Zechariah 1:7-17 ~ The Lord answered gracious and comforting words

When Jesus taught, He usually sat to talk with His People. Ever since Abraham, God has listened with great interest for prayers of His People especially for Mercy. The Plans and the Ways of God are Good. God's Righteous Justice and Judgment.

Christmas in Bethlehem

Zechariah 1:7-17

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, 8 “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.

9 Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’

10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.’

11 And they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.’

12 Then the angel of the Lord said, ‘O Lord of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’


13 And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. 15 And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster.

16 Therefore, thus says the Lord, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. 17 Cry out again, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’”

Why would God answer graciously and have comforting words?

The heart of the prayer, God would not answer bold and willfulness, nor answer those who do not tremble to blaspheme God in His Glory.

We find this conversation has the following points to consider:

God's opinion is sought and is considered. The Lord God has been sought.

Pride and Arrogance is left behind. Evil doing and folly is not part of the conversation with God. The Anger of God is considered.

Righteousness of God - God did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others.

Why God would answer Abraham. Abraham had mercy for others:

It was God's plan to rescue righteousness - like Lot, who was greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard.) Some of the Biblical accounts said brutal rape and murder. The Bible records truth, not fantasy of the best foot forward.

Our Father God,
The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,
and to keep the unrighteous under punishment.
We are to not to be indulgent
nor despise the authority of God.

Nehemiah 8:9-12

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.”

 For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 

11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 

12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.



As the Word was printed, people became on fire for God. And Christmas Ham was greeted... as a terrible indulgence. Christmas was too joyous.  Too indulgent.

Even today we have people who really Love Jesus and don't like Christmas.

I was raised being told not to be so silly as to think December 25th was Christ's Birthday. After all, Coptic Christians celebrate January 7th. Coptics don't eat meat more than 150 days a year as fasting is part of belief.

How would Jesus deal with the Difference?

The Coptic Church deals with differences - graciously. When in a house - eat the meat.

Mark 6 When Jesus sent His Disciples two by two, Jesus instructed to keep things simple. No Staff for Authority. No dietary bread. No incentive for greed.

8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.

Matthew 10:10
Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.

Luke 22:35
Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered.

When the Opulence seems to erase Christ from Christmas?

Psalm 47

1 Clap your hands, all you nations;

shout to God with cries of joy.

2 For the Lord Most High is awesome,

the great King over all the earth.

3 He subdued nations under us,

peoples under our feet.

4 He chose our inheritance for us,

the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,

the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

7 For God is the King of all the earth;

sing to him a psalm of praise.

8 God reigns over the nations;

God is seated on his holy throne.

9 The nobles of the nations assemble

as the people of the God of Abraham,

for the kings of the earth belong to God

He is greatly exalted.

God placed Jesus with an unwed Mother in a Barn. Jesus lived in Egypt, healed the Canaanite woman's child. The Magi arrived from the East. The New Church held Suzanna from Herod's Household. Simon the Zealot against Rome. Fishermen. Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.

Colossians 4:6
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Abba, our Father God,

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

Blessed be Jesus. Given to us by our Father God. Covering us, covering those we love. Jesus covering all the believers of the world. Jesus guiding the Nation and nations trusting in Him.

Alleluia, we are the people of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!

2 Corinthians 9:7 ~ God loves a cheerful giver

The Full Movie!!!

The Song!!! Sing, Sing, Sing!

The World's Best Sled Dog is black & white and, yet, is not Springer Spaniel - Merit - was and is our's. Merit even survived (for a time) cancer.

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The Video proves Albert Einstein is wrong. His definition of insanity for repetition does not apply: 1. People going to work every day 2. Does not apply to Olympic Athletes and 3. Sledding dogs - who can turn the sled successfully.

2 Corinthians 9:7

God loves a cheerful giver

Do you see what I see?

Take each day and Plant Seeds.

Charles Dickens' "Christmas Carol" Builds a story exactly as we repeat our days to build a life.

We find Fred is Living Christmas and Christ Jesus. Fred invites, and hopefully expects, Uncle Ebeneezer will someday want to attend family Christmas.

We see in 1843, the mid Victorian era, Groups were seeking a donation at Christmas to provide food and heating for the poor.

Mr Fezziwig was a generous employer and treated his people as family.

We find wealth is not the Joy of Christmas. Reading of a joyous market with people buying the makings of Christmas dinner and celebrations of Christmas in a miner's cottage and in a lighthouse. Bob Cratchit's family has a feast and gratitude to have this time. Bob Cratchit's youngest son, Tiny Tim, a happy boy who is seriously ill. Health is not even a impediment to Christmas Joy.




Do you see what I see?

The Joy of Christmas is not just our giving - the Joy of Christmas is to see what other's show us. To see Jesus Christ in Christmas.



My introduction to the world of tipping - shaking the Boat Captain's hand in Quebec. At the age of 12, I had no idea this was an open tip hand. My parents laughed so hard they almost rolled down the gangplank.

All things work together for Good for those who Love the Lord and work according to His Purpose. My younger brother, John, is frankly known to be very generous in tipping. If he has enjoyed riding the tour/fishing boat around the bay of Padre Island, Texas - John will tip the Captain the price of the ticket. John is good to travel with. He is quite kind to those he tips and delights like a child in their joy to have a very generous tip. Usually this is accompanied with a valid compliment and sincerity. John delights to be generous.

I was thinking of John today after I passed the Salvation Army's Great Cheerful Ringing Bell - where I rarely have cash. And the relief to go into Randall's Grocery Store - where they ask to put the donation on the debit card for the Groceries. Instantly, the day is better!!!

John does something else - he follows a tradition my Grandmother Bit had. She was given Christmas money every Christmas from her Munner and Pop to give gifts. Their gift giving was honed out as children with instructions to be full in curiosity and generosity about the gift receiver's needs. "Adults, generally, do not wish for a cap gun, nor a doll."

John gives his children, with planning, a dollar each every time he knows the Salvation Army is near ringing the bell. Eventually, John is going to have a large wad of cash - planned out - for the children and John to delight the Salvation Army. This is something wonderful,  delighting them to the nano cells and back again. And is a definite Christmas Tradition.

The Salvation Army is a Christian Church. Employing men and women to learn to fix items given to donation and make them new. Training and fellowship within Charitable Giving. Worthy.

My neighbor and her husband are Sunday School Teachers for the joy of raising two kiddos. Each year, their Sunday School Class is given a party at their house and about 40 Elementary age Children show up with their parents. The Neighborhood is delighted to find 40 Sunday Schoolers and Parents, with beaming faces, singing Christian Christmas Carols to the Neighborhood. This delights the entire street.

Not to mention - this couple then lights the front yard of neighbors, who are older. And they light up the cul de sac too. Our street, one year, had two cancer patients and the entire street offered to decorate for the two families.

These are marvelous Christian aspects of Christmas.



Do I like my singing neighbors?
You bet, this week they helped put away the teenage cache of 15 pounds of black cat fireworks I found hidden in my garage (safely under the insecticides) - from my teenagers' time. How? Distributed among the neighbor's available trash cans - who were out of town. We all get by with a little help from our friends. We all need help distributing gun powder after allowing the gunpowder to sit in the rain for two days.

Getting by with a little help from our friends.

Preventing - run - "Boom, Boom Out Go the Lights"

Edward and another driver both encountered something in the road and both cars had Bam, blown out tires. Edward was fortunate not to be the driver in the ditch.

Our son, Alexander, wins first place for helping his mom and dad with the tire, the spare tire with a nail, the sad lug wrench and the rolling tire jack while giving calm assistance for several days during a family Reunion, out of town, party. Discount Tires - who knew the Christmas crowd? Now, we do.

A huge thanks to Edward's Good Friend making our water heater produce warm water. A lovely thing - warm water and the fix from a friend.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, 

and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion

For God Loves a cheerful giver!!!

Abba,

God of Love.

God of Encouragement.

God of Hope.

Thank You to see Your Holy Spirit in those around us.

We pray this will be said of us:

"Always said of him - he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!”

Let it be said:
"He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness."

We ask "God Bless us, everyone!!!"

Upon our Loved ones, all the way to the Nation Trusting God. All of God's Children for "More Heaven on earth!!!"


Amen in Jesus our Christ of God. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 1 ~ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel

Light

The Placing of a burning candle in a window is a tradition dating back further than we could possibly know. Candle light evokes the warmth of home and family. The fireplace was center of family life and the candle was used aiding the fireplace.

A candle was placed in the window when a member of the family was away. The lit candle was also placed in the window as a sign of good news or as a beacon to weary travelers. Candles also represented friendship and seen as welcome. Buildings were often miles apart. The sight of a candle in a window from a distance was a sign of "Light." 

Luke 1 comforts and teaches us of the Light.

Eyewitnesses and Ministers of God's Word fully illustrates teachings the History of Jesus' life and His ministry. Years were taken considering writing orderly accounts and answers to questions displaying  certainty of God's miraculous events.

Luke 1 prophetically begins with God's Genesis -  God creating Light shining in the darkness. These men, in the strength of the Holy Spirit, bear witness of God's Light for the millenniums' belief and strength in overcoming.

The True Light is the Light and Life in mankind. All mankind receiving God's Light of the world - Jesus Christ - these people became children of God. His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. And from Jesus'  fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses - Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Zechariah is proclaiming to us of the arrival of God's Light. And in telling us this is giving us Luke 2. 

Luke 1

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.

We will go before the Lord to prepare His ways

The tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Preparing for us  the Way of Luke 2, The Birth of God's Son, Jesus, the Christ of God.

Luke 2

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, 

and the glory of the Lord shone around them, 

and they were filled with fear. 

10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, 

who is Christ the Lord. 

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 

14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" 

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, 

the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go"

Bearing Witness to the Light of God - Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. 
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Abba,

You have told us, You Who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We ask Your Blessings.

And Give Thanks for Your Gift of Jesus and of Christmas.

Let Love enfold us, our loved ones, this Nation, all the Beloved of the world looking to You - in the Name of Jesus - bringing more Heaven on earth. Help us to be Blessing Finders and givers.

In the Name of Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Jesus our Christ. Amen Amen and Amen. Alleluia.

  

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

John 2:1-22 ~ the Word Jesus has spoken

Lithostrotos Museum Israel - Pottery from the time of Jesus found in Jerusalem

Road begins in Cana and goes to Nazareth, Vintage Photo

John 2:1-12

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 

² Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. ³ When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 

⁴ And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶ Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. ⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.”

So they took it. ⁹ When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom ¹⁰ and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” <sup>1

1</sup> This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

¹² After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

Vintage photo of Capernaum

Synagogue and Peter's House in Capernaum

It is an urban legend people dream in black and white. All of our senses are used when we dream. I know, because I looked on Google.

For Bible believing Christians, this passage of the disciple bearing witness to these things of Jesus, who has written these things and knows His testimony is true - is pretty familiar. Especially if you were raised in Sunday School or Parochial School. So familiar, they become words on a page.

Don't let the words stay on the page. I realized today, when I read of Jesus, I see Him surrounded by people. Not saints in robes, but people you'd know from High School and College and Church. These are flesh and blood people. The kind of people you like to be with. And Jesus is warm. Laughing. He is at a wedding.

When you read the Scriptures, remember to set your table. Meaning - when it is a Holiday (Holy Day) your table is set. When you read the Scriptures, give yourself time to think of the the warmth of Israel. The texture of the jars. If they were warm to the touch. People filled them. Place yourself with Jesus.

And remember with joy. We Love the LORD. Jesus' first sign isn't just the Joy of the LORD that He would make wine (to make our hearts glad),

Jesus' first sign is that as God,
He listened with patience and kindness to a woman (us - who do His will) asking Him to care and to provide.

Genesis 27:28

May God 

give you 

of heaven's dew 

and 

of earth's richness

an abundance of grain 

and new wine

Psalm 100

4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving

and His courts with praise;

and

give thanks to Him

and

bless His name.

Matthew 13:1-58 

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 

And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path"

What we do with our time and our lives. Our words, even the words after words spoken. Reclaimation. Renewal. Redemption. Living the real life. Doing our best. Sowing seeds and trying to make wine from water. To live the adventure and the bouquet.

How much does God Love?

Luke 12:7

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

That is a lot of Love.



Abba, Father, Father

Life forever more.

Life forever more. When we have been there 10,000 years. Bright Shining as the Sun. Living in His Grace.

We would love to have and see and hope for more Heaven on earth. From our cares to the Love known of Father God in those we Love. Every day and every hair on our head. From what is at hand to the Nation we want entrusted to our Father.

His Willing Blessing upon us to all the Beloved of His all surrounding the earth, the fullness of God,  hearing our prayers telling us never to lose hope. We ask for His Blessing for more Heaven upon earth.

In our Wonderful Jesus Christ, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!