Category Archives: The Manger To The Cross

A Christmas Fortnight??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #300

14 Saturday Dec 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, 'Tis The Season?, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Father's Love, A heart of faith, By Him We Live, By His Grace, Christ IS Alive!, Christmas, Christmas IS Jesus, Christmas IS?, Come to Jesus, Come To Worship HIM, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Knows, Jesus lives today!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Joy Is Contagious!, Joy To The World?, Judgment Is Coming, NOT the world's wisdom, Now is the time...., Ready or NOT Here Jesus Comes!, Real Beauty, Redemption Through HIS Blood, That They May Know, The Babe born KING, The Gospel, The greatest gift!!!, The Joy of The Lord!, The Light of The Word IS Jesus, The LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT Reigneth!, The manger leads to the cross, The Manger To The Cross, The Name of Jesus?

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A Christmas Fortnight???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #300

Continuing the reposts for Christmas due to my injured finger.

Bible Ballistics: BBs #121 A Christmas Fortnight-Cardinals and Christmas Cactus?

I love the wonderful creation of God: the trees, grass, clouds and the sunshine, the rain and snow– all wonders of God’s amazing creation.  And two of my favorite things sing the joy of Christmas to my heart: a joy of the Father’s handiwork in this awesome world — “cardinals” and “Christmas Cactus”.  They just sing “Glory to God” to my heart.  I love watching the cardinals at my feeders, and at the window where I watch them, the lovely cactus blooming–which God made so lovely– to bring joy to our hearts.  That it puts out it’s lovely pink flowers at this wondrous time of year—in winter—is a reminder that even death brings life!!!  The deadness of winter and the deadness of “sin” can receive new life.

Jesus came that we might have life.  Do you see it?  Paul reminds us of the reality in Romans 1:16-20,

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed

from faith to faith:

as it is written,

The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven

against all ungodliness

and unrighteousness

of men,

who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God

is manifest in them;

for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him

from the creation of the world

are clearly seen,

being understood by the things that are made,

even his eternal power and Godhead;

so that they are without excuse:”

The ‘just shall live by faith’!!!  Faith in the great corner stone—Jesus!!  We don’t believe because we are “JUST”, but we are made just because we have believed in what Jesus came to do:  to be born of a virgin, to live a sinless life in a sinful world with a body of flesh, to die for sins he didn’t commit, to be buried and to rise again, so that we would know that it is Jesus, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” (Col. 1:14)

This is why I celebrate HIS coming to earth as a baby boy.  Not just the story but also the person of Jesus Christ–who came for me, and for YOU.  He who was, is and ever will be the only way—He said so Himself in response to Thomas’ question in John 14:5-6:

“Thomas saith unto him,

Lord, we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  One way—Only One Way!!!

Peter reiterated this in response to those questioning the miracle of the lame man in Acts 4.

Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”

No other way but Jesus.  The Lord who created my lovely cardinals, who makes the lovely cactus bloom in winter—that Lord and creator came as a baby to die on a cross for YOU!!!  Won’t you take heart from the beauty and look to the wonderful creator who came to give you real LIFE?  I pray that you’ll find Him in Christmas!!!  I also pray that those of us, who already know Him personally, will take joy and pleasure in Him and all of His beauty in creation.  Today and every day—He reminds us of His power and love!

Amen and Amen!!!

The Manger>The Cross??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #164

11 Monday Dec 2023

Posted by in A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Father's Love, Christmas IS Jesus, Christmas IS?, Christmas Ponderings, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., The manger leads to the cross, The Manger To The Cross, The Mind Of Christ, The Only Name That Matters, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Walking by Faith or Sight?, Walking With Jesus, What's The Word?, Where your treasure is--Your heart is!, Who are YOU following?

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The Manger>The Cross??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #164

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet,

saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is, God with us.”               Matthew 1:21-23

Without the cross the manger is, in and of itself, rather insignificant; it’s the story of a baby born in strange and difficult circumstances, but when we consider the truth that Jesus was born to die for our sin, it changes everything!  Jesus then stands out in history as the only ‘God-Man-Savior’ who came that we might have life; even as the angel told Joseph, “thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins”!  Amen, what an amazing gift from God—the greatest gift of all—a “Savior which is Christ The Lord”!

“And the angel said unto them,

Fear not:

for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,

which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born

this day

in the city of David

a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the babe

wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:10-12

The most amazing ‘birth announcement’ in history, Jesus’ birth was proclaimed by angels, unto the lowliest of men, shepherds who were tending their sheep; and the announcement was totally amazing, so much so that they were ‘scared to death’, but found out it was ‘life’ that was being shared with them, for the birth being announced, was Jesus’, The Son of God, “THE way, the truth and THE LIFE” for all who would believe and receive His saving grace!  And just FYI, Jesus wasn’t “born in a manger”, He was simply “placed” in the manger, His cradle, so to speak.

“And she brought forth her firstborn son,

and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,

and laid him in a manger;

because there was no room for them

in the inn.”  Luke 2:7

Jesus wasn’t born in a palace, or laid in a golden cradle, or surrounded with people of note; rather he came amongst the lowliest of people, but people who loved God, believed what HE revealed to them, and acted upon it in faith and obedience!  We are faced with the same choice today.  We can believe and receive the God-Man-Savior, or we can reject Him; we can say we believe, we can go to church, we can do good deeds before men, but are we truly walking in the faith, hope and love of The Savior?  Are we willing to ‘leave the sheep’ and pursue the New Born King’?  Are we willing to stand in faithful service to our King Jesus, and do what He bids, go where He sends, serve the lowly as He did?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!  For what’s the point, yes, the nativity story is an amazing gift from God, but the real gift was and is that Jesus came to die for you and me; to die for our sin.  Have you seen “your sin” and come to Jesus in repentance and faith to be forgiven of your sin; or are you playing games with God and putting on a show before men?  God knows!  So do you if you really search your heart!  Jesus said it better than I can:

“But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them,

They that be whole

need not a physician,

but they that are sick.

13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth,

I will have mercy,

and not sacrifice:

for I am not come to call the righteous,

but sinners to repentance.”  Matthew 9:13

Ponder these things, as you go through your day, and don’t lose sight of the truth that the “manger” points to the cross; and without the cross we have no hope.

“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them,

Whosoever will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me. 35

For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it;

but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake

and the gospel’s,

the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange

for his soul?

38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words

in this adulterous and sinful generation;

of him also

shall the Son of man be ashamed,

when he cometh

in the glory of his Father                 with the holy angels.”   Mark 8:34-38

Jesus is coming again, and it won’t be in a manger, or on a cross again—He’s coming in “the glory of his Father with the holy angels”!  Are you ready?  Don’t celebrate the manger without the cross.  Jesus came to save you and me, my friend.  Don’t miss the cross, it is our only eternal hope!

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men unto me.

33 This he said,

signifying what death he should die.”   John 12:32-33

He died for you and me—don’t miss it!

Amen and Amen!!!

Christmas Ponderings!!! #4 Bible Ballistics: BBs #769

08 Wednesday Dec 2021

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Amazing Grace, Choose you this day?, Christmas, Christmas IS?, Christmas Ponderings, Confessing Sin, He was born to die for our sin, The Manger To The Cross

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #769   Christmas Ponderings!!! #4

 

Why Christmas?  Why do we really get excited about Christmas?  Why do other get depressed, or sad, or just feel that there is no hope?  Partly, I think, because we are human creatures of emotions, fears and hopes, and we choose each day, sometimes moment by moment how we will walk in this world; we decide if we will choose to believer and receive the hope that is in this great story of the love of God!  While others may fail us, they may disappoint our greatest expectations, or the loss of ones held dear drains us of the desire to press on—I’m here to remind us all, myself included, that God is still ruling today—whether we choose to recognize it or not.  And Jesus IS the greatest gift ever given to mankind!

“And I heard as it were

the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings,

saying,

Alleluia:

for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”   Revelation 19:6

And HE was reigning when Jesus willingly took on the form of a human in Mary’s womb—yes, Jesus was incarnate God in her womb—all for you and me.  And He’s still calling people to Himself.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”   Revelation 3:20

It’s why HE came—“save His people from their sins” (see Matthew 1:21)—it’s why HE still delays HIS return.

“For

God

so loved

the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

 that whosoever believeth

in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God

sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth

on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth

not

is condemned already,

because he hath

not

believed in the name

of the only begotten

Son of God.”   John 3:16-18

The choice has been given to every person, and refusing to choose, is choosing; even while God is calling to you today, because HE loves you and wants you to come to HIM in repentance and faith and find the abundant life that Jesus can and will give to HIS own.  He wants YOU!

“The Lord is not slack

concerning his promise,

as some men count slackness;

but is longsuffering

to us-ward,

not willing that any should perish,

but that all

should come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:9

Oh, how I sit here amazed that God could love me that much—me, a sinner who couldn’t save herself, any more than you can, but HE reached down some 45+ years ago and called me to Himself and made me face my sin—not my supposed goodness that I had done!  Oh, how I praise HIM for HIS truly amazing GRACE to reach down to an angry, selfish, disobedient child (woman) and save my soul, and set my feet on a new path.  And, no, I didn’t get it all right after that, but all that I have done (both good and bad), HE has taken and used it to grow me more into the likeness of Jesus and allowed me to help others see Jesus.  If you don’t know HIM today, I invite you to reach out to Jesus—He is truly knocking at your door right now.  Don’t turn HIM away?

“Forasmuch then

as the children

are partakers of flesh and blood,

he also himself

likewise took part of the same;

that through death

he might destroy him

that had the power of death,

that is,

the devil;

15 And deliver them

who through fear of death

were all their lifetime

subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took

not on him

the nature of angels;

but he took

on him

the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things

it behoved him

to be made like unto his brethren,

that he might be

a merciful

and faithful

 high priest

in things pertaining to God,

to make reconciliation

for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself

hath suffered being tempted,

he is able to succour

them that are tempted.”  Hebrews 2:14-18

“For we have not

an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:15-16

And one last thought in closing for today:

“Pilate therefore said unto him,

Art thou a king then?

Jesus answered,

Thou sayest that I am a king.

To this end was I born,

and for this cause

came I into the world,

that I should bear witness

unto the truth.

Every one that is of the truth

heareth my voice.”  John 18:37

WHO “is of the truth”?  Only those who have come to God through Jesus Christ, The SON!!!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man

cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

Won’t you open your ears and your heart today!!!  Remember, that baby didn’t stay in the manger, HE went to Calvary for you and me:

“Behold,

I stand

at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”

Amen and Amen!!!