Latter Rain

     The latter rain is neither soft and gentle, nor a hard downpour. Matter of fact, it isn't even what we would define as rain. It is the dew that settles gently on the ground and everything setting on the ground, whether it sets on grass or cars, flowers or houses. 

     In Scriptures, this latter rain is not a challenge, not a trial: it is the blessing that comes with having the favor of God in one's life. 

     I want this latter rain in my life.

Christmas Trivia 2015

So, how well do you know your Bible? If you are like me, you may think you are pretty smart. But we all know that God reveals Truths to us that we have glossed over in other times of study. Let's begin with the birth of Christ:

1. In the first four books of the New Testament we meet Jesus. Who in these books speaks of Jesus' birth? 
2. Who tells of the shepherds?
3. Who tells of the wise men?
4. Who doesn't even speak of His birth?

After His Birth:

5. Who greeted Jesus in the temple after His birth?
6. How many wise men came looking for Him?
7. How long had the wise men been looking for Jesus before they found Him? (The Bible doesn't say where Jesus was when they found Him, but we do know they didn't stay in the stable for that long).
8. What were the three gifts that the wise men brought to the new King of the Jews?

Before His Birth:

9. Most of us know that Isaiah prophesied of a coming King, but which other prophets spoke of this? List the verses in your reply.
10. In the Old Testament what titles are laid on the prophesied King? 

BONUS: For you study hogs: How many prophecies concerning Jesus Christ have already been fulfilled? And what are they?

A Light Like No Other

Out of millions of stars in the night skies one shone above all the others. Created to serve one purpose and one purpose only: lead the nations to the place which God had prepared for the birth of His only begotten Son. To bring the newborn King their, and our, worship and adoration. To bring the King of the Jews ourselves and lay not only the gifts in our hands at His feet, but the gifts in our hearts, as well. 

How fitting that the weather is so topsy-turvy this year. For it was not a cold winter night that welcomed the baby's birth, but a warm summer night. When the sheep could be on the surrounding hills, while their shepherds kept close watch. When the darkness of night would suddenly be illuminated by thousands, tens of thousands, of angels singing the praises of the newborn King of the Jews. A heavenly choir singing to a bunch of poor shepherds and their flocks. Calling out to them to "fear not", for this was a joyous occasion. And to Bethlehem they came. 

The supernatural star gleamed and shined forth its light over the stable where the baby lay, 'wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger'. The Bread of Life resting in a feeding trough. The Light of the world heralded with the special light which His heavenly Father had prepared for such an occasion. The Way in a manger. The Door through which all must walk through in belief that Jesus the Christ is the only begotten Son of God, who died on the cross and rose from the grave. 

In humble beginnings here on earth Jesus took His first breath, but not His last. For Christ is alive. For ever. That manger is empty and gone. That cross is empty and gone. That grave is empty, though many flock to see the tomb where it is said that He lay. I don't want to visit where He is not: I am going where He is!!

I saw that Light and I followed it to His heart. Now, I am in Him and He is in me, which is what He prayed for in the garden that night they hauled Him away like a common criminal. That Light lives in me and when I open my heart, His Light shines through. There is room for many, many more in His heart. Won't you reconsider and change your mind? And let Jesus change your heart? 

His Star, His Purpose

Sure Footed Confidence

O people of faith, wonder not why your feet hurt for God is making

your feet new, that His purpose may be fulfilled in you.

Your faith is growing because you have placed your trust in your God.

In His Word you are made new and whole and perfect.

His strength is ours for our journeys. 

His Wisdom is ours for our

understanding and undertakings.

His Love is the love wherewith we love others. 

His Peace is beyond the

scope of human understanding.

His Joy is unspeakable; 

there are no words that can adequately

describe it.

The Lord Jesus Christ alone is our Hope of Salvation, for there is no

other Name under heaven by which man can be saved.

His way is perfect and we are to walk in it by faith.

Determination: I will walk.

Perseverance; I am walking.

Overcomer: I have walked.

I Can't Hear You

Romans 10:17
So then, Faith comes by Hearing, and Hearing by
The WORD of GOD.

Are you having difficulty understanding The Holy Bible? Ask The Author for help. Read your Bible out loud. Doesn't matter how silly you think it sounds.. The Bible tells us that there is POWER in the Spoken WORD. And our Bibles are the Written WORD.. When we read Out Loud, we hear our voices Speaking The WORD of God in our ears and The Holy Spirit directs this WORD to our hearts! 

Take care which 'bible' you read, as well. Not all bibles are The Written WORD of GOD. While the KJV is my favorite, there are other reliable versions. The Amplified Bible applies Strong's Exhaustive Concordance right in the Bible verse, making it easier to understand the words in places. (Helps to have your own Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, too).

Some folks have their own bibles printed up with parts of the Bible removed. Ask God to direct you to the Bible He wants you to read. Like I said, KJV is my favorite. I have read the NKJV, NIV, RSV and I have a Greek-English New Testament nearby. I always come back to KJV (King James Version). And I keep Matthew Henry's Commentary near me to guide me in my studies. In fact, all of my study books are at hand to help me seek out that which is burning in my heart. 

See, this Faith verse? We cannot always get to church to hear The WORD of GOD preached by the pastor, minister, teacher, evangelist or missionary. But we can still hear The WORD of GOD spoken, if we are willing to speak IT out loud in our homes. Set down in your recliner, put your feet up, open your Bible and begin to read where God directs you to, where your heart is so inclined to go. 

We have no excuse for not hearing The WORD spoken, when we have ears that hear. But what about they who cannot hear because they are deaf? The heart hears The WORD, whether the lips move or not; the desire to hear is rewarded with the riches of heaven: The WORD gets applied. 

Some day we will see THE WORD of GOD with our eyes: face to face with JESUS we will be. Until then, we see and hear THE WORD OF GOD with our Faith.