Well, Friends, another year to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ, Ya-hu-wah Messiah, LORD OF ALL.
I firmly believe that Jesus was not born on December 25, and I hope that doesn't spoil Christmas for anyone, much like learning the truth about Santa Claus.
The truth is Jesus came. He was born in the flesh. He was born somewhere where animals were kept, as Mary put him in a manger.
Was it a place for sacrificial lambs to be birthed, there in the hills surrounding Bethlehem?
God is a person of detail. Atoms, strings, moments. I believe Jesus was born at the proper time of the feasts, a perfect and timely appearance on every level.
God is not surprised.
We may be. We may have believed traditions and stories over truths, and one day we will see how "off" we were.
But the things that matter are found in Scripture, and that is all that really matters.
The LORD GOD approves of our times for feasting, marrying, celebrating. He is in the midst of this, and He prepares a banquet of dynamic proportions even as we ponder this truth. He is coming. He came, and He is coming again.
He is our Messiah, and we are called to believe in Him and trust in Him. He is forgiving, merciful, and just. He sees us celebrate His birth, at the time of the feast of lights, Hannukah. We can celebrate with confidence the feast of lights, and Christ's birth. The point is that He came, and He is celebrated.
I love the music, the sweetness of fellowship with loved ones, the recapping of the year, the expectations of the little ones. There's also a sense of completed blessing as I look back at the many provisions of God throughout my life, especially recently.
I think of the fire in the fireplace, the cupboards full of food, warm clothing and a roof that doesn't leak. I think of the black dog that lays at my feet and the memory of two other sweet pups that graced my life. I think of the children God allowed me to bear. They are the greatest blessing I could ever ask for. What a wonder! I'm thankful for a husband that has walked beside me and shared all of my interests and joys for 27 years, through hardship and ease. One who has been faithful to me and our marriage vows.
I think of our parents who are healthy and doing well. What a tremendous blessing. Praying grandparents are vital to our children's lives! My father-in-law pointed that out to me yesterday, and I totally agree. We are never useless, spiritually.
I think of the tools and devices, cars and trucks, technology and appliances, electric power that make our lives more efficient and livable. I'm thankful for these things and their service to us. I'm thankful for music and devices that help us to hear it.
Are you still with me? I'm counting my blessings this beautiful evening. I'm listening to MPR and the beautiful Christmas Eve music they play. We just finished a meal of Swedish Smorgasbord, meatballs, sausage, rice pudding, fruit soup---at Grandma and Grandpa's home. Delicious.
We drove home from a gathering in Iowa this morning. My husband's parents had a family celebration with a tasty meal and great company! It was fun to celebrate new engagements, prospective futures, and present good cheer. Generosity all around!
And the joy continues.
We are only ever to live one day at a time---Give us This Day our Daily Bread! We don't know what tomorrow is going to be like----a Christmas Day like many others?
Or does Yeshua come again to take us home?
Ice storm predicted for our area tomorrow, so please stay safe on the roads!
Wherever you are, reading my message, I pray you are safe and complete in Jesus Christ. He is the reason we celebrate this feast time.
Come to Him, all you who are weary! Heavy laden! He'll give you rest! His yoke is easy---His burden is light. He is the one who gives life and hope to the spiritually dead and the hopeless.
Finally reading Rosaria Butterfield's engaging book "The Secrets Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert." I love her descriptions of believers. We can laugh at ourselves and how we appear to others---but there is a seriousness to telling the truth and doing it in a way that reveals the vital lessons of God's ideas to those that don't have a clue about the Messiah.
It's worth a study. We need to be willing to critically assess the way we share our faith. Ultimately it's up to the power of the Holy Spirit and His eye/ear opening ability.
Let's pray eyes and ears open to the truth of Jesus and His birth.
Why did He come? Why did He die? Why does sin reign in our lives until we accept the gift of eternal life from God alone?
Good questions. ASK THEM!
It's what it's all about, the very meaning of life.
I firmly believe that Jesus was not born on December 25, and I hope that doesn't spoil Christmas for anyone, much like learning the truth about Santa Claus.
The truth is Jesus came. He was born in the flesh. He was born somewhere where animals were kept, as Mary put him in a manger.
Was it a place for sacrificial lambs to be birthed, there in the hills surrounding Bethlehem?
God is a person of detail. Atoms, strings, moments. I believe Jesus was born at the proper time of the feasts, a perfect and timely appearance on every level.
God is not surprised.
We may be. We may have believed traditions and stories over truths, and one day we will see how "off" we were.
But the things that matter are found in Scripture, and that is all that really matters.
The LORD GOD approves of our times for feasting, marrying, celebrating. He is in the midst of this, and He prepares a banquet of dynamic proportions even as we ponder this truth. He is coming. He came, and He is coming again.
He is our Messiah, and we are called to believe in Him and trust in Him. He is forgiving, merciful, and just. He sees us celebrate His birth, at the time of the feast of lights, Hannukah. We can celebrate with confidence the feast of lights, and Christ's birth. The point is that He came, and He is celebrated.
I love the music, the sweetness of fellowship with loved ones, the recapping of the year, the expectations of the little ones. There's also a sense of completed blessing as I look back at the many provisions of God throughout my life, especially recently.
I think of the fire in the fireplace, the cupboards full of food, warm clothing and a roof that doesn't leak. I think of the black dog that lays at my feet and the memory of two other sweet pups that graced my life. I think of the children God allowed me to bear. They are the greatest blessing I could ever ask for. What a wonder! I'm thankful for a husband that has walked beside me and shared all of my interests and joys for 27 years, through hardship and ease. One who has been faithful to me and our marriage vows.
I think of our parents who are healthy and doing well. What a tremendous blessing. Praying grandparents are vital to our children's lives! My father-in-law pointed that out to me yesterday, and I totally agree. We are never useless, spiritually.
I think of the tools and devices, cars and trucks, technology and appliances, electric power that make our lives more efficient and livable. I'm thankful for these things and their service to us. I'm thankful for music and devices that help us to hear it.
Are you still with me? I'm counting my blessings this beautiful evening. I'm listening to MPR and the beautiful Christmas Eve music they play. We just finished a meal of Swedish Smorgasbord, meatballs, sausage, rice pudding, fruit soup---at Grandma and Grandpa's home. Delicious.
We drove home from a gathering in Iowa this morning. My husband's parents had a family celebration with a tasty meal and great company! It was fun to celebrate new engagements, prospective futures, and present good cheer. Generosity all around!
And the joy continues.
We are only ever to live one day at a time---Give us This Day our Daily Bread! We don't know what tomorrow is going to be like----a Christmas Day like many others?
Or does Yeshua come again to take us home?
Ice storm predicted for our area tomorrow, so please stay safe on the roads!
Wherever you are, reading my message, I pray you are safe and complete in Jesus Christ. He is the reason we celebrate this feast time.
Come to Him, all you who are weary! Heavy laden! He'll give you rest! His yoke is easy---His burden is light. He is the one who gives life and hope to the spiritually dead and the hopeless.
Finally reading Rosaria Butterfield's engaging book "The Secrets Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert." I love her descriptions of believers. We can laugh at ourselves and how we appear to others---but there is a seriousness to telling the truth and doing it in a way that reveals the vital lessons of God's ideas to those that don't have a clue about the Messiah.
It's worth a study. We need to be willing to critically assess the way we share our faith. Ultimately it's up to the power of the Holy Spirit and His eye/ear opening ability.
Let's pray eyes and ears open to the truth of Jesus and His birth.
Why did He come? Why did He die? Why does sin reign in our lives until we accept the gift of eternal life from God alone?
Good questions. ASK THEM!
It's what it's all about, the very meaning of life.
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