Inking The Paper

CHAIRS

2012-02-09T21:28:00.001-05:00

I love chairs. I enjoy looking at furniture. I am HGTV and DIY fan. My mom and dad have refinished furniture over the years so I guess it is where I get my love of furniture from.

One time when they came to stay with me for a while in Saint Louis they refinished a chair I had found at a garage sale for 50 cents. They had so much fun looking for fabric, upholstery nails, and working together. It turned out fabulous!

Here is a link to a great book on the history on CHAIRS . Also check out a previous link within my own blog about A Thing For Chairs.

Snapshots

2012-02-06T19:40:00.000-05:00

Inspiring art work!

The Carnegie Museum of Art

2012-02-05T18:36:00.000-05:00

No matter the season there is no other place like "The Carnegie." There is always something new happening in the arts and sciences of this fabulous museum. From the Teenie Harris Photographer: An American Story to Architectural Hall there are many exhibits to explore, activities, and classes for everyone. I know I am looking forward to Maya Lin Exhibit to open Friday, February 10th From 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. For more information click the post title to link to The Carnegie Museum of Art.

KUDOS to the Staff on the Teenie Harris exhibit the 'kiosks' are a great way to move in the and through the photography of Teenie Harris up close. I especially appreciated the set- up of Theme, Date, Thread, and Exhibit Number.

Debbie Macomber

2012-01-30T15:31:00.000-05:00

Debbie Macomber is the author of many best sellers. A link to her web-site is embedded in the post title. Click there for more information about her and her books.

One of my favorites, One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity, came out in paperback in April 2010. I picked it up off a clearance shelf recently and was pleasantly surprised. It is so much more then you think. If you have the opportunity to read this GEM, you won't be disappointed.

"The generosity of the heart knows no bounds in giving."

Northern Lights Over Europe 2012

2012-01-26T15:20:00.002-05:00

2012-01-25T09:51:00.001-05:00

Slow and Steady

Slow and steady,

he walked.

Weighing the choices along the path,

he walked.

Being an example to others,

he walked.

Inviting other travelers to join the promenade,

he walked.

Slow and steady he walked,

until his journey ended,

too soon we balked.

PJFARR

2012

MOVIE TRAILERS 2012

2012-01-24T00:50:00.002-05:00

Happy Chinese New Year 2012

2012-01-23T22:39:00.000-05:00

Happy Chinese New Year!

Year of the Dragon.

Joe Paterno Legacy

2012-01-23T12:46:00.000-05:00

Joe Paterno's legacy is a living memorial in all the people he taught, coached, and admonished. For more information about Joe Paterno and Penn State check out

Jack McCallum article in Sports Illustrated.

Paterno wrote his own epitaph, "They ask me what I'd like written about me when I'm gone. I hope they write I made Penn State a better place, not just that I was a good football coach."

He was much more then a good football coach,

He IS a living legacy.

"Joe Pa" Paterno Passed Away

2012-01-22T11:19:00.002-05:00

"Unbelievably sad."

Meditation

2012-01-21T23:14:00.000-05:00

Pause a moment.

Breathe.

Gently roll shoulders.

Breathe.

Slowly drop chin to chest.

Breathe.

Relax your whole body,

starting with your toes and working your way up to your neck.

Breathe.

Shut off your computer and get a good night sleep.

Etta James Sing At last

2012-01-20T18:04:00.000-05:00

Etta James passed away today. She will be remembered and missed. God bless.

Fashion Fabulous!

2012-01-19T19:28:00.000-05:00

Bird Sighting

2012-01-16T17:16:00.000-05:00

I am a bird watcher. In November I spied a Juvenile Bald Eagle. Today, January 16th at about 10:15am, I spotted an Adult Bald Eagle. This is exciting because rarely do you spy these majestic birds in this area. I hope to find the nesting pair.

A Winter Sunset

2012-01-15T21:58:00.000-05:00

Thin Sweet Pizza Crust Without Yeast

2012-01-13T16:11:00.006-05:00

2 c. flour
1/2 c. of Mrs. Butter-Worth's Pancake Mix (my secret ingredient)
2 3/4 tsp. baking powder (if using baking soda use half and omit salt)
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. Olive Oil
(Add finely minced rosemary and garlic for a herb crust.)
3/4 to 1 c. water

Mix dry ingredients. Add 3/4 cup water and oil. Stir until it forms a ball. If dough is stiff, add more water, but not too much. You do not want sticky dough.

The dough will be soft. Knead on a floured surface for 3-4 minutes. Spread out on a seasoned baking stone or non-stick baking pan.

Bake dough for 5 to 10 minutes. Then add the sauce and other toppings and bake for 10 to 15 more minutes. (I like my crust toasty brown.)

Bake at 400°F for 15-25 minutes.

Created By: Peggy Jo

The New Yorker Eustace Tilley Book- Bag Contest

2012-01-12T10:04:00.004-05:00

Silver Anniversary Eustace Tilley Book-Bag

I picture a white and emerald canvas printed book-bag marking the silver anniversary of Eustace Tilley image embossed with silver adornments. A versatile classic book-bag one can use for more then just books.
Please comment today, the link is embedded in the title above.
Then vote for my rendering if chosen for the contest.
Or, just enter your own drawing.
Thank you and good luck!

Watercolor Jazz

2012-01-06T19:04:00.000-05:00

WROUGHT IRON

2012-01-05T13:51:00.000-05:00

Care to take a guess at what it is?

Flash Fiction eBook

2012-01-02T16:01:00.001-05:00

“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

By: Peggy Jo Farr

Copyrighted 2011

The Gallery, an eclectic shop of artwork, jewelry, high-end items, and other entertaining trinkets is owned by one of the oldest families in town, the Demerits. Earning their money the old fashioned way with hard work and creative accounting, knowing when to get in and out of a business with the money before the well runs dry, they earned their money in coke via the steel industry.

Raymond learns well from his paternal grandfather and father, extracting as much money as possible and getting out before profit goes south, literally took it to a new art form when he open The Gallery.

Raymond Demerits growing up with opulence has an appreciation of the finer things in life had hit the twenty-fifth silver anniversary mark of his business, knowing the time to get out was at hand. The Gallery, known for style and luxury was tarnishing like silver right before his eyes. His grandfather and father could see a change coming but now change happened almost instantaneously in the twenty-first century. What style and luxury is today is not what it was yesterday, and certainly will be different tomorrow.

What venture looks most profitable is the question Raymond had begun to ask himself.

Mulling over a few ideas and taking a flight to Miami on Spirit Airlines, first class of course, was just the ticket he needed to clear his head and focus on a new direction. Did he really need to revamp his business and start all over with a new venture? Or, could he just use The Gallery as a means to another end? Lying on the beach, eating at the newest hot spot, and smoking a great Cuban cigar might give him the answers he sought.

Raymond is in his forties and growing up in a rather wealthy established area of the state, knew more about peoples personal lives than anyone else could imagine. People in general took him into their confidences and he for the most part kept their assurances. Having a good memory and well trained, well-educated mind empowered him. How much he did not realize until his trip to Miami.

In Miami he had run into an old high school associate, Maria Hayward. She was not a friend then and he was not sure as to her sudden appearance on the scene now. Maria Hayward a beach honey blonde British bombshell, who went through men like some go through socks, made his hair on the back of his neck bristle just thinking about her. Suddenly he remembered where he had seen her recently. She had been a lead flight attendant in first class to Miami.

Had he seen her in Tapes Jazz, one of the hottest new bar restaurants in South Beach? He could not remember. The Miami trip was still a little fuzzy. He had had way too much fun at Tapes Jazz. The headache he had the next morning, as well as, on the return flight made him come to terms with his fast aging body. Living large can ravage the body as well as the soul.

Sitting in his office pondering on what to do next, Tamara the newest sales assistant rang in from the front end stating that Maria Hayward was in town and would like to take him up on his dinner invitation if it still stood. He felt as if all his blood was draining from his body and thought he could pass out at any moment. What had he done while in Miami?

Gracious as Raymond might appear to be, he was afraid and had no idea as to why. But vaguely he remembered that even in high school people who encountered Maria Hayward were never quite the same again.

“Hello Maria, How lovely it is to see you again he said, as he reached for her hand. What brings you to The Gallery today?”

“You invited me silly.” She purred in her silky velvety voice. “My parents moved to sunnier skies since retiring.” “I have no idea where the happening places are in this part of the state.” “I only pop in on flight lay overs.” “Do you have a place in mind where we might have a bite to eat and catch up with each other?”

Raymond’s mind whirled. He could not seem to think of a response. Think! Think! He thought to himself. Then he sputtered, “The Maple Leaf restaurant is a great little place to dine.” “Will eight tonight work for you?”

“Yes, Maria accepted. Eight will be just fine. I am staying at the Inn.” “Ring at the desk and I will be right down.” “I look forward to catching up Raymond.” “See you tonight.”

As she left The Gallery he felt as if the wind had been sucked out of his sails. He just could not shake the foreboding that his life was about to change and not necessarily for the better. What did Maria Hayward want with Raymond Demerits?

The bewitching hour arrived; eight o’clock and he felt as if his life was flashing before his eyes. Parking his Mercedes in the green lot in the back of the Inn he thought that walking to the Maple Leaf would give him an opportunity to investigate Maria’s purpose for being here. Surely, he was not the reason for her renewed interest in town. Her parents had left for sunnier skies upon retiring. She had money of her own? Why is she still working as a flight attendant? What happened in Miami?

Crossing over the driveway deep in thought Raymond was hit and instantly killed by a political tour bus entering the drive. Raymond Demerits’ was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, his short life over. Buried in the mausoleum at the top of Cemetery Hill beside his paternal grandparents, father and mother, he never saw it coming. There was no special dispensation for Raymond Demerits.

Happy New Year 2012!!

2012-01-01T00:03:00.003-05:00

...so long 2011.

Bye! Bye!

Nook Readers

2011-12-28T22:41:00.003-05:00

I received a new reader for Christmas, so I am a little preoccupied in learning how to use it. I maybe a little neglectful of posting. I am sure many of you can understand. Click on the post title to link to Barnes and Noble.com.

Christmas Wreath

2011-12-27T19:06:00.000-05:00

2011-12-25T00:11:00.004-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Fourth Saturday of Advent 2011: Always Pointing Toward Christ

2011-12-24T12:58:00.000-05:00

Jeremiah 33

Promise of Restoration

¹ While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him a second time: ² “This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: ³ ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ ⁴ For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege ramps and the sword ⁵ in the fight with the Chaldeans: ‘They will be filled with the dead bodies of the people I will slay in my anger and wrath. I will hide my face from this city because of all its wickedness.

⁶ “‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. ⁷ I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel and will also rebuild them as they were before. ⁸ I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. ⁹ Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’
¹⁰ “This is what the LORD says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.” Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more ¹¹ the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD, saying,

“Give thanks to the LORD Almighty,

for the LORD is good;

his love endures forever.”

For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the LORD.
¹² “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate and without people or animals—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. ¹³ In the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand of the one who counts them,’ says the LORD.
¹⁴ “‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

¹⁵ “‘In those days and at that time

I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line;

he will do what is just and right in the land.

^{¹⁶ In those days Judah will be saved}

and Jerusalem will live in safety.

This is the name by which he will be called:

The LORD Our Righteous Savior.’

¹⁷ For this is what the LORD says: ‘David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, ¹⁸ nor will the Levitical priests ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.’”
¹⁹ The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: ²⁰ “This is what the LORD says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, ²¹ then my covenant with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne. ²² I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’”
²³ The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: ²⁴ “Have you not noticed that these people are saying, ‘The LORD has rejected the two families he chose’? So they despise my people and no longer regard them as a nation. ²⁵ This is what the LORD says: ‘If I have not made my covenant with day and night and established the laws of heaven and earth, ²⁶ then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.’”

As in the days of the Old Testament God has been telling us about Jesus and about who He is, what He has done, and what He will do. He fulfills His word. His promises are trustworthy and true.

This evening read Luke chapter 2 aloud.

Attend a church service and give praise and worship to God for His son.

Give to those in need.

Love your family and friends.

Rejoice this Eve of Christmas!

Fourth Friday of Advent 2011: Epilogue Invitation and Warning

2011-12-23T16:55:00.000-05:00

All quoted scripture is from BibleGateway the New International Version.

Revelation 22 Verses 12 - 21

Epilogue: Invitation and Warning

12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and The Bright Morning Star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

Footnotes:

a. Revelation 22:16 The Greek is plural.

The following is from the Christian Classic Ethereal Library:

All is confirmed by an open and general invitation to mankind, to come and partake freely of the promises and of the privileges of the gospel. The Spirit, by the sacred word, and by convictions and influence in the sinner's conscience, says, Come to Christ for salvation; and the bride, or the whole church, on earth and in heaven, says, Come and share our happiness. Lest any should hesitate, it is added, Let whosoever will, or, is willing, come and take of the water of life freely. May every one who hears or reads these words, desire at once to accept the gracious invitation. All are condemned who should dare to corrupt or change the word of God, either by adding to it, or taking from it.

After disclosing these things to his people on earth, Christ seems to take leave of them, and return to heaven; but he assures them it shall not be long before he comes again. And while we are busy in the duties of our different stations of life; whatever labours may try us, whatever difficulties may surround us, whatever sorrows may press us down, let us with pleasure hear our Lord proclaiming, Behold, I come quickly; I come to put an end to the labour and suffering of my servants. I come, and my reward of grace is with me, to recompense, with royal bounty, every work of faith and labour of love. I come to receive my faithful, persevering people to myself, to dwell for ever in that blissful world. Amen, even so, come, Lord Jesus. A blessing closes the whole. By the grace of Christ we must be kept in joyful expectation of his glory, fitted for it, and preserved to it; and his glorious appearance will be joyful to those who partake of his grace and favour here. Let all add, Amen.

Let us earnestly thirst after greater measures of the gracious influences of the blessed Jesus in our souls, and his gracious presence with us, till glory has made perfect his grace toward us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen!

*********************************************************************

On the 'Eve of Christmas.' Many will be with family and friends. Many will attend a church service. I hope this year will be a year for many to renew their faith in Jesus Christ and earnestly seek Him and His righteousness. Let us earnestly thirst after greater measures of the gracious influences of the blessed Jesus in our souls, and his gracious presence with us, till glory has made perfect his grace toward us.

I hope this ADVENT is engaging, refreshing, and inspiring. I hope you want, and desire to dig deeper into the word of God and en-strengthen your relationship with the Lord. He wants that all should come to the knowledge of His saving grace. Love the Lord! And, praise His name! He is coming again! He keeps His promises.

May you come to the saving knowledge of the love of God.

Fourth Thursday of Advent 2011: "Look, I am coming soon!"

2011-12-22T09:22:00.000-05:00

New International Version

Revelation 22 Verses 6-11

John and the Angel

6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

The following is from The Matthew Henry Commentary:

The Lord Jesus spake by the angel, solemnly confirming the contents of this book, particularly of this last vision. He is the Lord God faithful and true. Also by his messengers; the holy angels showed them to holy men of God. They are things that must shortly be done; Christ will come quickly, and put all things out of doubt. And by the integrity of that angel who had been the apostle's interpreter. He refused to accept religious worship from John, and reproved him for offering it. This presents another testimony against idolatrous worship of saints and angels. God calls every one to witness to the declarations here made. This book, thus kept open, will have effect upon men; the filthy and unjust will be more so, but it will confirm, strengthen, and further sanctify those who are upright with God. Never let us think that a dead or disobedient faith will save us, for the First and the Last has declared that those alone are blessed who do his commandments. It is a book that shuts out from heaven all wicked and unrighteous persons, particularly those who love and make lies, therefore cannot itself be a lie. There is no middle place or condition. Jesus, who is the Spirit of prophecy, has given his churches this morning-light of prophecy, to assure them of the light of the perfect day approaching.

In the end of all things, the question is "In whom do you believe?"

Faith in Christ.

Hope in Christ.

Love in Christ.

May the joy of knowing Christ flood your spirit, soul, and body.

May you rejoice in Him.

May your voice ring out in worship and praise of who He is this Christmas!

In the words of Tiny Tim from Charles Dickens', A Christmas Carol,

"God Bless us all, everyone!"

Fourth Wednesday of Advent 2011: Sing!

2011-12-21T00:24:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 35

Joy of the Redeemed

¹ The desert and the parched land will be glad;

the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Like the crocus, ² it will burst into bloom;

it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of the LORD,

the splendor of our God.

³ Strengthen the feeble hands,

steady the knees that give way;

^{⁴ say to those with fearful hearts,}

“Be strong, do not fear;

your God will come,

he will come with vengeance;

with divine retribution

he will come to save you.”

⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened

and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

^{⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer,}

and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Water will gush forth in the wilderness

and streams in the desert.

^{⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,}

the thirsty ground bubbling springs.

In the haunts where jackals once lay,

grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

⁸ And a highway will be there;

it will be called the Way of Holiness;

it will be for those who walk on that Way.

The unclean will not journey on it;

wicked fools will not go about on it.

^{⁹ No lion will be there,}

nor any ravenous beast;

they will not be found there.

But only the redeemed will walk there,

¹⁰ and those the LORD has rescued will return.

They will enter Zion with singing;

everlasting joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,

and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

May we all be encouraged to walk THE WAY of the redeemed. Speak to one another in song, hymns, and spiritual songs. I hope everyone who reads this will some day do a study of worship, then the last sentence of Isaiah 35 will have a whole new meaning and be a blessing.

I hope you sing no matter what you think you sound like. God will be happy to hear your voice lifted in praise. It makes His heart glad to hear His children's voice in praise and worship. Sing!

Hanukkah: A Tradition of Light

2011-12-20T13:06:00.002-05:00

I found this article in the Jerusalem Post today. Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish friends. May the candles we light help us all along THE WAY.

We Kindle These Lights

12/16/2011 18:22

BY: REUVEN HAMMER

The simplest holiday tradition may be the most profound.

Photo by: Courtesy/Iris Tutnauer

Hanukka is a holiday that is both simple and profound. It is simple in that very little is required in order to observe it according to all the requirements of Jewish practice. According to the Talmud, all that is required is the lighting of one light each night.

The lighting of more than one candle, which is standard practice today, was an addition to the requirement of one light per household performed by those who are “particularly zealous” in their observance. We, who follow the ruling of the school of Hillel, add one more light each night (Shabbat 21b).

The original reason for kindling lights each night is uncertain. The well-known story of the miraculous jug of oil does not appear in the books of Maccabees or in the Mishna, but only in the Talmud. It may be connected to the fact related in I Maccabees 4:50 that “They burned incense on the altar and lighted the lamps on the menorah and they lighted the Temple.” Certainly the rekindling of the Menorah, the most important symbol of God’s presence in the Temple and eventually the most important visual symbol of Judaism, was a central feature of the Temple rededication and one that could be easily replicated in each home by the kindling of a light. The tale of the oil only added greater significance to that action.

Of course it should not be forgotten that the lighting of lights at the season of the winter solstice, the time when the hours of daylight are the shortest, was an ancient practice of many religions. The Talmud records a legend that as the days became progressively shorter, Adam was frightened, thinking that eventually there would be no light at all. “Perhaps because I have sinned,” he said, “the world is becoming dark and returning to a state of chaos and confusion. This is the ‘death’ to which I have been sentenced by Heaven!” He then fasted for eight days, but as the days began to become longer again he realized that this was simply the natural way of the world and then he kept a festival for eight days. He observed this festival every year in thankfulness to God, but idolaters later observed it in honor of their gods (Avoda Zara 8a). This was the Sages’ explanation of the origin of the Roman festival of Kalenda at that time of year.

The eight-day holiday of Hanukka is actually based on the fact recorded in II Maccabees 10:6 that they celebrated the rededication of the Temple for eight days “like Succot, recalling that on Succot they had been wandering in the mountains and caverns like wild animals.” This also explains why we recite Hallel on Hanukka each day, since Hallel is recited each day of Succot.

Although the historical events leading to the Maccabean revolt are quite complicated and include an inner conflict among various Jewish groups as well as the struggle between the Jews and the Syrian Greeks who ruled the land, the holiday has come to represent the triumph of religious freedom over the attempt to force an alien culture upon the Jewish people. As such it is a time to celebrate the right of a people to determine its own destiny and to worship God according to its own beliefs.

The lights that we light, then, do not simply represent the renewal of the physical light that has diminished at the turn of the year and will then increase with each passing day, but they also represent the light of the spirit, the light of religious freedom, the light of the Divine presence in our lives. Thus the simplicity of the holiday and the ease of its observance is balanced by the weight of the importance of that which it celebrates: religious freedom for all.

The writer, former president of the International Rabbinical Assembly, is a two-time winner of the National Book Award. His latest book is The Torah Revolution (Jewish Lights).

Fourth Tuesday of Advent 2011: JOY OF THE REDEEMED

2011-12-20T08:48:00.002-05:00

ALL QUOTED SCRIPTURE IS FROM BIBLEGATEWAY THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION

ISAIAH 35 VERSES 1-4

JOY OF THE REDEEMED

1 The desert and the parched land will be glad;

the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;

it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of the LORD,

the splendor of our God.

3 Strengthen the feeble hands,

steady the knees that give way;

4 say to those with fearful hearts,

“Be strong, do not fear;

your God will come,

he will come with vengeance;

with divine retribution

he will come to save you.”

The following is from the Matthew Henry Commentary:

I. The desert land blooming. In the foregoing chapter we had a populous and fruitful country turned into a horrid wilderness; here we have in lieu of that, a wilderness turned into a good land. When the land of Judah was freed from the Assyrian army, those parts of the country that had been made as a wilderness by the ravages and outrages they committed began to recover themselves, and to look pleasantly again, and to blossom as the rose. When the Gentile nations, that had been long as a wilderness, bringing forth no fruit to God, received the gospel, joy came with it to them, Ps. lxvii. 3, 4; xcvi. 11, 12. When Christ was preached in Samaria there was great joy in that city (Acts viii. 8); those that sat in darkness saw a great and joyful light, and then they blossomed, that is, gave hopes of abundance of fruit; for that was it which the preachers of the gospel aimed at (John xv. 16), to go and bring forth fruit, Rom. i. 13; Col. i. 6. Though blossoms are not fruit, and often miscarry and come to nothing, yet they are in order to fruit. Converting grace makes the soul that was a wilderness to rejoice with joy and singing, and to blossom abundantly. This flourishing desert shall have all the glory of Lebanon given to it, which consisted in the strength and stateliness of its cedars, together with the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, which consisted in corn and cattle. Whatever is valuable in any institution is brought into the gospel. All the beauty of the Jewish church was admitted into the Christian church, and appeared in its perfection, as the apostle shows at large in his epistle to the Hebrews. Whatever was excellent an desirable in the Mosaic economy is translated into the evangelical institutes.

II. The glory of God shining forth: They shall see the glory of the Lord. God will manifest himself more than ever in his grace and love to mankind (for that is his glory and excellency), and he shall give them eyes to see it, and hearts to be duly affected with it. This is that which will make the desert blossom. The more we see by faith of the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God the more joyful and the more fruitful shall we be.

III. The feeble and faint-hearted encouraged, v. 3, 4. God's prophets and ministers are in a special manner charged, by virtue of their office, to strengthen the weak hands, to comfort those who could not yet recover the fright they had been put into by the Assyrian army with an assurance that God would now return in mercy to them. This is the design of the gospel, 1. To strengthen those that are weak and to confirm them—the weak hands, which are unable either to work or fight, and can hardly be lifted up in prayer, and the feeble knees, which are unable either to stand or walk and unfit for the race set before us. The gospel furnishes us with strengthening considerations, and shows us where strength is laid up for us. Among true Christians there are many that have weak hands and feeble knees, that are yet but babes in Christ; but it is our duty to strengthen our brethren (Luke xxii. 32), not only to bear with the weak, but to do what we can to confirm them, Rom. xv. 1; 1 Thess. v. 14. It is our duty also to strengthen ourselves, to lift up the hands which hang down (Heb. xii. 12), improving the strength God has given us, and exerting it. 2. To animate those that are timorous and discouraged: Say to those that are of a fearful heart, because of their own weakness and the strength of their enemies, that are hasty (so the word is), that are for betaking themselves to flight upon the first alarm, and giving up the cause, that say, in their haste, "We are cut off and undone" (Ps. xxxi. 22), there is enough in the gospel to silence these fears; it says to them, and let them say it to themselves and one to another, Be strong, fear not. Fear is weakening; the more we strive against it the stronger we are both for doing and suffering; and, for our encouragement to strive, he that says to us, Be strong has laid help for us upon one that is mighty.

IV. Assurance given of the approach of a Saviour: "Your God will come with vengeance. God will appear for you against your enemies, will recompense both their injuries and your losses." The Messiah will come, in the fulness of time, to take vengeance on the powers of darkness, to spoil them, and make a show of them openly, to recompense those that mourn in Zion with abundant comforts. He will come and save us. With the hopes of this the Old-Testament saints strengthened their weak hands. He will come again at the end of time, will come in flaming fire, to recompense tribulation to those who have troubled his people, and, to those who were troubled, rest, such a rest as will be not only a final period to, but a full reward of, all their troubles, 2 Thess. i. 6, 7. Those whose hearts tremble for the ark of God, and who are under a concern for his church in the world, may silence their fears with this, God will take the work into his own hands. Your God will come, who pleads your cause and owns your interest, even God himself, who is God alone.

Fourth Monday of Advent 2011: The Branch From Jesse

2011-12-19T17:24:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 11:1-9 (New International Version)

The Branch From Jesse

¹ A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

^{² The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—}

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of might,

the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—

^{³ and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.}

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,

or decide by what he hears with his ears;

^{⁴ but with righteousness he will judge the needy,}

with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;

with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

^{⁵ Righteousness will be his belt}

and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

⁶ The wolf will live with the lamb,

the leopard will lie down with the goat,

the calf and the lion and the yearling^[a] together;

and a little child will lead them.

^{⁷ The cow will feed with the bear,}

their young will lie down together,

and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

^{⁸ The infant will play near the cobra’s den,}

the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.

^{⁹ They will neither harm nor destroy}

on all my holy mountain,

for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD

as the waters cover the sea.

Footnotes:

Isaiah 11:6 Hebrew; Septuagint lion will feed

**************************************************************

I found two wonderful web-sites on the Jesse Tree. Here is the first site linkhttp://www.crivoice.org/jesse.html, please check it out because it has very good information and fun family activities to do together.

The second link for Jesse Tree symbols to color and cut out is http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19971201/FRIDGE/FRIDGE1.HTM.

Fourth Sunday of Advent 2011: The Light of Jesus Shines for Everyone

2011-12-18T03:02:00.002-05:00

[Light the first three candles of the Advent wreath.]
Read Aloud:
After the angel came to Mary and told her that she would conceive the child in her womb and would call him Jesus, Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)
And Mary sings her Song of Praise:

…My soul magnifies the Lord…he has scattered the proud

   …He has brought down the powerful from their thrones

     …He has lifted up the lowly

       …He has filled the hungry

         …He has provided for the poor (Luke 1:46-55).

We marvel at Mary, the mother of the Messiah, herself a single, teen-aged mother, herself poor and powerless. But she understood that the baby she would call Jesus was sent, not just to her, but to the world…
…To the hungry
   …To the weak
     …To the very young and the very old
       …To those who suffer or are in pain.

[Light the fourth candle of the Advent wreath.]
Read Aloud:
We light this fourth candle to remember Mary, the mother of Jesus. May the light of this candle also remind us that the light of Jesus shines for everyone.

In remembrance of Jesus' love it might be a good idea to sit around the table, put on Christmas music, play some games with the family, or watch a Holiday movie, or read a good story together. Spend time with loved ones. Do something together for others and give to those in need, especially your care and time.

Third Saturday of Advent 2011: Christ is the Gift Eternal

2011-12-17T12:42:00.000-05:00

All quoted scripture is from BibleGateway the New International Version.

Matthew Chapter 2 Verses 9-12.

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

********************************************************************

Wise men. Are you a wise man? Do you seek knowledge?

Again, I implore you to listen, read , and observe. God is continually wooing men to salvation. God saved the wise men. Please read the following from The Matthew Henry Commentary:

We have here the wise men's humble attendance upon this new-born King of the Jews, and the honors they paid him. From Jerusalem they went to Bethlehem, resolving to seek till they should find; but it is very strange that they went alone; that not one person of the court, church, or city, should accompany them, if not in conscience, yet in civility to them, or touched with a curiosity to see this young prince. As the queen of the south, so the wise men of the east, will rise up in judgment against the men of that generation, and of this too, and will condemn them; for they came from a far country, to worship Christ; while the Jews, his kinsmen, would not stir a step, would not go to the next town to bid him welcome. It might have been a discouragement to these wise men to find him whom they sought thus neglected at home. Are we come so far to honour the King of the Jews, and do the Jews themselves put such a slight upon him and us? Yet they persist in their resolution. Note: We must continue our attendance upon Christ, though we be alone in it; whatever others do, we must serve the Lord; if they will not go to heaven with us, yet we must not go to hell with them.

I. See how they found out Christ by the same star that they had seen in their own country, v. 9, 10. Observe,

1. How graciously God directed them. By the first appearance of the star they were given to understand where they might enquire for this King, and then it disappeared, and they were left to take the usual methods for such an enquiry. Note, Extraordinary helps are not to be expected where ordinary means are to be had. Well, they had traced the matter as far as they could; they were upon their journey to Bethlehem, but that is a populous town, where shall they find him when they come thither?

Here they were at a loss, at their wit's end, but not at their faith's end; they believed that God, who had brought them thither by his word, would not leave them there; nor did he; for, behold, the star which they saw in the east went before them. Note, If we go on as far as we can in the way of duty, God will direct and enable us to do that which of ourselves we cannot do; Up, and be doing, and the Lord will be with thee. Vigilantibus, non dormientibus, succurit lex—The law affords its aid, not to the idle, but to the active. The star had left them a great while, yet now returns. They who follow God in the dark shall find that light is sown, is reserved, for them. Israel was led by a pillar of fire to the promised land, the wise men by a star to the promised Seed, who is himself the bright and morning Star, Rev. xxii. 16.

God would rather create a new thing than leave those at a loss who diligently and faithfully sought him. This star was the token of God's presence with them; for he is light, and goes before his people as their Guide. Note, If we by faith eye God in all our ways, we may see ourselves under his conduct; he guides with his eye (Ps. xxxii. 8), and said to them, This is the way, walk in it: and there is a day-star that arises in the hearts of those that enquire after Christ, 2 Pet. i. 19. 2. Observe how joyfully they followed God's direction (v. 10). When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Now they saw they were not deceived, and had not taken this long journey in vain. When the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Now they were sure that God was with them, and the tokens of his presence and favor cannot but fill with joy unspeakable the souls of those that know how to value them. Now they could laugh at the Jews in Jerusalem, who, probably, had laughed at them as coming on a fool's errand. The watchmen can give the spouse no tidings of her beloved; yet it is but a little that she passes from them, and she finds him, Cant. iii. 3, 4. We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God. What a transport of joy these wise men were in upon this sight of the star; none know so well as those who, after a long and melancholy night of temptation and desertion, under the power of a Spirit of bondage, at length receive the spirit of adoption, witnessing with their spirits that they are the children of God; this is light out of darkness; it is life from the dead.

Now they had reason to hope for a sight of the Lord's Christ speedily, of the Sun of righteousness, for they see the Morning Star. Note, We should be glad of every thing that will show us the way to Christ. This star was sent to meet the wise men, and to conduct them into the presence chamber of the King; by this master of ceremonies they were introduced, to have their audience. Now God fulfills his promise of meeting those that are disposed to rejoice and work righteousness (Isa. lxiv. 5), and they fulfill his precept. Let the hearts of those rejoice that seek the Lord, Ps. cv. 3. Note, God is pleased sometimes to favour young converts with such tokens of his love as are very encouraging to them, in reference to the difficulties they meet with at their setting out of the ways of God.

II. See how they made their address to him when they had found him, v. 11. We may well imagine their expectations were raised to find this royal babe, though slighted by the nation, yet honourably attended at home; and what a disappointment it was to them when they found a cottage was his palace, and his own poor mother all the retinue he had! Is this the Saviour of the world? Is this the King of the Jews, nay, and the Prince of the kings of the earth? Yes, this is he, who, though he was rich, yet, for our sakes, became thus poor. However, these wise men were so wise as to see through this veil, and in this despised babe to discern the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father; they did not think themselves balked or baffled in their enquiry; but, as having found the King they sought, they presented themselves first, and then their gifts, to him.

1. They presented themselves to him: they fell down, and worshipped him. We do not read that they gave such honour to Herod, though he was in the height of his royal grandeur; but to this babe they gave this honour, not only as to a king (then they would have done the same to Herod), but as to a God. Note, All that have found Christ fall down before him; they adore him, and submit themselves to him. He is thy Lord, and worship thou him. It will be the wisdom of the wisest of men, and by this it will appear they know Christ, and understand themselves and their true interests, if they be humble, faithful worshippers of the Lord Jesus.

2. They presented their gifts to him. In the eastern nations, when they did homage to their kings, they made them presents; thus the subjection of the kings of Sheba to Christ is spoken of (Ps. lxxii. 10), They shall bring presents, and offer gifts. See Isa. lx. 6. Note, With ourselves, we must give up all that we have to Jesus Christ; and if we be sincere in the surrender of ourselves to him, we shall not be unwilling to part with what is dearest to us, and most valuable, to him and for him; nor are our gifts accepted, unless we first present ourselves to him living sacrifices. God had respect to Abel, and then to his offering. The gifts they presented were, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, money, and money's-worth. Providence sent this for a seasonable relief to Joseph and Mary in their present poor condition. These were the products of their own country; what God favours us with, we must honour him with. Some think there was a significancy in their gifts; they offered him gold, as a king, paying him tribute, to Cæsar, the things that are Cæsar's; frankincense, as God, for they honoured God with the smoke of incense; and myrrh, as a Man that should die, for myrrh was used in embalming dead bodies.

III. See how they left him when they had made their address to him, v. 12. Herod appointed them to bring him word what discoveries they had made, and, it is probable, they would have done so, if they had not been countermanded, not suspecting their being thus made his tools in a wicked design. Those that mean honestly and well themselves are easily made to believe that others do so too, and cannot think the world is as bad as it really is; but the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation. We do not find that the wise men promised to come back to Herod, and, if they had, it must have been with the usual proviso, If God permit; God did not permit them, and prevented the mischief Herod designed to the Child Jesus, and the trouble it would have been to the wise men to have been made involuntarily accessory to it. They were warned of God, chrematisthentes—oraculo vel responso accepto—by an oracular intimation. Some think it intimates that they asked counsel of God, and that this was the answer. Note, Those that act cautiously, and are afraid of sin and snares, if they apply themselves to God for direction, may expect to be led in the right way. They were warned not to return to Herod, nor to Jerusalem; those were unworthy to have reports brought them concerning Christ, that might have seen with their own eyes, and would not. They departed into their own country another way, to bring the tidings to their countrymen; but it is strange that we never hear any more of them, and that they or theirs did not afterwards attend him in the temple, whom they had worshiped in the cradle. However, the direction they had from God in their return would be a further confirmation of their faith in this Child, as the Lord from heaven.

He is actively and creatively seeking to save.

His salvation is sure.

Seek God.

Call upon His name.

Confess Him unto salvation.

Be baptized in water and the Holy Spirit.

He is the gift of eternal life.

Merry Christmas!

Third Friday of Advent 2011: False Friends Are Worse Than Bitter Enemies

2011-12-16T09:40:00.001-05:00

All quoted scripture is from BibleGateway the New International Version.

Matthew Chapter 2 Verses 3 - 8

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

*******************************************************************************
Herod did not care to find the child to worship him. He had a malicious intent which we will explore later in this chapter. God saves the Magi and warns them in a dream not to return to Herod. Who knows what would have been their fate had they returned to Herod. This brings to mind a proverb.

“False friends are worse than bitter enemies.”

Scottish Proverb

Proverb - A short pithy saying in frequent and widespread use that expresses a basic truth or practical precept.

Proverbs is a book of the Bible you will want to read.

Third Thursday of Advent 2011: Treasure in an Earthen Vessel

2011-12-15T10:30:00.001-05:00

There is treasure at the end of this discourse, please enjoy reading the following.

Matthew 2:1&2

The Magi Visit the Messiah

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

The following commentary is from Christian Classic Ethereal Library.

It was a mark of humiliation put upon the Lord Jesus that, though he was the Desire of all nations, yet his coming into the world was little observed and taken notice of, his birth was obscure and unregarded: herein he emptied himself, and made himself of no reputation. If the Son of God must be brought into the world, one might justly expect that he should be received with all the ceremony possible, that crowns and sceptres should immediately have been laid at his feet, and that the high and mighty princes of the world should have been his humble servants; such a Messiah as this the Jews expected, but we see none of all this; he came into the world, and the world knew him not; nay, he came to his own, and his own received him not; for having undertaken to make satisfaction to his Father for the wrong done him in his honour by the sin of man, he did it by denying himself in, and despoiling himself of, the honours undoubtedly due to an incarnate Deity; yet, as afterward, so in his birth, some rays of glory darted forth in the midst of the greatest instances of his abasement.

The first who took notice of Christ after his birth were the shepherds (Luke ii. 15, &c.), who saw and heard glorious things concerning him, and made them known abroad, to the amazement of all that heard them, v. 17, 18. After that, Simeon and Ann a spoke of him, by the Spirit, to all that were disposed to heed what they said, Luke ii. 38. Now, one would think, these hints should have been taken by the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and they should with both arms have embraced the long-looked-for Messiah; but, for aught that appears, he continued nearly two years after at Bethlehem, and no further notice was taken of him till these wise men came. Note, Nothing will awaken those that are resolved to be regardless.

I. When this enquiry was made concerning Christ. It was in the days of Herod the king. This Herod was an Edomite, made king of Judea by Augustus and Antonius, the then chief rulers of the Roman state, a man made up of falsehood and cruelty; yet he was complimented with the title of Herod the Great. Christ was born in the 35th year of his reign, and notice is taken of this, to show that the sceptre had now departed from Judah, and the lawgiver from between his feet; and therefore now was the time for Shiloh to come, and to him shall the gathering of the people be: witness these wise men, Gen. xlix. 10.

II. Who and what these wise men were; they are here called Magoi—Magicians. Some that it in a good sense; the Magi among the Persians were their philosophers and their priests; nor would they admit any one for their king who had not first been enrolled among the Magi; others think they dealt in unlawful arts; the word is used of Simon, the sorcerer (Acts viii. 9, 11), and of Elymas, the sorcerer (Acts xiii. 6), nor does the scripture use it in any other sense; and then it was an early instance and presage of Christ's victory over the devil, when those who had been so much his devotees became the early adorers even of the infant Jesus; so soon were trophies of his victory over the powers of darkness erected. Well, whatever sort of wise men they were before, now they began to be wise men indeed when they set themselves to enquire after Christ.

This we are sure of, 1. That they were Gentiles, and not belonging to the commonwealth of Israel. The Jews regarded not Christ, but these Gentiles enquired him out. Note, Many times those who are nearest to the means, are furthest from the end. See ch. viii. 11, 12. The respect paid to Christ by these Gentiles was a happy presage and specimen of what would follow when those who were afar off should be made nigh by Christ. 2. That they were scholars. They dealt in arts, curious arts; good scholars should be good Christians, and then they complete their learning when they learn Christ. 3. That they were men of the east, who were noted for their soothsaying, Isa. ii. 6. Arabia is called the land of the east (Gen. xxv. 6), and the Arabians are called men of the east, Judg. vi. 3. The presents they brought were the products of that country; the Arabians had done homage to David and Solomon as types of Christ. Jethro and Job were of that country. More than this we have not to say of them.

III. What induced them to make this enquiry. They, in their country, which was in the east, had seen an extraordinary star, such as they had not seen before; which they took to be an indication of an extraordinary person born in the land of Judea, over which land this star was seen to hover, in the nature of a comet, or a meteor rather, in the lowers regions of the air; this differed so much from any thing that was common that they concluded it to signify something uncommon. Note, Extraordinary appearances of God in the creatures should put us upon enquiring after his mind and will therein; Christ foretold signs in the heavens. The birth of Christ was notified to the Jewish shepherds by an angel, to the Gentile philosophers by a star: to both God spoke in their own language, and in the way they were best acquainted with. Some think that the light which the shepherds saw shining round about them, the night after Christ was born, was the very same which to the wise men, who lived at such a distance, appeared as a star; but this we cannot easily admit, because the same star which they had seen in the east they saw a great while after, leading them to the house where Christ lay; it was a candle set up on purpose to guide them to Christ. The idolaters worshipped the stars as the host of heaven, especially the eastern nations, whence the planets have the names of their idol-gods; we read of a particular star they had in veneration, Amos v. 26. Thus the stars that had been misused came to be put to the right use, to lead men to Christ; the gods of the heathen became his servants. Some think this star put them in mind of Balaam's prophecy, that a star should come out of Jacob, pointing at a sceptre, that shall rise out of Israel; see Num. xxiv. 17. Balaam came from the mountains of the east, and was one of their wise men. Others impute their enquiry to the general expectation entertained at that time, in those eastern parts, of some great prince to appear. Tacitus, in his history (lib. 5), takes notice of it; Pluribus persuasio inerat, antiquis sacerdotum literis contineri, eo ipso tempore fore, ut valesceret oriens, profectique Judæa rerum potirentur—A persuasion existed in the minds of many that some ancient writings of the priests contained a prediction that about that time an eastern power would prevail, and that persons proceeding from Judea would obtain dominion. Suetonius also, in the life of Vespasian, speaks of it; so that this extraordinary phenomenon was construed as pointing to that king; and we may suppose a divine impression made upon their minds, enabling them to interpret this star as a signal given by Heaven of the birth of Christ.

IV. How they prosecuted this enquiry. They came from the east to Jerusalem, in further quest of this prince. Wither shall they come to enquire for the king of the Jews, but to Jerusalem, the mother-city, whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord? They might have said, "If such a prince be born, we shall hear of him shortly in our own country, and it will be time enough then to pay our homage to him." But so impatient were they to be better acquainted with him, that they took a long journey on purpose to enquire after him. Note, Those who truly desire to know Christ, and find him, will not regard pains or perils in seeking after him. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.

Their question is, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? They do not ask, whether there were such a one born? (they are sure of that, and speak of it with assurance, so strongly was it set home upon their hearts); but, Where is he born? Note, Those who know something of Christ cannot but covet to know more of him. They call Christ the King of the Jews, for so the Messiah was expected to be; and he is Protector and Ruler of all the spiritual Israel, he is born a King.

To this question they doubted not but to have a ready answer, and to find all Jerusalem worshipping at the feet of this new king; but they come from door to door with this question, and no man can give them any information. Note, There is more gross ignorance in the world, and in the church too, than we are aware of. Many that we think should direct us to Christ are themselves strangers to him. They ask, as the spouse of the daughters of Jerusalem, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? But they are never the wiser. However, like the spouse, they pursue the enquiry, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? Are they asked, "Why do ye make this enquiry?" It is because they have seen his star in the east. Are they asked, "What business have ye with him? What have the men of the east to do with the King of the Jews?" They have their answer ready, We are come to worship him. They conclude he will, in process of time, be their king, and therefore they will betimes ingratiate themselves with him and with those about him. Note, Those in whose hearts the day-star is risen, to give them any thing of the knowledge of Christ, must make it their business to worship him. Have we seen Christ's star? Let us study to give him honour.

V. How this enquiry was treated at Jerusalem. News of it at last came to court; and when Herod heard it he was troubled, v. 3. He could not be a stranger to the prophecies of the Old Testament, concerning the Messiah and his kingdom, and the times fixed for his appearing by Daniel's weeks; but, having himself reigned so long and so successfully, he began to hope that those promises would for ever fail, and that his kingdom would be established and perpetuated in spite of them. What a damp therefore must it needs be upon him, to hear talk of this King being born, now, when the time fixed for his appearing had come! Note, Carnal wicked hearts dread nothing so much as the fulfilling of the scriptures.

But though Herod, an Edomite, was troubled, one would have thought Jerusalem should rejoice greatly to hear that her King comes; yet, it seems, all Jerusalem, except the few there that waited for the consolation of Israel, were troubled with Herod, and were apprehensive of I know not what ill consequences of the birth of this new king, that it would involve them in war, or restrain their lusts; they, for their parts, desired no king but Herod; no, not the Messiah himself. Note, The slavery of sin is foolishly preferred by many to the glorious liberty of the children of God, only because they apprehend some present difficulties attending that necessary revolution of the government in the soul. Herod and Jerusalem were thus troubled, from a mistaken notion that the kingdom of the Messiah would clash and interfere with the secular powers; whereas the star that proclaimed him king plainly intimated that his kingdom was heavenly, and not of this lower world. Note, The reason why the kings of the earth, and the people, oppose the kingdom of Christ, is because they do not know it, but err concerning it.

VI. What assistance they met with in this enquiry from the scribes and the priests, v. 4-6. Nobody can pretend to tell where the King of the Jews is, but Herod enquires where it was expected he should be born. The persons he consults are, the chief priests, who were teachers by office; and the scribes, who made it their business to study the law; their lips must keep knowledge, but then the people must enquire the law at their mouth, Mal. ii. 7. It was generally known that Christ should be born at Bethlehem (John vii. 42); but Herod would have counsel's opinion upon it, and therefore applies himself to the proper persons; and, that he might be the better satisfied, he has them altogether, all the chief priests, and all the scribes; and demands of them what was the place, according to the scriptures of the Old Testament, where Christ should be born? Many a good question is put with an ill design, so was this by Herod.

The priests and scribes need not take any long time to give an answer to this query; nor do they differ in their opinion, but all agree that the Messiah must be born in Bethlehem, the city of David, here called Bethlehem of Judea, to distinguish it from another city of the same name in the land of Zebulun, Josh. xix. 15. Bethlehem signifies the house of bread; the fittest place for him to be born in who is the true manna, the bread which came down from heaven, which was given for the life of the world. The proof they produce is taken from Mic. v. 2, where it is foretold that though Bethlehem be little among the thousands of Judah (so it is in Micah), no very populous place, yet it shall be found not the least among the princes of Judah (so it is here); for Bethlehem's honour lay not, as that of other cities, in the multitude of the people, but in the magnificence of the princes it produced. Though, upon some accounts, Bethlehem was little, yet herein it had the pre-eminence above all the cities of Israel, that the Lord shall count, when he writes up the people, that this man, even the man Christ Jesus, was born there, Ps. lxxxvii. 6. Out of thee shall come a Governor, the King of the Jews. Note, Christ will be a Saviour to those only who are willing to take him for their Governor. Bethlehem was the city of David, and David the glory of Bethlehem; there, therefore, must David's son and successor be born. There was a famous well at Bethlehem, by the gate, which David longed to drink of (2 Sam. xxiii. 15); in Christ we have not only bread enough and to spare, but may come and take also of the water of life freely. Observe here how Jews and Gentiles compare notes about Jesus Christ. The Gentiles know the time of his birth by a star; the Jews know the place of it by the scriptures; and so they are capable of informing one another. Note, It would contribute much to the increase of knowledge, if we did thus mutually communicate what we know. Men grow rich by bartering and exchanging; so, if we have knowledge to communicate to others, they will be ready to communicate to us; thus many shall discourse, shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

VII. The bloody project and design of Herod, occasioned by this enquiry, v. 7, 8. Herod was now an old man, and had reigned thirty-five years; this king was but newly born, and not likely to enterprise any thing considerable for many years; yet Herod is jealous of him. Crowned heads cannot endure to think of successors, much less of rivals; and therefore nothing less than the blood of this infant king will satisfy him; and he will not give himself liberty to think that, if this new-born child should be indeed the Messiah, in opposing him, or making any attempts upon him, he would be found fighting against God, than which nothing is more vain, nothing more dangerous. Passion has got the mastery of reason and conscience.

Now, 1. See how cunningly he laid the project (v. 7, 8). He privily called the wise men, to talk with them about this matter. He would not openly own his fears and jealousies; it would be his disgrace to let the wise men know them, and dangerous to let the people know them. Sinners are often tormented with secret fears, which they keep to themselves. Herod learns of the wise men the time when the star appeared, that he might take his measures accordingly; and then employs them to enquire further, and bids them bring him an account. All this might look suspicious, if he had not covered it with a show of religion: that I may come and worship him also. Note, The greatest wickedness often conceals itself under a mask of piety. Absalom cloaks his rebellious project with a vow.

2. See how strangely he was befooled and infatuated in this, that he trusted it with the wise men, and did not choose some other managers, that would have been true to his interests. It was but seven miles from Jerusalem; how easily might he have sent spies to watch the wise men, who might have been as soon there to destroy the child as they to worship him! Note, God can hide from the eyes of the church's enemies those methods by which they might easily destroy the church; when he intends to lead princes away spoiled, his way is to make the judges fools.

Wise men from the east came looking to find the King of the Jews. They found him; humble, meek and mild in a manger, a watering trough. They had brought gifts for a king, gold, incense, and myrrh. They worshiped him. Upon the night before they left for their home country God gave them a dream to avoid Herod. God saved them from the wrath of King Herod and death. You may want to meditate on that thought alone for a moment.

NOTE: I had a small book I treasure called, The Other Wise Man, by Henry Van Dyke. It is a story of the fourth wise man, Artaban. He had not made the trip with his companions. He had been delayed. His gifts were shared a long the way of his life's journey to find The King of the Jews. If you have the opportunity to find this little gem of a story you will not be disappointed. Share it with those you love, but have a box of Kleenex at the ready. I have reread the story for many years and still cry with great joy. May you find the little gem to treasure in your heart as well.

Third Wednesday of Advent 2011: Be Richly Blessed

2011-12-14T10:12:00.001-05:00

Luke Chapter 3 Verses 21-22

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

The following is from Coffman's Commentaries.

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

Jesus being baptized, and praying ...

Many have pondered the reasons why Jesus was baptized; and among reasons that might have entered into his submission to that rite are the following: (1) The reason that he himself gave, "thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15), indicates that it would have been unbecoming, even of the sinless Christ, to have withheld obedience to God's commandment. The message for all men in this is plain.

(2) By so doing, he indicated the adoption of the rite of baptism to be the initiatory ceremony by which men are inducted into Christianity. (3) Through this obedience he "fulfilled" God's command. (4) His baptism, as revealed in the Scriptures, prefigured the importance of the ceremony in the true religion under the new covenant. Jesus' baptism announced the importance of it for all men. (5) His baptism symbolized the true meaning of the ordinance in Christianity: (a) one is not a child of God until he is baptized, just as God recognized Christ as his beloved Son immediately AFTER his baptism; (b) prayer, though not denied to anyone, is in many special ways the peculiar privilege of Christians, a privilege contingent upon their baptism; hence Luke indicated Christ's praying, immediately AFTER his baptism; (c) the Holy Spirit is a gift to Christians, contingent upon their being (among other things) baptized (Acts 2:38); and significantly, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended and remained upon Jesus AFTER his baptism. Therefore, it cannot be denied that the baptism commanded in the great commission (following faith, repentance, and confession) is PRIOR to the convert's becoming a child of God, receiving the Holy Spirit, and entering into the more exalted prayer-privileges pertaining only to Christians; and we do not hesitate to add that baptism is a precondition to his ever being so endowed.

In this connection, one of the reasons that may not be assigned to Christ's baptism is this, that he was baptized to set us an example how we might follow him in baptism, since it is impossible for believer's baptism to correspond to Christ's. It was not necessary for him but it is necessary for men. He was baptized at about the age of thirty, and that is far longer than any mortal's baptism should be delayed. Believer's baptism is "for the remission of sins"; but Christ's was to fulfill all righteousness.

Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove ...

This was the heavenly portent by which John the Baptist recognized the Messiah (John 1:33). Appropriately, the dove was a clean creature under the Mosaic law, acceptable in the holy sacrifices as an offering to God, an emblem in all ages of peace, gentleness, and innocence, a monogamous creature, possessing no gall, and used as a messenger. F12

Voice out of heaven ... Thou art my beloved Son ...

It should be noted that John the Baptist is not the subject of the paragraph, and where his conversation is recorded, it was necessary for Matthew to record it as addressed in the third person in order to avoid misunderstanding. See more under Mark 1:11 in my Commentary on Mark. Three persons of the Godhead are in evidence here: Christ coming up out of the water, the Spirit as a dove descending upon him, and the voice of the Father out of heaven.

When one accepts Christ and what he has done and confesses publicly and is baptized the Holy Spirit comes to aid the believer with power to become more like Christ.

If you do not know Christ personally, take time this Advent season and get to know Him. Prepare your heart, your mind, and your body. Then find a church and a small group of people to fellowship with that will encourage you in the Lord on a regular basis. A place were everyone is supportive and encouraging in following Christ by praying, singing, studying the word, and sharing a communion table.

May you richly receive Jesus and the joy of Christmas for eternity.

Third Tuesday of Advent 2011: When Does One Cross The Line?

2011-12-13T13:03:00.001-05:00

All quoted scripture is from BibleGateway the New International Version.

Luke Chapter 3 Verses 19 & 20.

19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

Ever meet someone who is evil? Someone, so consumed by sins, that their soul must be darker then coal. Herod was such an evil man. Luke tells us in verse 20 "Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison." Matthew goes into more detail. Herod continues in his evil practices.

Matthew Chapter 14 Verses 3-12.

John the Baptist Beheaded

3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet. 6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

Even Herod knew it was wrong to behead John the Baptist, a prophet of God. 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison.

Sinning continually can lead to evil works. Hanging out with the "wrong crowd" is a bad influence. Evil works can lead you to a place of no return.

When does one cross the line?

Third Monday of Advent 2011: John Directed the People to Christ

2011-12-12T19:28:00.000-05:00

All quoted scripture is from BibleGateway the New International Version.

Luke Chapter 3 Verses 15-18

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[b] water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

The following is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library:

The evangelist concludes his account of John's preaching with: "Many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people, which are not recorded. First, John was an affectionate preacher. He was parakalon—exhorting, beseeching; he pressed things home upon his hearers, followed his doctrine close, as one in earnest. Secondly, He was a practical preacher. Much of his preaching was exhortation, quickening them to their duty, directing them in it, and not amusing them with matters of nice speculation. Thirdly, He was a popular preacher. Though he had scribes and Pharisees, men of polite learning, attending his ministry, and Sadducees, men of free thought, as they pretended, yet he addressed himself to the people, pros ton laon—to the laity, and accommodated himself to their capacity, as promising himself best success among them. Fourthly, He was an evangelical preacher, for so the word here used signifies, euengelizeto—he preached the gospel to the people; in all his exhortations, he directed people to Christ, and excited and encouraged their expectations of him. When we press duty upon people, we must direct them to Christ, both for righteousness and strength. Fifthly, He was a copious preacher: Many other things he preached, polla men kai hetera—many things, and different. He preached a great deal, shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God; and he varied in his preaching, that those who were not reached, and touched, and wrought upon, by one truth, might be by another.

Does your life direct people to Christ?

Do you exhort people?

Do you proclaim the good news to them?

Do you praise God?

Do you speak of what He has done for you?

Give thanks unto the Lord and rejoice!

Third Sunday of Advent 2011: Live By The Spirit

2011-12-11T11:12:00.002-05:00

All quoted scripture is from BibleGateway the New International Version.

Luke Chapter 3 Verses 7-14

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

********************************************************************************

The spirit of God had been with John since he was in his mother's womb. He had been prepared for his ministry by the example of his righteous parents, listening to God daily and praying. He therefore spoke the word of God when addressing the crowd.

Are you among the "crowd," a brood of vipers?

Are you like a snake with your forked tongue?

God says to produce fruit with repentance. Repentance is an on going action, especially if you are continuing to sin. Produce fruit with your repentance. What is fruit?

Galatians 5:22-26

Live by the Spirit

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Do you know yourself well?

What motivates you? Your Heart? Your Mind? Selfish ambition?

The Spirit of God?

It is now the third Sunday of Advent, and I hope the chains of sin and slavery are falling off. I hope the light of Christ is shining anew within you. I hope you are budding with fresh hope and that the fruit of the spirit blossoms and that you and others benefit from the fruit you bear.

Second Saturday of Advent 2011: A Faithful Servant

2011-12-10T19:15:00.000-05:00

ANNA...continued....Luke 2 verses 36-40.

Verses 36, 37

And there was Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher (she was of great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day.

The Greek New Testament describes Anna's age thus: "And she was a widow until years eighty-four." F30 It is not clear if the eighty-four years should be applied to her widowhood, or to her whole life; but the fullness of this reference to her age inclines to the view that they should be applied to her widowhood, making her age to be over a century.

Departed not from the temple ...can hardly mean that she resided in it, but that she had never forsaken temple duties, despite her phenomenal age. Matthew Henry said:

It is pleasant to see aged Christians not weary of well-doing; but taking more and more pleasure in it, and seeing more and more need of it, till they come to heaven. Those who are diligent and faithful in improving their light and means, shall have further discoveries. F31

Verse 38

And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Spake of him ...would normally refer to "God"; but it is clear that Luke is still writing of phenomena regarding the infant Christ. The content of the message is not recorded, but it must have been similar to the testimony of Simeon.

Verse 39

And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

Luke omitted the flight to Egypt and other important details of the life of Christ at this point, making it exceedingly unlikely that he had a copy of Matthew available to him. Even if he had, such omissions are characteristic of Luke's style. Another example was cited by Childers:

The same sort of writing occurs in Acts 9:25,26, where it appears that Paul returned to Jerusalem shortly after his conversion; but in Gal. 1:17,18, we learn that three years elapsed before his return. Such omissions are common in Scripture and other ancient writings. F32

Verse 40

And the child grew and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Luke here related the normal growth and mental development of the Christ child.

Filled with wisdom ...is "becoming full of wisdom" in the Greek (English Revised Version (1885), margin), and should have been translated thus, which would have emphasized the normalcy of Jesus during this period, a normalcy that Luke had clearly in mind throughout.

****************************************************************************
Anna was a worshiper, witness, and encourager. Although, she had lost her husband seven years into the marriage she had not lost her love for God or her fellow Israelites. Faithful to worship, she was a recorded as a witness to Jesus' life and spoke encouraging words to Mary and Joseph.

Are you an encourager?

Luke records that Jesus grew like any child and that the grace of God was upon him. He had righteous parents. His relatives were of the Houses of David and Aaron. He was a student of the word and learned the trade of a Carpenter.

How are you raising your Children?

Do you teach them about faith?

Encourage and invite someone to learn about Jesus.
It will be an eternal present.

Second Friday of Advent 2011: Living in Faith and Receiving The Promises of God

2011-12-09T21:11:00.001-05:00

Luke chapter 2 continued...verses25-40.

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Coffman Commentary

Verse 25

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

Simeon ...

This man has been identified as the son of the famous Hillel, father of Gamaliel, and president of the Sanhedrin. F24 Spence noted that the Mishna (part of the Talmud), which preserved the record of sayings of great rabbis, has no word from Simeon, "perhaps owing to the hatred incurred because of his belief in Jesus of Nazareth." F25

Righteous and devout ...

The Greek word for "devout" means "circumspect or cautious," F26 and thus Simeon was not a man to make rash or unconsidered judgements. The word also means "God-fearing." F27

Looking for the consolation of Israel ...

He longed for the coming of the Messiah; and the Spirit prepared his heart to recognize him.

And the Holy Spirit was upon him ...

indicates that it was directly under the influence of the Holy Spirit that Simeon was told to go into the temple, thus making this a supplementary revelation to the one already received regarding the promise that he should live to see the Messiah.

Verse 26

And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

The past perfect tense indicates action that had been completed in the past. His waiting for the fulfillment of so glorious a promise was referred to as "waiting for the consolation of Israel" in the preceding verse.

Verses 27, 28

And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of law, then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

The parents ...

Luke's use of this word for Joseph and Mary here, and again in Luke 2:41, and Mary's reference to Joseph as "father" of Jesus raises no question whatever regarding the virgin birth. One grows weary of the sophistry, and that is all it is, that seizes upon such expressions as any manner of denial of the facts Luke had so dogmatically affirmed only a moment before. They were his "parents" legally; Joseph was his "father" legally; and a student of the New Testament must be out of his senses to suppose that Jesus was reared any other way than as the "supposed" child of Joseph (Luke 3:23), a fact Luke stated. Could it be imagined, even for a moment, that Mary and Joseph would have shared the glorious truth of Jesus' virgin birth with the nosey neighbors of unbelieving Nazareth? or with the secular hypocrites who ran the temple? NO! It must be supposed even further that Mary did not tell Jesus himself of the marvels that attended his birth, at least not the whole story until he reached sufficient age. The fact of her eventually sharing the full wonder of it all probably came when Jesus was about twelve years of age; and it was Jesus' full comprehension of what Mary had told him (probably recently) which may account for the incident of his hearing and asking questions of the religious doctors, and his first recorded reference to God as "my Father." And is not the inference which we have spelled out here exactly the reason why Luke recorded these references to "parents" and "father" as inclusive of Joseph? If any other course had been followed, the function of the blessed Mary would have been that of a child-worshiper, rather than that of a competent mother of our Lord. What Luke is saying here is that, despite the supernatural elements in the birth of Jesus, he was at once relegated by his legal parents to the ordinary status of any child, and that his infancy, youth, and immaturity were those of any normal human being. That this should have been so was inherent in the fact of the incarnation.

In this same connection, there inevitably came to the holy mother herself an acceptance of the normalcy of Jesus' life and person. Time eroded, to a certain extent, but never effaced, the blessed memories of Jesus' supernatural birth; and when Jesus dramatically claimed God as "my Father" (Luke 2:49), it was only natural that Joseph and Mary "understood not the saying which he spake unto them." All of the basic knowledge needed for the understanding of it, they already had, as Luke's history shows; but Joseph and Mary, lulled by the years of Jesus' normal and unspectacular development, found nothing in their knowledge of the child Jesus thus far that could enable their understanding of it. In all probability, the same state of affairs continued until the baptism of Jesus eighteen years later. The facts related here are of vast importance in refuting the wild and irresponsible tales that were fancied during the Dark Ages with reference to the child Jesus.

After the custom of the law ...

See under Luke 2:21.

Verses 29-32

Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord, According to thy word, in peace; For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel.

This passage carries the imagery of a bondservant requesting of his master that he might be dismissed. Simeon recognized that in the giving of Christ, God had indeed accomplished the salvation of men inclusive of the Gentiles. That Jesus was indeed the glory of Israel is fully true; but the Israel of this promise is far more extensive than secular or national Israel, and encompasses the redeemed of all ages.

Verse 33

And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him.

Childers' discerning comment on this catches the truth of it exactly:

Simeon was not telling Joseph and Mary anything they had not previously learned about Jesus. They marvelled, rather, that these truths should come to them from a stranger and under such circumstances. The marvel to them, and to us, is that everything that was said by all of God's messengers harmonized so perfectly. F28

Verse 34

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against.

No indeed! Luke had not forgotten about the virgin birth, nor had his reference to "parents" and "father" been any denial of it. Notice how it comes into focus here in the words of Simeon who addressed these words, not to Joseph at all, but to Mary his mother.

Rising and falling of many ...

Those rising would be such men as the fishers of Galilee who would become his apostles, and those falling would be such unbelievers as Annas and Caiaphas, the mighty high priests, and the ruling hierarchy.

A sign which is spoken against ...

The name of Jesus was spoken against, not only by the Roman writers such as Tacitus, Suetonius, and Pliny, who "spoke against the Name with the most intense bitterness"; F29 but "The great rabbinical schools which flourished in the first three centuries of Christianity, commonly used such names of Christ as `That Deceiver,' `That Man,' and `The Hung'." Even today the holy SIGN is spoken against by the servants of Satan throughout the world, some of whom spent their entire lives in the study of the Holy Scriptures in pursuit of the one purpose of finding something which they can deny.

Verse 35

Yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul, that thoughts out of many hearts many be revealed.

This prophecy is a marvel. It foretold that Mary would live to see Jesus crucified, and of the bitter sorrow in her own heart at the things which would befall the Son. (Joseph was not included in this.) The specific purpose of Calvary is also seen in the revelation of men's thoughts, which would flow out of it. Calvary is God's divider and separator of the good from the bad. The life of Jesus Christ, as revealed in the New Testament, polarizes the hearts of men, turning the wicked away, and drawing the redeemed upward to eternal life. Along with Mary and Joseph, we marvel at such a prophecy.

ANNA...

Verses 36, 37

And there was Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher (she was of great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day.

The Greek New Testament describes Anna's age thus: "And she was a widow until years eighty-four." F30 It is not clear if the eighty-four years should be applied to her widowhood, or to her whole life; but the fullness of this reference to her age inclines to the view that they should be applied to her widowhood, making her age to be over a century.

Departed not from the temple ...

can hardly mean that she resided in it, but that she had never forsaken temple duties, despite her phenomenal age. Matthew Henry said:

It is pleasant to see aged Christians not weary of well-doing; but taking more and more pleasure in it, and seeing more and more need of it, till they come to heaven. Those who are diligent and faithful in improving their light and means, shall have further discoveries. F31

Verse 38

And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Spake of him ...

would normally refer to "God"; but it is clear that Luke is still writing of phenomena regarding the infant Christ. The content of the message is not recorded, but it must have been similar to the testimony of Simeon.

Verse 39

And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

Luke omitted the flight to Egypt and other important details of the life of Christ at this point, making it exceedingly unlikely that he had a copy of Matthew available to him. Even if he had, such omissions are characteristic of Luke's style. Another example was cited by Childers:

The same sort of writing occurs in Acts 9:25,26, where it appears that Paul returned to Jerusalem shortly after his conversion; but in Gal. 1:17,18, we learn that three years elapsed before his return. Such omissions are common in Scripture and other ancient writings. F32

Verse 40

And the child grew and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Luke here related the normal growth and mental development of the Christ child.

Filled with wisdom ...

is "becoming full of wisdom" in the Greek (English Revised Version (1885), margin), and should have been translated thus, which would have emphasized the normalcy of Jesus during this period, a normalcy that Luke had clearly in mind throughout.

Joseph and Mary, Simeon, and Anna the prophetess of God were all living by faith daily. They received the promises of God.

Will you receive Jesus? The Messiah promised.

Ask Jesus into your heart, confess Him publicly (find a church that preaches the good news of Jesus Christ where you can have fellowship.), and get baptized in water and the Holy Spirit.

Second Thursday of Advent 2011: Fullfilling God's Will

2011-12-08T16:11:00.001-05:00

Luke 2:21-24 (New International Version)

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[a]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[b]

Joseph and Mary together presented Jesus to the Lord in Jerusalem. For it is written, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord," 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

Again, we see Joseph and Mary fulfilling God's word and as they are obedient to the Lord, promises and blessings flow. First to Simeon and then Anna the Prophetess of God, who we will focus on on Friday and Saturday.

Simeon and Anna waited a long time to see the promise foretold to them.

How is your patience?

Are you patient with yourself?

Do you demand from others?

In our modern world one of the things that we lack is patience.

Next time you feel rushed or you realize that you are being impatient with others; take a breathe or two, count to ten slowly. Slow down and relax.

You are the only one who has self-control over your patience.

Second Wednesday of Advent 2011: I Bring You Good News That Will Cause Great Joy For Al!l

2011-12-07T20:03:00.000-05:00

All quoted scripture is from BibleGateway the New International Version.

Luke 2 verses 1 through 21

The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

********************************************************************************

These verses are so rich in meaning that one really ought to take time and use a commentary and/or other resources and research Jewish culture and law. The one thing you will find consistently is that regardless of their humble circumstances they followed the law in obedience to God. They treasured the things of God and pondered them in their hearts. Even the lowly shepherds returned, "...glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

Do you treasure and ponder the things of God in your heart?

Second Tuesday of Advent 2011: God Works All Things

2011-12-06T13:45:00.004-05:00

Luke 2:1-7 (New International Version)

The Birth of Jesus
¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register. ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Footnotes:

Luke 2:2 Or This census took place before

***************************************************************

Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. What?! Doesn't he know that Mary is pregnant with God's son. Yet, God used this decree of the taking of the census to fulfill the scriptures. God works all things for the good for those who love and serve Him.

Joseph and Mary, being obedient people, travel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because Joseph belonged to the house and line of David. It was not an easy journey with Mary being well along in her pregnancy. Then when they arrive there was no room for them to stay. Notice there is no mention of grumbling. They humbly accept a lowly manger. He became poor that we might become rich.

Joseph and Mary were humble and obedient people who trusted God.

Do we know the meaning of the words humility and obedient?

Do we seek out God?

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Second Monday of Advent 2011: Joseph a Righteous Man

2011-12-05T18:52:00.000-05:00

Today's reading is about Jesus' linage.

The message is about Joseph who raised Jesus.

Matthew 1:1-25 (New International Version)

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah

¹ This is the genealogy^[a] of Jesus the Messiah^[b] the son of David, the son of Abraham: ² Abraham was the father of Isaac,
   Isaac the father of Jacob,
   Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
³ Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
   Perez the father of Hezron,
   Hezron the father of Ram,
⁴ Ram the father of Amminadab,
   Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
   Nahshon the father of Salmon,
⁵ Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
   Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
   Obed the father of Jesse,
⁶ and Jesse the father of King David.
   David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
⁷ Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
   Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
   Abijah the father of Asa,
⁸ Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
   Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
   Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
⁹ Uzziah the father of Jotham,
   Jotham the father of Ahaz,
   Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
¹⁰ Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
   Manasseh the father of Amon,
   Amon the father of Josiah,
¹¹ and Josiah the father of Jeconiah^[c] and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
¹² After the exile to Babylon:
   Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
   Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
¹³ Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,
   Abihud the father of Eliakim,
   Eliakim the father of Azor,
¹⁴ Azor the father of Zadok,
   Zadok the father of Akim,
   Akim the father of Elihud,
¹⁵ Elihud the father of Eleazar,
   Eleazar the father of Matthan,
   Matthan the father of Jacob,
¹⁶ and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
¹⁷ Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about^[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet^[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”
²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”^[g] (which means “God with us”).
²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Footnotes:

Matthew 1:1 Or is an account of the origin
Matthew 1:1 Or Jesus Christ. Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean Anointed One; also in verse 18.
Matthew 1:11 That is, Jehoiachin; also in verse 12
Matthew 1:18 Or The origin of Jesus the Messiah was like this
Matthew 1:19 Or was a righteous man and
Matthew 1:21 Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the LORD saves.
Matthew 1:23 Isaiah 7:14

*********************************************************************

Joseph is credited as a righteous man. He is from the line of David, the tribe of Judea. He knew stories of God and believed what he read and studied. He was strong, quiet, and mindful of God. He was a Carpenter.

Joseph handled the crisis as a righteous man.

Betrothed to Mary he was thoughtful of what she told him. He knew the scriptures. He knew the Levitical law. He knew Mary. He had visions from God. God spoke to him by an angel. He took it all in and made the best possible decision for all involved. He did not think or act only on his behalf.

Second Sunday of Advent 2011: Learning to Pray

2011-12-04T14:10:00.003-05:00

Take a moment to light the candles and breathe.

When you have a sense of calm take another moment to think:

Who God is.

What did He specifically do for you or a loved one you have been praying for.

Give Him praise, rejoicing in who He is and what He has specifically done for you.

The scripture today again focuses on Mary's Song, her prayer to God. But, we are not just going to look at Mary's prayer. We will also be looking at Hannah and her prayer to God. Perhaps Mary's inspiration came from the scriptures she had treasured in her heart. The Old Testament scriptures (stories) she heard as a child.

Really take time today to write out the scripture exercises. I will list Luke 1:46-56
and then I Samuel 2:1-10 and then the comparison chart.
Luke 1:46-56 (New International Version)

Mary’s Song

⁴⁶ And Mary said:    “My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
   of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
   holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
   remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
   just as he promised our ancestors.”
⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

I Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah’s Prayer

1 Then Hannah prayed and said:    “My heart rejoices in the LORD;
   in the LORD my horn^[a] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
   for I delight in your deliverance.
² “There is no one holy like the LORD;
   there is no one besides you;
   there is no Rock like our God.
³ “Do not keep talking so proudly
   or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows,
   and by him deeds are weighed.
⁴ “The bows of the warriors are broken,
   but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
⁵ Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
   but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
   but she who has had many sons pines away.
⁶ “The LORD brings death and makes alive;
   he brings down to the grave and raises up.
⁷ The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
   he humbles and he exalts.
⁸ He raises the poor from the dust
   and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
   and has them inherit a throne of honor.
   “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s;
   on them he has set the world.
⁹ He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
   but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.
   “It is not by strength that one prevails;
¹⁰ those who oppose the LORD will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from heaven;
   the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.
   “He will give strength to his king
   and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Footnotes: a. 1 Samuel 2:1 Horn here symbolizes strength; also in verse 10.

************************************************************************

Scripture Exercise:

Luke 1: I Samuel 2:

46 & 47 1

49 2

51 4,9,10

52 8

53 5,7

What does God do for the downtrodden? (verses 50-53)

for the helpless (verse 51)

for the humble (verse 52)

for the hungry (verse 53)

What will God do for Israel? (Verses 54-55)

Now look again at Mary's song. What does God do? Your list will be long so give yourself space to write.

Nurturing a heart of humility will also change your prayer life. Learning from Mary's example the next time you pray you may want to start with praising God for who he is, then rejoice in Him, next recall specifically what He has done and doing;lastly, thank Him.

Use Mary's words to magnify the Lord. Reinterpret them and incorporate them into your own Magnificat Prayer to the Most High.

First Saturday of Advent 2011: Magnifying The Lord

2011-12-03T11:26:00.005-05:00

Luke 1:46-56 (New International Version)

Mary's Song
⁴⁶ And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
   of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
   holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
   remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
   just as he promised our ancestors.”
⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

**********************************************************************

Scholars today say that Mary's Song, the "Magnificat," contains at least 15 discernable quotes from the Old Testament. Mary knew God's word from an early age. Her parents were from Aaron's linage. A priestly family. Mary knew the stories of Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophets.

Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12;34

David said, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight." Psalm 19:14

What comes from your heart and mouth?

Are you hiding God's word in your heart so that when you speak, the overflow of God's word comes fourth in praise to the Lord, and admonishing and encouraging to others?

Who is this SAVIOR?

S ubstitutes His sinless life for our sinful one.
A ssures us of eternal life.
V anquishes Satan's hold on our lives.
I nitiates us into the family of God.
O verthrows the power of sin and death.
R econciles us to God.

Jesus Christ died to reconcile the books! He came that we might have an abundant and eternal life! We are to believe and confess who he is unto salvation.

Today, you can know him. Listen to the message preached. It will build your faith. Read His word, the Bible to gain wisdom and understanding. Then as you come to know and understand who he was, is, and will come again, confess with your mouth and believe in you heart and you will be saved.

My pray for those who read my blog is that they will come to know Christ and be saved. Paul, a disciple of Christ, longed that his fellow Israelite's eyes, ears, and hearts would open to the message that Christ is the Messiah, the promised. I hope that as you journey along "The Way," you come to know Jeshua.

Magnifying the Lord!

First Friday of Advent 2011: My Soul Does Magnify The Lord

2011-12-02T10:54:00.006-05:00

There is so much to the lesson today, I have decided to break it up into two segments. I am posting below a video by John Michael Talbot. I hope you will take a few moments to appreciate the beautiful art work and enjoy his version of Mary's Song. I am brought to myself in the message and the beauty, I hope for you as well. Enjoy!

Mary’s Song

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Luke 1:46-56

New International Version (NIV)

First Thursday of Advent 2011: ENCOURAGER

2011-12-01T13:41:00.002-05:00

Luke 1:39-45 (New International Version)

Mary Visits Elizabeth
³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

*************************************************************************

Again, we see an example of someone, Elizabeth, who is a person of humble heart. An encourager, a person who esteems others.

Check out the follow scriptures at http://classic.biblegateway.com:

Matthew 23:12

1 Peter 5:5

1 Peter 5:6

Be an encourager!

Thank you, Lord God, for all the wonderful women and men you have placed along my path in life who know you and love me.

With a grateful heart, Peggy Jo.

First Wednesday of Advent 2011: Submitting to God From the Heart

2011-11-30T12:21:00.002-05:00

With our "Modern Day" arrogance it seems that humility is a lost virtue. Submission is for weak-willed people.

Not so in God's kingdom. Humility and submission are virtues to be taught and practiced. These characteristics, humility and submission were a constant in Mary's life style. It was what enabled her to say courageously, “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled.” Luke 1:38

Reading for Today
Luke 1:34-38 (New International Version)
³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[a] the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

************************************************************************

It is interesting to note Mary's response to the angel Grabriel. She believed what he said, she just wanted to know how it would come to pass. She wondered how this could be given who she was. She believed and trusted what God's angel told her and what was to come, and then she submitted to His word.

How willing are you submitting to God's will for your life?

Can you courageously say, "Let it be to me according to your word"?

What is God asking of you that you have been unwilling to submit to doing?

With a bowed head and heart submit to God's will.

First Tuesday of Advent 2011: Finding Favor with God

2011-11-29T14:13:00.000-05:00

Sometimes when we read the scriptures we read with such familiarity, I think that we miss what the spirit is saying to us. It is good to pause before diving into the word and pray, asking God for insight, wisdom, and how to apply it to our lives.

Mary had favor with God. In fact she was highly favored.

I hope as you read through the scriptures today and work through the bible study questions you find a fresh revelation of how God longs to highly favor you.

Luke 1:26-33 (New International Version)

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
***********************************************************************

Faith is trusting in God. From an early age Mary had faith. She trusted in God. Her family followed God's word. They lived God's word. Rereading the scriptures above ask yourself:

"How is Mary described?"

"What age was she when this took place?"

"How did she respond to the angel?"

Twice the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary and told her

verse 28 greetings you who are highly favored

verse 30 you have found favor with God.

Mary knew and lived God's word. She had faith. God's word tells us in Hebrews 11:16 that without faith it is impossible to please God.

Do you want to please God? Have faith in His word.

Hebrews 11:6 (New International Version)

⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Another example is Timothy. Timothy knew the scriptures from infancy. Paul testifies to this fact in 2 Timothy 3:15 (New International Version)
¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

What did Timothy do? Timothy helped the young church develop. He was a founding father.

Do you want to exhibit faith that is pleasing to God?

What are you doing to cultivate your faith?

Look up the following verses using the link http://classic.biblegateway.com.

Romans 10:17

Hebrews 11:1

How will you begin to strengthen your faith this week?

First Monday in Advent 2011: Living in Humility

2011-11-28T13:51:00.002-05:00

Luke 1:5-25 (New International Version)

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

⁵ In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. ⁷ But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. ⁸ Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
¹⁸ Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
¹⁹ The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. ²⁰ And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. ²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
²³ When his time of service was completed, he returned home. ²⁴ After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. ²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

********************************************************************************
How is Zachariah and Elizabeth described in verse 6?

How is the child-to-be described in verses 14-17?

Do you see yourself consecrated to God? Are you separated from the world for God's use?

What difference does this fact make in your daily living?

Zachariah and Elizabeth, as well as, Mary whom we will study next; were consecrated and separated unto the Lord. Their daily life style was consistent. They read and discussed God's word. They prayed and worshiped the Lord as individuals and corporately. They served others.

Life is not easy. Everyone faces challenges. Zachariah and Elizabeth were barren. Mary was a pregnant teenager. What are you dealing with?

How do you face the difficult situations in life?

What if Elizabeth and Zachariah had not received the child they had hoped and prayed for?

They would have most likely continued in reading God's word, prayer, worship, and service. It was their life style. A part of their character. They knew who they were in God. They were upright in the sight of God (verse 6).

Could the same be said of you? Do you read God's word? Pray? Worship? Serve others?

First Sunday of Advent 2011: Loving God

2011-11-27T18:48:00.004-05:00

I think we all take for granted that we "love God." Mary loved God. She loved God with all her mind. Her whole soul. Her being. Do we love God like Mary? Is it possible to love God in the way that Mary did? Or, Joseph even?

The author titled lesson one "Finishing The Masterpiece." Christ cried out on the cross, "It is finished!" I suggest we all work on finishing what Christ intended for us, a loving heart and full abundant life.

Nurturing a heart of love takes courage, discipline, thoughtfulness, and a surrendering of oneself for the benefit of others, a serving for the betterment of all,
But, that must start within.

How one goes about this is rather like a painter who prepares to create a masterpiece. There are somethings that you have to go about regularly and be familiar with that will allow you to become accomplished.

Below are four suggestions. They may seem simple, but they are more than a discipline or a routine. They are building blocks on a foundation purchased by Christ for a fulfilling abundant life.

* Reading God' s Word Regularly. This will get you to know His character. Allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you through His word will change you from the inside out.

* Pray Regularly. A posture of humility. Prayer helps to bring one's will in alimentary with God's will.

* Worship Regularly. God asks us to worship Him both privately and corporately. It is humbling to revere God. Humility is a virtue that gives and reveres.

* Serve Others Regularly. Serving others is an outward expression of a humble heart. God first, family second, and others that God intends along your path of life and those you feel lead to assist with your treasure, talent, or time.

Lighting the First Candle

TRANSITIONING

2011-11-25T09:05:00.000-05:00

We all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We were most grateful to be together. Even though we are at times scattered by distance, we were still together in spirit. We chatted by phone and the miles just melted. We were grateful to be together in each others hearts.

Now, we come to a period of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. A time for transitioning. Advent. It is my hope that many will take the journey this year to prepare their hearts. Make room for Christ. Everyday spend sometime in prayer gathered around a candle flame and green leaves. Recall, mediate, and speak of the others who have gone before us on a journey to find the Messiah and found Him.

I will be sharing my journey. I hope you will come along. The text I will be using for Advent this year is a Character Study of Mary: Nurturing a Heart of Humility by Elizabeth George, Harvest House Publishers 2002. It is a Bible study that will take between fifteen and twenty minutes each day. For more information check out ADVENT 2011 PREPARATION a previous blog page with links to other web-sites with good information.

Advent is a happy time of preparing for celebrating Christ. Make it a joyous time for you and your family by placing the emphasis on celebrating life. Sing and dance and make a joyful noise before the Lord!

Blessings,
PJ

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T10:05:00.001-05:00

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Psalm 100:4-5

Happy Thanksgiving!

ADVENT 2011 PREPARATION

2011-11-22T12:55:00.004-05:00

WEB-SITES
I usually create my own Advent Protocol. Check out the variety of web-sites listed below. There is even an ipad applet for 2011 Advent Season.

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent
http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/full_article.cfm?articleid=5587
http://year-round-christmas-preparation.com/Christmas-advent-2011.html
http://www.montview.org/2011/11/advent-unplugged-preparing-for-the-holidays-in-a-new-way-%E2%80%A2-december-3

The Festive Apple: iPad Advent Calendars for2011:
http://www.appletell.com/technologytell/article/ipad-advent-calendars/

CANDLES
Advent candles are usually three purple or lavender, one pink, and one white. I have seen a variety of different colors. The colors have meanings. If you want to assign new colors and/or add more meaning to what you are doing, please feel free to make it your own. It is a time to gather, reflect, and prepare for the coming of Christ.

READINGS and REFLECTIONS
For information about readings and reflections see the web-sites listed above or Google search "Advent Readings 2011" for other references. I have some from last year that maybe useful for your meditation. Check out my web-site http://inkingthepaper.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00:00:00-05:00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00:00:00-05:00&max-results=50 .

Advent is a happy time of preparing for celebrating Christ. Make it a joyous time for you and your family by placing the emphasis on celebrating life. Sing and dance and make a joyful noise before the Lord!

Getting Ready For Advent

2011-11-21T16:16:00.005-05:00

Advent is almost here and I thought it best to prepare my readers for a journey. The first thing you will need to do is learn how to study the Bible. Here is the short version of the Basic Inductive Bible Study I found on http://www.intothyword.org.

The basic inductive Bible study questions are the following:

OBSERVATION: What does this passage say?
INTERPRETATION: What does this passage mean?
APPLICATION: How does this apply to me? What am I going to do about what the passage says and means?

The primary purpose of this method is to teach you how to study His Word in a logical, clear, and concise way. Over the years, we have developed more questions to assist you to more deeply dig out and learn His message.

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

We became a ministry and started to teach people inductive Bible study in the late 70's and became a mission's organization in 1988. These studies have been carefully crafted by years of research and application to teach you how to do it yourself! It is our call to help you to understand what is in His Word, to appreciate, comprehend, and to be challenged to grow richer and deeper in your relationship to Christ and to others around you. Now you can create your own impacting Bible Studies so you can learn and teach others what God has to say to all.

The purpose of these articles and essays is to show you the relevance and importance of studying the Bible. See our channels on "Inductive Bible Study" and "Exegetical Bible Study" as well as "Bible Study Methods" for more details on how you can know and apply His Word. In so doing, when you apply God's Word in you and your life, you will be better able to teach it to others too. Also, make sure you check out our main book, Into Thy Word!

What is the Into Thy Word Method?

It is a simple how to guide to help you dig into God's Word, the Bible. Into Thy Word is geared toward challenging you to learn how to better study the Bible! We seek to teach people to use logic induction, reasoning and good inductive and deductive principles by examining the particulars, facts and essence of a text first before making any conclusions. Thus, to lead a mature, meaningful, fruitful, character driven life for Christ's glory!

The Best Way to get to know the Bible

How well do you know the Bible?

Knowing the Bible Better

This method is for new Christians to learn how to start out with to veteran Bible Teachers who want to be refreshed. This is an excellent tool to teach others how to learn the Bible.

A Bible Study Method to study and know the Bible personally

The Overview of the Basic, Essential, Inductive Bible Study Questions:

What does this passage say?

What does this passage mean?

How does this apply to me?

The Overview of the Basic "Into Thy Word" Inductive Bible Study Questions:

What does this passage say?

What does this passage mean?

What is God telling me?

How am I encouraged and strengthened?

Is there sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed?

How can I be changed, so I can learn and grow?

What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?

What can I model and teach?

What does God want me to share with someone?

Inductive Bible Study Basics

This form can also be used to teach any book of the Bible, even If you are not experienced!

Inductive Bible Study is a method for learning how to know the Bible for all its worth by our best efforts. We do this through learning the tools and skills to help us observe the text, dig out the meaning, and then apply it to our lives.

Advanced Bible Study Methods

How to Outline Scripture

Outlining the Bible is the primary means to prepare one to teach the precepts of Scripture in a clear and logical way. This is designed for the pastor, Bible study leader, or curriculum writer to learn how to examine the text and then draw out what is there in a logical and systematic way.

Exegetical Bible Study Methods

This method of studying the Bible is for people wanting more in depth information in order to prepare lessons or sermons. Or perhaps you want to dive into the riches of God's most precious Word personally; this method is for you too.

It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

For more in-depth Bible Study Insights see our "Inductive Bible Study" and "Exegetical Bible Study" Channels.

See http://www.intothyword.org for more information about how to study the Bible.

The text I will be using for Advent this year is a Character Study of Mary: Nurturing a Heart of Humility by Elizabeth George, Harvest House Publishers 2002. It is a daily study that will take between fifteen and twenty minutes. I hope you will join in the study of Mary.

Skiing in the Grand Tetons

2011-11-20T14:42:00.000-05:00

Jackson Hole Wyoming and the Grand Tetons got a nice surprise this weekend. Friday morning they had little snow in the Pass and today they have more than six feet of snow. Yes, that is correct...more than six feet of snow. And it is still snowing. You might want to rethink those holiday plans and hit the slopes out in Jackson Hole Wyoming.

PREPARE

2011-11-17T16:34:00.002-05:00

Like many this time of year we are preparing for Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, and the coming New Year. With this in mind I can now understand why the holidays can easily overwhelm a person.

Take a moment and breathe.

Ponder or meditate on these simple sentences as each holiday approaches. I hope you will be more relaxed, refreshed, and renewed in spirit. Giving to and serving others will add to the joy that flows from deep within.

Give thanks with a grateful heart.

Prepare yourself for Christ's return.

Celebrate His coming.

Have a Happy New Year 2012.

Japanese Maple Tree in the Snow 2011

2011-11-11T19:40:00.000-05:00

In Memory and Celebration of All Who Serve

2011-11-10T18:52:00.004-05:00

Veteran's Day November 11, 2011

Please us the following links for official Veteran's Day celebration information: http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday
http://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-day-free-meals-and-discounts
http://www.examiner.com/holidays-in-providence/veterans-day-2011-free-printable-coloring-pages-worksheets-lesson-plans

2011-11-02T22:05:00.000-04:00

Daisies are flowers that always brings a smile or two.

I caught these before the snow flew.

I particularly like the way the light bounces off the petals.

New Life Springs Up In The Fall

2011-10-28T22:31:00.000-04:00

Light reflects on new green shoots.

2011-10-19T10:35:00.001-04:00

An Easterly Wind

"An East Wind" is blowing,

Leaves flowing on an invisible current of air.

Clouds racing,

chasing each other before the rain.

Weather and climate all in flux.

"An East Wind" is blowing.

PFarr

2011

How Much Is That Doggy In The Window...

2011-10-18T08:20:00.001-04:00

...the one with the wagglely tail.

I just had to post this little guy's picture. He is just soooo cute.

Go Steelers!

2011-10-13T15:56:00.000-04:00

MEDITATION

2011-10-07T23:58:00.003-04:00

O' To Joy

2011-10-05T15:18:00.001-04:00

Rapturous is my soul!

Butterflies!

Lots and lots of butterflies. Yesterday within an hour and ten minutes I saw twenty-five Monarch Butterflies. Today, I have spotted twelve just within a twenty minute drive. They are migrating towards Mexico for the winter. What an awesome journey. There is a great program for kids to following along at Journey North.

Happy 75th Birthday Jim Henson

2011-09-24T03:47:00.001-04:00

Bread of Life

2011-09-24T03:10:00.000-04:00

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

Hebrews 10:35-36

The Long And Winding Road...

2011-09-23T12:01:00.000-04:00

2011-09-17T21:12:00.000-04:00

Favorite Places

2011-09-16T17:01:00.004-04:00

Libraries and bookstores are two of my favorite places. I love reading. My family loves and enjoys reading as well. My students learned the love of reading in my classroom. My bookshelves were quite picked over by the end of each year. Students who'd borrowed books, even students from other classrooms, would often apologize and say, "I just loved the book so much, I am sorry it has taken me so long to return it." Sometimes even years later a book would appear with a note of apology.

When I lived in PVB I loved going to the library. They have a bookstore in the front of the library where they sell books, puzzles, CD's, and other items of interest. By coincidence the Ligonier Library open up a bookstore just like it. Funny how one has a clear memory of people, places, and things. Even my favorite breakfast sandwich is served at The Coffee Bean Cafe'. "The Best Breakfast Sandwich in Latrobe."

I find myself writing little vignettes from papers I have saved over the years. It is a good thing to keep notes. It helps one to clarify time-lines like school calendars that I once lived by. Old apartment contracts and other snap shots of days gone by. The dog days of summer have passed and a new year has begun. I am even awaiting the change of colors. The frost will help move things along now. My favorite time of year; Fall, is quickly approaching,

Favorite places, good people, and things that bring laughter and joy are a balsam.

Shalom.

Awaiting Fall Foliage

2011-09-14T11:28:00.000-04:00

SHALOM

2011-09-12T07:56:00.001-04:00

"Shalom" is completeness, safety, soundness of body, welfare, health, prosperity, peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment, peace used in human relationships, peace with God in ones covenant relationship, and peace from war.

In the bible and other texts "shalom" is often interpreted as peace. With a fuller definition of the word "shalom" it gives so much more to the word "peace."

Pray for the "shalom" of Jerusalem.

Pray for the "shalom" of the world.

RECOLLECTING

2011-09-09T13:38:00.003-04:00

On the morning of September 11, 2001 I was returning to my classroom with my sixth grade homeroom after Mass. I was told to turn on my television that an airplane had just hit one of the Trade Center Towers in New York. Then we watched in horror as the second plane hit the second tower. We stood astounded.

We paused for a moment of silence and prayed. We had morning announcements. I shut off my television. I taught six science classes and skipped lunch. Most of my students and parents thanked me for teaching that day. It made their lives a little less stressful and mine as well.

Like most people I was in shock for sometime afterwards. I think in some ways I am still in shock today.

Sunday, September, 11th, 2011 will be a day to remember those who died and those who so valiantly gave of themselves to save and help others. God be with them, their families, relatives, and friends.

I BELIEVE...

2011-09-08T13:27:00.001-04:00

I BELIEVE in one God, who exists in three Persons — Father, Son(Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit. He is loving, holy, and just.

I BELIEVE the Bible is God’s Word. It is inspired, accurate, and the perfect guide in all matters of life.

I BELIEVE sin separated me from God, and through faith and confession in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, I am reconciled to God.

I BELIEVE Jesus Christ is both God and Man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He led a sinless life, took all sins upon Himself, died and rose again.

I BELIEVE Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father as High Priest and Mediator.

I BELIEVE salvation is the gift of God to man. This gift is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and effectually working and is pleasing to God.

I BELIEVE water baptism is a symbol of the cleansing power of God and a testimony of one's faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I BELIEVE the Holy Spirit is the Guide and Comforter given to all who call on Him in faith. He guides and blesses His children with spiritual gifts and empowers one to yield the fruit of the Spirit.

I BELIEVE Holy Communion is a celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and remembrance of Him.

I BELIEVE God wants to transform, heal, and prosper those who believe in Jesus, so that all who live and believe are blessed and victoriously living lives that will impact and help others.

I BELIEVE all believers are to participate in preaching and teaching the gospel to all nations.

I BELIEVE Lord Jesus Christ is coming back again as He promised.

Visually Inspiring Online Journal

2011-08-26T15:49:00.001-04:00

Artful Blogging is an inspiring trendy magazine about blogging published by Stampington and Company. It is printed quarterly. This cover belongs to the May, June, and July 2011 issue. Jessica Rose and several other bloggers give voice to ideas they're blogging and what they have learned from blogging. Gleaning several ideas from what I have read the following is a short list of tips:

Prepare posts in advance

Create a list of topics

Keep a picture folder

Review and purge posts

When reviewing Mary Carroll suggests to look for areas of growth, clarify focus, and change perspective if necessary. Blogs change as one develops and grows.

The many ideas inspire me to be creative, sharpen focus, and grow as an artist and a person. I hope you take some time to read a variety of online journals and be inspired.

Feel The Earth Move Under Your Feet

2011-08-23T20:01:00.000-04:00

BUTTERFLIES

2011-08-19T18:22:00.002-04:00

Today's butterfly count:

Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly 6

Monarch 4

Black Swallowtail Butterfly 4