softly, began to cry in earnest. That is Jesus. Tonight we were blessed.

May God in His Glory give Jeff the chance to run and not walk. Give Jeff the blessing of a wedding day to marry a beautiful woman, who loves the Lord. The opportunity to put his own son into Steve and Maggie's arms. May the Lord smile His blessing on them. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

(Link to post updating on Jeff's condition)

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Joshua 3:14-4:7 ~ as soon as

Joshua 3:14-4:7 ~ (New American Bible)

14 The people struck their tents to cross the Jordan, with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant ahead of them. 15 No sooner had these priestly bearers of the ark waded into the waters at the edge of the Jordan, which overflows all its banks during the entire season of the harvest, 16 than the waters flowing from upstream halted, backing up in a solid mass for a very great distance indeed, from Adam, a city in the direction of Zarethan; while those flowing downstream toward the Salt Sea of the Arabah disappeared entirely. Thus the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 While all Israel crossed over on dry ground, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD remained motionless on dry ground in the bed of the Jordan until the whole nation had completed the passage.


Joshua 4:1-7

1 After the entire nation had crossed the Jordan, 2 the LORD said to Joshua, "Choose twelve men from the people, one from each tribe, 3 and instruct them to take up twelve stones from this spot in the bed of the Jordan where the priests have been standing motionless. Carry them over with you, and place them where you are to stay tonight."

4 Summoning the twelve men whom he had selected from among the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 Joshua said to them: "Go to the bed of the Jordan in front of the ark of the LORD, your God; lift to your shoulders one stone apiece, so that they will equal in number the tribes of the Israelites. 6 In the future, these are to be a sign among you. When your children ask you what these stones mean to you, 7 you shall answer them, 'The waters of the Jordan ceased to flow before the ark of the covenant of the LORD when it crossed the Jordan.' Thus these stones are to serve as a perpetual memorial to the Israelites."

It was an instant miracle, the Jordan parted like the Red Sea. Only it wasn't so sudden, one generation of Israel had passed away, the Lord waited 40 years for the Ark to pass through the Jordan River. In the Lord's time and to serve His purpose, miracles occur. The Lord expects His people to be a holy people.

When God's time was right:

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ (English Standard Version)
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Footnote:
Scripture for Today Blogspot included an article interviewing Archaeologist Dr. James Pritchard, University of Pennsylvania, about the archaeology discovery of this biblical city, Zarethan. Please see - Joshua 3 ~ the waters rose in heap very far away

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Matthew 2:1-12 ~ Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?

Matthew 2:1-12 ~ (New Revised Standard Version)

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.' "

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.


Isaiah 60

1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.

3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

4 "Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the arm.

5 Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy;
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
to you the riches of the nations will come.

6 Herds of camels will cover your land,
young camels of Midian and Ephah.
And all from Sheba will come,
bearing gold and incense
and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.

Remember singing We Three Kings from Orient are. No. Nada. Maybe.

~ wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?"

They were from the East and followed the brightness of the star. Isaiah, in chapter 60, agrees & may tell us more than Matthew 2. Nations came to the brightness of Jesus, the nations mentioned are Midian, Ephah and Sheba - these are all the descendants of Abraham with:

Genesis 25:1-4
Abraham took another wife (after Sarah died), whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. 3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan; the descendants of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.

Although Abraham called Keturah his wife, he endowed their sons as if they were sons of concubines:

All these were the children of Keturah. 5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6 But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.

Jesus went to the Samaritan woman, John 4, and declares openly He is the Messiah, long before revealing this to His disciples. Jesus, probably, went so quickly and openly to the Samaritans atoning for the way they were pushed out of the temple and temple worship when the remnant returned from Babylonian slavery. The Samaritans had tried to keep the Temple place going to the best of their ability and knowledge. The returning remnant were afraid to offend God with make-do religion.

Men are called from the East to be part of the birth of Jesus in Matthew 2. Isaiah 60 lists nations from the East, Midian and Ephah are East. Gold came from the gold mines of Sheba. They are the children of Abraham excluded from the tree of Abraham. Just as Jesus is from the branch of Jesse (David) by the word of the Lord.

Jesus is the Light to all nations, because He gathers us to HIM.

If Isaiah says in Chapter 60:3 they are kings, I am willing to believe they were kings. Perhaps their kingship occurs later than Matthew heard in Chapter 2. Or perhaps they are kings because Scripture tells us true nobility seeks the Lord.

Remember what Luke says about Mary and the early days of Jesus:

Luke 2:19
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

That is a good phrase for today... pondered in our heart... wise men still seek Him.

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James 3:13-18 ~ wisdom from heaven

Jesus pulls Peter from the sea, by David Childers


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.

For the last month, wisdom from heaven, or spiritual wisdom has been my prayer for my family. We've reached the point where my sons are 18 and 21, these are young adults trying on their own life to fit. Even King Solomon missed out on spiritual wisdom. 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?

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Philippians 2:5-11 ~ being born in human likeness

Jesus Christ, painted by Mary Seward

Philippians 2:5-11 (New Revised Standard Version)

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

I asked my, newly, 21 year old son if he wanted to live in a rural area, suburbia or a really urban life. I thought if he clearly saw a path, he might be able to move his major in college into the right career path. He said he wanted different things on different days, and he'd see what came his way. One of my favorite analogies of life, it's like a leaky rowboat, put all your effort in going one direction and another area will spring a leak. But my son is right, plan to see what comes your way, prayerfully, is sometimes appropriate.

God chose the particular time Jesus was born, Jesus had choices. God brought His Son to Israel, prayerful people, but not everyone recognized him as God.

The disciple Paul went to Lystra, in Turkey, and said to a crippled man:

Acts 14:7-11

~ where they continued to preach the good news. In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.

When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!"

One man with faith immediately caused others to realize, this is not just any name! It is God! Let's ask Father God for 2010 to be remembered as a time the light of Christ shone brightly.

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Psalm 96 ~ marvelous works among all the peoples

Psalm 96 ~ (English Standard Version) - Listen

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; [holy attire]
tremble before him, all the earth!

10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.

This is the last day of 2009, we will ask the Lord that 2010 will be the year we declare His glory among the nations and His marvelous works among all the peoples!

Thank you Father, for seeing us through 2009.

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2 John 1 ~ a full reward

2 John 1 ~ (Revised Standard Version)

[1] The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth, [2] because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us for ever:

[3] Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.

[4] I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children following the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. [5] And now I beg you, lady, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. [6] And this is love, that we follow his commandments; this is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you follow love.

[7] For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. [8] Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward. [9] Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. [10] If any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting; [11] for he who greets him shares his wicked work.

[12] Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink, but I hope to come to see you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

[13] The children of your elect sister greet you.

Yesterday we looked at the historical aspect of Jesus; even in the century Jesus was grace and truth dwelling among us, His disciple John already knew people who denied Jesus had lived. But the truth continued to prevail. The light shining from Jesus continued to shine. The Church was built on Peter's bones & an Empire was changed as Christians lived their faith. Today, we as Christians still see what John saw, a world that doubts Jesus Christ lives and can make a difference. The people of faith have it within them to live the light of Christ.

Denver Moore was a black, homeless man in Fort Worth, a man without anything. He grew to care for one of the most hateful old men in the homeless shelter. As Denver went out of his way to bring the man food and clean up after the invalid, Denver heard about his hatred for blacks and Christians. The old man had been driven to the shelter to be dumped out of the car by his family. Denver had not expected any reward, but the reward was the Lord's. After more than 80 years of hate, an abandoned old man was led to Christ by another homeless man. Denver Moore, a man without education or property, allowed the abandoned old man to fully live and accept the unrelenting love of Jesus Christ. How was Denver able to care for him past the hate? Denver had been given the same relentless love at a Christian Homeless Shelter. One person worked to make the light of Christ shine for Denver.

The book "Same as Different than Me" has two chapters online & well worth the effort! Link This will be released in 2010 as movie made with Samuel Jackson playing Denver Moore.

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Please pray for God's healing for 20 year old Jeff. He was in an auto accident last night and is fighting for his life. The left side of his brain has been severely damaged, with brain surgery and brain swelling. Please pray for the peace of Jesus Christ for his parents and family during this difficult time.

Please see the link to his prayer service.

1/9 - Jeff's surgery went well! He was brought out of his induced coma. Jeff can understand words, focus on faces, move his arms and legs, but feels afraid today. It would be hard to wake up suddenly. A blessing for a young man who wasn't expected to live! Please continue to pray for Jeff.

2/7 -Jeff's Mom wrote:
Jeff is doing well. God has so blessed us. I still cannot wrap my mind around the fact that 6 weeks ago this coming Tuesday we weren’t sure Jeff was going to live and we were counting time by the hours…now Jeff is looking at a productive future and a lifetime of love and happiness. Jeff is a true testament to the many prayers for healing, comfort and peace.

Peace
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Prayer Request

Please join me in praying for a young friend with 3 small children. Unemployment has followed their family, for the last 2 years, through several industries and many jobs. The older parents have experienced unemployment (the grandparents have helped as much as they can) and the young father & mother have worked in several failed industries. My friend was printing photos of their 3 children at Christmas, when I ran into her. She said she and her husband are grateful to have each other, but next month they won't be able to make their house payment or bills. She has asked for prayer.

If you feel led to help:
Our pastor, Reverend Clark Lowenfield, has asked our church family for donations for the Pastor's Discretionary Fund. Clark Lowenfield, Lead Pastor of HopePointe Church in can be found at 3333 South Panther Creek Drive The Woodlands, Texas 77381
Church Office Phone: (281) 362-1144.
http://www.hopepointe.org/


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Matthew 1:18-25 ~ Holy Spirit

Matthew 1:18-25 ~ (American Standard Version)

18 Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.

20 Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. 21 She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us."

24 When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. 25 He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

There is no doubt Jesus lived, was discussed and written about by pagan governments, historical sources and Sanhedrin Council documents. Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman Historian c. 120 AD, affirms the founder of Christianity, a man he calls Chrestus (common misspelling of Christ) was executed by Pilate, the procurator of Judea during the reign of the Roman Emperor Tiberius. Pliny the Younger was the Governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor (AD. 112), was responsible for executing Christians for not worshipping or bowing down to a statue of the Emperor Trajan. Pliny wrote about manipulating their faith enough to trap Christians. In a letter to the Emperor Trajan, he describes how the people on trial for being Christians would sing songs to Christ because he was God. Some time after 70 A.D., Mara Bar-Sarapion, a Syrian philosopher, wrote a letter to his son describing how the Jews executed their King.

People get into a huge muddle about creation, virgin birth and the Holy Spirit. It isn't something I wonder about much, I know after seeing several impossible miracles occur, involving impossible healing, that with God all things are possible.

Genesis 1:1-3
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

John 1:3,4
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

How?

John 1:13
children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

600 years before Jesus Christ was born, Isaiah told of the Holy Spirit in Jesus:

Isaiah 11:1-4
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -

3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;

4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.


Luke 10:21
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure."

Ecclesiastes 3:11-15
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

15 Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.

May it be as it was almost 2,000 years ago.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Luke 2:40-52 ~ back to Jerusalem

Young Jesus in a Synagogue, by Yuriy Nosenko

Luke 2:40-52 (New Revised Standard Version)

And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety."

He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

Jesus, being God, is only going forward. Jesus knows His direction and longs to gather all flawed people to His Father.

Luke 13:34
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

I can plainly see myself in Mary & Joseph; I've been so intent on Christmas, Christmas kindness, Christmas preparation, Christmas for friends, Christmas for family, Christmas car trip, that last night Christ was not part of my Post-Christmas melt down. I left Christ at Church and plowed down my own path. It was a tense Christmas - relatives not feeling so merry - had several unkind speeches to give to me. I felt it was very unkind & truthfully it was. So, I stored up all that unkindness aimed at me and blasted my family when we were home.

It is good to have the Scriptures for a road map. Mary & Joseph, on the religious pilgrimage, lose Jesus. Jesus didn't say, like I did, where were you while I was getting the brunt of it? Jesus didn't say, hey, I am important too. Jesus didn't say I deserved more and better and first? Jesus didn't sulk all the way back to Nazareth either.

Jesus waited patiently for Mary and Joseph, busy doing what His Father wanted. Jesus allowing time for Mary & Joseph, knowing they are on a journey that literally goes back and forth. Jesus continuing to act as God's radiant love. Jesus is my hero. Maybe some day, I will act more like Jesus. I know He will wait patiently for me.

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Psalm 31:3-8,17-21 ~ Thou hast redeemed me

Psalm 31:3-8,17-21

3 Yea, thou art my rock and my fortress; for thy name's sake lead me and guide me,
4 take me out of the net which is hidden for me, for thou art my refuge.
5 Into thy hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

6 Thou hatest those who pay regard to vain idols; but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will rejoice and be glad for thy steadfast love, because thou hast seen my affliction, thou hast taken heed of my adversities,
8 and hast not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; thou hast set my feet in a broad place.

17 Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I call on thee; let the wicked be put to shame, let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be dumb, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.
19 O how abundant is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for those who fear thee, and wrought for those who take refuge in thee, in the sight of the sons of men!
20 In the covert of thy presence thou hidest them from the plots of men; thou holdest them safe under thy shelter from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was beset as in a besieged city.

~

Exodus 15:13
"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Nehemiah 1:10
They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.

Job 33:28
He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.

Luke 1:68
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.

Peter 1:18
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers

Redemption is different from life. Life has triumphant times & difficulty. Life rarely rests in one angle, but redemption is constant victory. God has paided the price for our redemption. Redemption doesn't guarantee happiness, but redemption requires gratitude. Finding gratitude is one of the best highways to peace, serving others & finding kindness in a tight corner.

Remember 10 lepers were healed, but always pray to be the one who returned to Praise God!

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John 1 ~ the Light shines

A country Church Christmas

The Church of the Nativity celebrates Christmas Day in Bethlehem - Link


John 1:1-14,17,29-35 ~ (Today's New International Version)

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.

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

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!"


This is is my favorite chapter of the Bible, John 1. The gospels written by Mark and John are sometimes compared without kindness, at Christmas, to the narrative of Jesus Christ's birth written beautifully in Luke and Matthew. But actually Mark speaks of a wilderness wanting to be tamed and John speaks of light coming out of darkness. Isn't this the deepest desire for Jesus Christ?

Christmas can bring forth all of our deepest longings. Matthew begins with an engagement, the most important choice in life. Luke begins with a barren priest. God addresses all of these concerns by reaching out to hear, to heal, to love and to care. For all of our seasons in life, God is part of them. Just as God watched, with love, each day of Jesus' life on earth, the Light continues to shine for us.

The Peace of God always be with you.

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Isaiah 40 ~ Have you not heard?

Isaiah 40 ~ Listen! Type in Isaiah 40

1 Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins.

3 A voice of one calling:
"In the wilderness prepare
the way for the LORD;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.

5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

6 A voice says, "Cry out."
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All people are like grass,
and all human faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.

7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever."

9 You who bring good news to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
"Here is your God!"

10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,
and his arm rules for him.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.

11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
or weighed the mountains on the scales
and the hills in a balance?

13 Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD,
or instruct the LORD as his counselor?

14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him,
and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
or showed him the path of understanding?

15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
they are regarded as dust on the scales;
he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.

17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by him as worthless
and less than nothing.

18 With whom, then, will you compare God?
To what image will you liken him?

19 As for an idol, a metal worker casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and fashions silver chains for it.

20 People too poor to present such an offering
select wood that will not rot.
They look for a skilled worker
to set up an idol that will not topple.

21 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

23 He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.

24 No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

25 "To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.

27 Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do you say, Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

May the LORD, the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, the one incomparable God, give us strength & renew us for the coming new year, that we may soar in His Glory!

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Psalm 89 ~ I will establish

Adoration of the Shepherds, painted by Gerard van Honthorst

Psalm 89:1-5,27-29 ~ (American Standard Version)

1 I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
2 I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
3 You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:
4 'I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.'" Selah
5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.
27 I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
28 Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him, and my covenant with him will stand firm.
29 I will establish his line forever, and his throne as long as the heavens endure.


Psalm 89 ~ (Today's New International Version)

I will sing of the LORD's great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
through all generations.
2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
3 You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant,
4 'I will establish your line forever
and make your throne firm through all generations.'"
5 The heavens praise your wonders, LORD,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.

6 For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD?
Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?
7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.
8 Who is like you, LORD God Almighty?
You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
9 You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;
with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
you founded the world and all that is in it.
12 You created the north and the south;
Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.
13 Your arm is endued with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, LORD.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long;
they exult in your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favor you exalt our horn.
18 Indeed, our shield belongs to the LORD,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19 Once you spoke in a vision,
to your faithful people you said:
"I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
I have raised up a young man from among the people.
20 I have found David my servant;
with my sacred oil I have anointed him.
21 My hand will sustain him;
surely my arm will strengthen him.
22 No enemy will get the better of him;
no wicked person will oppress him.
23 I will crush his foes before him
and strike down his adversaries.
24 My faithful love will be with him,
and through my name his horn will be exalted.
25 I will set his hand over the sea,
his right hand over the rivers.
26 He will call out to me, 'You are my Father,
my God, the Rock my Savior.'
27 And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,
the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
28 I will maintain my love to him forever,
and my covenant with him will never fail.
29 I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.
30 "If his sons forsake my law
and do not follow my statutes,
31 if they violate my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,
32 I will punish their sin with the rod,
their iniquity with flogging;
33 but I will not take my love from him,
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
34 I will not violate my covenant
or alter what my lips have uttered.
35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—
and I will not lie to David—
36 that his line will continue forever
and his throne endure before me like the sun;
37 it will be established forever like the moon,
the faithful witness in the sky."
38 But you have rejected, you have spurned,
you have been very angry with your anointed one.

39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant
and have defiled his crown in the dust.
40 You have broken through all his walls
and reduced his strongholds to ruins.
41 All who pass by have plundered him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 Indeed, you have turned back the edge of his sword
and have not supported him in battle.
44 You have put an end to his splendor
and cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with a mantle of shame.

46 How long, LORD? Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember how fleeting is my life.
For what futility you have created all humanity!
48 Who can live and not see death,
or who can escape the power of the grave?

49 Lord, where is your former great love,
which in your faithfulness you swore to David?

50 Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked,
how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,
51 the taunts with which your enemies, LORD, have mocked,
with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.

52 Praise be to the LORD forever!
Amen and Amen.

Genesis 49:10
The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until he comes to whom it belongs
and the obedience of the nations is his.

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you [a] a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and [b] will call him Immanuel. [c]

Footnotes:
a.Isaiah 7:14 The Hebrew is plural. Signs.
b.Isaiah 7:14 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and he or and they
c.Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel means God with us.

Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Genesis 49:10
The Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah

Deuteronomy 18:15-18
15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.16 For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die." 17 The LORD said to me: "What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.

Isaiah 35:4-6
4 say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert

Isaiah 49:13-16
13 Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. 14 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." 15 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! 16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

Isaiah 50:6
I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.

Isaiah 53:1-3
1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Isaiah 53:9
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Jeremiah 23:5
"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land."

Isaiah was 600 years before Jesus Christ. When Jesus was born, He was not recognized, the people were looking for a king born and conquering. Father, we your faithful, ask for you to open our hearts, direct our labor and inspire our voices. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Have a Blessed Christmas.

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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 (New International Version)
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

Acts 4:32
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.

1 John 1:3-4

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

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."

Psalm 34:5
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

Today our 4 & 5 year olds had unplanned communion of the saints! They came in after communion wearing new white cardboard angel wings trimmed with gold garland. They were so precious and went to the steps of the chancel, before our altar, to have their photo taken. Hearing the praise of our Pastor and the church family appreciate them, they didn't go back to their parents but climbed the steps of the chancel and congregated around the Pastor and Deacon, exploring the pulpit and great chairs. No one was exactly sure what would happen next, but the kids were having a great time! My 18 year old son was the Acolyte, it was time to leave, and the kids were so happy to troop behind my athletic "big boy" son, carrying the gold cross, as our Pastor encouraged the "angels" to process out with them. What a way to end the 4th Advent Sunday. Everyone loved it!!

Have a Blessed Christmas!

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Luke 13:31-35 ~ came to Jesus

Luke 13:31-35 ~ (Today's New International Version)

31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you."

32 He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

34 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'

For me, this is exactly why Christmas is so important, the most important blessing in life to Christians. When God chose to live with us and sent His innocent Son to us, He knew about the flaws in all of us. He longs to gather us to Him. And He does so by giving us His Son.

We have all known the sceptical, the half believer. Even Abraham wondered and laughed at God. God would gather all of us to Him.

Nicodemus wanted to know about salvation and went to Jesus to ask, Jesus said:

John 3:16,17

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

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Revelation 10 ~ the book

Revelation 10 ~ (American Standard Version)

1 And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, arrayed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire; 2 and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth; 3 and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 And when the seven thunders uttered their voices , I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. 5 And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven, 6 and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be delay no longer: 7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished they mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets.

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard it again speaking with me, and saying, Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel that standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. 9 And I went unto the angel, saying unto him that he should give me the little book. And he saith unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey. 10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter. 11 And they say unto me, Thou must prophesy again over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.

(aol.com 's lead article today says the U.S. Pentagon has launched project NIMBUS to learn about one of the largest unsolved mysteries - lightning - always considered a weapon of war in Greek mythology - link)

Having sincerely believed in Jesus as my Savior since the age of 16, I've attended a lot of bible studies. I believe Revelation & see it proclaims the ultimate Good News of God's plans, but it puzzles me. I see Revelation echoes Daniel and Zechariah.

Paul talks about God's Kingdom:

2 Corinthians 12:2-4
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.

1 Corinthians 13:12,13
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Just as the biblical scholars of Jesus' day weave in & out of correct & incorrect interpretation of Isaiah about Jesus, so I find Revelation impossible to understand until the day I am called to be with Jesus. Isaiah was lovingly read long before Jesus, I will read Revelation in hope. I will look to the day when I will fully understand.

Christmas is the celebration of God choosing to wade into humanity and live with us. Christmas is the anticipation of Jesus coming to us again.

1 John 4:8b
God is love.

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Matthew 1:18-24 ~ the birth of Jesus the Messiah

The Nativity, painted by Ted Henninger

Matthew 1:18-24
Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

8 Now the birth of Jesus Christ [the Christ] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed [engaged] 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). (Isaiah 7:14)

24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife

Jesus is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning 'God is salvation'.

Mary had choices, the angel heard Mary agree to God's plan. Joseph, also, had choices multiplying after looking for compassion. Jesus had choices as well. Yesterday, we saw Jesus' family come to speak to Him as the trouble promised to increase, today we see the Pharisees wonder if Jesus will flee:

John 7:30-35
Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version
30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. 31 Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?"

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him. 33 Jesus said, "I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come."

35 The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, 'You will look for me, but you will not find me,' and 'Where I am, you cannot come'?"

John 12:19-28
Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!"

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

Jesus, being in the world, was presented with options. Jesus, being God, wanted to fulfill God's plan of salvation. Because Jesus is our atonement, He is our Messiah. Thank you, Father, for the gift of Your Son. Thank you, Jesus, for your willingness to be grace and truth living among us. Thank you, Holy Spirit, You never depart from us.

Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Joshua 1:5
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Proverbs 3:3
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Matthew 28:20
I am with you always


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