Luke 2:21-38 ~ for my eyes have seen your salvation

Luke 2:21-38

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.


22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 

34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Christmas Jesus was born is absolutely inspiring with the help of the Heavenly Hosts of the Lord God Almighty. And then the details and nuts and bolts were carried out for the next 30 years by the people doing the work of believing God.

More comfortable by far - would have been to skip 'the ceremony'. This Jewish community does not have social media - but they are fully accounted for - by their lineage and father, by their tribe, by their town. We see Mary's cousin-in-law comes from 70 miles away for Zechariah to take his turn in line as priest to have duties within the Temple itself.

You betcha - Mary is known as Mary, daughter of Heli, Line of David, Nazareth. And Joseph is known as Line of David, through the Davidic line of Kings, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the 'betrothed' of Mary. The Temple is going to remember Zechariah and the baby John the Baptist.

Shepherds have said:

Luke 2
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.


This action of Joseph and Mary in the Temple is obedience to the Lord God. Surely they had hesitation. And delight. And with the obedience to do all that the Lord God has commanded.

Deuteronomy 5

31 But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’ 32 You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.


Wise advice, in the midst of uncertainty, ask the Lord God to be a refuge and Believe Him.

And in trusting God they would be strong enough to weather the shepherds eagerness to tell and the time frame of Jesus' birth to the Temple Presentation - this was going to be observed. Mary had just given birth after riding a Donkey 80 miles and 8 days later she is now 6 more miles down the road into the Huge Temple with an infant.


What was the reward?

Luke 2

19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about Jesus.


What they would have missed - if they had only been concerned with safety. The rewards are memories not just for their lifetime - but the Gospels we find God's Word lives richly around us still for us to live, love and learn.

Mary and Joseph are trusting God. Doing the work God has called mankind. To believe Him.  John 6: 29.  To not just be the blessed eyes to see God's Salvation. What Joy they must feel to hold the Light of God. Jesus is comfort as King of Kings. God allowing Himself to be so tiny, to be cared for by His Beloved.  Strength.

Our Abba,

This Your creation of Jesus' birth, in this Christmas, is an example of being obedient to God.

You have told us about Love - if we love You, Father God, we will keep Your Commandments.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?"

Jesus has said this about calling on the Name of the Lord God Almighty. "“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Repeating what the Prophet Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice?"

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

James 2:24
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

John 14:21
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will beloved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.

We Celebrate, Rejoice, Draw Strength, Have Joy, Delight and Love for Jesus!!! Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

“For God, our Father, has so loved the world, Abba gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Jesus should not perish but have eternal life!"

We bless You Father, for Jesus. For our loved ones. The people you give us. Prosper, bless, delight, strengthen, embolden, complete, lead, guide, forgive, cherish and help us each day to Please You for the Love You have given us. Let us bless the Lord God. Thanks Be To God for Jesus Christ Our Savior. Amen. Alleluia.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Zephaniah 3:14-20 ~ for the festival

 Zephaniah 3:14-20

14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!

15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.

16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.

17 The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach.

19 Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.

20 At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,” says the Lord.



We have had more company than ever before in the last month. And we have really enjoyed the company who came and the people who are going to be here in the planned upcoming visits.

Can you just IMAGINE the Joy Mary had after she gave birth in a stable?

We have no idea who accompanied Mary the 70 miles to visit the pregnant Elizabeth and Zechariah. One fact will never escape notice - her family is Not recorded beyond the knowledge of the Sadducean Council discussing Jesus and Mary and her family. Line of David through his son Nathan and not the kings. Her father was Heli. Luke 3.

 

 
For the first few weeks - after the Annunciation - it would appear - Mary stood very alone. Doing the Will of God our Father. Mary continued to be the handmaiden of the Lord.


Isaiah 7 tells us Israel / Judea would be farmers and producers of livestock when Jesus arrived. And surely - the first  to be told of God's Good Pleasure - were the Shepherds.

Mary was given Great Joy to ponder as God sent more News of His Favor.

John calls God the God of Love. We should always recognize, like the Shepherds, God's good provision.


And all of these people did provide support to Jesus - Mary, Joseph - yet we must recognize what God gave all of these people - as they gathered - pleasing Father God was this:

Belief
Encouragement
Care
Seeking God first

And none of these people was the Savior except Jesus.

Father God had given Amazing Greetings, Blessings and Announcements for those who for millenniums had hungered and thirsted for righteousness. Blessed where the eyes to behold the salvation of Jesus Christ, Son of God.

God was making the Word of God Manifest.

Life
Light
The Will of God
Glory, Glory as of the only Son from the Father
Full of Grace and Truth

Even as just a tiny, infant Jesus is giving to  these fully grown adults - for from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

Teaching these Adults - to rely upon Jesus. Fellowship from mankind is a reflection of the Light. A joy.

In Jesus Christ we find - All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Father God has provided for them. And yet the Joy of the Lord is their Strength. God placed two small individuals upon the 69 kilometer journey to Bethlehem. They were simply following what those in power told them to do. The powerful were taking a census - for their glorification in taxation, in sheer numbers, in being able to conscribe into the armed forces. And as 'the powerful' did power - the Will of God was truly being accomplished yesterday, today and tomorrow.

By individuals trusting in Jesus, Abba and the Holy Spirit. And the Light came into the World. Bringing the first Christmas into this Christmas.  Teaching us where we will rely and draw upon strength.

1 John 4:4
He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Isaiah 41:10
'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."



Our Abba,

The First Christmas story tells us about lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, heartless, unappeasable.

And a Journey that looked a lot like drudgery. Work a day. Difficulty.

And we find in faith, what was found:

The signs of a true apostle were performed with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. Prophesy and visions, and the dreaming of dreams. And what shall come to pass? And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord, Jesus, shall be saved.’

And in the midst of the small Christ Child - the Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. Our faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. In power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

In in acts of love for God, we will be ready when Jesus calls upon us.

We will lift High to God, our loved ones. The People God has given us. Finding the sufficiency and Joy of God in Each Day. Looking forward to the future with the Joy of God. Knowing in Jesus Christ the Lord, - we all Will finish well trusting in Jesus Christ. Asking the Body of Christ to pray for goodness of God revealed on earth as in Heaven.

A blessed Advent - Preparing for Jesus. Amen.  

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 90 ~ The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

Psalm 90

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.

7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?

12 So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.



13 Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!






10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.


Could be. The Star of David appeals to us - the inner warmth of Jesus indwelling. The Light of our soul. The Eternal.


Puzzles surround the Will of God. The Exodus is repeated in the life of young Jesus in exile in Egypt, precious time away from Israel. His People. And God says even in the Exodus - all people are His. His Children suffered 500 years of slavery and yet left with enough of Egyptian gold to make the entire Temple of gold. God made sure His People were paid for 500 years and then made sure they were in the desert to make gold unappealing. After they refused to just go one more step to claim the Promised Land - never before given to God's People.


Jesus arrives when the suburb of Syria, Judea, is infused with the most wealth the world would see until the Renaissance of 1400 A.D. And yet... the people of God are told in Acts Chapter 1 - salvation is not within their reach - but only within the Knowledge of God. Deep words. Of course, implying, our real freedom is within.

Nothing in this life is very perfect.

God tells us all of His Words are true. All things work for Good - for those who Love God - and work according to His Purpose. The equivalent is in Luke 2 and is always misquoted and yet truly is "“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”


The internal salvation of God. Renews us each day. Telling us of our eternal freedoms.


Our Abba,

After Jesus' suffering was over, Jesus presented Himself to 500 of His beloved and gave many convincing proofs Jesus was alive. For forty days speaking of the Kingdom of God. Jesus was eating with His People. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would arrive to live within them.

This same Jesus will come back in the same way we know Jesus went into Heaven.

We give thanks again, at Christmas, to see the image of a place for Jesus to be the Light of our center. Letting Jesus sweep us in the Plan of God, rejoicing in His Goodness. Today. This day matters to Jesus and we will take all of the sweetness of Today. The goodness of yesterday. The days we laugh in Proverbs 31.

Praying Joy for those we love, for the people God has given us. All the way up to the communion of saints through out eternity for Today.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

John 5:30-47 ~ believe His writings

 

 John 5:30-47

30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.

 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.


39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people.

42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.

47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

Believe in the One Whom God has Sent. Believe His Writings.

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Proverbs 3:6
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Jeremiah 29:11
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.

Fear can keep us up all night long, but faith makes one fine pillow.

Our Abba,

Jesus' Disciples fretted and worried and misunderstood for all their years. Jesus never replaced them. And in the middle of the storms of Life - Jesus was able to rest.

Let us be blessed to have the faith to rest all of life in Your hands.

We give You - our loved ones, our concerns, great thanks for our blessings from Your Willing Love. We give thanks and prayers for our neighborhoods, communities, families, Churches, jobs and ask, as Moses and Aaron did, to be covered in Your Name - Jesus.

Blessings for resting with Faith. Thank You, Abba. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 12 ~ these things

Luke 12

22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 

23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 

24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 

25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 

27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 

29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 

31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you

2 Esdras 7
 Good News Translation of the Apocrypha


1 When I had finished speaking, the same angel that had been sent to me on the earlier nights appeared again.
2 He said, "Stand up, Ezra, and listen to what I have come to tell you."

3 "Go ahead, sir," I said. He continued, "Picture in your mind a broad, immense sea spreading over a vast area,  4 but with an entrance no wider than a river. 5 No one who wishes to enter that sea, whether to visit it or control it, can reach its broad expanse of water without passing through the narrow entrance.


6 Or take another example: Picture a city built on a plain. The city is full of all kinds of good things, 7 but the entrance to it is narrow and steep, with fire on one side and deep water on the other. 8 The one path between the fire and the water is so narrow that only one person at a time may walk on it.

9 If anyone inherits this city, he cannot take possession of his inheritance without passing through this dangerous entrance."

10 "That is right, sir," I said. 

"That is how it is with the people of Israel," he added.

11 "I made this world for their sake, but when Adam broke my commands, the world came under my judgment. 12 Then the entrances into this world were made narrow and difficult to travel. They were rough, dangerous, and few in number.

13 But the entrances to the great world to come are wide and safe and lead to immortality.

14 Everyone who lives must walk the narrow and meaningless ways of this world in order to receive the blessings stored up in the world to come.

15 So, Ezra, why are you upset and disturbed by the thought that you are mortal and must die?
16 Why don't you think about the age to come, rather than the present age?"

17 I answered, "Lord and master, in your Law you said that the righteous would receive all these blessings, but that the wicked would perish.

18 The righteous then can endure all the difficulties of this narrow way because they look forward to the broad and open life of the future, but the wicked must pass through the narrow way without any hope of seeing the broad open life."

19 The angel replied, "Do you think you are a better judge than God? Do you think you are wiser than God Most High?

20 It is better to let many people of the present age perish than to allow them to neglect the Law that God has given them. 21 God has given clear commandments to everyone coming into this world, telling them what they should do to obtain life 




The Throne of God is Emerald and Red.  John tells us in Revelation. Also the Favorite Color of God is Emerald Green.  And found by the Shining Waters.

Holy Days - the time to work for others. The time to be pleased to gather and trust in the Lord God for our times to come. To be grateful for what has been. In times of stress, not to make those big decisions in stress - to lean upon the Lord Father God's wisdom.

To find inner joy. And this Joy of the Lord is our strength.



Nehemiah 8:10 

500 B.C. This History is recorded in parallel form in the Babylonian Chronicles

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."



And This Idea of Fruitful Celebration continues through the Millenniums of those who Love the Lord God our Father.  Father God begins His Creation walking in the Garden.

Our Abba,

We release our concerns, our major decisions. We lean with Joy upon You, You are our strength.

Lifting to You, the gifts we hope Your willingness provides. For ourselves, our families, our loved ones.

We will bundle up seeking warm places. Be the warmth in our souls, feeding our words, our compassion, our ways.

Knowing You provide the eternal, we ask today bring us ways of Joy to bridge from this life to Your Kingdom.

Thank You Father for times of new beginnings and celebrations of Your willingness for 2016.

Jesus is Lord, Father God Reigns, and by the Power of our God of Love, The Holy Spirit dwells in us richly.

Jesus the Lord, Jesus our Holy Lord God. Jesus Lord of Lord, King of Kings. Alleluia Jesus our Righteousness in this season and always. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †