"Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the house..."
"...the time came for the baby to be born"(Luke 2:6 NIV)
This Eve of Christmas, what will your activity be?
Both of my sons were born around 9a.m. after a night of labor. Every year, I remember the day and the evening before that night of labor. I recall the activities of the day.
I especially recall the emotions of that first birth...the un-known..what will it be like...will everything be ok...can I do this...should I have accepted this responsibility...
"Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." John 2:19 NIV ...
I have no doubt that every Eve of Christ's birth, Mary re-lived the trip to Bethlehem on that donkey.
Every closed door and every 'sorry, we don't have room for you'. Every scent of that barn. Thankful for Joseph, who could have walked away but didn't. Going over the labor..the pains, the blood, the pushing. No proper way to bathe the newborn, no family to 'OOOooooo, and aaaaahhhhh'
Pondering..certainly lots to ponder.
And the face of the Child, the first cry, the first suckle... the thoughts and wonderings of what the future held for her baby. Ponder indeed.
We too have much to ponder. May we all ponder this Eve of Christmas.
Immanuel, God with us.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Child...
Child. What can a child do? What power could a child possibly wield?
“From now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." (Gen. 3:15)
A Child was God’s answer for humanity. All mankind was touched by the stain of sin, no longer innocent, no longer perfect, the relationship between man and The Perfect One forever broken.
Until The Child.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6)
Hard concept. A Child will bear the responsibility of governing me? A Child will be the One to give me advice and counsel? A Child will somehow be in charge of my peace?
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”(Luke 2:11)
“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.”(Luke 2:40)
“And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.” (Luke 4:44)
“….you are to give him the name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
his kingdom will never end." (Luke 1:31-33)
Hallelujah !!
“From now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." (Gen. 3:15)
A Child was God’s answer for humanity. All mankind was touched by the stain of sin, no longer innocent, no longer perfect, the relationship between man and The Perfect One forever broken.
Until The Child.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6)
Hard concept. A Child will bear the responsibility of governing me? A Child will be the One to give me advice and counsel? A Child will somehow be in charge of my peace?
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”(Luke 2:11)
“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.”(Luke 2:40)
“And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.” (Luke 4:44)
“….you are to give him the name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
his kingdom will never end." (Luke 1:31-33)
Hallelujah !!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Light....
Anyone who does not have Jesus Christ can not appreciate Light, they only know darkness. To not know Jesus Christ is to live in darkness.
Ever ask a person born blind to describe light? It is difficult to describe light without knowledge of darkness. And impossible to fully appreciate the value of light having never known darkness.
Jesus is the Light of the world. Heavenly starlight was just a glimmer of the Light born in the stable that night.
♪♫•*•♫♪ ♪♫•*•♫♪ ... ''a star, a star,shining in the night, it will bring us goodness and light' ..'♪♫•*•♫♪ ♪♫•*•♫♪
♪♫•*•♫♪ ♪♫•*•♫♪ I once was lost,but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see'..♪♫•*•♫♪ ♪♫•*•♫♪
TO PHOS TOU KOSMOU translates 'light of the world'.
"I am the Light of the world, Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."(Jesus, John 8:12)
Have you experienced the discovery of His Light?
Can you now describe Light because you've been rescued from darkness?
May we not forget what a dreadful thing it is to live without His Light...may we never take for granted His birth, His Life, and His death.
He came. He is coming again. Hallelujah.
Ever ask a person born blind to describe light? It is difficult to describe light without knowledge of darkness. And impossible to fully appreciate the value of light having never known darkness.
Jesus is the Light of the world. Heavenly starlight was just a glimmer of the Light born in the stable that night.
♪♫•*•♫♪ ♪♫•*•♫♪ ... ''a star, a star,shining in the night, it will bring us goodness and light' ..'♪♫•*•♫♪ ♪♫•*•♫♪
♪♫•*•♫♪ ♪♫•*•♫♪ I once was lost,but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see'..♪♫•*•♫♪ ♪♫•*•♫♪
TO PHOS TOU KOSMOU translates 'light of the world'.
"I am the Light of the world, Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."(Jesus, John 8:12)
Have you experienced the discovery of His Light?
Can you now describe Light because you've been rescued from darkness?
May we not forget what a dreadful thing it is to live without His Light...may we never take for granted His birth, His Life, and His death.
He came. He is coming again. Hallelujah.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Food....
Food. There will be plenty everywhere we go...more than plenty.
We will eat.
And eat.
But a few hours later, we will be empty and hungry again.
ARTOS ZOES translates 'bread of life'. Jesus IS this bread.(John6:48)
Don't confuse your hunger pains. Recognize your spirit craving His Bread. ..He fills an emptiness and hunger that nothing else can.
Permanently
We will eat.
And eat.
But a few hours later, we will be empty and hungry again.
ARTOS ZOES translates 'bread of life'. Jesus IS this bread.(John6:48)
Don't confuse your hunger pains. Recognize your spirit craving His Bread. ..He fills an emptiness and hunger that nothing else can.
Permanently
Monday, December 20, 2010
Traditions...
12-20-10♪♫•*•♫♪ ♪♫•*•♫♪ I’ll be home for Christmas….you can count on me, please have snow, and mistletoe…and presents ‘neath the tree….♪♫•*•♫♪♪♫•*•♫♪
It is great to be ‘home’. It is great to carry on the traditions we have established…to do what we have always done…the way we have always done it.
But as the circle of life grows, some things must necessarily change.
The tradition becomes what you do THIS time. (…I often caution young parents NEVER to do something they don’t want to continue to do from now on!!! Fill a stocking once, you must fill it for years to come!!!…)
We have an enemy whose purpose is to ‘steal, kill, and destroy’. (John 10:10)
We have a Savior Whose purpose is to ‘give life in all its fullness.’ (John 10:10 )
This is a season of celebration. Let us purpose to stand against the enemy assault, for be assured, the enemy will attack at our most vulnerable time.
He is an enemy. There are no rules of engagement, no honor to uphold.
Our enemy is also a liar. “He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
As we find ourselves in new circumstances, distanced from loved ones, separated by time and space, let us not believe lies. Let us not be influenced by the enemy, but let us purpose that we WILL “Above all, love each other deeply…” (1 Peter 4:8)
Love is not bound by time and space. It is not defined by tradition. Traditions are only manifestation OF love.
Love’s power is strong, and is pictured in the very life of Jesus Christ. Deity stepping into a woman’s body, pushed thru a birth canal, living a human life, dying a horrible death.
Because He loved us.
The Eternal, Omniscient One has never been bound by time or space.
And He is Immanuel…. God with us.
Hallelujah.
It is great to be ‘home’. It is great to carry on the traditions we have established…to do what we have always done…the way we have always done it.
But as the circle of life grows, some things must necessarily change.
The tradition becomes what you do THIS time. (…I often caution young parents NEVER to do something they don’t want to continue to do from now on!!! Fill a stocking once, you must fill it for years to come!!!…)
We have an enemy whose purpose is to ‘steal, kill, and destroy’. (John 10:10)
We have a Savior Whose purpose is to ‘give life in all its fullness.’ (John 10:10 )
This is a season of celebration. Let us purpose to stand against the enemy assault, for be assured, the enemy will attack at our most vulnerable time.
He is an enemy. There are no rules of engagement, no honor to uphold.
Our enemy is also a liar. “He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
As we find ourselves in new circumstances, distanced from loved ones, separated by time and space, let us not believe lies. Let us not be influenced by the enemy, but let us purpose that we WILL “Above all, love each other deeply…” (1 Peter 4:8)
Love is not bound by time and space. It is not defined by tradition. Traditions are only manifestation OF love.
Love’s power is strong, and is pictured in the very life of Jesus Christ. Deity stepping into a woman’s body, pushed thru a birth canal, living a human life, dying a horrible death.
Because He loved us.
The Eternal, Omniscient One has never been bound by time or space.
And He is Immanuel…. God with us.
Hallelujah.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Presents/Presence....
It's the season of gift giving. Lots and lots of presents. All in pretty gift sacks with tissue spilling out the top, or wrapped in pretty paper with bright shiney ribbons and bows.
Given a choice, which do you prefer?
Presents? Or His Presence?
When you worship, where is your focus?
Your salvation? Or Your Savior?
The gift? Or The Giver?
Given a choice, which do you prefer?
Presents? Or His Presence?
When you worship, where is your focus?
Your salvation? Or Your Savior?
The gift? Or The Giver?
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Big....
..attention college kids!! The best 'big' ever !! Your sorority 'big' sister or brother may be great help and encouragement to you, but they are no match for this Big !!
...He is the ALPHA KAI OMEGA.
The first, and the last. (Rev.22:13)
We celebrate His birth, but that event was not His beginning, only the beginning of the image of the invisible God.
He was present at creation.(Col.1 and John1)
He was born to die. (Isa53)
He is alive forever.(Rev1)
And I'm in...for my eternal lifetime He is my big
...He is the ALPHA KAI OMEGA.
The first, and the last. (Rev.22:13)
We celebrate His birth, but that event was not His beginning, only the beginning of the image of the invisible God.
He was present at creation.(Col.1 and John1)
He was born to die. (Isa53)
He is alive forever.(Rev1)
And I'm in...for my eternal lifetime He is my big
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)