Luke 1:1-45 ~ your prayer has been heard +

Luke 1:1-45

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us,   just as those who from the beginning
were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word
have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.


5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah.

And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. 8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."

19 And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time."

21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 "Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."

26 In the sixth month
the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.

And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"

29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

34 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"

35 And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God. 36

And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God."

38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

39 In those days
Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country,
to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."





We know the work of the Angel Gabriel. We know the Plan of God beginning in Genesis. Thank God we are the Easter People. Blessed to be Covered in the Name of Jesus.


People tend to be private. Especially when something not clearly understood is happening. This is reasonable and wise.

21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them,
and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

Being private was not really an option for Zechariah.

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John." 61 And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors.
And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea



And because we know what Gabriel's message from the Lord God is and was - we see Gabriel clearly. Jesus sent out His 12 Disciples and His 72 Side by Side. Like Noah. Like Jesus and John the Baptist. Like Adam and Eve. Like Peter and Mark. Like Paul and Timothy. Like Priscilla and Aquila.

Father God purposefully linked these people together. Father God has linked John the Baptist to Jesus and the Angelic visitations. For purposes of - telling His Good News. The News is connected to tell the Story. His Story. Knowing the Visitation of Gabriel is widely discussed - probably - helps Mary.

Father God does not do things in dust, ancient robes and put His Plan in dusty Tupperwear, so we travel down the smooth highways of our lives. Even the Visitation of Gabriel is Alive and Active in our lives.

We would all say to one another and Father God, "I'd like to have an Angel come and just explain this to me." And we have forgotten what we have learned about the Father of All Things, Ancient of Days. My Father in Jesus Christ and your Father. Adam and Eve met Father God and wanted to 'be' Father God. They wanted HIS Wisdom. Just like we do when we want an Angel to Visit. The Children of Israel wanted God to Speak. And He did. They begged Him to stop and said God was the Loudest Noise they had ever experienced and were afraid. Zechariah has to explain to a few people about a visitation of God. And I'm sure he probably did with pen and papyrus.

Mary does not (probably knowing cousin priest Zechariah's fate) say, "Oh Good the Lord's Messenger to me!" The Archangels is not a teenage boy, or wafty thin gauze floating being, but a Power, A Force of God, A Life and Death Being. So close to the Power of God. They all have to hear, "Fear Not."

A lot of times after an Messenger of the Lord visits, the people sit and ponder if they met God.

Mary is truly Blessed of God. She really is. Mary had the Blessing of God to go second. She had the profound joy of knowing what is not to be said to an Archangel.



God has told us there are 14 Generations between God Works. God had the Profound Plan to send Mary, Zechariah, Elizabeth and Joseph out to be together in something no human could sort out. God has sent two teams of two.

Matthew 1

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel"(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Joseph has been given some information about these things himself. We learn Joseph is from the Family of David and news is going to be sent to him. In a beginning, Joseph is encouraged of the Lord to know of the Works of God because the people of God discuss His Plan and His Wonders.

The Words of Life have been encouraged and the Ways of God have been considered with Hope God is Redeeming them. These 4 people are shared Godly news and their small beginning is to say, internally, "Let me be good and Please God."

Where did this small beginning of willingness occurring to please Father God take them? It was surely a small willingness to consider God first. Mary saved the Life of Jesus to allow the Most High to be born in adverse circumstances in her life. 1. She accepted God's Will. 2. She left with haste to see Elizabeth. 3. She gave birth to Jesus. 4. She fled to Egypt. 5. She went to get Jesus in the beginning of His Ministry. How many people can say they have endeavored to save God Himself? I'd guess, Mary sits at the left hand of God Himself for attempting, as a mere human, to save God.

And look at the strength of the concrete evidence Joseph had to work with - "a Dream." An Inner Conviction. Joseph allows Jesus to be born where Joseph will provide. 1. Joseph provides mercy before belief. 2. Joseph goes to Egypt. 3. Joseph avoids living in Jerusalem for the safety of Jesus as a child. 4. Twice in the Gospels, Joseph is declared to be a very competent parent making his family seamless between God's Holy Son and Joseph's children with Mary. I'd guess, we know holding Mary's left hand is Joseph. By being willing to be open to God's Will as Good - Joseph has endeavored to save God. And participated with Millenniums of God's Good, Good, Good Will for us in Jesus Christ.



Abba,

We ask the Blessings You've promised us in Jesus Christ - the Fulfillment of Your Will and Word.

We given thanks for the people You've sent us. Our Loved Ones. We give thanks for the people who help Uplift us to Jesus.

We give You thanks salvation's purpose is to be near You - and is Your Plan.

Cover us all with Jesus this season and in the year to come.

Blessings Upon us in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Revelation 4:1-3 ~ encircled

Revelation 4:1-3

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven.

And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 

Jasper and Ruby are the colors of the Throne of God.

There is no wonder why Christmas is Red and Green.

Abba,

We thank You for Your mercy and ask Your Blessings.

Blessed are we, Your Children, whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed are we against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit is covered by Jesus.

For Father God, You hear our prayers, and our hope renews and faith grows in Your Love.

We will confess our transgressions to the LORD, and You forgave the iniquity of our sin. Selah to Abba, our God.

Therefore we will look to You, Abba, offering prayer to You and You are found. Surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach us. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

We pray that as we lean to Your Fruitful heart, You will instruct and teach us in the way we should go. Your Word and Will counsel us with Your Eye upon us. We ask in the Joy of Your Love for Your counsel - to remain in Your Guidance. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. We give You thanks for Your Mercies and Joy.

We will be glad in You, Father, and rejoice, O righteous Abba, and shout for joy, all Your heart!

Cover us, Abba, with the Love of Jesus. Cover the ones we Love with Your Love. Cover the people who look to You with Love. In the Name of Jesus in this Christmas Season and always. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 2:1-20 ~ they made known the saying that had been told them +

Luke 2:1-20

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.


8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.

10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Bethlehem in Snow.

The Day God was born.

The Redemption of Israel is our redemption. The True Light of God moving beyond boundaries and beyond borders for His Love. And began without the usual Son of God necessities. Unless you consider God as Love. He is in Love with us, His children. And like Heaven, the birth of Jesus begins as humans lined up to be registered. Our Father, yours and mine, had compassion on the sheep without a shepherd. He saw us being moved by men and saw us as His Pasture. His Flock. His Beloved. God is far greater than just the beauty of give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free. Jesus' birth frees us to Live for all eternity in His Mercy.

God goes the second mile, and then Jesus is in a home for domesticated animals. Living water soaks and seeps where ever the Water would go. God placed His only Son in a very unique way.

Another momentous event. Jesus is born. laid in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes. The Angels are suddenly below mankind. In fact, as the Messengers of God explain this Event told to us since Genesis Jesus is already born. In this momentous time - the angels are reporting fact, not prophetic. Jesus is born already. Mankind has come first in creation.

God's Plan has preceded the Angels.

And this Magnificent Savior makes Himself immediately available to all of mankind, not just the Palace born. The Light of mankind has arrived for us. There will not be walls. There will not be security checks. There will not be credentials sought to have access to the King of Kings.

The people who tend to life are the first to be asked to come to the Lord.



When we pray, we come first to God. This is our Christmas Gift as the Children of God.

John 1:12-13

who believes in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Texas in snow December 2018!!! Merry Christmas!

Let Christmas and God's Son freeing His Beloved live in our hearts!

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then
with confidence
draw near to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy
and find grace
to help in time of need.

Our God arrived as men were lined up. He saves us from the end. God showed up just mankind was being counted.







Isaiah 29
18 In that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book,
and out of their gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind shall see.
19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord,
and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.


1 Peter 1:12
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.




Our Abba,

We see what You decided in Your heart to give,
not out of regret or compulsion.

God loves and He is a a cheerful giver.

Our Abba, You are able to make all grace abound to us, in all things, at all times,
You have given us all we need for Eternal Life and do Your Good Will.
You abound in every good work.

You have given the hopeless Your gifts to the poor;
Your righteousness endures forever.

Your Word endures forever.

Fill us with Grace and Love. Fill those we love. Fill the people You have given us. Fill us with gratitude. And only because You give so well. We will rejoice to see prayer and the Holy Spirit fill our lives and the World. Asking You for the impossible - more Heaven on earth. In Jesus. Our Good and Loving Father, we say Amen and Alleluia. Born to a Living Hope in Christ Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 1:66-79 ~ From on high

Luke 1:66-79

For the hand of the Lord was with him.

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that
we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we,
being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace."




Father God, we would ask You to bless us. In Jesus, Amen.

To receive a blessing from God - something is required of you.

Absolutely to have - faith - in God's Love. The Hope God Loves you. Abraham believed God and this was credited to him as righteousness. Abraham was known to be a friend of God. Abraham received the Gift God had for Abraham, by faith.

We discussed the war of doubt on faith - a war existing for millenniums. Zechariah discusses Promises of God surround the Gift of God presenting us His Son, Jesus Christ. God's Christmas Gift to us. Just as Jesus didn't just feed thousands in miraculous God Work's, Jesus has fed us and millenniums of the Children of God. Each day. Zechariah's prompting of the Holy Spirit is our gift in God's Son Jesus.

If God is for us, who can take our Blessings?
Jesus has made our Blessings secure.








Zechariah has now been toe to toe with God's Messenger and time to reflect upon Gabriel. We learn reflection, serious reflection on a Gigantic milestone for you and for me. Mankind.

Zechariah has evidenced God is Forgiving and all God. Zechariah remembers the first start opportunity to sanctuary and he could have refuge from God in the altar horns.

He begins where he should have started - God is our Refuge.

God is willing Sanctuary. Fear not.
And for our Father God to be this - He is forgiving and Loving. Salvation. Has God's nature changed? God was willing for Aaron to enter the Holy of Holies and display himself throwing blood. God understands we are not Holy. He Loves us. Immeasurably.

The mercy promised is given.

We have no need to fear God. Creator of All. He is as Holy and as far from our abilities as the Sun itself.

And as Gentle.

The Father of Jesus is Good as His Word and Promise. All of our days.

Jesus has brought us Peace. Showing us the Nature of God Himself.

God's Mercy has Prevailed. The Victory of Jesus is for us.

And Christmas is a Celebration of the end of these fears of doubt and war.

Jesus is our Certainty. And we have found Him to be Joy.

And this is the Announcement of Christ arriving. In our eternal foothold - our soul.



Abba,

You have shown us our Blessings many times. We are fearfully made. Angels have longed to see. The soul in Promise of Salvation.

We pray Your Blessings upon us. Your Blessings upon our Loved Ones. Your Blessings upon the People You have given us. Your blessings on our ways of life, Churches, Schools - a place Honoraing to You. Fostering nurturing. We pray Your Depth in our areas. In our States, many. In our Nation. We pray Christ's Holy Spirit gathering and giving increasing Love upon the Nations. And draw strength thinking of the prayers given and received world wide. Jesus Christ bring more good Heaven upon this earth. We rely upon Your Word always. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Nehemiah 8:10 ~ Do not grieve

Nehemiah 8:10 

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our LORD.

Do not grieve,
for the joy of the LORD
is your strength."


The Pew Research Center showed, in 2013, 96% of USA Christians celebrate Christmas, and 81% of non-Christians celebrate.


I adore Christmas.


And some have never enjoyed being told to be Merry and get with the other salmon.


The Merriest Season of all...And when you get to your 5th decade of life - you have experienced baby Christmas and the 24 7 sudden work. Maybe, like me, you have experienced ICU baby Christmas. Or Neonatal ICU. Or maybe you had mono for Christmas. There is loss of someone you have always - and will - always love - passing on to the Lord - first or second Christmas. Poverty Christmas. Poverty Christmas with children. There can be divorce Christmas. Christmas comes in all seasons. Even stillborn death Christmas.

When you look at Nehemiah
-  A good, different, high change, what are we doing, this is weird - we are glad, aren't we??? Holy Day. (Leaving slavery, leaving Babylon the only home this generation knew, traveling 1,000 miles to burned out homeland and rebuilding.) Nehemiah is working - Nehemiah is spinning the wheel of emotions. We all do this every day. We had a great and grateful morning. And the afternoon had a very, very hurtful comment, the water heater exploded, strep throat occurred. A best friend lost a job. A sibling is divorcing. A death in the family of friends. We can do this from looking at a painful memory.

Bad. Mood. Christmas. Oh bored and dull. Christmas. Routine, again this year, depression, Christmas.


The Reverse change up.
We can have glee - thinking how different this has been from before!!! And have survivor guilt. We might struggled with a child and see Victory / while a friend suffers from a new trauma in their child. We have new circumstance like Nehemiah - leaving an actual palace of wood, gold and ivory - and find we are in a fierce, even historic, struggle. To be proud of the change and dislike the work.

We can all relate to the emotional wheel - rolling - bouncing - trudging - a long. Or falling in a pot hole.


There is so much pressure on Christmas - many feel sitting, having coffee, black-eyed peas and football on New Year's Day is far, far easier.

What were you doing Thursday, December 25th 2003. Did you like your gift? Did your kids? Exactly. Unless it's unusual - regular Christmas.

Jesus came, saw and conquered.

Our unhappiness is exactly as Jesus saw and came to deal with during His time in Israel. Poverty in the area of faith. We doubt. We doubt happiness. We doubt the future. We doubt the steadfastness of those we love. We doubt our health. We doubt lack of pain. We doubt finances. We doubt what we label as significant and meaningful. We doubt we are interesting and unique. And how did people deal with Jesus and faith? With a lot of emotion and a lot of variety.

Jesus was click-group-bated to teach 'powerful' prayer.  Jesus was given hostility to give more Blessings of healing for all and food. Jesus was implored. Jesus was touched. Jesus was begged. Jesus asked to be asked for blessing. Jesus was hailed.  Jesus was seeing a war with battles of selfish, faith and doubt - right in front of Him. And Jesus said He came to preach Good News to the poverty - of actual poverty - and also the war of doubt.

Jesus says He has Good News for Poverty.

And like life, we are going to talk first about what we go through seeking God to finding God first.

We who call ourselves Children of God - have Something Amazing.

Blessings.

We all get a choice. We can do for someone else. We can wash something - repair something - Merry Christmas someone else.

We all get a choice. We can be upfront and polite. There is not a reason to hide from being yourself.

We all have years to compare. And with strong, strong emotion - to take a vacation.
We all can make a choice to Vacation. From?
From making sweeping decisions. Vacation to have today and not add it all up and miscalculate.
This can be utterly astonishing to rest a tired mind from decisions.

We all have a choice.
We can be cheerful and refuse to carry the toxins of toxic people. We can refuse to have garbage piled on us without serious confrontation. One can smile while one side steps and be upbeat. And wise.

We all have a choice.
We can be more quiet instead of being the continual referee.

We all have a choice. We don't have to be the center of happiness. We don't have to be Queen of the Universe due to feelings. We can acknowledge others will probably experience the world turning, the sun rising and setting, without it being all about us and our emotions and happiness. It can be not our year, not our season to have Joy. To see joy in others.

We all have a choice.
We can limit our spending.
Some will boldly take the choice of giving a gift after Christmas sales.





Emotionally.

We have a choice. What will we do when a feeling washes up from long ago? There is no time table for grief.  Let tear ducts do their JOB. Have a good cry and pick up. The sun will shine.  Tear up? So what. Common thing.  UNFEAR the TEAR.

What will we do when we have a loved one is dying right now and it's slow and on-going. We have a choice. We can pray for the Lord's Prayer. We can see if this is Jesus carrying us or if this is time to deal with the emotion. We can journal.

We can keep a Blessings Journal. Seeing the ebb and flow of each day. A Blessings Journal looking for the Blessings like Easter Eggs.

We can think back on hearing 'have 20 seconds of Bravery.' We can challenge ourselves to have 24 hours of faith. We will say, "I believe" ... when the sun does not shine. I believe with the rain falls. I believe. And in 24 hours - just of deciding to see Faith for 24 hours - we will see strength. We do have a choice.  The Pew Report of 2015 says we are considering our faith in God more and autopilot less. Faith is essential to Father God. Faith is were we find Hope and Love. Steadfast Love.


Process.
Very, very few things in 3,000 pages in the Bible are not a Journey.
God can part the Red Sea - no magic carpets - 1,000 miles of walking to the Promised Land.

Run your race. That Race is for the long term. There will be days of rain. Days of broken shoe laces. Days of blister ankles. New Generations. New hope. New faith. Days will come... My parents divorced in the 1980s - we live entirely new lives now. It was unseen. Far better. Improved.

When I was a child, my family median age was probably 77 years old. We have young people now and new personalities. Seasons of life.

Jesus said to the multitudes coming to Him for answers... show you are a light of God.

Be Loving. Don't always expect a return on the kindness. Jesus said turn the other cheek - and He was known to leave the Pharisees and trouble - telling the blind man - don't even go into the village! Jesus is real. Jesus told James be wise, ask God for wisdom.

Jesus celebrated the people who (and there were many, not just the woman who admitted to Him about the 12 year healing) grabbed hold of Jesus.  Jesus promised if we seek God, we will find Him. He didn't give a time line.  Jesus promised we would see people change in the seed parable. Jesus said God fully knows us.

Jesus gave us something a little bit complicated to think about. If we ask with abiding in God's Word - we could ask for anything. But with that responsibility comes the understanding - then - we appreciate the Will of God as Good. Gratitude. That is abiding in God. Peter was abiding with God in prison when the walls fell. Jericho was paradise to the desert dwellers and they knew, utterly knew - the journey would ask them to step away from paradise and trust God's next, unseen, part of life. It's not a total mystery about miracles, miracles exist in faith.

The People Have Seen a Great Light!!! ALLELUIA

When you look at the ages of Church goers - you see the faith supported by - - - the people who could be calloused. Older people. You'd expect they would say - haven't see no God miracles - skip it. And instead the population with more experiences - more wisdom from accomplishing life - turn to Father God. This trend has been for millenniums.

Trim your Light. Keep your Light of Faith practiced to practice the Faith. Doing the Faith. 24 Hours at a time.

Merriest Season of all. C'mon. There is a lot of down time in Christmas. People travel. Kids are bored. It gets quiet. Expect this. It gets routine and boring, boring, boring to be on the travel end of Christmas. Be real. Families split up to see other family. Streets get quiet. This is real. Gets hectic to get quiet.

Vacation Christmas - we are here. Are we glad to be here? We are quiet. Home is so good. Why aren't we home?


Who else had planned Quiet? Jesus. Jesus loved to have quiet. Plan counting your Blessings. Journal past times of Blessing Victory. Plan on thinking about Jesus having "Silent Night, Holy Night."

When we sing, "Silent Night" there is a lot of truth there. Quiet. This is something we do with awkwardness. "Let earth prepare Him room." Your schedule is going to accommodate the slow down of time. Plan the adventure of Quiet.

Let this sink in - Moses prayed for - - - Happiness.

Jesus said in John 14, 15, 16 He had Joy in this Life.

Jesus took what was quiet time. And made Life even Better. The Exodus journey is fear of failure at every turn but triumphs in faith.

Every turn - doubt. Every person - fails. Every Promise of God - Victory.

Thank God for the realities of the Word of God.
We ask You for Your Blessings! We want to be the Blessing seekers and finders!!!
Abba, Jesus is the Word of God made Manifest.
Thank God for the difficulties of the Bible.
Father God, Thank You for the truly tough times in life,
You've been my Help and Hope, You have brought me Joy in Your Word and Love.
We have Hope.
We have Faith.
We have Jesus.
We can look and find the mercy and sheer excitement of His Mercies Renew Daily.
And Father God's Word tells us answers - Singing is like the mnemonic memory devices.
Singing to Abba's Heart.
Our Abba will hear us sing.
Merry Christmas, Thank You, Abba.
Blessings upon the Blessings You have given me far and wide. Loved ones and the People You have given me. Alleluia Jesus bring Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Joy to the World

Lord Jesus

Oh Come All Ye Faithful Joyful and Triumphant

Amazing Grace

Thank You, Thank You Jesus, Thank You Thank You, Jesus

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 136 ~ Steadfast Love

Pentateuch, Psalm 136 and the Light of Christ.

The Glory of the Light of Christ Is Our Encouragement.


We are all headed in the same direction. Every tongue confess Jesus is Lord and every knee will bow. We are setting up Christmas. And if sapphires, rubies and emeralds did what Christmas Lights do - we'd see another Dutch Tulip Mania at the Jewelry Stores. The representation of Jesus in Christmas.


When our youngest son was in the third grade, we sorted out the toys. And out went 3 huge, large as anyone can find, giant garbage bags. And as Edward and I carried these bags out, Edward said, "There goes all the Christmases so far."

This was something my father had considered. He said we all needed to take stock of what an adult would want. And I have gifts my parents gave a child as an adult from Christmases 40 years ago. I have Sherlock Holmes books, children's books, and memories of discussions of books we were reading and toys matching the books. I have a great silver dinner tray to put Christmas meals for grandchildren and great grandchildren. I have a tea service which served my four year olds "tea parties", their teenage boy pals and will serve at engagement parties, showers, Baptisms, Christmas and Easter future. Many, many 'big' breakfasts.

Let the Circle Be Unbroken. 

"Aslan is not a Tame Lion! He's Good, I tell you!!!"

Taking the Charlie Brown Tree and finding our Blessings.

Expectations

The Fire of the Holy Spirit Within - The Hearth of our Home - The Joy of Christmas

About this time, we would need to change the discussion to our idea of Christmas. When I volunteered with Pro Life for 3.5 years, we worked with psychologists who said we build up the season to be perfection of  expectations.  And live to see the disappointment of January, shorter days, and the onset of regular work a day reality. We work to make Christmas part of our every day. That the season of Christmas is a bonus of God's Love.


I love this Scripture is Philippians 3. We need the help of Jesus, Abba and the Holy Spirit going forth. His Love makes our Joy.

Philippians 3

12 Not that I have already obtained all this,
or have already arrived at my goal,
but I press on
to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.









The Work of Mankind is to believe.

David and Christmas.

Usually, Christmas is like the Disney we all hope for as a child. And as a teen, Christmas gives us interests - giving us a real vacation for Christmas vacation. And most of the children arrive for January a little tired. Too much vacation makes landing a little bit difficult.

Christmas is a creation of God and includes amazing and true wonders of God. Expectations from Archangel visits and prophetic announcements. Shepherds arrive. Holy men understand and see and profess.

Christmas is about discovering the Light of Christ. David - 22 years - finding out being anointed of God is really about finding the journey life is. David had rejection, existed where life gave little opportunity. The suffering had sharp right turns. David existed in armies he created, doing what we all would hope not to do. David discovered dreams within his grasp darting away with the on-lookers sure of his failure. David discovered the emptiness of success. When self serving turns up only disappointment. We are never told, but it's entirely possible a few people told David to ignore the anointing of God and live comfortably with the skills he had.


We are presented with the Glory of God. We have Mountaintop moments.


Hosea 6:3

"Let us acknowledge the LORD!

Let us press on to acknowledge him! 

As surely as the sun rises, he will appear! 

He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth!”

God's Creation of our lives is every single day. Creation is yesterday, today and tomorrow.

We are not building a flash of photo. We are building the Light of Christ within our eternal property, our soul.

What tool will we choose of all the Words of God?  What will we use to do the work of believing?

Psalm 136  

We will build a Meaningful Christmas when we use the Words and Deeds of Steadfast Love.

When we do as Charles Dickens realized in the press to write the perfect book, solving all of his life situations, "A Christmas Carol". In the middle of real life dysfunction properly called "sojourning". To have Christ and the Joy of God in our lives daily. To draw strength from the Joy of the Lord's Love. To Live Christmas in our heart every day.

When we see a family reunion, a perfect gift, the right decorations, a sweet memory is not going to make permanent happiness. When we expect Days May Come and believe God is going to see us through. Daily. When we believe Father God saw the Children of the Exodus through, they didn't drown, starve, dehydrate, they (we) only suffered from lack of faith. And yet merciful God gave them time to process and 'sojourn'.



We are building. Upbuilding. Like the Exodus. Like the stock market. Like David. Like Mary. Like Abraham. Seasons of sojourning. Learning to make Christmas in our heart every day. To discover the tinkering and helping and annoying and comforting of Steadfast Love. To weep, to laugh, to have joy, to learn to Believe God. Doing the Work He has given us. Believing Days May Come. Believing Steadfast Love.

We are building. We are maturing. We are discovering. We are planting the seeds to present our soul to our Father God with the overwhelming and outstanding Mercy and Glory of Jesus Christ. We persevere for a very good reason - Love.

 Not just for our children - because we are the Children of a Loving Father.

Abba,

For my blessing, Abba for your blessing, Abba gives us Jesus for our blessing. Thank You.

Giving thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His Steadfast Love endures forever.

We give thanks for Jesus Christ. 33 years Jesus gave us grace upon grace. Jesus our comfort with grace and truth daily. Yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Giving thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His Steadfast Love endures forever.

Genesis 1:2 And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters Father God planned for the Holy Spirit to live within believers and have talks in the Garden of our soul. A Day to God is Thousands of years.

Giving thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His Steadfast Love endures forever.

Moses Deuteronomy 18:18 He will tell them everything I command him. Jesus is God's Plan. 1500 B.C.

Giving thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His Steadfast Love endures forever.

Isaiah 700 B.C. Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given

Giving thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His Steadfast Love endures forever.

The Exodus an instant miracle. 40 years Moses was a Shepherd, 40 years Joshua Loved and served. And in 1000 B.C David secured the tribal lands of the Tribe of Judah.

Giving thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His Steadfast Love endures forever.

Mary waited for her family to unite. Acts 1. 33 years. Even Jesus waited for His Loved ones.

Giving thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His Steadfast Love endures forever.

Days may come. The Second Law of Thermodynamics tells us every single part of this universe is in decay.

Giving thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His Steadfast Love endures forever.

Peter asked to walk with Jesus. And immediately, as he drowned, Jesus gave His Hand and lifted him. Peter knew the Words of Life are with Jesus.

Giving thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His Steadfast Love endures forever.

Jesus overcomes. Jesus is the way, truth and Life. Jesus is our hope, faith and Love.

Giving thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His Steadfast Love endures forever.

We thank You for the Truth of Your Word. To read Your Word and find the truth warming our
souls.

Giving thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His Steadfast Love endures forever.


Give Thanks to Jesus.
Jesus Christ is Good and covers us with His Life and Name.
Jesus Christ is Steadfast Love and Jesus endures Forever.
Thanks be unto our Father God, for the Holy Spirit, given to us.
Thanks be for Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord and Savior.

All of God's Children, we pray receive His Steadfast Love and know His Tender Mercy.
Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †