‘Away in a manager’ was the Christmas song my precious two yr. old would sing as she lay on the floor looking under our lighted tree at baby Jesus on the hay surrounded by Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. She always wondered why the shepherds were there. We would say the Bible tells us in Luke 2 that the angel of the Lord came and His glory shone all around the shepherds in the field while watching their sheep. The Angels told them to fear not but have great joy, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. You will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. . . As the angels were gone back into heaven, the shepherds said, Let’s go into Bethlehem and see what the Lord has made known to us.. With haste they came and found Mary, Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. After seeing Him they returned, glorifying and praising God and told abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child.” Many years have passed since our child asked us about those shepherds and what were they doing there in the manager next to baby Jesus. Today after years of reading and digesting God’s Word, I have learned more about the shepherd/lamb connection. When a lamb is born who is there to attend to the birth? The shepherd is the overseer! Did you know there was only one field (and it was located in Bethlehem) where the sacrificial lambs were raised, kept, and prepared for the Jerusalem Temple to be sacrificed for the sins of the people. In John 1:29 he says, “Behold the LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.” Rev.7:17 “the LAMB in the center of the throne shall be their SHEPHERD, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and GOD shall wipe every tear from their eyes.”
Author: Barbara Jones
THE LIVING GOD #GIFT
Have you completed your #gift #giving for this #Christmas? We had an early #family time of #renewal, #celebration, #food, #tree trimming, and #sharing of our love for one another with a thoughtful personalized gift exchange at the finale for all of us between 18 months and 80 yrs. I think that was a moving picture of the joy that we could share when we all get to be with our Heavenly Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Heaven who has made it possible because of the most precious, valuable, sacrificial gift which the great I AM has given to us. This year I watched as everyone opened their gifts, and were politely saying, “Thank you” Then there was Gabe at the realm of his adventurous 18 months, who would open a present and toss it aside (unless it had wheels). Sound familiar? Some of the best gifts we receive are very understated. Yet, I see people rejecting and throwing aside a gift which holds the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven all because they want “Hoopalah” and want it right now! Yes, many adults even at 80 can still cast aside GOD’s GIFT. “GOD who is rich…..in mercy, with His great love with which HE LOVED US, even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ (by grace we are saved) and has made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: so that in ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us though Christ Jesus. For by grace are we saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD” Have you accepted His Gift this year?
THE LIVING GOD #LIGHTS
Do you put up #lights for #Christmas? I am amazed by the million lights on #homes that #families engineer to enter in the Festive Lighting Contest on TV. The people have computerized their lights with special effects timed to perfection. This is quite a phenomenon! We are all drawn to the light.. Sometimes we just want out of the dark and need light to find our path. What did Jesus say about light in John 8:12 “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the LIGHT OF LIFE !” CHRIST LIGHTS THE WHOLE WORLD.… Now the light of GOD is not limited to forms of dancing, strobing, pulsing, twinkling, or a lazier beam! YESHUA, JESUS CHRIST, MESSIAH IS LIGHT. GODS’ LIGHT cannot be quenched, covered, turned off for HE IS EVERLASTING. GOD does not change, but we do. By His Light we can walk His path or choose to walk alone in the dark. I have seen many landscapes with various terrains while walking through a lifetime of trials through sickness, accidents, storms, deaths, political and financial challenges. From the valleys of sorrow to the exhilarating heights of joy, I have observed and felt the ever present LIGHT OF THE LORD. Some of the shadows that were cast have brought me to my knees. Some daybreaks brought singing in my soul. Some high noons were scorching with the heat but destroyed the mold. Some sunsets were so gloriously ablaze with majesty across the horizon that it stopped me in my tracts. I know the light is ever present and unchanging, but all my life and circumstances are ever changing. GOD’s LIGHT IS EVER PRESENT, UNCHANGING, the SUN. My husband, Tommy used to close every written communication with, “KEEP the SON IN YOUR EYES” I can truly say, “THE LIVING GOD – LIGHTS UP MY LIFE”
THE LIVING GOD #COMFORTER
After eating a delicious Thanksgiving meal, did you need to relax in the comfort of your easy chair? Webster’s dictionary defines comfort as a state of having relief, cheer, consolation, freedom from pain and suffering. Now that sounds like a state in which we all would like to find ourselves. You may enjoy good music, a great ball game, beautiful sunset, or an intriguing novel to find your comfort zone, but how long does it last? How long does a comforting good hug last? My grandson gives great big memorable hugs, but he is many miles away now and those hugs are few and far between. What a comfort to me that God said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Heb.13:5 Has anyone ever comforted you during a stressful time in your life? May I share my COMFORTER with YOU… during your time of fear…despair…pain…anguish….disappointment….tragedy….Is.40:1 “COMFORT YOU. COMFORT YOU my people, said your GOD” ..Ps.23 “The LORD IS MY SHEPHERD: I SHALL NOT WANT….though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for LORD IS WITH ME, thy rod and thy staff they COMFORT ME.“….Is.49:13″Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD HAS COMFORTED HIS PEOPLE, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.” … The LIVING GOD’S COMFORT IS EVERLASTING .…Is.38:19,20 “The living, the living, he shall praise the Lord, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. The LORD IS READY TO SAVE ME”
THE LIVING GOD #SATISFIES
This time of the year, our thoughts turn to a delicious meal that satisfies our taste palette. What is your favorite dish during the holidays? Is it sweet or savory? Do you get a sugar rush or prefer the meat and potatoes? How long does that satisfaction last for you? I can remember my mother cooking weeks ahead for all the family gatherings at our home. She would always ask me what was my favorite and I had the same answer year after year…”I love the fresh fruit salad” Now she spent hours cooking the casseroles, turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, hot yeast rolls, pies and cakes which were all deliciously satisfying to the adults, but I just wanted to rush outside to play ball with my cousins. The most gratifying part of the holiday experience for me was fellowship with my family. Do you have an eternal family? Are you satisfied this season? “This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: He forgives all your iniquities;….. redeems your life from destruction and crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; LORD SATISFIES your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.” Ps.102, 103 During my formative years, our church family would sing, “I am satisfied, I am satisfied, I am satisfied with Jesus; but the question comes to me, ‘Is my SAVIOR SATISFIED WITH ME?” PS.91:14-16 “Because you set your love upon Me, I will deliver you: I will set you on high because you have known my name. Call on Me, and I will answer: I will be with you in trouble; I will deliver and honor you with long life I WILL SATISFY YOU and show you My SALVATION” ...Jeremiah31:14 “My people shall be SATISFIED with My goodness, declares the LORD”
THE LIVING GOD #BREAD
Thanksgiving conjures up many thoughts of food such as turkey, bread stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Each year there seems to be new food recipes with various spices, herbs, and alternate preparations for tasty meals. While watching the food channels, I have observed many new ways to prepare delicious dishes; however, my family likes the same bread stuffing year after year. Bread is the staff of life and I am especially thankful this year to have been enlightened by Jonathan Cahn to Hebrew words and their meanings. The word for house is beit and bread is lechem. The place of Jesus, Messiah’s birth is Bethlehem (Beit lechem – the House of Bread) Jesus says in John 6? “My Father gives you the true bread from heaven…I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE; the one that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst…….he that believes on Me has everlasting life. I AM THAT BREAD OF LIFE. ” Matt.6:11 “Give us this day our DAILY BREAD”
SHOUT – Genesis 1:6-8
THE LIVING GOD #LEADS
Have you ever tried to lead a horse? When I was eleven years old, I was living in Denver where my Uncle Roy owned a Race and Rodeo business. His store had a huge neon sign on top of the store with a cowboy riding a quarter horse while lassoing a running calf. I loved seeing the fancy handmade leather saddles being made on site and checking out the luxury horse trailers he sold in the parking lot, but my favorite pass time was observing the beautiful horses stabled on the acreage behind the store. One day, my uncle saw me watching the horses that had just come in from their workout and he said, “Barbara Ruth (I was named after his wife, Aunt Ruth) come lead those horses around the corral for a cool down” I was thrilled! I was walking three thorough bred magnificent horses when my father seemingly came from nowhere jumping over the fence to grab the horses’ reins saying “Get out quickly – duck under the gate!” After returning the horses to the stables, I heard him tell his brother, “Do not ever put my daughter in harms way again!” That day, I learned a life lesson about leading. I was thrilled and excited to be trusted with precious very expensive beautiful horses, but my father knew I was not prepared to handle those high spirited animals. My father was watching after me that day even when I was oblivious to him..”Even there shall GOD’S HAND LEAD ME, and His right hand shall hold me.” Ps.139:10 From that day to this one, I have seen, felt, and heard my heavenly Father leading. “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then GOD knew my path” Ps.142:3 ” I have handed the reins of my life over to God, the Father..”So the LORD DID LEAD HIM, and there was no strange god with him”Deut.32:12 “Search me, O GOD, know my heart, test me, and know my thoughts: see if there is any painful way in me, and LEAD ME IN THE EVERLASTING WAY.” Ps.139:23,24