Romans 8:1-4 ~ sending His own Son

The real nativity

had anguish

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember

my Favorite Things

and

then I don't feel so bad

On earth as it is in Heaven

I simply remember my

Favorite Things

and then

I don't feel so bad

Romans 8:1-4

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do.

By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

On earth as it is in Heaven

Psalm 128

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

    who walks in his ways!

2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

    you shall be blessed, 

and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine

    within your house;

your children will be like olive shoots

    around your table.

4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

    who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion!

    May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

    all the days of your life!

6 May you see your children's children!

    Peace be upon Israel!

This is the Christmas our sons moved to a mountainous state, they mailed Christmas gifts and I reached into the gift to find broken glass in my fingers. Candle Jars in a sack. Instead, we made plans to meet in another city. This was a no show twice before, as we arrived in the next city.

Our house is doing well. New interests and things to do. Busy. Making sure the dogs walk about every day. We are blessed. Not in every direction, obviously. Yet blessed.

Olive shoots around the table.

 
Life is so many layers. 

I called a longtime minister friend, who flat surprised me. Wailing that as their small town had changed generations; they were unhelped, unheeded and unloved.  No one to help if the dog needed a sitter, no more help moving heavy objects. Older. Flown children. This knocked me on my rear. They were the un told Mayors of their town. Helping, greeting, being hugged and hugging. 

Days come. And days go. And brighter days came again for our friends.  Renewal. Redemption - in the same town. We all have wailing days. Remember this in your wailing days. (In fact, the minister friends had an accident injury in midlife, threatening permanent handicap, they went on ministering and this injury was not supposed to be a healing injury. In ten years, one day, the hurt wasn't there, the injury had been loved by the Lord and was fully healed. Good is good!)

My sons are sitting at a table in a mountainous new state, their parents made sure they have today a family table in their new rental. Sitting in a 1950 cottage, like the ones they were born into when we were the young ones. Struggling with vacation time and expenses. Same same. The interest rates are about the same. The prices are not. Wow. They are new in the state and rent instead of our newlywed homeownership.

Is it rude to discuss this? No, in Church Services, Ministers and Pastors say if family is in disrepair. We pray for one another.

Our sons went to colleges where they learned about the new philosophies. Surprise. Yep was. Today I was supposed to learn, told, that I have to adjust to the new ways. I have no doubt, I won't. 

I have seen too many generations not fit together.  Grandmother Anita, during her convalescence from a year in an iron lung, was to find there were no more, husband, he died, and no more in-laws and no more family farm.   Anita did well with her side of the family.  Although a lawyer, of her everyday and family life, wouldn't help when she lost employment in old age. Odd when he was retired. Anita, and the family today, tell about her 100-year-old mother having spats with grown children. Life. Anita's mother, Lena, 62 years of grown children lunches together, could always, even at 99-years-old, tell how the cow ate the cabbage. I even have a photo of one of the spats. 70 years ago.

My father's father's family just died out in early age, which they didn't pass on to us.

My brother helped my mother out when she needed his attorney help! My father divorced by packing up when my mother got the job my father suggested.  And we didn't see him for another two years, due to... complicated divorce. No drinking and marrying mother's good 25 year friend. 

My grandmother Bit, always, always missed her two grandmothers, both parents and 3 other siblings living in a house well run with 2 day employees.  Huge Happy Christmases. Love.  Bit never knew the extent of her grandfather, JL Wilson owned in Bolivar, County, Mississippi in Rosedale and surrounding. My father, who moved out, moved out on his mother too. Hard for her, as he was her only child. She continued to help and be loving, he accepted all and was cold. His father didn't like his own mother, either. Moved out when she moved into my father's boyhood home for 3 years in old age. When my great grandmother died, my grandfather returned home.

How I miss Reverend Wm Tate, Grandmother Bit's 2nd husband. Joy. Anita was always polite. Indeed, she just gave up caring my father didn't like his mother-in-law. He was someone she was polite to in a caring manner and moved on past their brief conversations.  She did not weep, was not insincere, when her only child, my mother and my father divorced, and didn't backstab my father. 

This is our first Christmas without parents or children as empty nesters. I'm not thrilled, but I have some ideas for the planning past this. It wasn't a great day. Out of a lifetime of fabulous Christmas planned year round. This one wasn't my favorite day for the last 7 years. 

Edward's side has squabbles too. His family has this generation and a generation 2 back with squabbles.

Generations. 

Today, 

Edward and I decided not to complain so much.  I decided to be more merciful. Which I did about 90% of the day. Funny how mercy seems to be something we need all 100% of the time. Hope the ten percent is just the learning curve!!! Pray for me, brothers and sisters!

One thing I know from watching my grandmothers and our minister friend. Life changes in ways we don't imagine. Sometimes you end up with sunnier, more loving days. Others aren't so warm. God is in charge. 

One son likes hiking, he says he isn't going to hike alone anymore due to wolves. I said you mean Pandemic Wolves.  That too.  All things work together for good, for those who love the Lord and work according to His purposes.

We have to see this time as Pandemic Recovery. I intend to pick my mood back up and go forth with Jesus. I've seen lives change for people in their 90s. I'm going to believe God is working and wait there.

Abba, Father,

This is our day to say

Thank You, Abba, Father, 

for Jesus.

Thank You, His birth

is Your trust and love for

the Light shining in mankind.

In all our seasons,

we trust in You.

I've lost 3 sunglasses, 2 blouses, 

 brown Root Stimulator gallon, I didn't buy, spill over Christmas gifts,

it did not have a top. 

This week.

We pray for peace. 

And recovery.

Renewal.

Heart.

Love.

Kindness.

Mercy for the merciful.

Jesus has arrived from His Father's Kingdom

To live Joy.

Help us recover our Joy

see our Blessings

and be merciful.

Fill Your Good Creation

with positive, open hearts,

end the great cold.

We lift up

Love

Joy

Hope

and Peace

and put Jesus,

His Highest Name

upon all of us

looking to Jesus.

Abba, sending us His own Son.

Thank You, Jesus.

Amen.

We Pray for Merry Christmas 

across the Nation 

and Believing World. 

The Light of Christ Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Ezekiel's 28th Chapter ~ I am the Lord their God

 

We hear Steadfast Love of the Lord God, our Father, Abba in Jesus Christ many times. And cannot become the people with tired ears and worn hearts. Christmas is Joyeux Noel, renewal of the fire in us, The Lord making life meaningful and warm. The strength in us is Joy of the Lord. Jesus. Jesus the Lord. Jesus Himself.  The deep magic this has been loved and stirred within us, always present.

Let us soak in the Holy Spirit and His Plan covering His Good Creation, the dawn of time and the continuation into the eternal. The Lord Jesus Triumphant. Ours.

Luke 1: 67-79

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

    for He has visited and redeemed His people

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us

    in the house of his servant David

As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old,

that we should be saved from our enemies

    and from the hand of all who hate us;

to show the mercy promised to our fathers

    and to remember His Holy Covenant

The oath that He swore to our father Abraham, 

to grant us

    that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

might serve Him without fear

    In holiness and righteousness before Him

 all our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

    for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to His people

    in the forgiveness of their sins,

because of 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.

2100 years old

God Fishes Among the Living!

To know the Scriptures is

to know

the Power of The Living God.

Ezekiel was a very minor priest. He was taken in the second sack of Judea, 596 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar II's attempt to make Judea a puppet state of the Chaldean Babylonian Empire.  His beloved wife died making the 1,000 mile walk.  And as he arrived, Nebuchadnezzar II scanned the exiles, looking for a place to have leadership to give humanitarian aid. We read about this in the first Chapter of Daniel. Emperor Nebuchadnezzar was a forerunner of human rights, Cyrus walked in his footsteps trying to be goodness and mercy. Ezekiel was immediately given High Priest status in the leadership quest. And Ezekiel was given one of the few private homes, allowing him rest to be Priest: Nebechandnezzer was allowed slaves he quickly called exiles, to gather and worship with all the Jews on their Sabbath day.

Luke's First Chapter is the continuation of 

Ezekiel's 28th Chapter

“And for the house of Israel there shall be no more 

a brier to prick or a thorn to hurt them among 

all their neighbors 

who have treated them with contempt. 

Then they will know 

that I am the Lord God.

“Thus says the Lord God: 

When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, 

and 

manifest my holiness in them 

in the sight of the nations, 

then they shall dwell in their own land 

that I gave to my servant Jacob. 

And they shall dwell securely in it, 

and they shall build houses and plant vineyards. 

They shall dwell securely, 

when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. 

Then they will know that 

I am the Lord their God.”

Jesus Living Water

David grew up knowing his generation wasn't far removed from the Exodus. 500 years later, Judea was exiled again to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar II heard from the Lord, the Babylonian Empire would not remain the lush gardens between the rivers of Eden. The Lord didn't like His Children being delicately imprisoned.  The Exodus is awe-inspiring, more inspiring are the mercies of God as His Children knew His name and nature.

The Scriptures record the mercy of captors and their punishment. Cyrus is probably known for his humanitarian aid because the Scriptures record them. These Empires did not continue or rise again.

The Roman Empire stood in judgment of Jesus. And this banishment didn't happen again, the banishment of Israel until the natural aged death of Jesus in 70 A.D. The forgiveness of Jesus gave those who had seen the Nature of God revealed would live their lives knowing Jesus and His Love.  Within 16 years, the Empire began to fear Jesus and persecute. Within 200 years, Christianity became a plethora. In the early 3rd Century, Christ was the source of Love, Comfort, Help and Teaching of the Empire. God travels forth.

1 Peter 4

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, 
since love covers a multitude of sins.

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, 

as good stewards of God's varied grace

Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God

Whoever serves, 

as one who serves by the strength that God supplies

—in order that in everything God 

may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

 To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. 

Amen.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ's birth 

Written beautifully in Luke and Matthew.  Mark begins His Gospel and speaks of a wilderness wanting to be tamed and John speaks of Light coming out of darkness.

 Isn't this the deepest desire for Jesus Christ?

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

Today, the marshes of Israel and the deserts are nourished and harvested. God knew when He said Israel is a land of milk and honey. History and Scripture record Hezekiah's time was as blessed, if not more blessed than David and Solomon. The people acted in accord with God's Heart and trusted Him to save them. This is Christmas! The Plan of God, our Father, in Jesus Christ.

Ascend. Bethlehem, Shepherd Field, Field of Jaar.

Still available today.

Vintage 1800s Bethlehem Photo, upper and lower.

Abba, Father,

Thank You, Abba, Jesus and Holy Spirit.

We lift up family gathering times. We lift up health to hold firm for gathering times. 

We lift up communication. 

We ask those who are ill to have the blessing of health. 

We ask to find time to exercise and look forward to the New Year. 

Speak the Word of Peace, Jesus, and we will have peace! 

We will see Your Goodness.

We lift up those apart from loved ones. For the comfort of families. 

We ask hospitals experience seeing new health. 

We give pray Good News for the Nation. 

We give prayer for the Churches will be so nourished,

more Church going will bring new comfort and joy to all.

We lift up gift giving to please the recipient and the giver. 

We ask for safety in our travels as people fly on planes in cars. 

 

Let us find patience and care on the 

High Ways. 

We lift up the Nation as we find Elliot's National Storm and cold weather 

and pray all will be well. 

We pray for next year, Lord Jesus

We celebrate new destinations. And hopes.

In Jesus Christ. 

Asking You to help these be pleasing to You. 

We give You Worship and Thanks for Your Mercy, Love and Willingness 

to bring Your Beloved to You. 

We draw near to You, Abba, for Your Love. 

The Blessing of Jesus, now and always on our Loved ones, 

our cares and concerns, 

health, Jobs, Schools, Communities, 

and the Nation of ours having hope to pray about.


We Pray for Merry Christmas 

across the Nation 

and Believing World. 

The Light of Christ Jesus. Amen.

When we remember Billy Graham,

telling us, we have the Light of Jesus Himself within.

His Light Shines

And we bloomed and will bloom again

in Jesus Christ

Only Son of God

entrusted to you

entrusted to me.

Merry Christmas!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Numbers 6 ~ So shall they put My Name, Jesus, upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them

 

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter

it was National Winter Storm Elliott

and the 50 mph Texas Wind Gusts

making us all snuggle up

and wait for tomorrow

Good Lord! Deliver Us!

Amen!

Living in the Pine Forest Subtropics is all that Natchez is. Lovely dense forests. We pray for the trees to have shown such earnest endeavoring surviving during the two drought summer with the 3 week rain respite. 

I love gardening and feel compelled with love, and gardening budget 

to keep the long living shrubs, perennials, ferns and Liriope. We spent hours carrying in flower pots, moving others to the windows to live the covered up greenhouse effect. Today, I collected 1 Lemon and 3 Homegrown tangerines.  After studying the SUV fleece car covers available, we have added to our collection month by month. Far easier than searching all over for towels and worn blankets. When the temperatures go down into the early teens, we haul out our LED Christmas net lights, iridescent light strings and go all over with orange cords. We discovered that Christmas lights under a cover will make a cozy greenhouse.

From disaster and experimentation, we discovered thawing a Texas swimming pool happens when it warms up and you remove every conceivable lid while not running the pool for 2 or 3 days. Then the ice has somewhere to expand without harm.

This is a family tradition. 

And takes planning and lists and about 3 days. One for not getting it done, but mentioning the plan. One for complaining and getting some done. Finally, having our backs pressed to weather and putting in nine hours between us, off and on for 3 days. A dab will do ya. 

This summer mice ate the covers, we have cats now, and plenty of mothballs and ant poison.  You can throw out mice eaten car covers with rakes and shovels without touching them and putting on a mask.

It's fairly cheerful to see the Christmas lights shining from the covers. Then collapse and have a big bowl of Wick Fowler Chili.

This is quiet and restful evenings. Edward was asked to open his new super soft, Amazon favorite running pants and Sherpa sleeping jacket. If we are one of the Texans hit with 57 mph wind gusts and electricity outages, we have done what we could. Wrapped insulation and tape around the outdoor tender utilities. 

If you see any friendly pet animal strays, this is a good time to let them rest indoors with you!

Check on your neighbors! Call the family.

We will wait upon the Lord — now. 

Praying for East Texas, teen temperatures and downed electrical lines due to high wind. We know this harsh difficulty. All Texas does.

Update December 23rd, The Texas Electrical Grid is holding. We are praying and waiting on the Lord for the next 4 days. Lord God, Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Numbers 6

Abba, Father,

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

    for He has visited and redeemed His people

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us

    in the house of his servant David

As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old,

that we should be saved from our enemies

    and from the hand of all who hate us;

to show the mercy promised to our fathers

    and to remember His Holy Covenant

The oath that He swore to our father Abraham, 

to grant us

    that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

might serve Him without fear

    In holiness and righteousness before Him

 all our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

    for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to His people

    in the forgiveness of their sins,

because of 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.

We pray for the Nation

suffering this storm,

God's Mercy and Blessings.

For all our families!

Blessed be the Highest Name 

of Jesus Christ

Bless the Holy Spirit as the 

Light of mankind

Light of the Nations

Light of Heaven

Blessed be our Father 

bringing us His exact nature

in Jesus Christ,

Lamb of God

Savior of the world

Forever

and ever.

Merry Christmas

Alleluia Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus