John 4:21-26 ~ God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth

John 4:21-26

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 

23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 

25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 


26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

Christmas Giving can be beautifully wrapped up with several Bible Verses explaining bringing our hearts before Father God in Spirit and in Truth.



Romans 12
if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


With this internal integrity:

Romans 12
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.


Matthew 7
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’


If we take hold of feeding our enemy with gritted teeth and bitterness in our heart, we have not provided for Jesus to dwell in us with the goodness in our part of the relationship.

Jesus does want Love to be genuine, but if we make the sharp edges of the Law our home, the Law will condemn us to our core.

Paul cried out in Romans 7, when he tried for goodness he could always fail. We should remember of our Jesus, King of Kings, He has a crown, yet He would always want to be a Bridge to God.

Romans 8 assures us - Jesus is Lord - all have fallen -


Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 3:19
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Philippians 3
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead


Thank You, Father God,
You open Your gates to our prayers and Your Heart of Love, Joy, Peace and Patience.

Be with us this Christmas Season to again try to do the Work of Christmas in our hearts.

When the song of the angels is stilled.
When the star in the sky is gone.
When the kinds and princes are home.
When the shepherds are back with their flock.
The work of Christmas begins:

The find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.

Alleluia! Unto us a child is born.

Thank You, Jesus, for Your Joy in Your Willingness for me. 
And those who Love You.
We lift up exceptions of Love, Joy, Peace for those we Love 
And the People You have given us.
Amen in Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

John 1 ~ Children of God

Angel Gabriel, painted by Francesco De Mura c. 1782.

 
The Archangel Gabriel not only stands in the presence of God our Father, he has met some very interesting people. He has seen Zechariah have an amazing miracle and prayer answered, and yet instead of wisdom, saw a wise priest,  Zechariah, instead question an Archangel of God and this is where Zechariah might have grabbed the horns of the altar to ask!

And Gabriel, The Archangel, was there to see a young Mary believe and wonder with innocence. This time Gabriel had the privilege to give the Highest of Compliments ~  God has Highly Favored you. This is tremendous Good News for several reasons and involves us today.

In Daniel 9, Gabriel is met for the first time and goes to Daniel with good news, again, saying when the 2nd Exodus will be over. Daniel apologizes for the sins of the community requiring the Just Judgement of God.



Father God must find people interesting.
A priest is told his prayers are answered by an angel, and he wants more details and may have even been harsh.

A teenager will lose her reputation and perhaps her betrothed and she is willing to do God's Plan.

Daniel is a slave in a lavish foreign culture seeing all types of behavior far from kosher and instead of being angry at his fate, apologizes for their sins. A slave apologizing to Father God for the reason he is a slave.


And all go away from God's messenger - enlightened.




How would you greet Gabriel? Far fetched... Well consider this - the absolute truth is not Daniel, not Zechariah, not Mary felt any day or any moment of their lives - The Archangel Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God Father Almighty - was ever just about to visit.

How would you greet Gabriel? Aren't we all headed Home???

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.



9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

Psalm 121

From Father God, we receive Blessings and Promises, Father God knows our hearts.

Father God is not uninformed or unaware of the details of our lives. He keeps us for Himself. Our events are in His Hands.

Let us be Grateful.

Father God,
Please Forgive us our sins and our misunderstandings and deliberate selfishness.

 Give Glory to Your name and help us to do the Good Works You have prepared for us to walk in. Help our attitudes, words and works bring more of Your Heaven to this life. 

Guard us from Temptation and Evil. 

Let us have peace knowing Your sufficiency. And gratitude for the Kindnesses given to us Today. Help us to be a blessing to others. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 2 ~ His parents marveled.

Luke 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!”

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.”

5 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;
30
for my eyes have seen your salvation
31
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32
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.

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.

Joseph and Mary found the reality of God their Son as overwhelming, even understanding  Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus had to move fast to Egypt from the Wise Men.

And the people of the Exodus saw alllll of Father God's miraculous, astonishing, daily wonders, and said, "We will die in the wilderness, can Father God spread a table today for us to eat and be nourished!?!"



This Jesus is Larger than the Holy Family could deal with daily. V 50

 And we read in the Gospels, eventually the family was seamless and seen as a whole family.

How did they deal with their doubts and feelings of being Overwhelmed.

Psalm 100

This Family was grateful and went with a Positive Attitude.
 Looking for ways to see how God had made them and given to them.

Attending Worship Services.

This Holy Family sang.  And they prayed for their generations to know Father God. They showed eventually the work of the law is written on their hearts.

They spoke like the man bringing his son to be healed to Jesus, "I believe, help my unbelief." For all have sinned. To see the Holy Family is to know they were human and forgiveness was called for. God's kindness lead the Holy Family to repentance.Ultimately seeing Jesus' praise is not from man but from God.

What was the kindness of Jesus? Beautiful mankind has the Love of The Lord God Almighty, Father of those who believe Jesus is Lord, His Father and ours, maker of all things.


Love the Lord and Love. Honor Love, see Love, be Love.

To belong to Jesus as fully as His Mother, Foster Father and Brothers. The generations of His blood Family - Loyal to Jesus. To us belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.

A wreath is The Circle of unending Love. God's steadfast, enduring Love.

Father God,
In Jesus, You have granted to us Your precious and very great promises, so that through them we may become partakers of the divine nature of You, Father God.

The Promises of You, find our Yes in Jesus.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

We lift High to You, our Loved ones and the people You have given us. The Churches Honoring Jesus and His Word, our work places, state, nation and people of the World calling You, Father.

Thank You. Amen Amen to Jesus for His Glory!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 1 ~ And the child grew and became strong in spirit

2014 IKEA Commercial on the Letter not going to St. Nick

Luke 1

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile 
a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us,  
2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word 
have delivered them to us, 
3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 
4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.



5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”


 

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.


39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”


46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.


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

68
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71
that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72
to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78
because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

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

Boy reading, painted by Liz Swindle

Exactly

Father God sees with great wisdom what we really want to give our Loves Ones for Christmas.


Father God really does know.

To Give a Great Light.
Knowledge of Salvation.
God's Tender Mercy.
For all of us to Grow and Become Strong in His Spirit.
And this to be accompanied with Love, Joy, Peace.

Jesus completes this idea like this:

Luke 13
18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

What Strengthens us in life? This is definitely something we'd like to gift wrap for our kids at Christmas.

We would have to start with building Character
for Love, Joy, Peace, Faith, Hope, Kindness to remain.



Life is all about finding gratitude.
~If you do not Look to see your daily blessings from Father God, you are not feeling nourished enough to see with clarity the tools provided for us to work with our gifts and talents.
~When we believe Life is meaningful and has purpose,
we know we are on a quest to build ourselves Up to Father God.
~We are all headed in a destination.

Psalm 138

This starts with an attitude of ability, provision. Believing God will provide.

Going to "God's House" bringing the kids, to feed and nourish positive attitudes.
If nothing else, to glimpse the Glory of God Almighty, far greater than ourselves. The Ancient of Days. Jesus, the Bible tells us, sees all of the Heavens.

In Prayer, we have answers. We have to believe "No" or "Not yet" are an answer. However, the power, the glory, the awe, the wonder, the mystery
- when we Know -
Father God has heard and answered us, "Yes."

Because, we asked and believed His Will is Good. We are emboldened with Answered Prayers. Filled with Wonder at The Majesty and Mercy of our Father.

When our eyes are opened to the Positive Gifts of God, we are pleased to see others Blessed. God has many, many Blessings. God does not deplete Blessings, to be generous.
The Glory of God - is - Great.

Knowing whatever our self esteem level is - Father God is kindly to the lowly.

Trouble? The Prodigal Son is helped, why should we despair? Peace is Blessing of God, but the Scriptures show us in almost every Chapter - we are developed when we worry, strive, think, lean, plod, hope, endure.


Your love, Lord Father, Our God, endures forever—
You will not abandon the works of Your hands.

The Sepulcher, painted by Dan Burr

Just as we learn Jesus would enfold us in His arms and gather us like a hen and her chicks, we know Father God would run to see us - way in the distance - coming Home.

And we will continue to run this race with character, salt, verve, and stamina.

Where The River Flows - Collective Soul

Father God is here for us.


Father God, You have Written Your Word,

Blessed are those who are invited to the Lamb!

An angel standing in the sun, cries in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God."

Hear the sound of a great multitude,
like the roar of rushing waters
and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
for true and just are his judgments.

We delight to sit in His Light.

Let Jesus lead us to the banquet hall,
and let His banner over me be Love.

See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear,
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.

The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, we will be called, His Beloved,
my beautiful one, come with me.

Father God, we welcome Your Great Love to flow in the ones we Love, the people You have given us. Flow ceaselessly, let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream. In Abundance, bless all those who call upon You in Faith. Bless our Churches, work places, states and nations calling upon You. Bless us with the gift of Peace, Love, Joy and Diligent Faith in You. Strengthen us to Your Glory. In Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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James 3:13-18 ~ righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace

Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand

James 3:13-18

~ (New Revised Standard Version)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 

But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.

But the wisdom from above is 
first pure,
then peaceable, 
gentle, 
willing to yield, 
full of mercy and good fruits, 
without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Wisdom from heaven, or spiritual wisdom is a great prayer request. Even King Solomon missed out on spiritual wisdom from his youth and began again in his later years. God's hand did not leave Solomon. Jesus was repeating His Father's Word to Moses, Joshua.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Jesus knew exactly how to nurture people, it didn't win popularity contests; Jesus looked for a life holding true meaning, not simple or grand, pleasures in life. What could be more important than to know the Lord and work according to His pleasure?

A life of Meaning.

How will we immediately have and hold a meaningful Christmas?

Read Scripture. A verse a day. Find the Word that holds your heart.

This Christmas - listen to Christian Radio. Sing. Tell Others.

Remember what holding Christmas in your heart is - remembering Jesus knew what He was here to do. And how He felt
about His Beloved - me and you - and having Him live in our Heart.

John 17
I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

Father GOD,
With great gratitude, for Your Word. For Your Promises. For Your Plans.

For the JOY You brought to this Life You are the Light in all of mankind.

We come to You for Life Abundantly. 

We lift up our Loved Ones, the People You have delighted to give us. We lift up our Churches believing in Jesus Christ and His Word. We lift up the States and this Nation to establish Goodness pleasing to You. We rejoice in the people of the World proclaiming Jesus as Lord.

Since the dawn of the first sunrise, You have called Your creation good. Let us bring Your goodness forth, pleasing to You. Ancient of Days, Our Great and Compassionate Shepherd.

Thank You for the Expectation of Your Goodness and Love. We ask for Spiritual Wisdom to Your Glory.

In Jesus,
Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Romans 8 ~ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 8

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 

3 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, 4 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. 

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.


12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.



15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 

36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.




I've known two people recently with Christmas anxieties.

Reasons for stress. Life just is pretty difficult when stress hits us at Christmas. In Houston,
places are not as full as the oil prices have helped the economy in other towns.

A woman I know has joy this month because her Master's degree is finished in Decemeber
and with the graduation is going several states over to visit her family. And her hours she has
worked required for her Master's are significant and substantial - that has finished as well.
And as Christmas gets closer, her husband was laid off. They are young and this is their first hurdle as a real life worry happens. Her worries are valid. And yet, God has absolutely prepared them - they are three fold. God has created an environment where they can be moved exactly where He needs them in their Journey for Him.

Ecclesiastes 4:12
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

God has left a calling card here.




A woman from our Church Bible Study, a Pastorate, had gone to Dubai to visit her two year old grandson and just as she arrived, her daughter- in-law's mother - a 30 hour flight away - needed her daughter - her operation has gone badly and complications have happened. Her daughter-in-law's mother is on life supported artificially. In the middle of Christmas difficulties - God has provided this family with the grandson having 103' fever - only with the most compassionate Grandmother care - as this daughter goes 30 hours immediately to see her mother.

God has left His Calling Card.



The one thing we miss if we are in Christmas stress, is knowing how many people know how to do their lives - even when it is stressful.

A gift God gives us - a very durable gift.


2 Timothy 3

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.


Luke 21:19
Stand firm, and you will win life.

It would be difficult to say all things work for good when the crisis is not yours and even trite.
However these are Christian people. And in the years to come, they will know and tell, decades from
now, how God made circumstance survivable, providing the framework of faith and circumstance - to allow - hope, endurance, Character and Love to go forth in His Good Plan.

The Newest News Story is young people reading Leviticus to people asking for their Qur'an comments. It's an old shock value story. Spiritual matters need eyes of faith, and have to be read with Spiritual Discernment. Or we go the direction of labeling Jews with Stars marked "Jude."

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

It is these who cause divisions, worldly people

Beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.


Father God, be with the people who are burdened and allow the people having Peace to share their Peace with those in discomfort.

We ask Your infinite delight in Blessing to cover our Loved Ones, the People You have Given us
in Your Goodness. Protect us from harm and hurt we ask You. And help us to see with Joy, the Path You will help us to adhere to. Knowing people pray and You delight and we lift our heavy concerns to You knowing You will carry them. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †