Short Christmas Greeting From Woody and Sarah

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness....That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world."  (From John 1)

 

"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us"-------- and He still does!

 

I pray that the "Life," which is Jesus Christ, and Jesus, Who said, "I am the Light of the world," Who continually, "shines in the darkness," will shine forth from you today------- and always. 

 

Have a Great Christmas in Him.

 

Woody and Sarah

 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Another Week Four Advent Reading: Revelation 21:1-4

 "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away....And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (From Revelation 21:1 & 4)

 

Titus 2:11 declares, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men," yes, "all men."  This, "grace of God that brings salvation," is Jesus Christ, Who in His Blood, His Death, His resurrection, His Ascension to, "reign forever and ever," Alone insures our text.  No death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain, all this is awaiting the person whose life is totally surrendered only to the One Who is, "the grace of God," Himself, Jesus Christ.  But never forget the journey which made all this possible. 

 

The journey of our Lord Jesus was really quite short, from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, just a few miles.  He went to Egypt to escape a death sentence. He lived in the Galilee growing up, working first as Joseph's apprentice, journeyman, then master carpenter, and during the years of teaching, healing, "going about doing good," training disciples, He traveled through the Galilee region----------------- but always, always toward Jerusalem.  

 

Jesus was born to die.  Man sees his own purpose quite differently.  The purpose of life to man is that he is born, grows up, establishes a career, maybe gets married, has children, retires, then, and only then, and only because he has no choice, he dies.  Jesus knew from the beginning, however, the Cross was before Him, even while He planed wood for a cabinet, even when the people, "....were about to come and take Him by force to make Him a king...," it was the Cross, always the Cross, "....He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem." 

 

Because of Jesus' faithful journey, there is, "a new heaven and a new earth," awaiting you and me.  Because of the Cross of Jesus there will be, "no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying,.. no more pain," the purpose of that journey so very long ago--------------- from Bethlehem to Jerusalem.

   

Another Advent Prayer: "Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the paths of Thine Only-begotten Son: that we may worthily serve Thee with hearts purified by His coming: Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.  Amen."

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See an article on the greatest injustice in America in our time @

www.apf327.blogspot.com

 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

A Week Four Advent Reading: Romans 8:18-25

"For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God-- that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory (literally, "into the liberty of the glory") of the children of God." (NASB)

 

Here is another Advent Scripture which refers to the future.  Much of the doldrums in Christianity today is due to the absence of future thinking, future preparing, a looking for and longing for that, "future and a hope," of which Jeremiah spoke.  

 

Barnes says of our text, "Perhaps there is not a passage in the New Testament that has been deemed more difficult of interpretation than this; and after all the labors bestowed on it by critics, still there is no explanation proposed which is perfectly satisfactory...."  I don't presume to be any more insightful, but it seems to me that the Word of God is saying something here of the Church.  There is a, "liberty of glory," still awaiting, "all creation," which is directly related to the, "revealing of the sons of God"--- the Church. 

 

The NLT says, "For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are....All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay."  It is, "all creation," not just man.  The earth has been under the curse of Adam since the Fall, "Cursed is the ground because of you....  Later in our text we read, "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now" (NIV).  It was the, "children of God," who brought the curse on all creation.  It will be, "the revealing of the sons of God," which will free, "the creation... from its slavery to corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God." 

 

Our text says that creation has been groaning for its liberation at the Second Appearing of Jesus Christ.  The regrettable commentary on man is that there were those who did not want Jesus the first time, and, some don't want Jesus a second time.  But to all He says----------- "I'll be back."

  

Liturgical Prayer for December 22:  "O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, Come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust."  Amen.

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Read of the escalating attacks on Israel from Gaza:

www.apf327.blogspot.com 

 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"For All The Saints-- Thy Name, Oh Jesus, Be Forever Blessed"

"Then Job answered, 'No doubt you are the [only wise] people [in the world], and wisdom will die with you!'" (Job 12:1, Amplified Bible)

 

Too many modern evangelical and charismatic churches, worship and prayer "movements" carry the air of Job's friends.  "You are the people, and wisdom will die with you!"  They deny the wisdom of previous generations which brought them to this hour.  They think they have "discovered" something which no other generation ever found, and nothing before them is of any relevance or use.  What arrogance.  Most of these "relevance" people are just allowing the world to set the agenda for the Church.  If it were not for the Historic Church, you and I would have nothing today.  Father's purpose always has been, "to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery,...to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the Church...." 

 

No modern preacher or teacher of the Gospel can exceed the great depths of the men and women of previous centuries.  We can learn so much from them.  Likewise, some modern songs, choruses may be "anointed," but none can improve on, "O Come, All Ye Faithful," or, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God All Mighty."  Living in the Church of the past?--- no, just bringing that Church with me, and the realization that I am a part of that Church and that Church a part of me.  This Christmas Season, I have an even greater appreciation for our Tradition; therefore, "For all the saints, who from their labors rest, who Thee by faith before the world confess, Thy Name, Oh Jesus, be forever blessed, Alleluia, Alleluia!"    

 

A "Traditional" Advent Prayer:  "We beseech Thee to listen to our prayers, Lord Jesus Christ, and by the grace of Thy coming enlighten darkened minds: Thou who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.  Amen."

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Follow up note coming on Washington, DC, Mission for 2011 

 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Fourth Week of Advent Readings: Isaiah 52:7-11 & Mal. 3:1-5

"The watchmen shout and sing with joy, for before their very eyes they see the Lord returning to Jerusalem.  Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song, for the Lord has comforted his people.  He has redeemed Jerusalem." (Isaiah 52: 8,9-NLT)

Most people do not want to, "see Jesus returning to Jerusalem," because that would put an end to their self-imposed agnosticism, selfishness, thinking, philosophy, life style.  When the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ, returns everything will change for the disobedient, no more excuses, no more self-justification.  It will be too late.  The time for repentance, correction, "getting it right" will be over.  If Jesus Christ's, "returning to Jerusalem," is not on our agenda or in our plans, they are doomed.

Jesus appeared the first time in Bethlehem as a helpless baby.  Jesus will appear the second time in Jerusalem as The Conquering King.  We are headed for Jerusalem, dear friend, not Washington, DC, not Berlin, not Tokyo, not Mogadishu .  "Behold, He is coming...and every eye will see Him....And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him."  National self-centeredness will be replaced by Christ-Centeredness.  Those whose lives were spent fulfilling their own lusts, "will mourn because of Him."  Those whose lives were spent in living, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven," will, "break into joyful song."

"'Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to His Temple.  The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,' says the Lord of Heaven's Armies.  'But who will be able to endure it when He comes?  Who will be able to stand and face Him when He appears?  For He will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes.  He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away dross'" (Mal. 3).  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I have no other prayer today but that my ears may hear and my eyes may see.  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

Devotional Delay

I am sending this while I am able.  I have been having computer, Internet problems; hence, the delay in the devotionals.  If things work out, I will send one later today. 

Woody

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

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