Tag Archives: God

2018 Lent – Good Friday – 3/30

Lent Day 39 Good Friday

My Lenten Candles for Good Friday –

Lent Devotions
Lent Week Six started March 19
Lent Week Seven started with Palm Sunday, March 25.
These will be updated as the blogs are posted.

I’m so sorry for the delay – thank you for your patience with me as we prepare to move!

I’ve included two cards that I’ve created over the years for celebrating resurrection – you may print them and share them.
Music is listed later.

Scripture

Devotion

Ever since I was little and heard the story every year about Good Friday and that this was the day that we celebrated or remembered that Christ died on a cross, I often wondered why is it called Good Friday? I mean, seriously, Jesus had a very bad day!
Peter, James and John had a very bad day!
I think there were three Mary’s at the cross, and they were having a very bad day!
The only one that was having a good day could possibly be the thief on the cross that confessed his sins and asked Jesus to remember him and was promised while on the cross as he’s about to die that he would be with him in Paradise that day! That would be a good day!

I have nothing to say that has not already been said about Good Friday. Therefore, I’m just going to share my ways of celebrating! Of remembering.  So here are some of my favorite things to do remember the sacrifice that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave me 2018 years ago.

I often like to watch one of the movies that have been created about Christ’s life. I have favorites for Christmas and I have some favorites for the Good Friday and Easter

You can search for all sorts of these….just beware, you need to keep your bible handy!

I also like to take some time in the morning, since that’s traditionally when we remember the cross, and based on the timeline we’re given in Scripture, and spend quiet time focusing on the fullness of the sacrifice he’s given.

Sometimes, I choose to fast.

This year, I will be traveling with my husband, and I am sure that we will take time to remember and to give God thanks and Glory wherever we are.

Some blogs for meditation

What do all of these women and blog posts have in common? They Love the Lord Jesus, and are focusing on sharing that love through scripture, their giftings, and the word!

On top of these, I’m going to list my favorite music for contemplation and worship for Good Friday.
these first ones really get me….
Didn’t he – Randy Matthews
Watch the Lamb – Ray Botz
The Hammer – Ray Botz
Broken and Spilled Out – Steve Green
The Old Rugged Cross – Jim Nabors

Via dolorosa has a special place in my heart as my daughter Anna and I sang it together one year with the second verse her singing in English and me singing in Spanish.

and to the promise….
I’ll Rise Again – Dallas Holm
Behold the Lamb – Keith and Kristyn Getty
Jesus paid it all – Newsboys
we shall always be with the Lord – Ellie Holcomb

Prayer
Man of Sorrows – Ellie Holcomb

Some other music resources:
Salt of the sound has a listing of 28 songs,
They also have a lent set and an Easter set at their website.
Jesus walk has a great list that includes hymns
This worship together link includes Crowder’s forgiven, Chris tomlin’s God of Calvary and Hillsong’s Grace to Grace

My HEart
Jesus Rainbow –

Jesus Rainbow Poem

Jelly Beans –

Jelly Bean Poem

For years, as an Episcopalian, it was my obligation to attend Good Friday Mass.
Some Churches have Good Friday vigils.
Our church here in Orlando Florida have a mission work they are doing on Good Friday.
Whatever you can find to do to honor the Lord by your own sacrifice as a thank you, do it as unto the Lord!

If you do not understand the meaning behind this ghastly remembrance, I’d recommend that you go back up to Angel’s blog post about why, or check out one of these two links:
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2018 Lent day 31 – court affairs with the Sanhedrin

Lent Devotions

Lent Week five started March 11.
Lent Week Six started March 19
These will be updated as the blogs are posted.

Lent Day 31
Court of Sanhedrin

Music

Take my life – Chris Tomlin

Scripture
There is a lot of scripture here – and, I understand that. Please read the story!

Luke 22:66-71 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
66 When daylight came, the elders[a] of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes, convened and brought Him before their Sanhedrin. 67 They said, “If You are the Messiah, tell us.”

But He said to them, “If I do tell you, you will not believe. 68 And if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the Power of God.”

70 They all asked, “Are You, then, the Son of God?”

And He said to them, “You say that I am.”

71 “Why do we need any more testimony,” they said, “since we’ve heard it ourselves from His mouth?”

Mark 14:53-65 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
53 They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes convened. 54 Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the temple police,[a] warming himself by the fire.[b]

55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none. 56 For many were giving false testimony against Him, but the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and were giving false testimony against Him, stating, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will demolish this sanctuary made by human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’” 59 Yet their testimony did not agree even on this.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?” 61 But He kept silent and did not answer anything. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and all of you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

63 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy! What is your decision?”

And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 65 Then some began to spit on Him, to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, saying, “Prophesy!” The temple police also took Him and slapped Him.

Matthew 26:57-68 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
57 Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened. 58 Meanwhile, Peter was following Him at a distance right to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and was sitting with the temple police to see the outcome.

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put Him to death. 60 But they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two who came forward 61 stated, “This man said, ‘I can demolish God’s sanctuary and rebuild it in three days.’”

62 The high priest then stood up and said to Him, “Don’t You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “By the living God I place You under oath: tell us if You are the Messiah, the Son of God!”

64 “You have said it,” Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Look, now you’ve heard the blasphemy! 66 What is your decision?”

They answered, “He deserves death!” 67 Then they spit in His face and beat Him; others slapped Him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit You?”

Devotion

On Day Thirty, I talked about Jesus being mocked and smitten.
Still, he was silent, until he proclaimed Who he was.

There is a passage in Matthew, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God”

This is something that the Jews revered as a had to answer type of thing.
Once they forced him to say Who he was, they condemned him.

They could not find two witnesses to agree to condemn him!!!
Until two came up and twisted his words!

Jesus was convicted for being the Son of God. Period.

And then, the beating…and the taunting…the out right bullying.

And then, Peter denies him.

What a horrible time – unfathomable.

And yet, I wonder…do I judge Christ?

Do I say that He is the Son of God, and then not give Him the preeminence to which that position requires?
Do I demand that He prove himself to me, with fleece and miracle, rather than believe because HE IS?
Do I demand that He speak, when He has already spoken in volumes?
Yes.

My sins condemned him.
If I continue in sin, I trample his sacrifice underfoot.

Hebrews 10:26-31 King James Version (KJV)
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The above with the following passage cause me to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling:

Hebrews 6:4-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit,
5 tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age,
6 and who have fallen away, because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding Him up to contempt.
7 For ground that has drunk the rain that has often fallen on it and that produces vegetation useful to those it is cultivated for receives a blessing from God.
8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and will be burned at the end.

I cannot judge the judges that judged Jesus – for they were blinded by their love of the Law and their inability to accept the grace that God’s love provides.
I have been a little levitican, and given myself rules to follow – rather than embrace God’s grace.
I have been a little rebel, and rebelled at the need to seek God’s face, and just believe, rather than SEE for myself.
I have been a sinner, that has chosen to sin, when I knew that it was not what God’s best was for me.
I have need of a savior! and I will always need a savior! And I thank God that I always have a savior!

1 John 1:5-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Fellowship with God
5 Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.
6 If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing[a] the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

I can see myself in the Sanhedrin.
I wish I didn’t see myself in those that taunted Him…though I know that I question him, and his workings in my life.
I wish I couldn’t see myself in those that whipped him – but it’s by those stripes that I am healed…

Isaiah 53:5 King James Version (KJV)
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed.

I am seeing myself in the Holy Week story so much, and it’s not in ways that I would like.
I am no different than Peter, who denied Christ.
I am no different than Judas, who betrayed Christ.
I am no different than the Sanhedrin, who condemned Christ, because they wanted to keep their religion pure.

And yet, Peter obtained forgiveness – and shows me how to fall at the feet of Jesus and be blessed by HIS Amazing Grace! I am so grateful that God continues to work with me! I’m so grateful that God is NOT finished with ME!

Worship and Gratitude
That’s How you Forgive – Shane and Shane
Drops in the Ocean – Hawk Nelson

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road way to salvation.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2018 LENT Day Twelve – 2/27 New Covenant

Lent Devotions
Lent Week Two for catch up.
Lent Week Three – this week.

We have created a facebook group to follow and discuss, please join! – 40 days of Lent!

Lent Day Twelve
New Covenant

Music and Worship
God Sent His son – Divine Hymns

Scripture

Luke 22:14-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The First Lord’s Supper
14 When the hour came, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

20 In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you.

Matthew 26:26-30 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The First Lord’s Supper
26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is My body.” 27 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood that establishes the covenant; it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 But I tell you, from this moment I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way in My Father’s kingdom with you.” 30 After singing psalms, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Mark 14:22-26 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

What is the New Covenant?

We were studying in Romans 2 & 3 and in one version it talks about “prior to the law there was no sin.” I was asked, how did Adam and Eve know of sin? or Abraham? etc.? I started by discussing the concept of Adam and Eve having innocence vs holiness. Did Adam and Eve know it was sin to eat from the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil? Yes! God said “don’t do this and if you do this you will die” (Genesis 2,3). They had given given a command and they were told the consequence and they made the choice.

Did Cain know it was wrong to kill his brother Abel? Well, God had been talking to him about anger(Genesis 4) and that because he was angry(maybe hiding), sin was sitting at his doorstep and was trying to cause him problems. Still, he killed his brother! Why? Jealousy! He did not say when God judged him that God had no right to judge him for what he did. He said that the Judgment was too grievous.

In both of these cases, something died. Adam and Eve sinned and an animal died on their behalf but they gave up their fellowship with God. Cain killed his brother. His brother’s blood wouldn’t be a sacrifice, but blood was shed becauise of sin! He was sent away and removed from fellowship from his family.

King David sinned and cried out for forgiveness and I’m sure gave plenty of sacrifices. His sin, followed by death of his son, caused him heartache. More than anything, King David’s cry was “cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Psalm 51

Basically, we can go through any one who sinned and had to pay the price and suffer the consequence and realized that they wanted to get back what they lost. Sin brings death and division.

  • The Adamic Covenant was the animal that was slain for Adam and Eve. They were kicked out of the Garden.
  • The Noahic Covenant was the clean animals that were slain (all the people that had been sinning was the death penalty, and separation). ONLY NOAH was found righteous and his family were saved on his behalf.
  • The Abrahamic Covenant was around the offering of Isaac and God giving a ram in his stead. Leave idolatry! even family. Go where you are sent!
  • The Mosaic Covenant was the Ten Commandments and of course the sacrifices(Passover lamb) and such at The Exodus. This instituted Israel being separate and unique from the World.

These are all animals that were sacrificed to pay the price for man’s sin.
God does not desire the blood of bulls and goats but of a contrite heart.

Back to David’s psalm asking forgiveness:

Psalm 51:16-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it;
You are not pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.
God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

And Samuel explains the preference of God:

1 Sam 15:22 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Samuel said: Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.

It was not God’s original intention for anything to die.  His word in Genesis 2 was that when man sinned, death would enter the garden. I believe, though, that God, in His perfect wisdom, knew that this creation that He had created was going to turn on Him. Why? Because he had created the angels with perfect glorified bodies, that lived in his perfect presence and they fell and there is no sacrifice for them.

God knew that his creation had/has an enemy, because He gave His creation, including the angels, the right to say “no.” God knew that His enemy, man’s enemy, would attack man at his basic levels – lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of Life. (1 John 2:16  with Genesis 3). God also knew, that in the fullness of time, He would send His son Jesus, to be the final lamb, the perfect lamb, to be slain and make good the price of his Justice. The old Covenant was based on the blood of lambs, goats, Rams, Bulls, animals, Etc. The New Covenant is based on the blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God.

Jeremiah prophesied of another covenant!

Jeremiah 31:31-34 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The New Covenant
31 “Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
32 This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke even though I had married them”—the Lord’s declaration.
33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put My teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people.
34 No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their wrongdoing and never again remember their sin.”

The Writer of Hebrews explains the difference in the OLD and NEW Testaments in Hebrews 9:13 – 10:18

The short version:

Hebrews 9:13-15 King James Version (KJV)
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

We are PARTICIPANTS in this NEW COVENANT! Just like those that had to purchase the sacrificial animal and slay it in the OLD covenant – we have a cost to count, and some dying to do.

An excerpt from 2018 Lent day Eleven is this:

So when we participate in communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, what actually happens?

The definition that I started this with says the sharing of intimate emotional and spiritual things, For me, this really says what this is all about! As two or more gathered Jesus is in our midst. (Matthew 18:20)
When we gather together, we acknowledge that we are all part of the body of Christ and that is a sharing of sorts. (1 Corinthians 12)

In another way, when we participate in this celebration, we are saying that we are willing to take up our cross, to crucify our flesh physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually – whatever is needed to grow into the fullness of Christ. We are saying that we believe that the blood of Jesus Christ was perfect to cleanse us and we’re making sure that our accounts with God are kept short. In a way, we are choosing to participate in his suffering symbolically. There are many on this planet that don’t have the choice whether or not they suffer with Christ or participate in his sufferings because they are under horrendous persecution. They can have their heads cut off, they can be burned at the stake, they can have acid thrown on them, and/or they can be raped, pillaged, whatever without any protection.

In the United States of America, we are kind of handicapped in that we have a soft cushioned, velvet covered cross that’s only holding our arms up with suspenders that don’t really hurt. They’re a little uncomfortable, maybe. Our feet and hands? Well, actually, we can get down off our cross anytime we want to! Because we have to choose! We have a choice.

A very scary verse for me is “too much to whom much is given much will be required.” (Luke 12:48) Those who have nothing don’t have any difficulty giving up their nothing for Christ! Yes, they do have to make choices. I’m not belittling their choice, but if you have no food you don’t have to give up food for Christ because you don’t have to give up what you don’t have! If you have access to fast food restaurants everywhere and you have five or ten dollars in your pocket anytime and you can go and get whatever burger, fries and chocolate shake you want anytime, anywhere and God asks you to give that up, sometimes we take that personally! “You want my burger and fries God?”
And God says
“no, I want your heart.”

The New Covenant was paid for by the BLOOD of JESUS Christ…and His broken Body. HIS DEATH!!! our responsibility is gratitude. We choose to respond…
We can be like Judas
or we can choose to follow Jesus – in our offering to HIM in Thanks!
For other writings of mine on Choose and Choice, please go click in the word cloud to the right of this article!

Every year, I keep hearing that we should have Christmas everyday! “People should celebrate Christmas all year long!” Here’s my concern. While he had to be born fulfilling all of the prophecies, if he had not gone to the cross, none of the other would have mattered.

THEREFORE – Let’s celebrate Resurrection Day every day! Give thanks every day for what Christ did for us on Calvary!

Prayer and Worship

We Remember You – Maranatha Praise Band

He Paid a Debt – Church of Christ

This song was intrumental in my salvation walk – and I do not have the copyrighted youtube version, but, here’s this:

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Jonah Chapter 1

Jonah

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!) The conversation starts Monday, February 5th.
Itty Bitty Bible Study – Jonah – introduction

Jonah chapter 1
The whole premise of Jonah starts out in the very first couple  of verses.
God tells him to go left and he goes right or you could say God told him to go right and he went left.

This reminds me of the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21:28-32. The difference is, the disobedient one chose to go obey – he wasn’t swallowed by a fish. Or is that really a difference?

I promised you a story!

I just want to make confession right now, that I know that I am saved by faith are by grace through faith and that not of my own but it’s the gift of God.
I know that I was saved in 1969.
I also know that God became my father figure which means that with some issues of a teenage girl I wasn’t always so good at listening to my father God.
I had been part of ministry teams.
I had served in many capacities and all sorts of ways through my Junior and Senior High School.
That’s age 9 through 17!

As we came up to my graduation, I had been working full time to pay the bills for or at least help pay the bills for my mom and my brother. I was given a scholarship to The Ohio State University. It was for music and art. At least that’s what I remember. I also loved English and there are so many ways I could have gone. The difficulty was that I had no self esteem, and I remember that when I got the scholarship, which I didn’t even remember applying for, I looked up to the sky and said “you have no idea what you’re talking about.” Yes, I was talking to GOD!

Think about a teenager, I was seventeen at the time, being told by their parents,

“you have such a great gift! You need to go to college and you need to explore your gift and to give it back to mankind!”

And that teenager just looking at their parents and saying “you have no idea what you’re talking about.” That makes sense, right? This is the difficulty with 17 year olds…they know so much more than their elders! The problem was, I wasn’t talking to my earthly parent! I completely confess that this is not the way a person should interact with the Creator God of the universe, and I’m not excusing my behavior, I’m just explaining it.

One requirement was that I was supposed to take an SAT or an ACT test. It’s the rite of passage of all good students. I was a 3.8 or 3.9 grade point average, while slacking, and working full time, so the ACT and SATshould not have been very difficult for me. For the first time in my life, I got test anxiety and doubled over and was not able to go take the test. I knew I would fail. I knew I didn’t have it in me in order to take the test that would seal my going off to college.

I also had no idea how I was going to afford it because for some reason, I had no concept of the scholarship program. At the time, my mom was basically incapacitated and my dad was not really helping me because he was very busy with his wife and her children. So I didn’t do the test. What I did do was go to a Navy Recruiting Station. There, they had me take an ASVAB and I aced the ASVAB on all of the different things that you can choose from. I was told “well you can choose whatever job description you want.” I felt that I’d found my place in which to succeed! I knew that they would train me, I knew that I would be paid, I knew that medical things would be taken care of, and I knew that I’d be able to send money home.

I remember signing the recruiting papers and seeing that Ohio State scholarship letter before my eyes and saying, again, “God you don’t know what you’re talking about I am not good enough for that.” Years later I found out that the Navy actually has art and music programs and I was so determined that I was not skilled enough, I didn’t even notice these. Or actually, as the story moves along, God blinded my eyes.

I was excited to be going into the Navy. I always have felt that it is each Citizen’s responsibility to serve their country in some form and I was going to serve my country. So I was shipped off to Orlando, Florida(in July and August) for boot camp for women. Day one was tricky, day two was interesting, and on day 3 as we were running around the big parking lot we called a grinder to do the Run part of our physical training, I fell.

Actually, during the run, I was excited and turned to the Sailor that was jogging with me and said “this is great! I’m not out of breath! I’m not dizzy! I’m doing the Run!” No sooner had I gotten those last words out of my mouth, that I blacked out and from the description of those that were there I fell straight back on my rear end, snapped my neck back and hit my head on the pavement. This paved area was like the size of a football field, I think, and the people on the far Corner heard my head hit the concrete or the pavement. Needless to say everyone was concerned.

I’m pretty sure I went to sick call right away, but because there was no damage, I was probably given some sort of pain medication and sent back to the unit. As swelling incurred in my low back, I started having less and less use of my right leg and while I had started out as the caller (think Cantor) for the unit’s marching, at this point I was needing to be carried back and forth to class and to the dining hall. Naturally, I was sent back to the Infirmary.

I had pain from my right hip down my right leg and I was not able to put weight on it. They called it paralysis(or a word similar) at the time. While I was lying on bedrest for one week, stuck all by myself in this completely white environment, void of any other color, I asked the Lord why he allowed this to happen. He told me “I said go to school.” At this point I made a bargain with God, but I’ll write about that a little later. Right now the main point is that the inflammation did go down enough and I was able to finish my boot camp and graduate with my unit(part of my deal with God). I went on to San Diego, California for my a school. Radioman, which was very early computer things and the Navy had plans for me to be the first female on a Navy ship that wasn’t just a supply ship, to be in the Radio Shack. God had other plans.

Jonah chapter 1
The whole premise of Jonah starts out in the very first couple  of verses.
God tells him to go left and he goes right or you could say God told him to go right and he went left.

Jonah, son of Amittai, is mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25-26

25 He(the King) restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher. 26 For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, for there was none left, bond or free, and there was none to help Israel.

Here we have Jonah. he has prophesied before to Great results, so he knows that when he hears this voice that this voice is God’s voice and he needs to listen. One of the things that I don’t quite get or didn’t until looking into this booklet is why do you just take off and run? In the various links I gave you for introduction there are some theories about Nineveh being an enormously powerful pagan City, and then he was just afraid for his life. I get it, no problem.

I think we have the answer in Jonah 4:1-3 where Jonah is fussing at God because God answered the prayer of the Ninevites to deliver them after Jonah preached destruction. I’m not absolutely certain, but I think just about every time destruction is prophesied there is that olive leaf of Hope that if you turn … but if you return to me… but if you confess your sins…if you humble yourself and seek my face I will hear from heaven and heal your land. I think Jonah knew this, and maybe a little bit of his ego is in there, thinking “I’m going to preach Hell-ire and Damnation and God’s going to come in with grace, mercy and forgiveness and everybody is going to point at me and say you were all wrong.”

One point that I want to make about this is I think everyone, me included, has some Jonah in our hearts. When God says to do one thing, and I really, really do not want to admit that I heard him. In fact, I have a book I’ve been choosing not to hear God about for a few years and I’m working on it now I’m trying to be obedient now. I’ve been supposed to be writing Bible studies all along and I’ve told God that I don’t have the schooling, I don’t have the training, I don’t have the Theology and Seminary degrees behind my name so obviously he has the wrong person. That didn’t work so well with Moses. Didn’t work well with Jeremiah. It hasn’t worked so well with me. Is there something in YOUR life that God has called you to do and you are choosing to turn a deaf ear? How different is that from running the other direction and hopping onto a ship?

So in my old age, I’m just giving up and deciding to be obedient. I guess God has kept me alive 57 years because he knew I would just give up. My suggestion to you no matter how old you are is give up now! If you have given your life to God through Christ Jesus and you have the Holy Spirit living within you, you are not your own! You were bought with a price! Even more so, there are giftings that God created in you that you would produce fruit and good works That’s all stuff in Ephesians and Corinthians. One of the things that I am learning is that when God calls you to do something he will strengthen you and enable you to do it.

The next point that I see in this first chapter is how disobeying God put a whole bunch of innocent people in jeopardy. Jonah wasn’t even aware of the storm that was threatening to destroy the ship and kill everyone on it. I’m a little disappointed with Jonah that they had to draw a lots to figure out who it was it was causing this and yet God still orchestrated that. There was probably some aspect in these men’s minds that couldn’t just say oh yeah it’s me and believe him. The drawing of lots, or the straws, the pulling the Short Straw or whatever, this was all something that would be common in their mind to find out what the will of whatever god was attacking them was. But kudos to Jonah “yep I’m a Hebrew. God is mad at me and he’s found me and you need to throw me over the ship.”
Kudos to the sailors that didn’t want to just throw him over the ship, though we know they did.

Now, the voluntary being thrown over the ship looks really self sacrificing on the cover, but he was still trying to get out of going to Nineveh. I don’t even know if he knew how to swim. He’s like “throw me over and I’ll die and I won’t have to go to Nineveh.” The reason I say this is going back to a later part of Jonah, chapter 4, when he’s fussing it God because God forgave Nineveh. He says “just take my life it’s not worth anything.” I know prophets are prone to drama, and depression. All you have to do is read the prophets and you’ll see that very clearly. I’m thinking Jonah was having them, rather than take his own life, which would not fly well in the face of Hebrew theology, he was having the men on the ship throw him over and he wouldn’t have any responsibility for his suicide. It would fall under death at sea, or murder…but not suicide. Likewise, later when he’s fussing with God he tells God take my life! There’s a mentality here.

Why am I pointing out this suicidal issue?
I have lived with suicidal ideations, suicide attempts, depression, anxiety and a whole host of other mental illnesses and syndromes that come from PTSD from abuse. I can hear the sound of suicide in someone’s voice. Not always, not every time. Oh, my goodness, wouldn’t it be awesome if every single time someone was contemplating suicide and wasn’t telling anybody I could say hey I know that you’re thinking of suicide and I would like to help you and then there would be no more suicides because people could be saved before they make a decision. What I’m saying is, I’m familiar with the parameters that can draw someone down to the depths of despair where they wish they had never been born.

Spending three days in a fish just might do it.

The Fish?

I guess this would be a good time to discuss the great fish that God prepared beforehand to swallow Jonah. A fish big enough to swallow a man. Well, God created everything with one word. The fish probably was not created that day and may have just been created and grown. On the other hand, God could create that fish at that time, at that place and that size to collect Jonah and take him where he needed to be. I provided several resources in the introduction blog about was Jonah swallowed by a fish or a whale. and I will put those links here again as well.

The Bible Answer Man about Jonah
Institute in Creation Resarch
GotQuestions

I hope you all enjoyed photos of our whale watching trip, and I cannot explain to you how Majestic those blue whales were in real life! Even as huge as they are, I don’t think they can actually swallow anyone because they have a different kind of mouth. They are amazing no matter what. Our God is an awesome God and all creation sings his price!

If you missed it, put this url in the search box and you should be able to enjoy them!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/w3NLZH8rdiY3BWqY2

I also found this little overview – from the overviewbible on Jonah.

This art is from them:

Yes, I’m going to be applying scripture to this, because scripture does apply!
For now – let’s accept that Jonah is scripture! Of course it is!

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission. The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.
Some artwork is from FreeClipArt Library. copyrights belong to them.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Obadiah 1:1-9

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!) The conversation starts Monday, January 29th.

updated insert on the dating of the book – via J. Vernon McGee:

“Either this was written as prophecy before it happened or it is a historical record of what did happen. The natural interpretation, of course, is to accept it as history rather than prophecy, which places the date of Obadiah’s prophecy around 587 b.c., after the Babylonian captivity and during the ministry of the prophet Jeremiah.”

Another date suggested is 887 BC – which is much earlier, and would have it be prophetic. Either way, the message is just as important today as it was whenever God sent this prophet!

Many many moons ago, when I was still a semi young lass, I hopmeschooled my children. As their teacher, I taught them that the first thing to do when researching a project,is to look for the children’s books on said topic. WHY? Because the authors make it simple for the children to understand, and they also hit on the most important points! When I found this children’s bible study post for Obadiah, it was PERFECT !
Sometimes, when it is difficult to understand a particular topic, go to the children’s aisle!

Obadiah 1:1-9 AMP
Obadiah 1:1-9 The Message

Verse 1 means nothing if one does not believe that God,the creator of the universe, spoke to men and women in times past to speak His word.
I believe that is is true for today, as well, because of Acts 2:17-18

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

I differentiate between someone prophesying and the cannon of scripture. The books we have in our Bible have been vetted, and challenged, and compared to the other books. We aren’t going to be adding words to the bible any time soon…in fact…Bible Gateway did the work to compile three verses: Deut 4:2, Deut 12:32 and Rev 22:18
Also, in the last days, the instructions to those that prophesy is that other prophets are supposed to test the spirits(1 Corinthians 14); – I would imagine that years ago, they didn’t just embrace anyone that said “thus sayeth the Lord” without doing their due diligence!

This prophecy is one that was vetted over centuries, and is considered worthy of being in the cannon of scripture.

Moving on, in my effort to find the simplest version, I read this in the Message:

The Message verse 2-4
“Listen to this, Edom:
I’m turning you to a no-account,
the runt of the godless nations, despised.
You thought you were so great,
perched high among the rocks, king of the mountain,
Thinking to yourself,
‘Nobody can get to me! Nobody can touch me!’
Think again. Even if, like an eagle,
you hang out on a high cliff-face,
Even if you build your nest in the stars,
I’ll bring you down to earth.”
God’s sure Word.

Yes, I do read the Bible from different versions. The Message just made me laugh!

The point is, in whichever version, that Edom(the descendents of Esau) had lifted themselves high, over their brethren, Judah.

There are three sins from the beginning of creation.

1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Eve illustrated all f them for us when she open the door to sin in the world!

Genesis 3:6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

This passage(Obadiah) is talking about Edom boasting – pride of life…

James 4:16 warns:
As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

King Nebachnezzar was brought down by his pride in Daniel 4 & 5.
The Devil was brought down by pride! Ezekiel 28:12-19 and
Isaiah 14:12-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low!
13 You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God
I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
in the far reaches of the north;[a]
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’

Verse 3, of Obadiah 1 says The pride of your heart has decieved you,

Proverbs 8:13 King James Version (KJV)
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Proverbs 9:10
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
(Proverbs 1:7 & 22)

Psalm 14:1
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is none who does good.
(Psalm 10:4, Psalm 53:1)

I looked up a few verses on pride, because:

PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL, OR DESTRUCTION:

Proverbs 16:18-19
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Proverbs 11:2
Proverbs 18:12
Proverbs 29:23

Isaiah 2:11-12 King James Version (KJV)
11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
12 For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:

And then, in the end times – the curse is proclaimed against Babylon – and this is not specific to Babylon the place…but Babylon the heart. Revelation 18

Pride is a horrible sin.
In my life, it seems that every sin I commit, I can trace back to pride.
I know that God said there were three sins…lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the (boastful) pride of life….but, in my life, I’ve narrowed it down to PRIDE!
Lust of the flesh – I DESERVE THIS!
Lust of the eyes – I DESERVE THIS!
Boastful pride of life – I AM SO AMAZING THAT I DESERVE ALL THE GOOD THINGS, ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS, ALL THE ACCOLADES, ALL THE CREDIT…etc., etc., etc.

Obadiah verses 5-9 talk about how BAD Edom was….
comparing their behavior(which is explained in verses 10-14) to the typcial run of the mill criminal…THEY WERE WORSE!
And therefore, God is going to judge them.

And, in my life…what about my pride?
Does it hurt others?
Probably, yes…in that I would lift myself above others.

Luke 14:11 English Standard Version (ESV)
11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Moses is honored for being humble:

Numbers 12:3 Amplified Bible (AMP)
3 (Now the man Moses was very humble (gentle, kind, devoid of self-righteousness), more than any man who was on the face of the earth.)
Exodus 33:11

It is not being Christlike!
When Christ offers us rest, he described himself as meek and lowly, or, in the Amplified Version:

Matthew 11:29 Amplified Bible (AMP)
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls.

Christ promises blessings to those that are meek – which is translated humble in the AMP version.

Matthew 5:5 Amplified Bible (AMP)
5 “Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth.
Footnotes:
Matthew 5:5 Or humble, meek.

The Psalmists says God will lift up the humble!
Ps 147:6
Ps 149:4

God spoke to Solomon:

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

Isaiah calls out:

Isaiah 2:17
The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

James – dear James says it this way:

James 4:6-10
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[a] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

We are called to love everyone – even our enemies.
God loved us first so that we could love.

More concerning to me about pride is that it lifts us up above God. If we place ourselves above God, then what have we done? Idolotry.
God will not share his glory with another – Isa 42:8, and very clearly stated that we were not to set up anything gods before HIM!

Exodus 20:1-6 King James Version (KJV)
20 1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Once I recognize pride as the sin of idolotry – then, we have to look at Revelation for the final judgement for idolotry!

Revelation 21:8 English Standard Version (ESV)
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

We’ve all heard the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector(publican) praying.
This is what Jesus had to say: Luke 18:9-14

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

In my signature line is a quote from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers:

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I looked for the cure, and found one in 1 Corinthians 5:6-7

1 Corinthians 5:6-7 English Standard Version (ESV)
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

This is how we ought to think:

Romans 12:3
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Oh Lord, I want to be delivered from the sin of Esau, and all others that are our examples of raising themselves above You! I want to confess the sin of Pride in my life, and ask that you help me to see clearly so that I can root out every seed.
I want to recognize not only who I am in Christ, but WHY I am in Christ, and that is by grace, and not of myself, but it is a gift of God – Ephesians 2:8-10

But, I also thank you Lord, for showing that you are strong on behalf of those that humble themselves under your hand, and that if we draw near to you, YOU WILL DRAW NEAR TO US. James 4:6-10

Lord, I pray:

Psalm 51:10-12 English Standard Version (ESV)
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right[a] spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.

In Jesus’s name, AMEN.

Psalm 94 is an excellent parallel chapter to this section of Obadiah – and probably the whole book. In the ESV it’s titled, the Lord will not Forsake His People!

More information on Obadiah is available at Obadiah Introduction
next, Obadiah 1:10-16.

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission. The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.
Some artwork is from FreeClipArt Library. copyrights belong to them.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Throwback Thursday – from 2001

This is such an old blog, I recognize the original html(what we used to have to do to produce blogs!…not quite writing in binary, but close!)

So, as I read it, I noticed the date.

Received July 13 & 14, 2001  This was given to me, in the spirit of prophecy over two days.  On July 16, I searched through scriptures, as a Berean, to prove the spirit.

two months later, September 11, 2001, or as we refer to it – 9/11.
I believe it’s just as important to hear now, as then.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Received July 13 & 14, 2001  This was given to me, in the spirit of prophecy over two days.  On July 16, I searched through scriptures, as a Berean, to prove the spirit.

This is the word. A Bible study is also available. (Bible verses are after the poem – )

What do you think about when I say “Mother”?

What do you think about when I say “Father”?

Do you see their face?

Do you hear their voice?

Does a warm feeling come over your heart?

Do you know their name?

BUT do you KNOW ME?

I long to be a Father to the fatherless,

I long to hold you in my arms.

My little children…

What do you think of when someone says “Our Father”?

Do you see My face?

Do you know My name?

I AM.

I AM the Our Father.

I AM the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I AM worthy of praise, glory and Honor.

I AM.

I AM the judge of all the earth

I AM creator of the new birth.

I judge sin,

but in Me, my children win.

I AM

I AM the Our Father

I AM forever more

I AM the Almighty

I AM the open door

Do you see my face,

full of grace?

Do you hear My voice

in your ears? It’s a choice.

My little children

I have called you by my name,

do you know it?

I have spoken to you by my voice,

do you hear it?

There is no reason to fear,

when you nestled up to Me,

and near.

If you know My name,

and you hold My hand,

nothing can hurt you,

nothing, not a hand.

My little children,

you’re my sheep if you know my name,

I AM a shepherd, I have nothing but gain.

You are my sheep, If you know my voice,

all you must do is follow Me by choice.

My little children,

My name is mighty

in My name you are saved.

By the name of Jesus

you are delivered from sin,

and by the name of Jesus you can enter in

you can enter in to the name of sanctification

by the name of Jesus you can

enter into my glorification.

In the name of Jesus

you will be healed.

In the name of Jesus

and the Holy Spirit power

you will be sealed.

My little children

take off the names of darkness

put them far, far away,

and put up tall the name of Light

and you’ll never even sway!

For My name is a strong tower

by My name you are safe

by My name I give you peace and righteousness

by My name

by My name you can enter in to the holy place

Take My name

of Peace, Counselor, Savior, Friend,

and see Me as the tower that the righteous run in.

When the enemy brings his banners up high,

turn and look, for your deliverance draws nigh!

When my children turn and draw near to my name,

they will hear Me whisper and call them by name.

As you run into my tower and name,

you enter in to the presence of the King.

In my throne room no evil shall stand,

nothing can hurt you,

no nothing can stand.

If you will dwell in My secret place,

I will cover you and you’ll see my face.

All the things that attack you will fade,

and you, My child, will rest in My grace.

If you come in to My presence, My dear,

I and My Son, and the Spirit draw near.

And We will surround you will a circle of love

with glory untold, pouring out from above.

If in Me you will live, and move and have your being,

you will never know doubt

and you will definitely be seeing:

you will see Me as God that delivers his children

you will see Me as Father that loves all his sons

you will see Me as comforter who cares for the wounded

you will see Me as God as I care for my lost.

There’s a way to stand against the coming destruction,

the enemy at hand has forces untold,

but I in my power have won before creation,

and I AM more powerful than one can behold.

If you run to My name,

in My fortress you’ll be safe,

and you will be covered

by My blood and My infinite grace.

But do you know Me?

Do you know Me?

Like your mother and father?

Do you hear My voice

like your sister and brother?

Do you know Me so well

that no other can pull you?

My child, you need but to listen

for I’m speaking to you.

My voice is a still, gentle breeze,

it’s like a river that trickles under the trees.

My voice is like sunshine coming down from above

with a cool gentle breeze covering you with love.

Do you know that voice,

Oh little child of mine?

Oh little child –

the voice of the divine?

If you don’t hear My voice,

If you don’t know My name,

how will you know when I come again?

How will you know

when I let out a shout?

How will you know that it’s Me it’s about?

If you don’t know My name,

how can you find Me?

If you don’t know My name

how can you call Me?

If you can hear My voice,

how can you listen?

My little children it’s a choice,

and time is now to begin.

Early I await you, for the times you come to Me,

In the still of evening, I await, just to see.

I have much to share with you,

about your life and future.

I would speak to you and comfort you

and hold you, and give you nurture.

I would that you would crawl on my lap like a mother

and put your head on my chest, and love Me as no other.

But My children

you first must seek my face,

and then you must know my immeasurable grace,

and then you are sheep, you are sheep in deed,

and my voice will speak, clear and free.

Then I ask you, have you said “no?”

When I have talked to you, did you say no?

When I AM waiting, have you told Me to go?

When I have given direction, have you said, NO?

My word is written,

is true and it’s strong.

I will not counter My word

not at all.

If you cannot see My face in the glass,

and you cannot hear My voice as pages pass,

then are you really seeking Me?

Or do you have some other ‘destiny’?

My sheep know My voice,

and they follow Me

they learn by the milk that is spoken of Me

the meat of My word comes from spirit to spirit

do you see it? Do you see Me?

Do you desire to be in it?

When a child has a parent that is far, far away,

the parent writes love letters every day.

The child may not know what the parent is like,

except that they read the letter each night.

When that parent calls on the phone

the child knows the voice, and that voice all alone.

But when the day comes, when they meet face to face,

the child knows the parent across all time and space.

For the child has spent time with the words that were written

and the child, on the phone, has completely been listening.

I have a word that has been written for you

I have a phone line that’s open, too!

I will speak to you

in My word, and in prayer

if you ‘ll only turn your heart

and come listen to Me there.

My name is a tower.

The strong can come in,

the strong who are mighty and free from all sin.

In My name you are holy,

in My name, you are whole,

in My name you have peace,

in My name you shall go!

I have not left you alone to despair,

you have My love, and My name, and My care.

I prepared a way for you to go,

it is up to you to say yes or say no.

If you seek Me, you will find Me, I AM there

I will show myself to you

and I will take up every care.

There is nothing to fear

when you are wrapped up in Me,

I care for my own

and nothing can take them from Me.

Do not fear for the coming destruction,

for the shepherd will hold

his sheep in his hand

and bring them in to divine protection.

But you must know Me,

recognize my name.

You must seek Me

only Me,

my voice,

and my name.

In Me you will find all the answers you need.

in Me you will have everything, just believe.

It may not look pretty,

It’s not of this world,

for I’m away to prepare a place

that is out of this world!

This here is but shadows and smoke

this here is just like a cloak.

For sin entered in, the world has been dying

nothing here is glorifying!

But I’ve prepared a place for my children

who know my voice and my name

and choose to enter in.

(c)2001 M.Christine Wildman – all rights reserved.

Mica 4:1- 5 (KJV) But in the last days it shall come to pass, [that] the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make [them] afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken [it].

5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

Joel 2:32 (KJV)And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Psal 91:14 (KJV) Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Acts 2:21 (KJV) And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 4:12 (KJV) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Rom 10:13 (KJV) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Phil 2:10 (KJV) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; (Rom 14:11)

***

Acts 3:16 (KJV) And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Prov 18:10 (KJV) The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Colo 3:17 (KJV) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

2The 1:12 (KJV) That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Cor 6:11 (KJV) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Isai 50:10 (KJV) Who [is] among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh [in] darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

Exod 20:7 (KJV) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Psal 20:6 (KJV) Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

7 Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

Ps 116

Psal 116:4 (KJV) Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

Psal 116:13  I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

Psal 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

Psal 124:8 (KJV) Our help [is] in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Psal 113:1 (KJV) Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.

2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.

3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name [is] to be praised.

4 The LORD [is] high above all nations, [and] his glory above the heavens.

5 Who [is] like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,

6 Who humbleth [himself] to behold [the things that are] in heaven, and in the earth!

7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

8 That he may set [him] with princes, [even] with the princes of his people.

9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, [and to be] a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

May God be glorified through this writing. ~Christi

(c)2001 M. Christine Wildman; all rights reserved. Permission granted to share, but not to publish in any work to be sold.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was convicting to me, again…16 years later.

Here’s a link to my OLD website…but, if you think you are a Christian, but you have some concerns…this can help you figure it out! So You think you’re gonna be OK?

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission.
The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, follow me on Pinterest, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Advent 2015 – Christmas Eve

Advent 2015 – Christmas Eve

For the longer Advents – this is Advent 28
Here is the Advent Log for day 28:

Christmas Even Advent Log - Day 28

Christmas Eve Advent Log – Day 28

Tradition was that we would have pizza. Then, we would get serious.
This is the evening that we would have communion – preparing our hearts for the coming of the King.

Christmas Eve Communion

Christmas Eve Communion

For years I attended Midnight Mass at Christ Episcopal Church. Mass = Communion.
This was our family tradition.
When we had children, we attended non denominational, or non liturgical churches that had their Christmas Eve services in the evening. There wasn’t always communion.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve

Busted Halo gives a very short explanation on why we go to Midnight Mass.
Wikipedia information on Midnight Mass

My memory is that we were combining the vigil of waiting for Christ’s birth, and preparing ourselves to give Him room, and at Midnight, we celebrated his birth.

Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols

Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King! Let every heart, prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and heaven and nature sing!

Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols

Christmas Eve, Jim would read the Christmas story from Luke.

Jim reading Christmas Eve devotions

Jim reading Christmas Eve devotions

Then, we would say the Lord’s prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, and the Glory and the power forever,
Amen.

This prayer, given to us by Jesus, covers most of what any worship service should cover:

  • Glorify God
  • Align yourself with His will.
  • Ask for needs.
  • Ask for forgiveness, as we forgive.
  • Ask for help to walk in this world.
  • End with praise.

We would then read the communion scripture:

Usually using this passage for the communion:
1 Cor 11:23-26

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In 1 Corinthians 10:16, The Apostle Paul asks

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?”

The whole focus of our Advent Meditations was to turn the eyes upon Jesus and giving, and off of the worldly focus of Santa and getting gifts.
Communion is an outward sign of choosing to set aside my life, and decide to follow Jesus.

Tonight, I will pull out my old Episcopal Prayer Book, and go through communion with my husband. Here is the Episcopal Prayer book Online.

Lifeway has a set of resources online for practicing the Lord’s Supper. They are for churches, but could easily be adapted for your home.

For us, it was just simple to do the Lords Prayer, and then follow 1 Cor 11:23-26.

In a world where Christmas is so full of rabble rousing, and even those that say they know the reason, we wanted it to be a somber, and sacred celebration. Jesus didn’t come to earth so that we could get ginormous flat screen TVs! Jesus came to save our souls!

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hail, the heav’n born Prince of Peace.
Hail the Son of righteousness.
Light and life to all He brings,
ris’n with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays His glory by,
born that man no more should die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth!
Hark the herald angels sing,
Glory to the New born King!

What Child is this?

Why lies He in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear” for sinners here the silent word is pleading/
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
the cross be born for me, for you;
Hail, Hail, the Word made flesh,
the Babe, the Son of Mary.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Oh Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray.
Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emanuel.

We sang many Christmas Carols!

One of my favorite Christmas Albums is by Don Moen, 1990
Praise Worship, Christmas

Here’s a compilation of the Piano Guys for Christmas

Since it’s pretty obvious that I love Pentatonix – here’s a compilation of their Christmas songs.

Instead of reading the Night Before Christmas, we would read a few different things.  The Shoemaker stories:

AdventShoemakerNVP004 AdventShoemakerCTB2006 AdventShoemakerCTB1005

We compared Jesus to Santa.

JesusSanta

And we read Twas the night before Jesus came. (c) 1993 Bethany Farms, Carrollton, IL.

I found a cute printable Christmas Story book on Ministry to Children that may be useful for those that still have littles.  My littles have all grown up.

One last thing, is this A Christmas Prayer for the Home by Henry Van Dyke, from The Book of Jesus edited by Calvin Miller.

 

More Advent Devotions

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Advent Day 24 – Magi or Wise Men

Advent Day 24 – Magi or Wise Men
If you are doing the Advent Log, light days 1-24

advent24c

The Magi or Wise Men

Whatever the star was – it was important enough to the Magi, wise men, potentially astronomers, to know that something important had happened. Just as Dr. Morris did in his post, Edersheim speaks a little bit about the magi and why they might know of the coming King.

adventwisemen-3

Because they share these two research posts, and this song! The Magi and the Star go hand in hand.

adventwisemen

They probably weren’t kings.
There is no indication that there were only 3, there were only 3 types of gifts.
But still, the song, We Three Kings tells the story of Christ, and gives an indication as to what the three gifts would be for in his life.

https://youtu.be/k8mjRxkMBkE

And, my take on this is, Am I wise enough to still seek HIM? And would I give him such expensive gifts? Or only leftovers?
That said, what ARE the gifts that I would give?

In Exodus 31, God lists the people in whom HE placed gifts in order to create the special things for HIS tabernacle.

In 1 Corinthians 12, we are told that there are many different gifts, like there are different parts to the body, but we need all of them.
Romans 12:6-8 tells us to use our gifts – give them up to the Lord.

The point is that WE are given gifts…they are part of WHO we are, HOW we were created and wired.
Just like salvation, it is not of ourselves…

Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The gifts of the Magi have been preached about as provisions for the family as they had to flee, and up to the herbs for his burial.
Gifts provide something – and we can be like the Wise Men and give of the gifts we have been given, to glorify God.

What is the gift that God has asked of us?

Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

We are to give him our heart, mind, soul and strength.
It’s the first commandment, according to Jesus!

Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

I want to be wise, and give God my heart!
20151215_132401

More Advent Devotions

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Advent 2015 – days 19 – 26 part 1

In 2016, Advent is 28 days long.
In 2017, advent is 22 days long.

What? 26 days of Advent?,
Isn’t Advent 24 days before Christmas, on the 25th?

The length of Advent changes every year – based on the date of Thanksgiving. Advent is the first Sunday after Thanksgiving, or the fourth Sunday preceding Christmas. In 2017, for example, Thanksgiving does not fall on the last Thursday, but the fourth Thursday of November, and the fifth Thursday is Nov 30. That year, the 1st Sunday of Advent is Dec 3rd – making that Advent only 22 days long.

Thank you Catholic Resources – Advent!

The longest Advent is 28 days.
The shortest is 22(I think).

This blog is going to be about the characters in the Christmas story. Use it however you would like.

Mary, Joseph, Jesus & Bethlehem, then the second half; the Star, the Angels, and the Shepherds

Away in the Manger

Away in the Manger

Mary
Advent day 19

Holy Family

Holy Family

By all accounts, a young girl, Mary was chosen to marry a man, named Joseph.

But even before her was Elizabeth and Zacharias.
They had been waiting for a child.
Zacharias received a very special message during his service to the Lord in Luke 1:5 and following. This child was going to announce the coming of the Messiah!
An Angel messenger.

Luke 1:26-27

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

Sixth month of what? Elizabeth’s pregnancy!

What did the Angel say?
Luke 1:28

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Thou that art highly favoured – favor and grace
The Lord is with thee: – with – as in WITH? an unheard of position.
blessed art thou among women. – above Rachel and Leah by whom Jews had been blessing their daughters for centuries!
She is one that Loves her God!

She’s told she will have a child…with no male intervention. This means that she will be seen as a harlot. This is punishable by death. Maybe this is why it’s angel GABRIEL! that came to speak to her! But, her response is a beautiful statement of complete yeildedness to God’s plan, no matter what.
Luke 1:38

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

The Angel sends her on her way to Elizabeth’s – the babe in Elizabeth’s womb jumps for joy, and Mary sings what has gone down in history as her Magnificat.

Luke 1:46-55

She raises the Son of God – her story continues to the day he dies. She was a person, just like me, that said yes to God.

The key to me in this is am I willing to be embarassed at least, persecuted to death at the most for something that God has told me I should do. Now, Mary did get some evidence pretty soon that she was going to have a baby – but she also knew that she hadn’t been with a man. I, on the other hand, just have the strange visions, notions, or thoughts that God might want me to do things…and I often beg out because I am embarrassed. Mary’s reputation was on the line, and it was even brought up to Jesus years later. And she said yes!

Joseph
Day 20

Holy Family wood

Holy Family wood

Joseph.
A Carpenter.
Asked for Mary’s hand in marriage.
we know he is a Godly, compassionate man, for when his bride to be is found with child(and has some cockamammy story about being impregnated by God), he decided to divorce her quietly – so she won’t be stoned. Or would she? Anyway – he’d made his decision, and he got visited by an angel!
Matthew 1:18-25
Joseph was told that he was the stepfather to the Son of God. And he was to name him Jesus, God with us. or was it Immanuel?
The folks over at Christian Apologetics and Research have a great explanation of the two names of Jesus and why. I won’t go into it!

Joseph provides the flesh and blood father that protects Jesus when they have to flee to Egypt. He provides training for Jesus and provides for the family as a carpenter. Apparently, he, also, was chosen for his role in Christ’s life, and by taking Mary into his home as his wife, and not ‘knowing’ her as was his biblical right, Joseph said yes to God!

The angel thing again. But seriously, if I met an angel that told me that such and thus was going to happen, especially if I had been in bed, I would second guess myself. Of course, Mary was with child. Joseph could believe or not believe. but he said yes. I believe.

https://youtu.be/BARVAg0gl6w

https://youtu.be/PytP9XPhP1g

Jesus
Advent day 21

Away in the Manger

Away in the Manger

The best way to describe Jesus, is through the Word of God:

Is 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Zacharias prophesied Jesus’ purpose, to which his son John would proclaim in Luke 1:67 and following.

John poetically describes Christ in John 1:1-18 – describing the difference again between Jesus, and the prophet John.

Jesus – Son of God, Son of Man, Savior of the World.

https://youtu.be/MC9cbEHjvPs

Of course, before Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph had to get to Bethlehem.

Bethlehem

Bethlehem

Advent day 22

Yes, Bethlehem IS a character in this Christmas story, because it was foretold that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.
Micah 5:2

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

Bethlehem wasn’t a large city…but it was the city of David’s birth.
During the taxing, everyone had to go to the city of their ancestors birth to be counted. Luke 2:1-7

This is where we learn that she had to go, ‘great with child’ and that ‘there was no room for them at the inn.’
They key for Christmas here is the question, is there room for Jesus in MY heart…or does he get left out in the stable?

This gets us almost to Christmas Day.(in 2015)
if you added these four to the previous 18, you are at day 22 – the shortest of the Advent seasons. I will be providing another set – Star, Angels, Shepherds and Magi to make it to the 26th day of Advent next.

Love nativity

Love nativity

My prayer this Advent season was to become more aware of Christ in My life, and to make sure that he dwells in my heart – not on the outskirts of my life. I pray that this is your prayer as well.

For the rest of these, go to Advent 2015 part 2

More Advent Devotions

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Philippians 1:3-11

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!)

Philippians 1:3-11
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

THANKFULNESS FOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Paul was in jail.
Paul was suffering.
Paul was currently, a missionary to Rome and those in the jail.
Paul needed the assistance of those outside the jail in order to survive.
Later, he talks about the support, and the lack of it, in this little book.
When he was moving around, he was a tent maker.
1 Thess 2: 7-10 (I got this reference, and some interesting commentary on Paul’s self support from Dave Black Online. A very interesting commentary on this concept.)
What does all of this have to do with thankfulness for brothers and sisters?
Not only were they part of the fruit of his ministry, and often Paul speaks very lovingly about his spiritual children, they had been part of his support team.

Is there anyone that has impacted MY life for the gospel?

  1. the young girl, Tina, that took me to her church when I was in grade school, which led me to asking Christ into my life.
  2. All of the women that worked VBS at the methodist church that my grandmother attended.
  3. Even the sunday school teachers at the Episcopal church I attended were part of my foundation.
  4. The hymn writers that spoke of theological beauty
  5. A priest that knew Jesus, and led me to follow the path of His voice
  6. An ex nun(convent closed) that taught me about devotion time
  7. An evangelist, Jerry, that preached a youth revival at a Methodist church in Pensecola Florida
  8. Keith Green’s ministry – and music
  9. The leadership at the One Way House in Springfield, Ohio. And here is where I can start writing a lot of names!
  10. My husband – who first started out as my Bible Study partner.
  11. My small groups through the years
  12. my Bible study authors through the years
  13. Ministers that preached the gospel, and laid even deeper levels of foundations
  14. a group of women that participated in a specific home school program – that continue to pray for each other.
  15. men and women through my life that have touched my heart, and continue to be prayer partners in my times of needs – and I likewise to them.
  16. Some folks I got to know in a nerdy athletic group that understand depression, and struggles, and honor my faith.
  17. My school mates that remember me from way back when
  18. some of my family, that love me.
  19. My current small group in our home.
  20. a group of facebook people that will raise their voices in prayer when I am struggling

I am thankful for so many of those that have gone before me in the Christian walk – and now are enjoying their eternal reward.
But what about NOW?
I have those that encourage me to write and paint for the Lord.
I am not the missionary I had thought I would be.
So, how does thanking someone for supporting me in my ministry apply to me?

  1. everyone has a ministry!
  2. everyone needs encouragement against the lies of the enemy
  3. everyone can be a light on a hill, a beam in the darkness, a shelter in the storm

I have been blessed by many people in this regard!
As for missionary? I support several missions consistently, and others as the Lord leads.
It is beautiful to get a card in the mail saying thankyou. And, I know they are praying for me, even as I am praying for them.

A PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL!

1 Corinthians 12 talks about the body of Christ.

1 Cor 12:12 & 27
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

While I have not been SENT out to other parts of the world – yet – there are those that are pleased to allow me to partner with them in the gospel!
While I am here at home, I have the obligation to preach the gospel, and make disciples right here.
And those that come along side me, to pray with me, to encourage me, to possibly by my paintings, or my writings – they will be partnering with me in the gospel.
For those, I am grateful – and I make mention to my Father of them in prayer!

One of my favorite Bible verses:

Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Spring background with brokeh effect background

Paul says
I
AM
SURE
OF
THIS!

Several versions translate it CONFIDENT!

Here’s a few additional verses to confirm this promise:

Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
1 Corinthians 1:8
He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:28
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

And another favorite:

Jeremiah 29:11-13
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 1
3 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

God begins the work in us, and as long as we have a heart towards Him, He will complete that work – to the day that we face Jesus Christ! Isn’t that amazing? I’ve written about how salvation is a gift…not of ourselves – a gift from God. It is a gift from the moment we are drawn to Him, until the moment we see Him face to face!

Recently, I returned to my hometown for my highschool reunion. It heavily impacted me in gratitude, and conviction and in purpose for the future. I made a confession for cleansing about my past, and I was reminded of my first love. And, I have to be confident that HE that began this work in me WILL complete it, if I am yielded to HIS word, hand and Spirit.

PAUL’S PRAYER FOR HIS PARTNERS

Philippians 1:9-11
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

I want to break this down.

LOVE
it is the AGAPE love –
affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love

Wikipedea gives a very good explanation of the Christian historical application of this word – Agape. In Christianity, it is considered the Love of God, or love that is loved like God loves.

Love abound – more and more
Holman Christian Bible – love will keep on growing.
NLT – love will overflow more and more

Amplified: 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight,

I like overflowing…that fits with light and salt to the world.
Of course, our teaching on what love is comes from 1 Corinthians 13
1 John 4 teaches how we should grow in Love…because God is love!
And, to love is a commandment – THE commandment given by Jesus!

Mark 12:30-31
30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

with or in all Knowledge and Discernment – what does this mean?

Strongs defines these words as:
Knowledge: the knowledge of things ethical and divine
Discernment _ perception, not only by the senses but by the intellect;
cognition, discernment – of moral discernment in ethical matters
King James translates discernment as judgement.

This hearkens in my mind back to the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Proverbds 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

To grow in the GodLike Love, overflowing, but not ‘willy-nilly’ – but with knowledge, understanding, and discernment.
Our loving actions are to be governed by our wisdom – gained by spending time getting to know the One we LOVE and are loved by.
God’s love is unending – but it does have a time limit…we can choose to say no, and die without God.
God’s love is unconditional – but we are to live to show our love in return. “If you love me, keep my commands”
We are not to love without boundaries – boundaries based in the wisdom of God.

Phil 1:10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
this is WHY we are to love with discernment….
approve what is excellent!
1 Thes 5:21
but test everything; hold fast what is good.
Romans 2:18
1 John 4:1

And to be pure and blameless for the day of Christ!

Amos 5:14-15
14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said!
15 Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate!

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

I’m not saying that our salvation rests on our works…or our ‘goodness’
Obviously, the Old Testament verses need to be taken in light of the New Testament grace and righteousness in Christ.

But, we are called to change!

Romans 12:1-2
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

And Paul states that we are to be presented blameless – by Christ

1 Cor 1:4-8
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In fact, the rest of this passage says that very thing:
Phil 1:11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

What are the fruit of righteousness?

Isaiah 32:17
And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.

James 3:17-18
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

Of course, Galatians 5 tells us the Fruit of the Spirit.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

In a webpage Knowing Jesus – there is a compilation of 58 Bible verses about the fruit of righteousness.

Ephesians 5 gives us a ‘simple’ instruction for walking in love. I’m just going to share the first two verses:

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

In case we forget/forgot – God has provided a definition of love for us in His word:
1 Cor 13

For comfort, in case all of this talk about choosing and choices is convicting:

  • 1 Cor 1:8
    He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Phil 2:13
    for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
  • Heb 13:20-21
    20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep,
    21 equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
  • 2 Tim 3:16-17
    16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
    17 so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

The Bottom Line!

Ephesians 2:4-10
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

And I end this with my favorite verse in this section:

Philippians 1:6
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Combined with another favorite:

Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And here is my prayer for those that read this:

Phil 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Here’s a few extras!
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/161988917825079202/
http://totallytots.blogspot.com/2011/06/in-my-heart-philippians-16.html

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission.
The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.