Luke 1:39-55 ~ glorifies the Lord

Mary and Elizabeth painted by Carl Heinrich Bloch

Luke 1:39-55

~ (Today's New International Version)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Matthew 18:20  

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

Hebrews 10:25

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

Colossians 3:12-15 

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

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

John 13:34-35 

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

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

Christmas comes in so many seasons.

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

Giving - Windows to see Slices of Christmas Seasons.

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

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

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

Ups and Downs

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christmas would pick up to be beautiful, beautiful again.

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And meets January a little better than stressed out.




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



Abba,

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

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

God Bless us This Christmas Everyone!

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

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

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

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

God Give us Safety and peace.

Merry Christmas in Jesus Christ.

Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 1:57-68 ~ the time came

Luke 1:57-68

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John."

61 And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name."

62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.

63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John."

And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" 

For the hand of the Lord was with him.

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68
 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people"


Matthew 1:18-25

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

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

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

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

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




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


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


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

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

Zechariah is given 'his voice' back.

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

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

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

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

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

God with us.


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


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

Father God, Abba,

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

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

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

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

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

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

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 91 ~ His Faithfulness is a Shield and Buckler +

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

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

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

Psalm 91

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14. They travel back to Judea.

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



God has taken them Past 15 or more perilous events.

Is this story in doubt?

1. Not according to The Bible.

2. Several Eyewitness Accounts of the Gospels.

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. Countless Changed lives.

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

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

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

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

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


Abba,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For all of our Cares - we Lift to Jesus.

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

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

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

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

Blessings of Christmas. In Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

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

Biblical?

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

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

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



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


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

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

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




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




Thinking about Luke 2...

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

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

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

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



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

John 5:17

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



Abba, 

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

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

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

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

Reprint from 12/6/2017
with additional

Luke 1:66-79

For the hand of the Lord was with him.

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

68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that
we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we,
being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace."




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

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

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

And what pleases God...

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

Abundantly. Abundantly. Abundantly.

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


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

Zechariah entered the Temple.

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

Probably, Zechariah looked at the beautiful floors.

And going into The Temple.

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

Zechariah has evidenced God is Forgiving and all God.

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

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

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

The mercy promised is given.

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

And as Gentle.

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

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

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

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

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

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



Mercy and Forgiveness, The Graciousness of God Abound.

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

\

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

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

What seems Improbable?

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

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

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

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

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

Abba,

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

 Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †