Names of Jesus

Christ … Son of God

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The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.  Luke 1:35

He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.”  Matthew 2:15

υἱός

huios

  • son of God

    1. used to describe Adam (Lk. 3:38)

    2. used to describe those who are born again (Lk. 20:36) and of angels and of Jesus Christ

    3. of those whom God esteems as sons, whom he loves, protects and benefits above others

      1. in the OT used of the Jews

      2. in the NT of Christians

      3. those whose character God, as a loving father, shapes by chastisements (Heb. 12:5-8)

  • Son of God

    1. those who revere God as their father, the pious worshippers of God, those who in character and life resemble God, those who are governed by the Spirit of God, repose the same calm and joyful trust in God which children do in their parents (Rom. 8:14, Gal. 3:26 ), and hereafter in the blessedness and glory of the life eternal will openly wear this dignity of the sons of God. Term used preeminently of Jesus Christ, as enjoying the supreme love of God, united to Him in affectionate intimacy, privy to His saving councils, obedient to the Father’s will in all His acts.

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Mark 1:1

And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”  Acts 9:18-20

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Only Begotten Son

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.  John 1:18

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  John 3:18

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Beloved Son

This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

“BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN;
MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL–PLEASED;
I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM,
AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES.  Matthew 12:17-19

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”  Matthew 17:5

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1:13-14

His Son

His Beloved

His Only

His One

His Begotten

Father God, may I see through my selfishness to the heart of You, to know the love You hold for Your Son.  Father, should I be able to understand that which is so holy, so powerful, so wonderful, I will begin, just begin, to know the love You have for me, one for whom You sent Your Son to the Cross.  Oh my!  I can barely behold such love.  Thank You for Your precious Gift.  In the Beauty if His Name, I pray.  Amen.

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Christ…The Beginning of the Creation of God

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As Christmas approaches, preparing for God’s Gift, Who came over 2,000 years ago, is the most important part of Christmas.  It is not as though I forget Him the rest of the year, but as the world prepares for the season of Christmas, so much happens…shopping, decorating, spending more money than one has by taking out loans or using credit, preparing a large meal for lot of family and friends, parties, etc.  The older I become, the less Christmas looks like all of that for me.  It is a holy day, not a holiday, for me.  Yes, I do a few of those Christmas things, but very little.  I am drawn closer to the Lord.  I want to delve into just Who this precious Gift is for me, discovering newness about Jesus all of the time.  I want to live for Him in the ways that He wants me to live.  I want to know Him…to really KNOW Him. 

Jesus is the BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:….”  Revelation 3:14

the Beginning

ἀρχή

archē

that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause

Jesus is the very first, the ultimate start of all that was to come.

of the creation

κτίσις

ktisis

the sum or aggregate of things created

Jesus was the first of all to be created.  Everything else came after Him, through Him, by Him.  Amen. 

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.   John 1:1-2

From Matthew Henry’s Commentary:

“From whom this message was sent. Here our Lord Jesus styles himself the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.

(1.) The Amen, one that is steady and unchangeable in all his purposes and promises, which are all yea, and all amen.

(2.) The faithful and true witness, whose testimony of God to men ought to be received and fully believed, and whose testimony of men to God will be fully believed and regarded, and will be a swift but true witness against all indifferent lukewarm professors.

(3.) The beginning of the creation of God, either of the first creation, and so he is the beginning, that is, the first cause, the Creator, and the Governor of it; or of the second creation, the church; and so he is the head of that body, the first-born from the dead, as it is in ch. 1:5, whence these titles are taken. Christ, having raised up himself by his own divine power, as the head of a new world, raises up dead souls to be a living temple and church to himself.”

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the Seed from which grows the plant

the Acorn from which sprouts an oak tree

an egg from which grows a chick, a duck, a bird

an egg from which come one or more of the mammal species

an egg fertilized becomes a human baby…a mammal species

Beginnings

Growth

Development

Changes

Beauty

Love

Joy

Peace

Compassion

…and so much more…all that is Jesus.

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Jesus is the first, the beginning of all that was, and is, and is to come.

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.   1 John 1:1-4

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.  And He is the head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.  Colossians 1:15-18

First…He always was.  Oh, how fine to know that He is and was, and will always be.  We can trust that He will be with us and for us…for always.

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Our Father, You created me.  Through Your Son, I am adopted into Your Family.  I am Your daughter.  Thank You, thank You.  As Christmas nears, I bow.  Your Son is the greatest Gift I could have ever received in my whole life.  My parents were generous and loved Christmas.  They had fun giving to their children.  You are my Father and loved giving Jesus to me.  How blessed I am.  Nothing can top Jesus as a Gift. Nothing.  You also gifted me (and so many others) with  Your Holy Spirit to teach me, pray for me when I know not what to say, to guide me in Your ways, and so much more.  I feel so blessed this day and know that I never need another gift.  I have the All of all.  I lift up those who do not know You as Lord and Savior.  I pray for their souls, Father.  Thank You for loving us right to Your heart.  You want us to come to You.  I pray that many others will receive the precious gift of salvation in these coming weeks.  Praising You, Father, for Jesus, the Beginning of creation.  In HIs Name, I do pray.  Amen.

 

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Words

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Words…words can be beautiful or not so beautiful.  They come in forms which are read or heard, even touched (as Braille).  Words in the public arena these days seem so harsh, hurtful, grievous to those with eyes to see them and ears to hear them.  Yet…the words I am focusing upon are lovely.  I am choosing to live this day in the midst of a beautiful word-garden.  I want my heart and mind and soul to walk through the garden of kind and gentle words, of peaceful words, words of beauty, generosity, and gratitude, words of God.  I do not want to read or hear those words that hurt my heart or stab at my soul or conflict my mind.  I have chosen only a few as there are so very many.  I place one or two of the definitions alongside them.

Words I like this day:

gossamer: a film of cobwebs floating in air in calm clear weather; something light, delicate, or insubstantial

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  gossamer wings:

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mellifluous: having a smooth rich flow; filled with something that sweetens

efflorescence: the period or state of flowering

felicity: the quality or state of being happy; a pleasing manner or quality especially in art or language

lilt: a spirited and usually cheerful, bouyant song or tune

quintessence: the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form

iridescent: a lustrous rainbow-like play of color caused by differential refraction of light waves

Iridescent Soap Bubble Colorful Bubble Water

halcyon: calm, peaceful; happy, golden

vellichor: the strange wistfulness of used bookstores, which are somehow infused with the passage of time  (an invented word used on social media and gaining usage)

petrichor: the distinctive and pleasant smell that can accompany rain falling on ground baked dry (from Greek words, used in some science fields)

zephyr: a breeze from the west, a gentle breeze

cascading: a steep, usually small, fall of water; especially: one of a series of waterfalls

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Cascading waters, the sound so pleasant to my ear even though I am not near any right now.  They remind me of The Living Water, of Christ Jesus.  He brings sweet grace:  a charming or attractive trait or characteristic; a sense of propriety or right; the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful; and, of course, unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance into our lives, dwelling in our hearts.

The Word of God is the life of my very being.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  John 1:1-4

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14

For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  John 1:16

The lovely words at the top are special, yet it is the Word of God, the Truth, The Word, Christ Jesus Who rains down the truly beautiful words.  He is Truth.  His words bring meaning to the life I walk and live each day.

LORD, I pray I hold fast to the hem of Your garment, that I will completely trust in You, having the faith of the woman who touched Your hem.  When I do let go and go my own way, that is truly not the way I want to be going.  I pray, that as much as I love words themselves, that I will always love The Word far above all else. 

Your words were found, and I ate them,
and Your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by Your Name,
O LORD, God of hosts.  Jeremiah 15:16

Oh, that I will always find Your Words so satisfying and refreshing to my soul.  I desire to be hungry and thirsty for them.  May this be so.  In the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray.  Amen.    

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Spider Web By Elkagye – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4279109

Dragonfly Wings: no credit given

Iridescent Soap Bubble Colorful Bubble Water:  MaxPixel http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/Iridescent-Soap-Bubble-Colorful-Bubble-Water-1891640

Cascading Waterfall 02 by Rick Arbuckle @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/13122275@N08/2481815119/

Reading Jesus

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John 1:1

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Matthew Henry said:  “He is the Word speaking from God to us, and to God for us.  John the Baptist was the voice, but Christ the Word: being the Word, He is the Truth, the Amen, the faithful Witness of the mind of God.”

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.  And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.  1 John 1:1-4 ESV

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Father, I pray I will meditate upon Your Word as if devoured by Its beauty, Its vibrancy, Its call from the depths.  May I hear Your voice in my ears, my heart, my soul.  May I seek You diligently without procrastination or unwillingness.  Oh, Father, I want to please You so.  You, my LORD will command Your lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night Your song shall be with me, and my prayer shall call unto You, my God, the God of my life.  (Psalm 42:8)  I pray in the Name of Your Son, Jesus the Christ.  Amen.

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photo/graphic:  Heartlight

He Came….

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Baby held in fathers hand


But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).  When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His name Jesus.  Matthew 1:20-25

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14

He became flesh.

He dwelt among us.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  John 1:1-5

The Word was God.

In Him is life.

The Light is He.

The true Light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him.   John 1:9-10

This Light was coming.

For to us a Child is born,

to us a Son is given;

and the government shall be upon His shoulder,

and His name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

The Son came and will come again.

And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, Who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.”  Acts 1:10-11

Father God, You have seen us and know we are weak and are sinners.  You chose to gift us by Your Son, Your precious Son.  You came as a Babe that we would see flesh, yet have the ability to chose to receive You or reject You.  I chose, late in life, but early enough, to receive You as my God, my Lord and Savior.  I worship You, glorify Jesus, Immanuel, Son, God with us, and desire to listen and obey the Holy Spirit.  All One yet Three.  I cherish these days because I am Yours.  I cherish the moments when we are quiet together and I am in Your arms.  I cherish You, my Father, my Abba Father.  You have given me the most beautiful gift imaginable.  I pray that those of my family who do not know Jesus as their Savor and their Lord will have open eyes and ears this Christmas season to hear and see that the Babe has come.  I so very much want them to be in Heaven with us, Father.  May the stillness at the manger be in their hearts.  May the calm of the night when the shepherds followed the Star call them to Your Son this night.  May the joy of Christ truly ring in their ears.  And may the Prince of Peace come to rule in their hearts for always, for eternity.  In the Name of the Holy One, I pray.  Amen.

 

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photo:  https://jsbandura.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/safe/

Christmas Coming…

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Where I've Seen Jesus ... in the Midst ...
Christmas coming … Oh! to breathe the air of God as He comes to us as a child, as Immanuel, as the breath of Heaven, as the Way, the Truth, the Life.  

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John 1:1
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.  John 1:9

Oh, to be sensitive and anticipating Christmas coming!

Where I've Seen Jesus ... in the Midst ...

Mary heard and knew Christmas coming:

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  And the virgin’s name was Mary. …”  Luke 1:26-27

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”  Luke 1:31-33


And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”   Luke 1:35

Mary honored Christmas coming:
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.  Luke 1:38

Joseph became aware of and honored his vows for Christmas coming:

… an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”   Matthew 1:20b-21

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called His name Jesus.  Matthew 1:24-25

Elizabeth felt Christmas coming:

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  Luke 1:41-42

John recognized Christmas coming…from the womb:

…the baby leaped in her womb.  Luke 1:41

Zacharias prophesied Christmas coming: 

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
 for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to His people
 in the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
 whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
 to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  Luke 1:76-79

The shepherds saw, heard, and believed Christmas coming:

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:9-12

The angels rejoiced for Christmas coming:

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”  Luke 2:13

Simeon awaited Christmas coming:

And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  Luke 2:26

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen Your Salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”  Luke 2:29-32

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”  Luke 2:34-35

Anna, the prophetess waited, was sensitive to, and then praised Christmas coming:

And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.  Luke 2:38

The wise men saw Christmas coming:

“For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.”  Matthew 2:2b

Prophets prophesied Christmas coming:

Micah – But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.  Micah 5:2

Ezekiel – And I will set up over them one Shepherd, My servant David, and He shall feed them: He shall feed them and be their Shepherd.  Ezekiel 34:23

Hosea – “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; His going out is sure as the dawn; He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”  Hosea 6:3

Isaiah – Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.  Isaiah 7:14

Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”  Isaiah 49:7

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

Christmas coming:

  • in a manger over 2000 years ago
  • in Salvation
  • in Grace
  • in Truth
  • in the Word
  • in a cloud 
  • in my heart each day
  • in the praises of His people
I see Christmas coming.  Christmas comes in the Christ, directly to my heart as my LORD and Savior.  He comes in the quiet of prayer.  He comes in the darkness as the bright and shining Light.  He comes in love and joy.  He comes as the Word.  He comes in a song.  He comes every day, every moment of every day.  Some I miss.  Yet He comes and waits.  I wait with anticipation and adoration.  I feel Christmas coming from the inside-out.  Truly remarkable moments!

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for blessing us with Your One and Only Son.  Thank You for opening the eyes of my heart to truly see Christmas coming.  May I be sensitive to Christ coming, the Holy Spirit within me forever teaching me, praying for me, loving me.  May we each take the time to ponder the Truth of Christmas.  May we each treasure the beauty of Your gift to us.  The Son of Righteousness has come to us, to me.  He is the absolute expression of Your Love to us.  He is our King.  He is our Shepherd.  He is our LORD.  He is the innocence of the Babe in the manger.  He is Birth in me, Rebirth in me.  He is Forgiveness.  He is Love.  He is Salvation.  I thank You, Father, for Your Son… for Christmas Coming.  Amen and Amen.  Selah…
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Simeon Waiting

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Aert_de_Gelder_-_Het_loflied_van_Simeon

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.        Luke 2:25

παράκλησις

paraklēsis

consolation

  • a calling near, summons, (esp. for help)

  • importation, supplication, entreaty

  • exhortation, admonition, encouragement

  • consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment [thus of the Messianic salvation (so the Rabbis call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter)]

  • persuasive discourse, stirring address [instructive, admonitory, conciliatory, powerful hortatory discourse]

Simeon was waiting for the Consoler, the Messiah.  The Holy Spirit was upon him.

Oh, Father, I praise You for giving this man the testament of Your Holy Spirit.  He knew Your will for his life and waited.  Waited!  He knew the gift that You were giving to this world in Your Son.  He let the Holy Spirit lead him into the temple at that very moment.  He knew.  He waited.  Hallelujah!


And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the Law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant Greek bondservant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”  Luke 2:26-32

Simeon prayed.  Simeon was so attuned to God that he believed that God was delivering His Messiah as promised to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.  He knew.  He believed.  He had read the Word and knew God’s promises.

Simeon called Jesus “Your salvation.”  He is.

The Lord has bared His holy arm

before the eyes of all the nations,

and all the ends of the earth shall see

the salvation of our God.  Isaiah 52:10

Simeon called Jesus “a light for revelation.”  He is.

He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also make You a light of the nations
So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”  Isaiah 49:6

Simeon said Jesus was “for glory to Your people Israel.”  He is (although not very many have seen Him…yet).

“In the LORD all the offspring of Israel
shall be justified and shall glory.”  Isaiah 45:25

 The sun shall be no more
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give you light;
but the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.  Isaiah 60:19

Father, I praise You.  You have shown us Simeon in Your Word.  He loved You and spent his days in prayer, seeking Your face.  He came face-to-face with You, by Your Son, Christ Jesus, the Messiah, the Consoler.  He knew that this Child was You.  He knew because He walked with You and fed upon Your Word, upon You.  Oh, LORD, I am so filled with gratitude that You showed me this about Simeon this week.  May I seek Your face each and every day.  May my walk be as You design it, and not in my way.  May light shine upon me from the Sun of Righteousness, revealing Your Truth in and through me.  I thank You, Abba Father, for the most beautiful Gift possible, Your Consolation to me.  You have reminded me that I am to continue to be ‘expectant’ for You to show up in my life at any time, at all times.  In His Name, I pray.  Amen.

 “‘…and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”  Luke 3:6

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Painting–Simeon’s Song of Praise by Aert de Gelder, 1700-1710/Public Domain:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunc_dimittis#/media/File:Aert_de_Gelder_-_Het_loflied_van_Simeon.jpg

Alone With Jesus

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Some times, many times, days just don’t go the way I would have hoped.

I had a tooth with a crown just break off recently.  I needed a new crown and some build up work done to make it right again.  That is not a cheap investment either, but important.  The dentist did not get all the decay so now must redo the whole process again.

I am praying for one who has considered suicide recently.  I just had a two-part series posted on my personal experience with suicide of a friend.  I am saddened for this woman, for her family.

I recently found myself wishing that things were going a bit differently than they were.  I was placing blame all over the place until God reminded me that satan is everywhere desiring to devour me.  I uttered these four words: “Satan, get thou behind me!”

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”  Matthew 16:23

Some days, the road just seems filled with bumps, holes, blockades.  When life feels hard, rather than falling into one of those potholes, I need to be looking for that quiet place to be with Jesus.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.  Matthew 6:6

Jesus sought to be alone at times.  He knew He would meet His Father.  He could lift His heart’s desires, hopes, and even those things that were so heavy upon Him to His Father.

And early in the morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there.  Mark 1:35

David knew this too.

I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
  Psalm 34:4

I want to meet the LORD wherever I am and in all circumstances.  I cannot do that while deep in worldly thoughts.  I need to step aside, away from the world, removing myself from the negativity, the fears, the heaviness, the busyness.

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him.  And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us. Whoever keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit Whom He has given us.  1 John 3:19-24

Father, You are my God and Creator of my soul, my mind, my heart, and my body.  You know all that goes on in and through me, Father.  Thank You for reminding me Whose I am.  I may live in this world, but I am Yours and want to stay connected to You with every breath.  Thank You for guiding me and lighting the candle along what felt, what feels,  like a dark path.  I am walking with You today.  I want to stay here with You.  I pray in the Morning Star’s Name, Jesus.  Amen. 

You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.  Jeremiah 29:13

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Am I an Easter Child?

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I ponder falling deeply in love, more than before, with my Jesus.  Opening God’s Word to the Gospels and Acts to read the life of resurrection with Jesus brings me repeatedly to words such as cleanse, heal, anoint, deliver.  Jesus did these things over and over again.  Resurrection in Him gives me powers unknown other than through Christ Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus called me to wait for the Holy Spirit.  He came.  He lives within me.

As Easter nears, I question my being an Easter person (per Ann Voskamp).  Oh, I am.  I was once lost but have been found, was dead and now live in Christ.  Hallelujah! 

Walking with Him yet in this world can make staying the course as an Easter person, as a Christian true to Christ, not easy.  When I am around those who know NOT Jesus as their LORD and Savoir, I struggle at times when I allow them to try to change me to be more like them, the world, rather than allow Christ to continually mold me into His Image.  I was once of this world and do not want to return to those ways.  I try to let others know my limitations, things I do not want to do, words I do not use, things that are no longer appropriate for me. I want to let them know ME, the me that is His.  I am His.  I am an Easter child.  I have been baptized with Christ and now I live.  I live this day for Him.  I ask His forgiveness when I do not open up and share Whose I am and why I am the way I am.  I want to share my spiritual heart as He surely wants me to.  I do not live wholly for Him before others sometimes and I am ashamed.  I am not ashamed of Him nor the Gospel, but am ashamed of myself.  What happens?  I sink into a hole and cannot get out.  The world begins to engulf me.  I feel like I am drowning.  I do not call for His help.  I should.  I must!  I am sorry, my LORD.  Forgive me.  You know I am Your Easter child.  Hold me and make me whole.  Let me start again.  

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”  John 11:25-26

Living the resurrected life does begin again… can begin again.  Thank You, LORD.  Living the resurrected life calls for dependence, for waiting on the Holy Spirit.  Living the resurrected life is forgiveness, forever knowing that I am His.  I want never to forget this.  Living the resurrected life is prayer, kneeful, faceful praying.  Living the resurrected life is searching, pondering, loving the Truth.  Living the resurrected life is emerging from the shelter of the cocoon, not holding tight within it.  It is spreading my wings into the world, but not being of this world, taking flight as the resurrected Easter child I have been created to be.  I am to be His, to grow, to be molded into the beauty of the LORD.  The world has no influence upon me if and when I walk with Him.  And I stand tall, turn to Him, knowing that I do let Him down, knowing that He forgives and loves me.

As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.  And I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’  If then God gave the same gift to them as He gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”  When they heard these things they fell silent.  And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”  Acts 11:15-18

I am praising You, LORD.  Hallelujah!  You forgive me when I am not worthy.  You love me who does not deserve Your love.  You are God and I love You with my whole heart.  You are the Holy One of Israel Who bought the Israelites from captivity and gave them Promised Land.  You are the Blessed Savior Who has brought me out of the captive world to be Your child, Your child who looks forward to spending Eternity with You.  Oh, I am honored and unworthy at the same time.  Oh, how grateful I am to You.  I am an Easter child.  I pray in the Holy Name of Jesus.  Amen.   

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Give Yourself to Jesus

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For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon His shoulder,
and His name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).  Matthew 1:23

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”  Luke 2:14

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I am grateful, Father, for the beautiful Gift of Your Son.

May I believe with the eyes of faith.

May I see with the eyes of my heart.

May I hear with the ears of my soul.

I come to the manger with the heart of a mother.

The Cross is before me on which I nail my sins, knowing that I am forgiven.

I walk the path You have for me when I stay by Your side.

I am so glad I am Yours…

and am thankful that You are always weaving me into the one You created.

Thank You for leading me to Christ Jesus.

In His Name, I pray.

Amen.

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Thank you, sweet friends, for visiting me here at “Being Woven” as you do and for blessing me with love and comments.

May your Christmas be sweet and your hands be open to receive our Blessed Savior.