♪♫•*•♫♪ "Silent night....holy night..... ♪♫•*•♫♪
I'd like to know what was silent about it !!
Luke 2 tells about shepherds and flocks, then a PLETHOS of angels appear praising God.
PLETHOS translates "a bunch"!!
They are not silent...and I doubt those shepherds and flocks were silent after that either!
And chidbirth in a barn....any mother out there think THAT was silent !?!
But it was holy.
Praise God for that night.
Luke 2:17 lets us know for sure the shepherds weren't silent .......they "made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child."
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Gifts....
Gifts. There will be so many.
Things we've wished for...things we expect to bring us joy.
But real joy is not a gift, it is a fruit. A result. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith..." (Galatians 5:22)
This joy doesn't get old, the joy doesn't fade away...in fact, this joy grows and multiplies, birthing into our life peace, patience, kindness..... (not like the newest trend or latest toy)
Don't be tricked into expecting joy from inside a giftwrapped box. You will be disappointed time and again.
Joy is a fruit of God's Holy Spirit, comes listed right after love...it is the love expressed to us by the gift, that is the joyful thing.
On the first Christmas, the greatest gift of all time was given. God Himself stepped into the flesh of a naked, helpless infant. God Himself stepped out of perfect glory into the setting of a smelly barn....and lost humanity.
Happy? Oh yes !! And so very blessed.
He has "redeemed us from the curse of the law..." (Galatians 3:13)
"He has visited and redeemed his people..."(Luke 1:68)
"He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness..."(Col. 1:13)
Hallelujah!
Things we've wished for...things we expect to bring us joy.
But real joy is not a gift, it is a fruit. A result. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith..." (Galatians 5:22)
This joy doesn't get old, the joy doesn't fade away...in fact, this joy grows and multiplies, birthing into our life peace, patience, kindness..... (not like the newest trend or latest toy)
Don't be tricked into expecting joy from inside a giftwrapped box. You will be disappointed time and again.
Joy is a fruit of God's Holy Spirit, comes listed right after love...it is the love expressed to us by the gift, that is the joyful thing.
On the first Christmas, the greatest gift of all time was given. God Himself stepped into the flesh of a naked, helpless infant. God Himself stepped out of perfect glory into the setting of a smelly barn....and lost humanity.
Happy? Oh yes !! And so very blessed.
He has "redeemed us from the curse of the law..." (Galatians 3:13)
"He has visited and redeemed his people..."(Luke 1:68)
"He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness..."(Col. 1:13)
Hallelujah!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Joy....
"You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence....." (Psalm 16:11)
To many, this time of year brings everything but joy. Many of us have experienced changes of life's circumstances. Traditions will be diffiult to keep, if not impossible. There will be people missing. Some permanently.
Some have been snatched away, only to be seen again on the other side of this realm. Some have been rescued from suffering here, whisked away to an eternal life of no pain or sorrow.
Sadly, there are some who will not know the joy of the Lord, never to experience His Presence. Eternally separated.
PARAKLETOS translates 'comforter'.
Jesus sent this Comforter.(John 16:7) He comes, and when welcomed in, He says "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (John 14:16)
This Comforter is here to help us know Him and His purposes. "He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."(John 14:26)
I pray that you will open your heart to Jesus afresh this Christmas season.
I pray you will experience the Comforter in very real and practical ways, bringing you the promise of "...peace that is not logical." (Phillipians 4:7)
Speak His Name. Tell the joyful news.
ALL people need to know and believe.
....else there will be another Christmas lacking joy for someone, somewhere, someday.
To many, this time of year brings everything but joy. Many of us have experienced changes of life's circumstances. Traditions will be diffiult to keep, if not impossible. There will be people missing. Some permanently.
Some have been snatched away, only to be seen again on the other side of this realm. Some have been rescued from suffering here, whisked away to an eternal life of no pain or sorrow.
Sadly, there are some who will not know the joy of the Lord, never to experience His Presence. Eternally separated.
PARAKLETOS translates 'comforter'.
Jesus sent this Comforter.(John 16:7) He comes, and when welcomed in, He says "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (John 14:16)
This Comforter is here to help us know Him and His purposes. "He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."(John 14:26)
I pray that you will open your heart to Jesus afresh this Christmas season.
I pray you will experience the Comforter in very real and practical ways, bringing you the promise of "...peace that is not logical." (Phillipians 4:7)
Speak His Name. Tell the joyful news.
ALL people need to know and believe.
....else there will be another Christmas lacking joy for someone, somewhere, someday.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Alive...
As you hear the Christmas carols and bells, do you hear LOGOS, the Voice that calls us to light and life?
Do you listen to the LOGOS that was with God the Father in the beginning?
Do you know The LOGOS that became flesh?(John 1)
This LOGOS IS God's creative life-giving Word!!
Just as at Creation, He speaks and it is.
Life and Light.
HALLELUJAH, Praise the Lord.
This Christmas season, when you see a decorative holiday light, think of THE Light. Jesus said HE is The Light of the world. Listen carefully, turn your heart to hear His Voice beckoning you to share His Life.
Just as He was born to die and live again, so are we born to die...
Thru Him, we have the opportunity and invitation to die to sin, and be made re-born, made alive..
Alive.... to live eternally with Him.
Do you listen to the LOGOS that was with God the Father in the beginning?
Do you know The LOGOS that became flesh?(John 1)
This LOGOS IS God's creative life-giving Word!!
Just as at Creation, He speaks and it is.
Life and Light.
HALLELUJAH, Praise the Lord.
This Christmas season, when you see a decorative holiday light, think of THE Light. Jesus said HE is The Light of the world. Listen carefully, turn your heart to hear His Voice beckoning you to share His Life.
Just as He was born to die and live again, so are we born to die...
Thru Him, we have the opportunity and invitation to die to sin, and be made re-born, made alive..
Alive.... to live eternally with Him.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Hear....
'Do you hear what I hear.....' I love the message of the familiar Christmas carol.
PROPHETES is Hebrew for prophet, a proclaimer of a divine message.
In Dt.18 the people did not want to hear or see God anymore, they were afraid.
God promised to send a Prophet...One Who would speak the words of God, One from among them, they would not be fearful of Him..
That Prophet is Jesus the Christ.
His arrival was common, He invoked no fear...he entered the world a tiny helpless infant.
He perfectly commmunicates God's Word to us (Heb.1)
Do you hear Him?
PROPHETES is Hebrew for prophet, a proclaimer of a divine message.
In Dt.18 the people did not want to hear or see God anymore, they were afraid.
God promised to send a Prophet...One Who would speak the words of God, One from among them, they would not be fearful of Him..
That Prophet is Jesus the Christ.
His arrival was common, He invoked no fear...he entered the world a tiny helpless infant.
He perfectly commmunicates God's Word to us (Heb.1)
Do you hear Him?
Friday, December 10, 2010
Opportunity....
MIQWEH YISRAEL is Hebrew for 'Hope of Israel'..the One Who saves those who trust in Him...
The Christmas season is the Christians's opportunity to 'go into all the world'(Mark 16:15) with the message of IMMANUEL, Hebrew for 'God with us'..
What better opportunity do we have to speak His name than at CHRISTmas time? What better time to speak of the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world? He is The One it's all about.
The One Isaiah said would thwart the enemy's plan..(8:10)..
The One the angel said would save His people.(Matthew 1:21)...
Father, open our eyes to see the opportunities to speak Your Name and tell Your message of salvation. May we see those opportunities BEFORE they unfold, not in hindsight...not wishing we had spoken, but empower us to recognize the time, enable us to be bold and courageous, that we might act in obedience, immediately, cooperating with Your Holy Spirit, acting as Your instrument to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to those He chooses to put in our path.
He is come.
HALLELUJAH, praise the Lord.
The Christmas season is the Christians's opportunity to 'go into all the world'(Mark 16:15) with the message of IMMANUEL, Hebrew for 'God with us'..
What better opportunity do we have to speak His name than at CHRISTmas time? What better time to speak of the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world? He is The One it's all about.
The One Isaiah said would thwart the enemy's plan..(8:10)..
The One the angel said would save His people.(Matthew 1:21)...
Father, open our eyes to see the opportunities to speak Your Name and tell Your message of salvation. May we see those opportunities BEFORE they unfold, not in hindsight...not wishing we had spoken, but empower us to recognize the time, enable us to be bold and courageous, that we might act in obedience, immediately, cooperating with Your Holy Spirit, acting as Your instrument to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to those He chooses to put in our path.
He is come.
HALLELUJAH, praise the Lord.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Old...
I often lightheartedly say that I am old and tired. That becomes more and more true with each passing day !! Older and tired-er !!
Santa doesn't seem to get any older, and does anyone know where he came from, who are his parents?
EL OLAM is Hebrew for 'The Eternal God'.
He has no beginning, no end, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
According to Isaiah 40:28, He is everlasting, never grows tired or weary, and no one can fathom His understanding.
He IS. And I am His.
That fact is indeed hard for me to fathom...that He cares for me.
Santa doesn't seem to get any older, and does anyone know where he came from, who are his parents?
EL OLAM is Hebrew for 'The Eternal God'.
He has no beginning, no end, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
According to Isaiah 40:28, He is everlasting, never grows tired or weary, and no one can fathom His understanding.
He IS. And I am His.
That fact is indeed hard for me to fathom...that He cares for me.
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