Mark 7 ~ yet He could not be hidden

Mark 7

And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 

 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 

Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 

 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.”

 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 

30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

Psalm 91
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.”

 

A Facebook friend, Malone, has said today:
As I listen to Christians in America, it seems to me that the vast majority of us are de facto Semi-Pelagianists. 

God’s grace makes us uneasy. Grace doesn’t feel right or fair. It’s like we’re getting something we don’t deserve or didn’t have to work for at all; that we didn’t get it the old fashioned way by earning it. It’s as if Someone gave us something exceptionally amazing at Christmas, something it turns out that we really loved and needed, and it’s not that we just forgot to get Him anything in return, we actually chose not to get Him anything at all. EXACTLY. And, for me, that’s what puts the “Merry” in Christmas.

An idea we have been thinking on for two millenniums - what we owe God and His ability, in effect, to come out of the larger Tupperware box we place Him in.

We debate Christmas. 

The commercialism. What goes around comes around. Oliver Cromwell made England without Christmas for 18 years. If you had a ham on Christmas Day - you might be placed in the stockades. "Christ's Mass" had a ring of Roman Catholicism about it, the season was changed to "Christ tide" and any celebration confined to one day - of fasting. Shops were forced to stay open - business as usual.


Grace wasn't given to this Holy Day. And Grace from Love is the reason for the Gift.

Today. This is the Day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. God lists Joy as the second fruit of His Holy Spirit.

Christmas - Jesus Christ the Lord - is a Gift.


Ephesians 2

7 so that in the ages to come He might show
 the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 


8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.


Joy is remembered. In this life - Joy is something rare and to be treasured.

 

The Christmas Truce (German: Weihnachtsfrieden; French: Trêve de Noël) - unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front of World War I around Christmas 1914. In the week leading up to the holy day, German and British soldiers crossed trenches to exchange seasonal greetings and talk. In areas, men from both sides ventured into no man's land on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to mingle and exchange food and souvenirs.

If I had to pick being Cromwell Go Along with Current Ideas or Silent Night Christmas Truce, I'd far rather be the verve in that Silent Night. I'd rather be included in the wonder of love and the miraculous acts of God found in the Christmas Truce. I'd put forth my brain to ask in the Sovereignty of God, if really December 25th is the Real Date of the Birth of Christ. I'd rather be leaning upon God's authority than rest safely in the what of what of every day.

When we gathered recently to remember what our best Christmas memories were - it wasn't the cap gun or the video game or the doll - we remembered the loved ones who gathered to celebrate the Birth of Jesus. The Gift of Christmas is the Love we give. And the time we have given to us by loved ones. 


The Joy of God is remembered far longer than all other -

Father God, help me to remember gratitude and the joy seen in today. Thank You that Grace is indeed unearned.  We thank You that You are still working and the faith is mysterious because Your ways are not ours. The joy in Looking Upward and away from ourselves. Give us your good gifts, and help us to be loving and grateful. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Psalm 28 ~ To you, O Lord, I call

Psalm 28

1 To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the Lord!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Blue, blue Christmas?

The radio station Air One in Houston is having a Christmas Season of picking Joy. We cannot always chose the emotion of Joy, however, in reality, we largely are able to do this. Sometimes just by praying the Lord's Prayer.

I've volunteered for two and half years in the community and I'd like to recall this particular person who decided to choose joy. The Gospel of John begins with a promise given - John is speaking of the Glory and Light of God he has promised not to disclose of Jesus' transfiguration. Luke 1 begins with the life story of a barren Priest of God. And in leaning into God - faith, hope and Love are discovered to change lives.

A young boy of sixteen told me his story. At age 12, his family, who had a lot of experience with the slum situation of prison institutionalization had his parents tell him - they were permanently done with him. He was cast aside. He spent the next two years in and out of juvenile detention centers. And he recalled with me that his grandfather advised him to become one of the people who like to be in prison where meals and shelter are provided. As the grandfather had done.

And the system began to give him strength in counseling to see - no one deserves to be abandoned by their parents. Nothing he could ever do would earn that as a punishment. And he said this with strength of truth on his side. I marveled at him. And did see that he had held this truth to his soul. I saw the beginnings of a man who would understand love and commitment building the framework, the hard work, of where happiness could dwell.

He was beginning to understand where God held him in his life.

Why? The institution. No. Just like the Gospel of Luke there was a barren Priest. A man who had had the calling of God Almighty to begin a Church and had failed, twice. This minister of God arrived at Juvenile Detention because his calling had failed. And he began to visit and know a 14 year old boy. And to preach the Gospel without words.

The homeless boy was given a sofa because that was available. And introduced and taken to GED training where he earned his GED at age 14. And a job was found. Not many jobs are available to young men with a record and a GED at age 14. A job was found cleaning construction sites at night, 5 nights a week. The construction company began to like the boy. The boy found an apartment.

And when this young man found violence in his new home life - he learned to walk away. Go for a long walk to find the others he lived with agreed with this stance and approved. The Minister who had failed was learning - that his failure was saving a dear life.

A new life was being created. And the new life worth living called for commitment and self-denial, stamina, thinking, and trust in God for Hope. And a man of sixteen was looking very pleased that he knew a few profound things to set his life in order. The minister and the boy found that when he turned eighteen, he was going to have a job with the full-time job of the minister in a career he could earn a living in the rest of his life. How? The Minister knew a few things that pertain to being blessed by God.

Giving back to the community? Sometimes - the community gives a whole lot back themselves just in the Hope their soul brings forth.

Thank You God for the Reason for the Season. Even in fish, You were known to put Your hands in there and feed us!

We thank You in Jesus Christ for our blessings of Strength and fire in the Holy Spirit. A fire millenniums ago Mose found to be a sustaining fire of infinite beauty. Blessed are You Lord God. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

One of the most ancient of Christian inscriptions, God fishes among the Living

Psalm 80 ~ O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Psalm 80

7 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
18 Then we shall not turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call upon your name!

19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!
Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

This is the Season we remember God's auspicious celestial beginning for His Son Jesus. And this is the Graduation of my son Alexander. One is a day of family joy - the other celebrated for millenniums!




Psalm 80
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might
and come to save us!

3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Psalms 33:6
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.

Psalms 148:2
Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!

1 Kings 22:19
Micaiah said, "Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left

Psalms 103:21
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will.

Luke 2
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

"This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

Nehemiah 9:6
"You alone are the LORD You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You."


Isaiah 40:26
Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.

Proverbs 15:30
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.


Matthew 11:15
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:16
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

Psalm 97:11
Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

Nehemiah 8:10
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."



Psalm 65:12
The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy


Psalm 68:3
But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!


Psalm 92:4
For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us.




Father God, I offer up a prayer for my sons from 1 Chronicles 29. Forgive us our sins covered in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son. Blessed are You, Lord Father God.

O Lord, the God of Your people, our father, forever and ever of the people in all nations seeking Your Love in Jesus. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord Father God, and You are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from You, Abba, and You rule over all. In Your hand are power and might, and in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our Father God, and praise your glorious name, Jesus. We pray Your blessing on our Nation and the strength of restoration and hope in Jesus Christ.

What will we be able thus to offer willingly? Our grateful thanks, for Your Blessings You willingly bestow. For all things come from you, and of your own blessings we have been given.

Draw us close to You and keep us near, centered on You.
Father God, all this abundance that we have been provided, help us to build for You. For Your holy name and blessings comes from Your hand and is all Your own.

Help us know and have wisdom; knowing you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to You.

O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you! We ask in Jesus the Lord.

Grant to my sons a whole heart that they may keep Your commandments in Your Holy Spirit, performing all, and that they may build Your Will on Heaven and earth for which You have made provision. Let all good things be provided that Your Will be done in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Philippians 2 ~ Proven worth

Philippians 2

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation,

among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.


Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.


19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.

 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

We know Salvation is a free gift of Jesus Christ. And in that Love, when we go Home to Jesus, we hope He is pleased and encouraged in our lives - we have indeed brought the Love of Jesus to our loved ones. Proclaiming Jesus is necessary. We sometimes become anxious about our service to Jesus Christ, if we are honest. We hope to be messengers and ministers to others. And face some concerns in this.This Chapter reveals an earnestness in ministry.

What if we could accept and see Philippians - this is a joyful message about our ministry to Jesus - in our daily words and conversations. A daily message that is for uplifting us! A genuineness in our daily walk. Being centered on Jesus just in our conversations. The reassurance, assistance, favor, cheer and inspiration we would hope to hear from Father God to us.

Rejoice in seeing, we have served the Gospel. Jesus is a God of Love.

This Chapter is indeed about this Joy. Do not be sorrowful. Choose your Joy. Train peaceful fruit. Therefore, strengthen hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ is in this book of Philippians.

See this fruitful yield with eyes that see.

Encouragement
Love
Comfort    Complete Joy          Listen

Same mind Accord    Give others Significance    Equality

Salvation Hold  Fast to the Word of Life   Shine

Rejoice   Genuine Concern

Above all, and I say it again, Let Love be Genuine.


Speak the Gospel at all Times.
Use Words when Necessary.


Father God, help us to have, acknowledge and understand every good thing accomplishing Your will. Forgive our sins. We want to be a place where You dwell with pleasure. In Your grace, we shall thrive.

We ask You to be God in our lives and bring all the Fruit of the Spirit. In Jesus we ask the way of our lives is guided in the fruitfulness of green pastures. The quietness of living water. Your Holy Spirit refreshing our souls. Let Your Truth, Way and Life guide us along the right paths for Your name’s sake. Your Holy Spirit comforts me.

Our joy overflows, for in certainty, Your Goodness and Love are part of all the days of our life. And when You call us Home, we will dwell in the Kingdom You have established in Great Joy. In great privilege and expectation, in the Highest Name of Jesus Christ the Lord, we ask. Amen. The will of the Lord be done. Alleluia

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Amos 9:5-15 ~ For behold, I will command

 

Amos 9:5-15

The Lord God of hosts,
he who touches the earth and it melts,
and all who dwell in it mourn,
and all of it rises like the Nile,
and sinks again, like the Nile of Egypt;
6 who builds his upper chambers in the heavens
and founds his vault upon the earth;
who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out upon the surface of the earth—
the Lord is his name!

7 “Are you not like the Cushites to me,
O people of Israel?” declares the Lord.
“Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt,
and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir?
8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom,
and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground,
except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,”
declares the Lord.

9 “For behold, I will command,
and shake the house of Israel among all the nations
as one shakes with a sieve,
but no pebble shall fall to the earth.
10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword,
who say, ‘Disaster shall not overtake or meet us.’

11 “In that day I will raise up
the booth of David that is fallen
and repair its breaches,
and raise up its ruins
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations who are called by my name,”
declares the Lord who does this.

13 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when the plowman shall overtake the reaper
and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed;
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
and all the hills shall flow with it.
14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel,
and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,
and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.
15 I will plant them on their land,
and they shall never again be uprooted
out of the land that I have given them,”
says the Lord your God.




I love Matthew Henry. Any day of the week, he is beautiful and eloquent - loving and tender as God. The English language has changed in the 250+ years he had his Bible Commentary:

Matthew Henry’s commentary on Amos:
GOD employed a shepherd, a herdsman! One who cares for others tenderly. And uses this tender person to reprove and warn the people. Those to whom God gives abilities for his services, ought not to be despised for their origin, or their employment. Like the advice of Gamaliel - what comes from God should not be tampered with. God places His Holy Spirit in all who believe. Good news.

Let us continue earnest in prayer for the fulfillment of these prophecies, in the peace, purity, and the beauty of the Church! God marvelously preserves his elect amidst the most fearful confusions and miseries. When all seems desperate, He wonderfully revives His Church, and blesses her with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. And great shall be the glory of that period, in which not one good thing promised shall remain unfulfilled.



God does this! HE is a giver, a bringer, a maker of blessings! Who can do it! The Great I Am has determined to do it! God's Power of Whose Grace is engaged for doing this mighty work! Verses 13 to 15- when are these days? - In the awakening of the Holy Spirit within us - And - Possible in each day.


People say they want blessings - and we are made to adapt. We can adjust to lack of blessings and find joy - however - we work the other way too. We adapt to being blessed and become fussy blessing receivers. Abraham was a fussy blessing receiver. David did far better being a dodge Israel mercenary than a king in a palace.

What will be our response to blessings of God?

This is a Very Large Topic  reacting to God's blessings. A God sized topic.

Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph bears a grudge"

Jacob had been hugely blessed of God by all his workings, yet Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed Esau came to meet him with 400 men; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; for he said, "If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape."

Israel in the Exodus - Deuteronomy 1:32-33
"But for all this, you did not trust the LORD your God, who goes before you on your way, to seek out a place for you to encamp, in fire by night and cloud by day, to show you the way in which you should go"

2 Kings 17:14-15
However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God. They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers and His warnings with which He warned them And they followed vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the LORD had commanded them not to do like them

Matthew 19:22
But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

John 2:24
But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men

God tells us where all good things come from:

Psalm 44
O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations,
but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land,
nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
and the light of your face,
for you delighted in them.

4 You are my King, O God;
ordain salvation for Jacob!

5 Through you we push down our foes;
through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
6 For not in my bow do I trust,
nor can my sword save me.

7 But you have saved us from our foes
and have put to shame those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted continually,
and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah


Psalm 32:9
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, loving-kindness shall surround him.…

Sorrows of the wicked...Wouldn't trust involve - trust - to make peace?


Instead.

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Thank You Father God for blessings. Help us to be wise, loving, with joy and be blessed and be a blessing. We ask in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Luke 10:21-24 ~ In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them

Movie: "The Nativity Story" (2006). Up in popularity this week 17% -IMDB Internet Movie Database

Luke 10:21-24 -

21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Isaiah 30:18
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; 
he rises to show you compassion. 
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!

We have to really observe to see what surrounds us, with curiosity and joy. Be intentional. Zechariah, a priest, met Gabriel in a Holy Place. And he asked how God could complete a miracle. Mary met Gabriel and asked how God could complete a miracle. God saw two hearts asking a similar question, but saw deeply - one was doubtful and one was worried. Similar yet apart. God deals with humanity tenderly when humanity seeks earnestly. Look for the narrow path, this makes life meaningful.



I had the nicest of blessings surrounding me today.
And without this list on this blog, this would have completely passed me by. And no gratitude would have occurred. Lunch with my husband and son. The gratitude of having family nearby really. Having an acquaintance bless me with a Christmas gift and laugh with joy to have that acknowledged as such! Lord Jesus Christ bless those who give marvelous gifts. 

Giving Christmas gifts from the internet to have them arrive as new treasures - to be pleased and have gratitude. Having time and being able to give a message of His - to bless me to recount gratitude. To Love.

To have an old friend of a decade show up to help us and have the items on hand to allow the fix!

Being in relationship with God to tell Him - oh, I'm having a grumpy moment - and knowing that is ok to be real. To have the idea to see something pretty and share an evening beverage with a loved one who will listen and laugh with you. Enjoying the intelligence of bested with amusement.

Getting in the Christmas rush but being relaxed enough to enjoy the children in line in front of you ~ seeing the creative way children pick up what is for sale and fly it like an airplane or rocket - completely immersed in their imaginations instead of irritated by the long line. Seeing how much people will celebrate Christmas with beautiful lights - even the public displays. Realizing the Light of Christmas does still bring the Light of Christ. Seeing Joy.

Knowing tomorrow you will see one of your favorite people on the planet, even if he is fussy from exams. Seeing our young puppy, with his Second Birthday, today respond to conversation as an intelligent creature of God. Having a home to fuss over and bring in Christmas joy. Being able to see the beauty, with the gift of eyesight.

Finding we all claim to be busy and sometimes have the down doldrums of the season. Because this isn't just a season of rush, rush but of expectation worriedly held. Know there is a gift we overlook, when the season has rest, learning to lean into the rest with gratitude instead of caffeinated over expectation.

When we take the time to have real gratitude, we realize again, Church doesn't feed God as much as we are fed. And the Christmas season when received with deliberate gratitude is given for our Joy for what God brings as well. For our many, many blessings, Praise You, Father God, for the oasis You bless and provide. An overwhelming blessing. For providing people to admire and appreciate.

Isaiah 65:23
They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them.

Matthew 16:16,17
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven."


Christianity isn't a religion; it is a relationship. Christianity is not a philosophy; its approach to life is concrete. It isn't just Jingle Bells, this is a preparation for a God. When Jesus was born the angels didn't send out a Coca-Cola commercial guaranteed to make us feel good. What is required is a list of good. A deliberate count. The wide highway will cause your blessings to breeze past.

The angels said, as messengers of God Almighty, was:

Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.

How did Abraham please God?

Romans 4:2-4 (New American Standard Bible)
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."

Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

That is a lot of saved - a God sized portion.

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Consider the shepherds, called forth by God, they heard the message and what did they do?

Luke 2:8-15
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

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!"

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

Can we hear this and not be blessed? I think it's not possible. The Gospel will call deep in our hearts, warming us. Blessings and gratitude take time to assess.

God Bless Us All. In Jesus. Praise You God for opening eyes to see blessings. Amen. 

 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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