Luke 2 ~ for my eyes have seen Your Salvation

Luke 2

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

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 great 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. 12 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!”

 Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

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;

for my eyes have seen your salvation

that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a 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.


39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.


41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

We go so fast in life, if we don't stop and enjoy and say thank you for every blessing. Our blessings fly past us without being appreciated and our hearts do not melt and have times of joy. We just truly need to see the blessings in what is presented and unfolds around us. We need to open our ears and see with our eyes of expectation.



How deeply did Jesus Love?


Ok, sure we have every Sunday School Lesson we have ever heard. Remember Albert Einstein, a Jew, said he loved the Gospels and saw so much rich emotion in Jesus. These are the new eyes to the Gospels.

Luke's Gospel in the first Chapter closes with this beauty:

Luke 1:78-80

because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall dawn upon us
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.

And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Wouldn't you expect the Gospel of Luke telling us of the life of Jesus Christ, Son of God would explain Jesus and end explaining Jesus instead of John the Baptist?  Jesus explains about his beloved John the Baptist. Running parallel to His life.

The Love continues for the second expected child in Luke 2.

His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

News was brought to Jesus of John's death. Jesus has a response. There is no body to bury. No bier to touch.

Matthew 11:12
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.


Matthew 14 and Mark 6 congruently tell of the 5,000 fed as a response to a funeral is required. John the Baptist's life held vast meaning for Father God. Not just another man Father God could see gave his life. Truly.

Jesus said people in Heaven were greater than the living John the Baptist. Jesus knew something of going to Heaven and being utterly, astonishingly, completely and totally filled with the Joy of God revealed. Jesus was somewhat giving John grief for asking if Jesus really was the Messiah as John faced death, but Jesus was living in expectation of seeing the John the Baptist Live The Reality of The Kingdom of My Father and Yours..

2 Samuel 12:23
But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.

John 16
23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.


Did Jesus Laugh? Laughter and Joy go completely and fully in unity!!!

Jesus takes time to be separate from His Disciples after feeding the crowds He had such compassion for. We can understand this completely.

And Jesus comforts Himself by "not seeing" the disciples as he walks at night upon the waters and surprises them with His visit. Remember with me - Jesus says He is Life in all men. Life Abundant! Because Jesus sees the conclusion and expects Joy.

(Point to ponder! The mystics of the 14th century explain the star was not above Jesus until Jesus was born - almost as if Jesus' own Light created the Star. The mystics go on to say that the Light in Jesus Shone in the dark explaining why Nativity scenes have a halo glow to them. I would wonder, in awe of God, if Jesus walked upon the water letting His Light Shine Forth.)

Did Jesus mourn John the Baptist? See how lovingly John is spoken of for preparing a path for Father God and making a path for Jesus. John the Baptist opens in the Gospels of Mark, Luke, and John.


1 Thessalonians 4:13
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

Father God,

Jesus spoke Your Word telling us always to Pray and Have Hope.

We lift up to You, Father God, our most pressing prayer request, knowing You have heard and answer.

Thank You, Father God, and Blessed be the Name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

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! †