The Lord is our portion, our daily sustenance. It is good that we maintain a steady diet of His word, with portions that give us nourishment and growth each day. And itās good that we take in an amount that we can absorb and put to good use. And there are no fillers or substitutes that will give us the same spiritual nourishment as Godās word.
Father, thank You for the gift of Your word. As I open Your word and take in its contents, please use it to satisfy my daily hunger for You, Your love, and Your righteousness. May Your word nourish me and fulfill me as You use it to prepare me for the day ahead. In Jesusā name, Amen.
This is getting really bad, and we’re worried that so many may not be ready for the coming avalanche.
Biden and the radical Left are spearheading an insidious war on our Christian faith. Kids are being banned from praying in school, Bible studies are being banned in senior living centers, the Deep State FBI is placing spies in churches, and banks have been forced to report when you buy a Bible. If this continues, we could lose everything we’ve fought for.
We’re fighting back, and we JUST filed a lawsuit against a school that has literally banned students from even appearing to pray. It’s outrageous and unconstitutional.
We’ve never seen anything like it. We’re your last line of defense in court. But we face a major challenge. We’re up against the unlimited, taxpayer-funded resources of Biden and the anti-Christian forces on the Left as they wage relentless attacks on your faith. We need your support NOW.
If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why?
David lived a victorious life for God, but he still wanted to achieve more. So God assured him that the good work He began with David would continue with his offspring. So too, is our work only set for a time, but God uses us within His larger kingdom plan to continue what has been started by others and to pass on our responsibilities to those who follow us.
I used to say that to myself until I grew closer to God and read the Purpose Driven Life! I learned God made me for His joy. I do have purpose here on earth because God said so. Also learned bad things do happen in life,. Knowing God promises to be there no matter all I have to do is ask Him to be with me. I learned there is only one of me and God wouldn’t have it any other way. Knowing You Father God, you’re able to have anything You want. I humblie thank You for Your unconditional love in Your, Son Jesus name Amen
God, thank You for all that You have done and continue to do through me. It is a joy to be able to serve Your kingdom. As I reflect on my work, I thank You for those who came before me, giving me a foundation to build on. Please grant me the grace to raise up others to continue in service to You beyond my years. In Jesusā name, amen.
Trials and tribulations are an inevitable part of the Christian walk and (or) life. There are times where we will be mocked for what we believe and it will leave us weary and down. Christ tells about this in scriptures.
Isaiah too foresaw Jesus, God’s servant, being mocked (Isaiah 50:6). Jesus too predicted that people will mock him (Mark 10:34). It happened to him like that (Matthew 27:29 and 41). So let us remember that the sufferings of Jesus intensified because of mockery he faced.
Proverbs 17:5 ESV Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
Psalm 1:1 ESV / 140 helpful votes Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 Peter 3:3-7 ESV / 96 helpful votes Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, āWhere is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.ā For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
Galatians 6:7 ESV Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Isaiah 57:4 ESV Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit,
Proverbs 15:12 ESV A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
Proverbs 14:6-9 ESV A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.
Ephesians 4:29 ESV Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Romans 12:2 ESV 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.
Ephesians 5:4 ESV
Have you wondered about how much the riches of God’s glory must be? It’s a common phrase that we come across, but we rarely stop to think about what it really signifies. Do the riches of God’s glory come with a limitation? The simple answer is no, they do not. The riches of God’s glory are endless and ever-abounding. When you view this verse from the point-of-view that God’s riches are endless, it totally blows your mind. The amount of strength that we are able to receive from God is boundless. There is no limitation to it.
We are always going to need to be strengthened as we go through this world. There are challenges that await us at every corner. When we think that we have got everything under control, the enemy springs up and tries to make us feel as if we are worthless. There are days where we can easily fend off his attacks, but there are also days where those attacks will take a large toll on us. In those moments, we are unable to pick ourselves up and it becomes very hard to push on.
It is in those moments, we need to call on God for his strength. The reality of the matter is this: our own human strength will never be able to sustain us. If it was, we would have no reason to depend on God. It is only through God, we are able to face the trials of life.
It is evidenced through both Old Testament and New Testament Scripture that God does have the power to heal our physical bodies. Miraculous healings still happen today! Use the following Bible verses to talk to God about your pain and fill your heart with hope.
Father, help me to keep my focus on you when the pain and hurt are overwhelming. Help me to be faithful and to see the good and blessings that surround me. Please strengthen my mind, heart, and body, and heal me today. May the Holy Spirit guide me in peace and comfort today. Amen.
Whatās your favorite thing to cook? I am not a cook! I am a daughter, mother, sister, grandmother, etc: Everything I have cooked over the years I have learned from other people! I do make dinner, breakfast, and lunch! There is a big difference.
A cook is a person who prepares food for eating. In the food industry, a cook is a professional who prepares food for consumption, especially in restaurants. A cook is sometimes referred to as a chef, but the terms are not interchangeable. According to the Cambridge dictionary, a cook is someone who prepares and cooks food, while a chef is a skilled and trained cook who works in a hotel or restaurant.
The correct option is A chef. A chef is a trained professional cook who is skilled in all aspects of food preparation, often focusing on a particular cuisine. Boarding schools and colleges have their own chefs to prepare food for their students.
prepare (food, a dish, or a meal) by combining and heating the ingredients in various ways. “shall I cook dinner tonight?”
God Bless Your Morning in Jesus Christ name Amen
A cook is a professional individual who prepares items for consumption in the food industry, especially in settings such as restaurants. A cook is sometimes referred to as a chef, although in the culinary world, the terms are not interchangeable. Cooks’ responsibilities include preparing food, managing food stations, cleaning the kitchen, and helping the chefs.[1] Restaurants will give a title to the cooks according to their designated stations.[2] Examples are broiler cooks, fry cooks, pantry cooks, and sauce cooks.
Hello, I am Bishop Robert Stearns and I invite you to join me on a transformative journey through our Watchmen on the Wall Course.
Are you a Christian pondering your relationship with Israel, the Jewish people, and the in-depth prophetic scriptures about Israel? Like you, I once had no connection or understanding of these crucial topics. But through studying the Bible and traveling to Israel, my perspective was profoundly changed.
In this course, you’ll cut through misinformation and gain clarity on God’s narrative concerning Israel. With comprehensive modules like ‘Godās Everlasting Covenant with the Jewish People’ and ‘The Miracle of Israel through the Eyes of History,’ you’ll delve deep into these vital subjects. You’ll also learn how to become an informed intercessor and an articulate ambassador for Israel.
I know you want to be a biblically informed, active supporter of Israel. In order to do that, you need clarity and understanding of God’s storyline concerning Israel, and how it applies to you today.
In this course you will:
ā¢Navigate through the maze of misinformation and discover God’s perspective on Israel. ā¢Explore in-depth lessons, from ‘The Miracle of Israel’ to ‘Media Myths’. ā¢Exclusive content: Video teachings, Interactive Community, and more.
Register today to reserve your seat in this course starting on February 1, 2024.
Available Bonusesš: Premium ticket to Eaglesā Wings 3-day East Coast Conference, the Watchman Bundle, and more.
Join thousands from around the world on this incredible journey. Click the link below to become a Watchman on the Wall and transform your understanding and relationship with Israel.
š„ļø Write about your first computer. š„ļø I was in school using these two PCs for school work. That was in the 80’s. I liked them.
Ten Republican senators in Oregon cannot run for reelection, the stateās top court ruled on Feb. 1.
The court found that the senators are banned from running for reelection under a constitutional amendment approved in 2022. The amendment, Ballot Measure 113, states that lawmakers who miss at least 10 legislative days without an excuse cannot seek reelection. The ruling upheld a decision from Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade, a Democrat.
Ms. Griffin-Valade said in 2023 that the senators, under the measure, could not try for another term after their current term. āMy decision honors the votersā intent by enforcing the measure the way it was commonly understood when Oregonian added it to our state constitution,ā she said at the time. The decision sparked a lawsuit from some of the Republican senators, but the Oregon Supreme Court sided with the secretary of state.
āBecause the text is capable of supporting the secretaryās interpretation, and considering the clear import of the ballot title and explanatory statement in this case, we agree with the secretary that voters would have understood the amendment to mean that a legislator with 10 or more unexcused absences during a legislative session would be disqualified from holding legislative office during the immediate next term, rather than the term after that,ā the new ruling reads.
Justices said they used their typical methodology in construing the amendment āby determining how the voters who adopted the amendment most likely understood its text.ā The method included considering the information presented to voters, which stated that voting yes would disqualify legislators with 10 unexcused absences for the term āfollowing current term in office.” āThose other materials expressly and uniformly informed voters that the amendment would apply to a legislatorās immediate next terms of office, indicating that the voters so understood and intended that meaning,ā the justices wrote.
The ruling applies to 10 Republican senators in the 30-seat body.
āIāve said from the beginning my intention was to support the will of the voters,ā Ms. Griffin-Valade said in a statement. āIt was clear to me that voters intended for legislators with a certain number of absences in a legislative session to be immediately disqualified from seeking reelection. Iām thankful to the Oregon Supreme Court for providing clarity on how to implement Measure 113.ā
Senate President Rob Wagner, a Democrat, said that the ruling āmeans that legislators and the public now know how Measure 113 will be applied, and that is good for our state.ā
The senators in question, including state Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, missed more than 10 days in 2023 while protesting Democrat-sponsored bills on abortion and other issues. Their walkout of about six weeks delayed voting because it resulted in a lack of quorum, or the minimum number of senators needed to be present to hold a vote.
āWe obviously disagree with the Supreme Courtās ruling. But more importantly, we are deeply disturbed by the chilling impact this decision will have to crush dissent,ā Mr. Knopp said on Feb. 1.
Oregon voters approved Measure 113 by a wide margin following Republican walkouts in the Legislature in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
The measure says disqualification applies to āthe term following the election after the memberās current term is completed.ā
Mr. Knopp and others had challenged the interpretation of the measure.
Lawyers for the senators said they viewed the measure language as meaning that the lawmakers could run in 2024, since a senatorās term ends in January while elections are held the previous November. They argued the penalty doesnāt take effect immediately, but rather, after theyāve served another term.
All parties in the suit had sought clarity on the issue before the March 2024 filing deadline for candidates who want to run in this yearās election.
Mr. Knopp and three other Republican senators had already launched reelection bids before the case was considered, while two other senators have said that theyāre retiring at the end of their terms. The remaining GOP senators were elected in 2022 for terms that end in early 2027, so they will be barred from running in 2026.
Justice Aruna Masih didnāt participate in the consideration of the case or the decision, the Oregon Supreme Court stated.
All justices on the Oregon Supreme Court were appointed by Democrat governors, either Gov. Kate Brown or Gov. Tina Kotek.
āIām disappointed but canāt say Iām surprised that a court of judges appointed solely by Gov. Brown and Gov. Kotek would rule in favor of political rhetoric rather than their own precedent,ā said state Sen. Suzanne Weber, another lawmaker affected by the ruling. āThe only winners in this case are Democrat politicians and their union backers.ā
Another challenge from Republicans, this one in federal court, is still pending. The court recently denied a preliminary request that would have let three of the Republicans run, a decision the Republicans have appealed.
The International Business Machines Corporation (using the trademark IBM), nicknamed Big Blue, is an American multinational technology corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York and is present in over 175 countries. IBM is the largest industrial research organization in the world, with 19 research facilities across a dozen countries, and held the record for most annual U.S. patents generated by a business for 29 consecutive years from 1993 to 2021.
IBM was founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR), a holding company of manufacturers of record-keeping and measuring systems. It was renamed “International Business Machines” in 1924 and soon became the leading manufacturer of punch-card tabulating systems. During the 1960s and 1970s, the IBM mainframe, exemplified by the System/360, was the dominant computing platform, and the company produced 80 percent of computers in the U.S. and 70 percent of computers worldwide.
After entering the multipurpose microcomputer market in the 1980s with the IBM Personal Computer, which became the most popular standard for personal computers, IBM began losing its market dominance to emerging competitors. Beginning in the 1990s, the company began downsizing its operations and divesting from commodity production, most notably selling its personal computer division to the Lenovo Group in 2005. IBM has since concentrated on computer services, software, supercomputers, and scientific research. Since 2000, its supercomputers have consistently ranked among the most powerful in the world, and in 2001 it became the first company to generate more than 3,000 patents in one year, beating this record in 2008 with over 4,000 patents. As of 2022, the company held 150,000 patents.
As one of the world’s oldest and largest technology companies, IBM has been responsible for several technological innovations, including the automated teller machine (ATM), dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), the floppy disk, the hard disk drive, the magnetic stripe card, the relational database, the SQL programming language, and the UPC barcode. The company has made inroads in advanced computer chips, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and data infrastructure.[citation needed] IBM employees and alumni have won various recognitions for their scientific research and inventions, including six Nobel Prizes and six Turing Awards.
IBM is a publicly traded company and one of 30 companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It is among the world’s largest employers, with over 297,900 employees worldwide in 2022. Despite its relative decline within the technology sector, IBM remains the seventh largest technology company by revenue, and 49th largest overall, according to the 2022 Fortune 500. It is also consistently ranked among the world’s most recognizable, valuable, and admired brands.
Describe a man who has positively impacted your life.
šÆ Jesus the Son of the Living God our Father in heaven! šÆ
JOY! For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12
Jesus The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived
āHe was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or a home. He didnāt go to college. He never visited a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His garments, the only property He had on earth. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one solitary life.ā
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT JESUS Christ is the greatest man who has ever lived in all of history. He changed the world forever. When He was born, He transformed the very way we measure time. He turned aside the river of the ages out of its course and lifted the centuries off their hinges. His birthday, His Incarnation, touched and transformed time. Now the whole world counts time as Before Christ (BC) and AD (Anno Domoni ā in the year of our Lord). Jesus Christ is the central figure of history. More books have been written about Jesus Christ than any other person in history.
The world before Christ was a world without hospitals, a world without charity, a world without respect for the sanctity of life. Hospitals were an innovation of Christianity. Hence the healing symbol of a cross represents hospitals. The nursing profession was founded by Christians, such as Florence Nightingale, out of devotion to Christ. One of historyās greatest humanitarian movements, the International Red Cross, was founded by Christians in response to the Scriptural injunctions to care for the sick and the suffering. Christians such as Dr. Louis Pasteur has fuelled some of the greatest practical advances in medicine. Pasteur has probably saved more lives than any other individual in history through his inventions. The whole concept of charity was a Christian innovation. Benevolence to strangers was unknown before Christ.
The teachings and example of Jesus Christ have inspired the greatest acts of generosity, hospitality, self-sacrifice and service to the poor, sick and needy over two thousand years. Before the advent of Christianity cultures practised slavery and human sacrifice ā even the highly esteemed Greek and Roman civilisations. Child sacrifice was common among the pagan religions. The Aztec Empire in Mexico and Inca Empire in Peru engaged in slavery, ritual rapes and mass human sacrifice. Suttee, the burning of widows on the funeral pyres of their husbands, was common practice in Hindu India before the missionary William Carey arrived. Slavery was eradicated as a result of tireless efforts of Christians such as William Wilberforce and David Livingstone. Respect for life and liberty is a fruit of Christianity. Those promoting abortion, euthanasia and pornography are not offering us progress, but only a return to pre-Christian paganism. The positive impact of Jesus Christ on the world cannot be overstated. Everything from education to human rights, from public health to economic liberty ā the things we cherish most and many of the blessings we take for granted ā can be traced to the spiritual and the cultural revolution begun by Jesus Christ. The irrefutable fact is that Christianity gave birth to modern science. The scientific revolution began with the Protestant Reformation and the Bible played a vital part in the development of scientific discovery. Every major branch of science was developed by a Bible believing Christian. The Bible essentially created science. When we get into a car, start the engine, turn on the lights, drive to a hospital, receive an anaesthetic before an operation, and have an effective operation performed in a germ-free environment, we need to remember that we owe it all to Jesus Christ. āEvery school you see ā public or private, religious or secular ā is a visible reminder of the religion of Jesus Christ. So is every college and university.ā Dr. James Kennedy. The phenomenon of education for the masses has its roots in Christianity. The pursuit of the knowledge of God in a systematic, philosophical and in-depth way gave rise to the phenomenon of universities all around the world. It was the Christian faith that gave rise to the idea of higher learning. Most of the languages of the world were first set to writing by Christian missionaries. The first book in most languages of the world has been the Bible. Christianity has been the greatest force for promoting literacy worldwide throughout history. The Christian missionary movement in the 19th Century pioneered tens of thousands of schools throughout Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands ā providing education for countless millions, even in the remotest jungles, giving the gift of literacy to tribes which had never before had a written language. There is no doubt that Jesus Christ was the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. When He spoke, āThey were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authorityā¦ā
Jesus Christ Within Me Amen
Mark 1:22. The life, teachings and example of Jesus Christ have profoundly influenced the whole development of education worldwide. The Great Commission of our Lord Jesus was to āmake disciples of all nationsā¦teaching themā¦ā
Matthew 28:19-20. From the very beginning Christians were establishing schools. Amongst the many innovations in Christian Education was that these Christian schools taught everybody, including girls and women. Formally educating both sexes was a Christian innovation. The Greeks and Romans before the birth of Christ did not formally educate girls. Only boys from the privileged classes obtained an education. Christianity revolutionised education by making it available to all classes and both genders. Saint Augustine observed that Christian women were better educated than the pagan male philosophers. Every branch and level of education was pioneered by Bible-believing Christians. The concept of graded levels of education was first introduced by a German Lutheran, Johan Sturm, in the 16th Century. Another Lutheran, Frederick Froebel, introduced kindergartens. Education for the deaf was also pioneered by Christians. Before Jesus Christ, human life in the Greek and Roman world was extremely cheap. Infants born with physical defects such as blindness, were commonly abandoned to die in the wilderness. In Greece, blind babies were cast into the sea. Those who survived their blind infancy, or became blind later in childhood, usually became galley slaves, and blind girls were commonly assigned to a life of prostitution. However, Jesus Christ showed particular compassion for the blind, healing many blind individuals during His ministry on earth. When the Roman persecution of the Church ended, in the 4th Century, Christians established asylums for the blind. In the 19th Century, Louis Braille, a dedicated Christian who lost his eyesight at age three, developed the worldās first alphabet that enabled blind people to read with their fingers. Sunday schools were begun by Robert Raikes in 1780 to provide boys and girls from the poorest homes with the gift of literacy and the riches of the Scriptures. The first universities grew out of the monastic missionary centres, which had discipled Europe. The first university lecturers were the missionary monks who had collected books, accumulated libraries, copied manuscripts and were uniquely equipped for advanced academic study. Most universities began as Christian schools, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Oxford, Cambridge, Heidelberg and Basel. The greatest invention in the field of learning, the printing press, by Johannes Gutenberg, was also a fruit of the Christian faith. The first book to be printed was the Bible. The very name āuniversityā testifies to its Christian origins. University means āOne Truthā. Isnāt it time that teachers, lecturers and professors took an in-depth look at the greatest Teacher the world has ever known, the greatest Book ever produced and the Faith which inspired and pioneered every major branch of education and science?. Just consider some of the everyday things which have been inspired by the Bible. The word ābreakfastā comes from the concept of breaking the fast. The word ārestaurantā comes from Jesusā promise in Matthew 11:28 āCome to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.ā The first restaurant founded in Paris in 1766 placed that verse from Matthew 11:28 in bold letters outside this first public establishment dedicated to providing meals in a pleasant atmosphere. The fact that our week consists of seven days is a testimony to the fact of God creating the world in six days, resting on the seventh. The practice of Sunday being a day of rest dates back to the Christian tradition of honouring the first day of the week as the Lordās Day, a testimony to the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week. Every time a newspaper publishes the date, it is a testimony to the centrality of Christ. When we call this the year 2006, we are acknowledging that Jesus Christ is the central focus of history. This is the year 2006 AD, āin the year of our Lordā. The very word āgoodbyeā comes from a parting prayer: God be with ye. The word āholidayā comes from holy day. The Bible, particularly the Ten Commandments, laid the framework and legal foundations of Western civilisation. The very first statute, the first written restriction on the powers of government was the Magna Carta of 1215. It was written by a pastor and thoroughly saturated with Scriptural principles. The Bible has inspired the greatest literature, the greatest art, the greatest examples of architecture, the age of exploration, world missions, the rule of law, the separation of powers, checks and balances, representative government, the sanctity of life, and so much more that we take for granted. Christianity introduced a respect for life and liberty that was completely unknown before the coming of Jesus Christ. In the ancient world, the teachings of Jesus Christ halted infanticide, liberated women, abolished slavery, inspired the first charities and religious organisations, created hospitals, established orphanages and founded schools. In the medieval times, Christianity built libraries, invented colleges and universities, dignified labour and converted the barbarians. In the modern era, Christian teaching has advanced science, inspired political, social and economic freedom, promoted justice and provided the greatest inspiration for the most magnificent achievements in art, architecture, music and literature. Christianity has been the most powerful agent in transforming society for the better across 2000 years. No other religion, philosophy, teaching, nation or movement has changed the world for the better as Christianity has done. Jesus Christ is the greatest Man who has ever lived, and the Bible is the greatest Book ever written. The Bible is the number one best selling book in all of history. It is estimated that well over 30 million Bibles and 100 million New Testaments are printed every year. The Bible has also been translated into more languages than any other book in history.
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Good News of Great Joy Luke 2:8-11 (KJVĀ®) There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
One of my favorite Christmas movies is A Charlie Brown Christmas. Charlie is confused when his friends are obsessed with getting the presents they want and finding a perfect tree for their Christmas play. In frustration, he raises his hands and asks, āIsn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?ā āSure, Charlie Brown,ā Linus replies. āI can tell you what Christmas is all about.ā Linus takes the stage and recites Luke 2:8-14. Linus was wise beyond his years and gave us one of the cornerstones of a biblical worldview: The birth of Jesus is good news of great joy, and itās a message for everyone.
THINK ABOUT IT Find a way to keep the true meaning of Christmas alive all season, even amid busy holiday preparations. You will be enriched, along with all those around you.
PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to dwell among us, reveal Your character, and offer Himself as a sacrifice for our redemption to You. May the reality of the Living Christ be made more greatly known in our midstāa reality more powerful than any opposition. Let Jesus be alive within us in a brand-new way. In His name, amen.
Is it loving to condone sin or participate in it? Itās amazing how often people say that we need to be like Jesus in accepting the behavior of sinners, even though Jesus himself called everyone to repent and to accept the Kingdom. Jesus clearly did not come to leave people in sin, although we hear [ā¦]
Direction & Authority Matthew 1:22-23 (NASBĀ®) Now all this took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: āBehold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,ā which translated means, āGod with us.ā
Matthewās account of Jesusā birth combines two principles. The first is that God gives direction to His people. The second is that Jesusā birth fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, such as this one from Isaiah 7:14. If you donāt believe in divine direction or the authority of Scripture, Matthewās writing will be nothing more than a work of fiction, too fantastic to believe. What about you? Do you believe that God gives direction to His people? Scripture says that He does, and I have seen it proven many times. Do you believe that Scripture is true and has authority? I admit I donāt understand every passage of the Bible, but I believe it and choose to give it authority over my life.
THINK ABOUT IT In this season of tinsel and cookies, letās pause to consider if our lives truly reflect belief in Godās Word and dependence on the loving direction He gives His people.
PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus into the earth. Awaken my ears to listen and my heart to obey. I choose to cooperate with Your Word, yield to Your direction, and submit my will to Yours. Give me strength to complete the course You have created me for. In Jesusā name, amen.
Amen
Vayeishev
Genesis 37:1-40:23 This action-packed portion tells the story of Josephās sale and early years in Egypt, before his rise to fame and fortune. Josephās dreams and the attention he garners from his father prompt his brothersā jealousy, and they set out to destroy him. Initially throwing him in a pit, they fish him out, sell him to traders heading towards Egypt, and trick their father into believing Joseph had been killed. Joseph rises to prominence in his masterās household until his spurned mistress gets him jailed. There, he interprets dreams for two other prisoners. Meanwhile, back in Canaan, we read of Judahās marriage, and the efforts he makes to find a match for his children.
Virtual Classroom Discussion:
Joseph and his Brothers
If the Torah does not include superfluous details, why do you think the story of the stranger redirecting Joseph towards his brothers is included in the Torah?
The Sale of Joseph
With the many players mentioned in the text and the ambiguous pronouns, this question has troubled Jewish scholars for centuries: who sells Joseph to whom?
Human Trafficking Survivor; God and Country, Without God There is No Country/ Judeo-Christian / America Belongs to God 