Christmas Fortnight Day 2

In lieu of BB’s today I am just doing the Christmas Fortnight.  As I sit here this morning watching the sun move up on the horizon over the still snow-covered ground, I am reminded of Jesus.

This child born in a barn, instead of a palace–

placed in a manger bed instead of an elegant cradle–

greeted by shepherds rather than statesmen and kings—

surrounded by the lowing and bleating of animals rather than orchestral masterpieces.

The one worthy of praise,

“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.”  Psalm 113:3.

Our “Sun” rising in the sky, which Isaiah 60:1-4 paints a picture of so beautifully.  This rising “SUN” is Jesus,

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.”

May Isaiah’s words challenge each of us

to “Arise”,

to “Shine” and

to be the reflection of this “LIGHT”,

whom God sent into our world so long ago–the babe born to die for you and me.

Let His light, that dwells within those who belong to Him, Shine in us as we go about today.

Don’t just keep ‘Christ’ in Christmas but let the ‘Christ’ in YOU be seen

in all you do,

every where,

every day.

If you’re HIS act like it…………. that’s Merry Christmas.

Christmas Fortnight:  Day 1

After such a positive response to the Thankfulness Train, I thought it would be nice to spend this two weeks up to Christmas sharing some of the joys of Christmas.  I’d like to start with the very reason that we celebrate this time of year, without getting into all of the debate about whether or not Christians should even celebrate during this time. I’d like us to simply share the ways that we celebrate Jesus.  Each individual must choose for themselves if and how they will celebrate Christmas.  I celebrate the gift of God’s Son, born of a Virgin, according to the scriptures, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”  Isaiah 7:14  The promised birth of Jesus was the sign that God’s Messiah would arrive on planet Earth and meet the need for Redemption of fallen man.(see Matthew 1:21) God with us, to save us from our sin.   All for me—a sinner!!!  How could we not rejoice that the God of the universe loved us so much that He had “Pre-planned” the solution for our sin even before Adam fell.  Oh, how it takes my breath away to know that I am loved that much.   That Jesus restrained His glory to put on human flesh, to be born, live and die for me.  As the angels declared “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14.  Smile today—celebrate Jesus!!!

Bible Ballistics: Poll?  EXTRA EDITION   December 9, 2013

I just wanted to take this time to ask you each a question as I prepare to go into the new year,  so that our Bible Ballistics may always be useful and pertinent.  I’ve been thinking about taking questions that you would send me (via email or message) and answering one question a month or maybe every 5^th Sunday.  If you like this idea, please comment or respond to me via email or message and let me know if this is something that would interest you and if you’d like to have it once a month or once a quarter—the 5^th Sunday.  You can include your questions or send them later.  I want to know if this would be something that could meet your needs and be useful as we take this journey together through Bible Ballistics.  Thank you for all your prayers, likes, shares and words of encouragement.  I am in awe of what GOD is doing through this simple ministry and thank Him for the privilege of sharing time and God’s Word with you each week.  Again thanks for all your help and input.  I look forward to hearing from you soon.

I love being in His service & love each of you for sharing this ministry with me.

In His Service,

Blanche

Bible Ballistics: Mighty God? December 8, 2013 Vol. 3 No. 4

As you remember we are spending this month of December looking at the names for Jesus as referred to in Isaiah 9:6,

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” 

We see the promise of a “child”, a son—a promise’s fulfillment, which we celebrate during this Christmas time.  The birth of the Savior, Jesus, who brought us the salvation that we can’t live without, literally.  We looked last week at the first of the four main descriptions of Jesus in this passage, ‘Wonderful Counselor’.  We’ll continue this week looking at the second of these: Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

“The Mighty God” is our focus for today.  As we consider this, our normal inclination is to look at “mighty” and “God” and we kind of just gloss over the “the”!!!!  Well, I believe it’s there for a reason.  ‘The’ is the definite article, which makes a distinction between “a mighty God” which would be one among many and “THE mighty God” indicating that He alone is God. He is “THE” mighty God in contrast to and superiority over anyone or anything else.  Our Savior and Lord IS THE MIGHTY GOD!!  He’s not “a” god—HE IS GOD.

Colossians 1:15-17 declares this of Jesus, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 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: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

This fact is also stated clearly in

John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” 

And if you remember Genesis 1:1 we know that

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” 

God created—our God, and according to Colossians and John’s Gospel, Jesus created.  So Jesus must be God.  But John made it certain with the very words of Jesus Himself.

In John 10:30 Jesus says, “I and my Father are one.” 

All of this out of “the”, who would have thought of that.  But let’s go on to the rest.  He is the “Mighty God”.  As we’ve already addressed His deity, what can we learn from the ‘mighty’ part?  What does scripture tell us about our ‘Mighty’ God, and His ‘Mighty’ Son, Jesus?

The first verse that comes to my mind is Ephesians 6:10,

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” 

We can be strong “in the Lord” because of HIS power and might.

Deuteronomy 7:21 “Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.”

Joshua 4:24, “That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever.”

Job 36:5, “Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.”

Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”

And of Jesus in the New Testament,

Luke 19:37 says, “And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;”

Luke 9:43, “And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,”

John 1:9-14 reveals not only the creative power of Jesus over ‘nature’, but also His creative power in that He “makes/transforms” us into the ‘Sons of God’.

“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” 

Here John reveals the power of God in Jesus

—He was/is light (the essence and substance of energy—creative energy)

—He made the world—He came into His own world

—He accepted rejection—But He SAVES those who accept HIM, to those that believe on His name (His name being that which represents His person, His power and His purpose as redeemer)

—He became flesh and dwelt among US

—He revealed HIMSELF to those who would receive Him

—He was/is full of grace and truth.

Remember Philippians 2:6

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made HIMSELF of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant…..”

In summary, Jesus IS GOD, the MIGHTY GOD, CREATOR, SAVIOR and REDEEMER.  What will you do with “the Mighty God”?  He came for you and me –born to die for ME, for YOU.  His power is there for YOU!!!!

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”  #21

I’m sitting here this morning looking at the lovely blanket of white, and I can’t help but think of the awesome power and might of God our Creator.  It’s a cold 16 degrees with a blanket of sleet, ice and snow on the ground. How amazing that all of our intelligence and technology can forecast the weather, but can’t “control” it.  God is truly in control, whether we pay attention and acknowledge it or not.

Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

 God’s power keeps this old world spinning and nothing catches Him by surprise, not even the weather.

Parts of Job 38:28-4:2 say, “Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.”  …. Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said, 2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.” 

Who??? God or man??

In a nutshell, God is asking Job in this entire passage what man can do about creation?  The answer—not much!!!

Psalm 100:3-4, “Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

The answer? “it is He that hath made us and NOT we ourselves”.

So?  Here’s our shot for the day???? God IS God—He IS IN CONTROL—whether we acknowledge it or not!!!

So??????  “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  Proverbs 3:6.  Trust God in ALL things!  Trust in His power and might. He will take care of You!!