This is Christmas, Too

 

Matthew 2:1-2

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.

Matthew 2:16

Then Herod, when He saw that He was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

    As Christians, we celebrate the birth of Christ with joy and festivities. We give each other presents. We read aloud to our families the Christmas story from the Bible. But do we continue to read aloud when it comes to the other factors in the birth of The King? 

    The wise men were two years into their search. They did not show up to the stable to see the baby King in the manger. They found Him in a house (Matthew 2:11). They knew The Word so well that they were looking for the star before the star appeared. We know this because they were wise men from the east. 

    When we go back to the Book of Daniel (Daniel 2:17, 20), we read of the rudiments of education of which the wise men of that time were required. It is God who gives wisdom and knowledge. Should any of us desire such, it is to God we must go to obtain it. As King Solomon did when God approached him (1 Kings 3:5, 9). 

    Thus we know the wise men not only knew The Scriptures, they had more than a basic education. They were learned men: learning was their way of life. Having read The Scriptures, they believed The Scriptures and were searching the night skies looking for the star that would rise which would show them where the new King would be born. Once it appeared, they began their trek across continents to reach Him. But it took them Two Years to get there. 

    No one who comes to Jesus is ever late getting there. Every heart that truly seeks to see His face will find Him. "Ask and you will receive; Seek and you will find; Knock and the doors will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7. 

    But in their search for Christ, they met people along the way who sought to kill the new King (Matthew 2:3-8). By this Mary and Joseph were residing in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:11). This is where the wise men found Jesus. To a house in Bethlehem, to The One who was Born King of the Jews, they brought their gifts. Gifts which would pay tribute to Him as King (gold), honor Him as King (gold) and anoint Him as King (myrrh). These gifts would be used immediately.

    For when the wise men did not return to Herod, the nasty king ordered all the young children two years old and under to be killed. Hundreds of babies and toddlers met their deaths at the hands of an unwise man. Parents had their infants yanked from their arms and slaughtered in front of them. The blood of innocents filled the city streets in Bethlehem and in every nearby coastal town (Matthew 2:16-18). 

    This, too, is Christmas. Sadness. Mourning. Weeping: an unending, heartbreaking tearyness which flowed from the broken hearts of the people whose children were dead. Another prophecy fulfilled, albeit a sad one. (Jeremiah 31:15). Not everyone was able to rejoice at the birth of The One who had been born King of the Jews. 

    As stated, the gifts the wise men gave to Jesus were used immediately. Because the order was about to go  out while they were still residing in Bethlehem, the young family needed to leave in a hurry. They left in the night, under cover of darkness and fled the country (Matthew 2:12-14), taking the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh which we understand helped them on their journey. For they left immediately after the wise men's visit to their home. 

    So, now I ask you, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? Where is that is born King of Kings? For even now some still search for Him. To know The Scriptures is to know The Word; to know The Word is to know Jesus. The wise men from the east knew the prophecies of The Scriptures at that time. They came searching for He who had been BORN King of the Jews. This is a King who at His birth was already a King. All other kings were made kings or they may have been born into the position by reason of lineage. But Jesus was the born King. Lineage had nothing to do with it. He was King from the beginning, from before time/all through time/after time. 

    As He stated in John 8:58, Jesus told the people that He is I AM (Exodus 3:14). And they wanted to kill Him then, but He faded into the crowd. John 1:1-3 tells us Who this King is. He is King before He is born. He is Ruler. He is Sceptre. He is Governor. He is Jesus and waits for you to seek Him out and meet with Him. 

    Revelation 3:20 " Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." We don't need to wait for Him to come and find us where we are: He knows where we are. He waits for us to answer His knock on our hearts. He waits for us to open the door of our hearts and invite Him in, that The Word may dwell in our hearts. 

    Those who seek Him to destroy His Kingship will fail in their endeavors. Those who seek Him to honor Him as King will find Him. They, we, merely have to open the doors of our hearts and invite Him into our lives. Are you ready to meet Jesus? He's knocking on your heart right now. 

THE GOSPEL - Ryan Stevenson

Birthplace of A King

 

MICAH 5:2

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

    If I had no other verse than Micah's on which to base my faith in God, I would still be a believer. For in this verse we see Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son. Knowing my Bible as I do, I am keenly aware that this is Whom Micah is speaking of. 

    The prophecy is spoken over the town of Bethlehem, which translates to House of Bread. A few hundred years later Jesus would refer to Himself as The Bread of Life, The Mana from heaven which God had sent down for people to partake of. We do this when we believe on The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation.

    But in this comparatively small town The Ruler of Israel would be born. He was sent from heaven by God to accomplish God's purpose until His return to God. The Bible tells us that "God's Word does not return void to Him" (Isaiah 55:11). Christ is The Word (John 1:1;14). And He is not void, empty. He is Truth. He is Life. He is Love. 

    As Ruler in Israel, He is also Governor (Isaiah 9:6), and reigns with Justice. His kingdom is wherever He is and He is in the heart of every believer for we have partaken of His salvation and in His salvation is His suffering, His anguish at the task which God had set before Him and now sets before us. In His salvation is God's mercy and compassion for the lost and the dying. This, too, is in the heart of the believer when Christ lives there. 

    His 'goings forth from of old, from everlasting' is just one of the most peaceful verses I know. For Jesus Christ is The Beginning (Revelation 1:4,8; John 1:1-3; Proverbs 8:23; John 8:58; John 17:5; Revelation 22:13). Age to age, beyond the realm of time is Christ The Messiah. And He's coming soon to reward His faithful, His righteous people and to punish the unfaithful, the unrighteous, the unbeliever (Revelation 22:12-17). 

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO     (I keep singing this one. It is in my thoughts when I close my eyes and with me in my dreams. I awaken and it is still there. My spirit worships even when I am in the unconscious dream realm).

JESUS MESSIAH - Chris Tomlin 

The Lord Is Light

 

2 Peter 1:19

And we have the more certain prophetic word, to which you do well taking heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until this day shall have dawned and the morning star shall have arisen in your hearts,

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of The Only Begotten of The Father,) full of grace and truth.

    David writes in Psalm 27:1 that "The LORD is My Light and My Salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the Strength of My Life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Indeed, where Light shines there is no fear, there is no doubt, there is no one to be afraid of. For this Light is the Knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And I love that face. By faith in my Savior I will see Him face to face one day. 

    This precious Knowledge we have been given is The Truth of God's Word and it sets us free from the entanglements of sin (John 8:32), releasing us to be joyful, content and rested. This Truth breaks chains, tears down walls of separation and division; it not only brings people into the family of God through the blood of Jesus Christ, but it splits families in two. 

    For where The Word is believed by one or two, it is come against by the many, yet we gain ground in the kingdom of God when we stand fast on His Word. To stand fast ON His Word is to trust Him fully, even when our situations look grim. To stand fast IN His Word is to have His Word enveloped around us, encompassing our every thought and move. We are saturated in the anointing of His precious Holy Spirit and God makes Himself known to us. 

    The LORD is My LIGHT. And My SALVATION. He SHINES in my heart and in my mind. He is The Strength of My Life. Without Him I would be nothing; I wouldn't even exist. He is my Breath for it is He Who gives me breath, gives me life, gives me everything. I am known by those who do not know me, for when they see me, they see JESUS. Sometimes even those who do know me, can just glance in my direction and say, 'She's been with The Lord.' 

    And when I see His Face, I will see His Light shine ever more brighter. In Him I am complete. In Him I am content. In Him I am the lighthouse out of which His LIGHT shines, to warn of the hidden dangers in the darkness of sin. 

    Can you see The Light? He is The Light of Christmas in the Christmas season. He is The Light of Salvation in the Resurrection. He is The Light of Life in the heart of every believer. Is this Light shining in your heart? Do others see Jesus in you? If you let only your light shine, the day will come when your light will be snuffed out: like a candle you will have shined briefly. But if you allow The Light of God, Jesus Christ, to shine in your heart and remove the darkness from within you, then your light becomes His Light and you will shine for Jesus evermore. 

    We sing This Little Light of Mine in Sunday School because we are aware that our lamps are small and frail. However, we also know that The Light that shines in us can spread to every heart who is seeking The Light. Then when our little lights unite, a great LIGHT shines. 

    I'm so glad His LIGHT shines in me and through me. Aren't you?

THRONE ROOM - Kim Walker-Smith

I AM THE LIGHTHOUSE 

SHINE JESUS SHINE - Vineyard Music

The Lord is Like A Green Fir Tree

 

Hosea 14:8

Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From Me is thy fruit found.

    The blessings of God are found in God. The repentant soul has turned its back on the idols which it had created (vs. 1-3) and finds itself now in the covering, the branches, of The Lord God. Though under His wings we are sheltered (Psalm 91:4), under His branches we find ourselves being nourished and strengthened and protected (Ezekiel 17:23; Matthew 13:32). 

    It is our Faith, our Trust, in God Himself that keeps us under His branches. It is more than knowing what He can do for us, what we have seen Him do in us and around us: it is being aware of and completely enthralled with Him because we KNOW beyond a  shadow of a doubt that THE LORD GOD LOVES US. 

    We know because we have heard the gospel of salvation through JESUS CHRIST and we have believed that it is TRUE. We know because we who believe in The Name of The LORD for our salvation have seen the chains of addiction fall away from us. We have seen alcoholics delivered, not just recovering. We have seen the chains of sexual immorality broken and cast aside because the BLOOD of God's perfect Lamb has washed away the stains of sin and the chains with which we were bound are no more. 

     We are so totally enamored of our LORD GOD that we have chosen to follow Him anywhere He leads us. We are aware of danger on every side (Psalm 23:4,5), yet we have set our hearts on Him knowing He walks with us. Our mouths open and we speak THE WORD which our GOD has placed in our hearts to bring THE GOOD NEWS, GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY, to all who seek the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness. For all who truly seek will surely find and all who find will be saved, delivered, filled and join the army of God, which moves on its knees. 

    There is room for everyone under this mighty tree which God has raised up. For it is not the tree itself which is mighty, but He who once hung on a tree. Under that tree is room for all who believe that He Who died on the cross, the tree of humiliation, is the only begotten Son of God, Whom God chose to fulfill His plan of salvation for all mankind to receive. The only ones not under that tree are the ones who choose not to believe that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. 

    There's room under that tree for a wretch like me and there's room under that tree for you.

GLORIA - Chris Tomlin 

The Lord Is Mine

 

THE LORD IS MINE 

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved.

I am a whosoever. 

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want (lack). 

Isaiah 40:11  He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.

John 10:11  “I am The Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep."

I am His sheep because I am a whosoever. The Lord is Mine. Is He your Lord? Are you a whosoever? Do you want to be a whosoever? 

It's really very simple. 

A=Acknowledge that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, that He was buried and then rose on the third day. 

B=Believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. Read The Word every day and study it for yourself. Never take it for granted that what someone is telling you is in the Bible is really in the Bible: people lie to benefit themselves and to keep others from knowing the valuable Truth that is found in God's Word. 

C=Confess our sins to God and ask His help to stop doing those things He says not to do and to do the things He wants us to do. This is called repentance. Continuing to trust God every day and being faithful in our daily walk is a process called The Holiness Way. For us to grow in Christ everyday we need God's Holy Spirit. We need to ask Him for guidance on how to live a righteous life now while we have breath that we may see God and live when we die. 

This is the basic alphabet of salvation in Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 "Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 

These are the verses we read and understand to know that we are sinners who need saving. Make no bones about it: we are ALL sinners. If someone says they have never sinned, they are a LIAR, for God's Word is Faithful and True and He tells us that we are ALL sinners, we ALL need Jesus to save us. Would you rather be a fool or a saint?

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. 

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 5:6 But God commendeth His love His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

Romans 10:9-10, 13 That if you confess with your mouth The Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ~ For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved. 

Isn't it time for you to be a whosoever? 

NO OTHER NAME 

BELONG TO YOU 

The Lord Is Obedient

 

THE LORD IS OBEDIENT

1 John 3:8

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose The Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 

    From the manger to the cross to the grave to the heavenly place where He is seated at the right hand of God. He has fulfilled God's plan of salvation: Jesus has obeyed His Father and has been elevated to King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

THE OBEDIENT SERVANT

Titus 2:14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 

1 Timothy 2:5,6/ Matthew 20:28/ Galatians 1:3,4/ Galatians 4:4,5/Philippians 2:8

FROM THE MANGER

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

TO THE CROSS

Luke 23:33 When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left.

Psalm 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Isaiah 53:1-8/ Romans 4:25/ Galatians 3:13

TO THE GRAVE 

Isaiah 53:9-11/ Mark 15:46/ Luke 23:53/ John 19:38-42/Acts 2:32/Acts 3:15/2 Corinthians 5:21

Acts 2:24  But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches.

Acts 10:40   God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen.

HIS STATUS ELEVATED

Isaiah 52:13 Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

Isaiah 53:12/ Philippians 2:9-11/Daniel 7:14/Ephesians 1:20, 21

TO THE HEAVENLY PLACE

Acts 1:9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

 1 Timothy 3:16 By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by The Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory. 

SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus The Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Psalm 110:1/Matthew 22:44/Matthew 26:64/Romans 8:34 

HIGH AND EXALTED 

ADORATION 

HE REIGNS 

The Lord is Savior - - First Sunday in December

 

THE SHIPPING LABEL

TO: The World

FROM: GOD

WEIGHT OF PACKAGE: Everything

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him, should not perish but have everlasting life. 

There's more to this life than just living it. We have been given the opportunity to live it (1) Eternally with God and His Christ; (2) Abundantly in Christ; (3) Fully in The Spirit of God. 

Though death tarnishes life with its shadow, we need to remember that that is all  death is to the believer: a shadow. Shadows have no power, they are merely a whisper of passage through which the Son shines. David wrote in Psalm 23, "Yes, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me." He knew that The LORD was with him at all times throughout his days because he made the decision to TRUST GOD. 

We have been given a glorious gift (John 1:14) and it is our decision whether or not we open it and receive it or just leave it under the tree, the cross. For everyone will eventually make their way to the cross of Christ; some will see and believe, some will glance and walk away, some will mock the cross and what it stands for. It is the few who believe The Word of God and receive The Christ of God that will forever be changed by The Power of God. 

There is no RTS (return to sender) on this package. The Word tells us that God's Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11): His Word accomplishes Its mission. This may seem like a hard thing to hear but its just as hard to write: not all seed will root. But The Word has gone forth and it is still in accomplish-mode. There is still time to come back to the cross and really see what God allowed His Son to go through. You woke up this morning and you managed to crawl out of bed. God gave you another day. Thank Him for that. 

Thank You, Lord, for this new day which You have given me. Thank You for the opportunity to glorify You and bless You. Help me to accomplish Your purpose in me. Have Your Way in my life today. For I have given You my heart and my mind and my life. You are my everything and without You I know that I am nothing. As the song says, In You I live and move and have my being. 

Thank You, Lord, for saving me. When I was lost and undone, You found me at just the right time. I was that lost sheep You went looking for and I'm so glad You picked me up and carried me back to where You knew I needed to be. Thank You for writing Your Word on my heart and filling me today with a new infusion of Your Holy Spirit. For without these I accomplish nothing on my own. I'm just a lump of clay waiting for the potter's hand to transform me. 

I praise You. My soul blesses You. In You I live and love. Make me a blessing to You and for You today. 

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE

The Blessed Event

      There are no Christian holidays. There are two days we as Christians should celebrate: the day we are born-again into the kingdom of God and the day we die. Both are celebrations of Life Eternal, a truly blessed event. 

     That being said, tradition has ingrained in me the desire to celebrate stolen holidays, like Christmas and Easter, though I no longer call it Easter (to me and many like me Easter is now Resurrection Sunday). And while our children are grown and our nest is empty, Christmas is the one holiday I do really get into. I love finding just the right gift for a person. I love the way faces light up, if I get to see them open their presents. I love the, "Wow! Thanks" I get when an unexpected guest or two show up and are handed a gift. I love giving, for that is how I express my love for my family and my friends at Christmastime.

     Christmas is a shortened word meaning "Christ's Mass" the term a Catholic priest gave it when the church was empty during the winter solstice. (see Britannica: Christmas origins for more).

     I made the mistake with my first born son of leading him to believe Santa was a real person, because that's how I grew up. Big Mistake. Because when he was old enough to go school he was informed Santa was not real. And I had to explain the symbolism behind it. I did not make that mistake with the next two. I raised them on practicality and Jesus' birth. 

     But if you look at the setting of the story of the nativity, the Word was not born in the wintertime. It rains in Israel during the winter months, most of the time. Mary being nine months pregnant would not have ridden any animal on the journey. I imagine Joseph being a carpenter would have handy a small cart of some type and size. There Mary would be able to travel better. 

     On the night of Christ's birth, it wasn't raining. We know this because a star like no other shone in the night sky, big and bright and unusual enough to draw people to the stable, a dark cave-like place where the animals were penned in. 

     Angels suddenly appeared in a clear night sky where shepherds were out in the fields guarding their sheep. In the wintertime these same shepherds would have been closer to home and the sheep would have wintered safely in stables or larger buildings. But on this night they were out in the fields. 

     We don't need to know the date of Christ's birth. It is enough that we know He died on the cross, that His blood washes away our sins when we repent, that God forgives us when we seek His forgiveness, that Jesus rose from the dead and walked out of the grave into eternity. It is enough to know that Jesus Christ stands at the right hand of His Father interceding on our behalf. It is enough that the precious gift of God, the Holy Spirit, fills us with power to preach the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is enough that this same Holy Spirit leads us and guides us through a life lived according to God's Word. 

     That's my Christmas. That's my Jesus. That's what I celebrate. Every day of my life. 

     Do I wish you a Merry Christmas? Do I say Happy Holidays? How am I to greet people now? What should I say? 

Happy Joy of The Lord to you. And what response might expect? The same back to me with joyful exultation. Happy Joy of the Lord to you!!

Luke 15:10

Ecclesiastes 7:1

Luke 2:1-20

Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-11

John 3:16-17

Acts 2:1-41

Galatians 5

Gifts of The Wise Men

 

GIFTS OF THE WISE MEN

Matthew 2:11

On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Most of the time only the material gifts are mentioned when people speak of the gifts the wise men brought. But gold, frankincense and myrrh are not the only gifts. 

The first gift given the newborn King is worship. It is the same type of worship Satan demanded for himself when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. It is the same type of worship that Jesus refuted Satan with by quoting Scripture at him. (see Matthew 4:9-10)

Worship - to prostrate one's self in homage, to bend one's knees to; the willingness to do so. 

To worship is to willingly kneel or fully prostrate one's self in adoration to a superior, usually a king or deity. 

Where is our gift to the King? Where is our worship? Why aren't we willingly falling onto our knees in adoration? Have you seen Him? Do you know Jesus? 

Not everyone who falls to their knees will do so willingly. Isaiah 45:22-24  "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance. Surely they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’ ” All who rage against Him will come to Him and be put to shame." 

A Scripture which Paul repeated when he wrote to the church in Rome: Romans 14:11 "It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” Why will every knee bow? Philippians 2:9-11 "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." 

Why? Two reasons. We will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord and God will receive glory. Some will kneel willingly and remain with God and Christ in heaven. Some will not. 

Will you kneel willingly? Will you kneel now?

Terror At Christ's Birth

 

TERROR AT CHRIST'S BIRTH

Matthew 2:16, 18

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.

“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Not everything about Christmas is joyful or sung about for ages. In fact, some of it is completely overlooked because it is too painful to think about. 

But at the time of Jesus' birth, the king of the land wanted Him dead. However, because Herod didn't know where the new King was born. he ordered all the baby boys two years and under to be killed. 

Soldiers were dispatched to outlying towns and into people's homes. No-knock warrants having been issued by King Herod, new mothers saw their new baby boys and their toddlers snatched out of their arms and killed in the streets, which ran with the blood of their loved ones. 

What was there for them to be joyful about? How could they worship a new King when the one who currently sat on the throne had just murdered their children?

Indeed, how does a person praise God when such sorrow is in their hearts? With great Faith. Even through our tears we can praise God. It wouldn't be easy. We would also be seen as crazy. But having been through great sorrow, I do know it is possible, and that God will carry us through when we can't carry ourselves.

12 Days of Christmas 2019

So, I decided to make a 12 Days of Christmas Series which began on December 13 to count up to Christmas Day. Since two Sundays had to be counted in there, I just tried to make the Names of Christ as Christmas-centered as possible, sandwiching them in-between the days of the week. 
This is the cover art:

And this next is December 13: 

December 14

December 15 (Names of Christ Series)

December 16

December 17

December 18

December 19

December 20

December 21

December 22

December 23

December 24

December 25

His Star, His Purpose, His Glory

STAR

Numbers 24:17

"I shall see Him, but not now; 

I shall behold Him, but not nigh:

There shall come a STAR out of Jacob, 

and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel,

and shall smite the corners of Moab,

and destroy all the children of Sheth."

Matthew 2:2

"Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen

 HIS STAR in the east, and we have come

to worship Him."

PURPOSE

Matthew 1:21

"And she will bring forth a Son, and 

you will call His Name Jesus, 

because HE will SAVE His people 

from their sins."

Luke 2:10-11

"And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: 

for, behold, I bring you TIDINGS of GREAT JOY.

which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day

in the city of David a SAVIOR,

which is CHRIST THE LORD."

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only 

begotten Son, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM

SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE."

Isaiah 9:6

"For unto us a child is born, 

unto us a Son is given,

and THE GOVERNMENT shall be upon His shoulders.

And He will be called WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR,

THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER,

THE PRINCE OF PEACE."

Matthew 28:18

"ALL AUTHORITY 

in heaven and earth has been given to Me."

GLORY

Revelation 5:12-13

"In a loud voice they said: 'Worthy is The Lamb 

that was slain to receive POWER and RICHES

and WISDOM and STRENGTH 

and HONOR and GLORY and BLESSING!'

And I heard every creature in heaven, 

and on earth, and under the earth and in the sea,

and all that is in them, saying,

'To Him who sits on the throne, 

and to The Lamb, 

be PRAISE and HONOR and GLORY and POWER

forever and ever!"

John 8:54

"Jesus answered, 'If I glorify Myself, my glory means nothing.

The One who GLORIFIES Me is My Father,

of whom you say, 'He is our God'."

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? 

The Truth Shall Make You Free

John 8:32 is one of the most widely misrepresented verses used by people who have not a clue as to what they are speaking or doing. Often only misquoting part of the verse, as well: the truth shall set you free. I have news for you: God's Word is not to be taken lightly. 

You say, then, 'What is truth?' I tell you now that Truth is not a what it is a Who, and His Name is Jesus Christ The Holy One of Israel, The Messiah, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. His Name is Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father, The Mighty God. His Name is Alpha and Omega, The Beginning and The End. His Name is Faithful and True. His Name is The Word of God.

His Name is Deliverer, Strength, Lamb of God, The Bridegroom, Bread of God, Living Water, The Light of the world, Son of God, The Good Shepherd, The Resurrection and The Life. His Name is The True Vine, The Root of David, The BRANCH. King of glory, O Most High, Refuge, Fortress, The Rock of my Salvation is His Name.

Immanuel is His Name: God With Us. Carried in a womb, laid in a manger, followed by crowds, believed on by few. Nailed to a cross, buried in a tomb not His own, risen from the dead. Do you believe yet? Are you free?

John 8:31 & 32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, “If you continue in My Word, then are you My disciples indeed; And you shall know The Truth and The Truth shall make you free.” Continuing in God's Word not only makes us His disciples, but we shall know Him and He will make us free.

John 14:6 “Jesus said unto him (Thomas, see verse 5), I Am The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man comes to The Father but by Me.” If you really truly want God to hear you and see you, you MUST go through JESUS to get to God. If you not believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, God cannot hear your prayers, receive your offerings nor accept you gifts.

Isaiah 61:1 speaks of the anointing on Christ's life and ministry. “The Spirit of The Lord God is upon Me; because The Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” Jesus sets us free.

You say you are free, yet you live in sin. Sin lives in darkness and knows not The Light, unless The Light is shined into it, revealing that it is, indeed, dark. What kind of Light reveals the darkness of sin? God's Light, for it is holy and righteous. God's Word, God's Truth, not only reveals what sin is, but has the cure for it: Jesus Christ.

When Jesus prayed in the garden before He was arrested, He prayed for His disciples, He prayed for us. And in John 17:17, He speaks of Truth again: “Sanctify them (disciples and us) through Your Truth: Your Word is Truth.” God's Word is Truth. God's Word is Jesus. Jesus is Truth.

The Truth was sent by God to save the world from perishing in the judgment against sin, against the works of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places. The Truth of God's Word is Love. It is in God's Love that we are to love each other. It is in God's Truth that we are to live. It is God's Truth that makes us free, indeed. How can we really live if we are not in God's Truth? We cannot.

While our lives are but a vapor, here and then gone, it is not true that your life does not matter. It is what we do in this life regarding Christ that makes all the difference in you and I. It is The Truth which makes us free when we believe that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son. We call Him Lord and Savior, because He saved us and we look to Him to lead us and guide us. We call Him Love and Life and Light.

The Truth of God's Word shines its Light into our lives, into our hearts and minds, and reveals our shortcomings, our selfishness, our faults, our weaknesses, our sin. The Truth of God's Word is demanding but not pushy. He waits to be asked into our hearts and lives: Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in unto him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” The doorknob of our hearts is on our side of the door: when we believe, we are turning the doorknob, opening the door of our hearts to the Light of God's Truth.

The Truth has made me free. I opened the door of my heart, where Jesus had been knocking. I let Him come into my heart, take up residence there, so to speak. It is good here with Jesus. What about you, though? God is calling your name, Christ is knocking at your door. What will you do with Jesus? What is your response to God's Truth? 

Unto Us

Nothing in The Word of God is ABOUT us. It's all ABOUT JESUS.
Everything in The Word of God is FOR us. JESUS CHRIST IS The Word of God.

It is for us He came. It is for us He was sent. Christmas is not about the gifts the wise men brought. It is about The Gift God gave to the world we live in. And it was His most valuable gift: He gave of Himself, God gave us Jesus, His only begotten Son.

Wrapped in flesh, placed within a virgin's womb, born in a dark place, God's gift to you and I is His Son. The Son who helped His Father create the world from the very beginning would now help His Father create salvation for the people who lived in darkness on the surface of the world. The Son who would one day be nailed to one of the trees He created, was wrapped in warm cloths and laid in a manger, a simple feeding trough filled with straw. Our Bread of Life, Bread of Heaven.

Luke 1:10, 11 "And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ The Lord."

John 3:16, 17 "For God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

Isaiah 9:6 "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, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Prince of Peace."

Luke 1:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

1 John 4:9 "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God had sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

1 John 5:11, 12 "And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that has The Son has life; he that has not The Son has not life."

John 1:1, 14 "In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God. ... And The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of The Father,) full of grace and truth."

This is why we celebrate Christmas. This is why we celebrate Jesus. The spirit that fills a person with permanent joy is the spirit of love. This love only comes from God. Christmas spirit dissipates once Christmas is passed, but the love of God is eternal for God is love. Other spirits only imitate God's love; they soon leave the person's heart, leaving it feeling empty, alone, fearful, confused. These, too, are spirits, but not good ones. Only God is Good.

1 John 4:15, 16 "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is The Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love, dwells in God, and God in him."

Romans 5:8 "But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." See, God did not wait for us to get ourselves cleaned up 'good enough' before He sent His Son to die for us. Otherwise, we would never have needed a Savior. But our righteousness is self-righteousness. It is only through the righteousness of Christ that we are made clean. It is only through the blood of His sacrifice on the cross that we are washed 'whiter than snow'. It is only through the sins of the world since before time and until time's reign ends being laid on Him, thereby making Him pay the penalty for our sins, that we have escaped death.

Romans 5:18 "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."

Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with Him in baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of The Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

What a gift God has given us in His Son! But what a price that had to be paid for us to receive this gift. Have you received this precious gift of life which God has made available to us? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God? Have you asked Him to come into your heart, be The Lord of your life, The Savior of your soul?

How can you not accept God's gift? Yet, many do. It is not a light thing to dismiss God's outstretched hand. The day will come when those who refused this gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ will perish for ever and be heard from no more. Please do not let their fate be yours. Kneel before The only begotten Son of God, acknowledge Him as such, believe on His Name for salvation and repent of your sins to God. Ask God's forgiveness, turn from your wicked ways and turn to God in Christ Jesus for a renewing of your heart and mind and soul. Praise His Name. For Joy is in the world now, the joy unspeakable, which is Christ The Savior lives in you now. If you believe.

Unto us was given the ultimate gift, the extreme gift, if you wish. For now, having received Jesus Christ into our hearts, we have become the sons and daughters of God. In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). Without Him we are nothing, but with Him we are everything.

Before we came to Christ, we lived in the darkness of this world. Now, having received the Light of God's Love Jesus Christ into our hearts, we live in this Light and Love; this Light and Love lives in us. Before we received God's Gift to us, we did unspeakable things and misbehaved in unseemly ways. Our hearts and minds and willfulness was all about us: what's in it for me? how do i look? i can do anything i want to do and you can't stop me attitudes. Before we repented of our sins, our sins had to be exposed to the Light of God's Word, revealing the blackness, the darkness, of our hearts and minds. Disobedience to God and God's Word is punishable by death.

"But God so Loved the world." To be saved is to be saved from death and destruction. To be saved is to live in Jesus Christ and have Him live in us. But He is holy and the holiness of God cannot be present where sin exists. Therefore the blood of Christ must be applied to the heart first that He might cleanse us from all unrighteousness and make a place for Himself. Though He is God He cannot do it forcefully. Jesus waits for us to ask Him to live in us. But we must first believe that He Is, and surrender to Him all that is within us, that He might reign fully within our hearts, within our minds. Our will must be surrendered to Him on a daily basis. You know how it is. We start to get caught up in our lives, and God's Gift tends to get pushed aside, ignored by the one who had first received Him.

It's all about Jesus. But He's all for you. Are you all for Him?