And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those
with whom he is pleased!”
On the birth of Christ a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!
…the occasion of a person’s birth. A picture carving or model representing Jesus Christ’s birth.
Even though the Wise men from the East did not appear on the scene till months after the birth of Jesus they are depicted in many traditional Nativity scenes. I like to try to put them far off as if they are still traveling.
“My Christ he is the Lord of lords,
He is the King of kings
He is the Sun of righteousness
With healing in his wings.
My Christ, he is the heaven of heaven
My Christ what shall I call?
My Christ is first, my Christ is last,
My Christ is All in All.”
I had to wait till dark to get a good shot of the nativity set we like to put above our front door.
When JJ was here last Monday afternoon, he set this Little People Nativity on the window ledge.
‘Welcome to our wondering sight,
Eternity within a span!
Summer in winter! Day in night!
Heaven in earth! And God in man!
Great little One, whose glorious birth
Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth.’
Quotes taken from Christ’s Glorious Achievements, What Jesus Has Done for You. by C. H. Spurgeon
Here are the last few sentences from this book:
“I hope that among those who have read these pages there will be many whom the Lord Jesus has specially redeemed with his most precious blood, and I trust he will appear at once to them, and say, ‘I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.’ By grace omnipotent may you be made to yield to the Lord with the cheerful consent of your conquered wills, and accept that glorious grace which will bring you to praise the seeking and saving Saviour in heaven.”
May the miracle of Christmas and the redemptive, saving work of Jesus Christ on the Cross lead you to repentance with belief and new life in Him. He alone gives us grace and peace.
See Amid the Winter’s Snow
See amid the winter’s snow,
Born for us on earth below,
See, the gentle Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years.
Refrain
Hail thou ever blessèd morn!
Hail redemption’s happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem:
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Lo, within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies;
He who, throned in height sublime,
Sits amid the cherubim!
Refrain
Say, you holy shepherds, say,
Tell your joyful news today;
Wherefore have you left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep?
Refrain
As we watched at dead of night,
Lo, we saw a wondrous light;
Angels singing Peace on earth
Told us of the Savior’s birth.
Refrain
Sacred Infant, all divine,
What a tender love was Thine;
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this.
Refrain
Teach, O teach us, holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble Thee,
In Thy sweet humility!
Refrain
Words: Edward Caswall, 1851.
Friday December 19th
On Fridays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s continue to dig deep into God’s truth.
The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you!
Announcement: I will be pausing my Friday Truth for Today Posts until the New Year, resuming on January 9th.
Hebrews 3:1-6:
Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in the heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses–as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Hebrews 3:12-15:
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
From Dianna:
“And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,”
Luke 1:76-78 KJV
From Vera:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”
Matthew 1:23 ESV
From Barbara:
Luke 1:45
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her.
Once He Came in Blessing
Once He came in blessing,
All our ills redressing,
Came in likeness lowly,
Son of God most holy;
Bore the cross to save us,
Hope and freedom gave us.
Still He comes within us,
Still His voice would win us
From the sins that hurt us;
Would to truth convert us
From our foolish errors,
Ere He comes in terrors.
Thus if Thou hast known Him,
Not ashamed to own Him,
Nor dost love Him coldly,
But will trust Him boldly,
He will now receive thee,
Heal thee, and forgive thee.
He who well endureth,
Bright reward secureth;
Come, then, O Lord Jesus,
From our sins release us;
Let us here confess Thee,
Till in Heav’n we bless Thee.
Words: Johann Roh, 1544.
Friday December 12th
On Fridays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s continue to dig deep into God’s truth.
The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you!
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
From Vera:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
From Jan:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13
From Maristella:
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.
Isaiah 42:1.
From Dianna:
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5
From Karen:
Mark 12: 30 KJV
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Wednesday Hodgepodge is here again. Time to answer some questions From This Side of the Pond. Thank you, Joyce.
1. Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep your focus when the season’s busyness and commercialism start to take over?
I’ve had several years of Christmases to learn to focus on what is important. I can ignore commercialization. I need to focus on my own heart and mind and where I need to concentrate on the truth of what Christmas is. Look again with fresh eyes on the Biblical accounts and the wonder of the first Christmas.
Quoting from one of my favorite pastors who died this year: “Christmas is not about the Savior’s infancy: It is about His Deity.” John MacArthur
I’ll ask for help to focus my mind on my King and Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord.
2. What’s one small thing you want to savor before the year ends?
All the things like twinkly lights and seasonal treats and stockings filled with little gifts.
3. December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? If Hanukkah is the holiday you celebrate in December do you send cards to mark the occasion?
I do still send Christmas cards, a traditional card with a photo and letter enclosed. I’m happy to say I was able to send them away on Monday the 8th.
4. What’s your least favorite holiday related task? What’s your favorite?
Least favorite is probably wrapping the presents. Favorite is buying the presents.
5. Let’s do a little holiday this or that?
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I’m having a little surgery today to remove a cyst close to my eye. It is small and it shouldn’t be a problem but we have to drive to Spokane Valley for the procedure. I do not know when I’ll be able to come around to visit but I will eventually, Lord willing. Thank you.
Hear the Advent Song
Hear the advent song
Of the angel throng
As they hovered over earth;
As the night shone bright with celestial light,
As they told of Jesus’ birth.
Refrain
Glory be to God, in the highest, praise!
Peace on earth, good will to men.
Roll the angel song all the earth along,
Till the Lord shall come again!
Glory be to God!
All His works we laud!
But of all His gifts, the best
Is the Son he gave, sinful men to save;
Be His name forever blest.
Refrain
We will seek His face,
We will know His grace,
We will worship at His shrine;
All our treasure lay at His feet today,
As we hail Him king divine!
Refrain
At His cradle bend,
For in Him descend
All the blessings God can give;
At His shameful cross, count your gain as loss,
By His death we sinners live.
Refrain
Peace on earth shall reign
When He comes again,
Lord of lords, and King of kings;
Even now God’s rest fills the troubled breast,
When the Lord His presence brings.
Refrain
Let the sons of light,
Through the world’s dark night,
As the watchers wait the dawn,
Look with eager eyes for the new sunrise
Which shall bring the endless morn!
Refrain
Words: Arthur T. Pierson, 1897.
Friday December 5th
On Fridays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s continue to dig deep into God’s truth.
The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you!
Ephesians 1:3-10
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
From Vera:
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!”
Psalm 25:4-7 ESV
From Maristella:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18-19.
From Karen:
I John 5:13
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
From Dianna:
John 10:7, 9-10
So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”
4
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 