Thursday, December 26, 2013

A CHILD…A SON

Suggested Reading: Isaiah 9-10

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Here again is one of David Reynold’s photos from Nazareth Village. Just imagine what was going through the minds of Mary and Joseph as they gazed upon the little one of whom it was written, “Unto us a Child is born. Unto us a Son is given” (Isaiah 9:6).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verses: Isaiah 9:2, 6

The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.

…For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

The border between Zebulon and Naphtali (Isaiah 9:1) is exactly at the town of Capernaum, the place where Jesus lived, taught, and did many miracles for most of the years of His public ministry. Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew lived there. Truly these people saw “a great light!” (read Matthew 4:12-17).

Consider the names of Mary and Joseph’s Child and God’s Son. (1) “Wonderful!” In the Hebrew language this name means, “That which is miraculously accomplished by God.” (2) “Counsellor!” His counsel reveals the heart, mind and will of God. (3) “Mighty God!” No wonder that thousands of Jews, including some of the priests and rulers who believed Isaiah’s prophesies, believed that Jesus is fully God. (4) “Everlasting Father!” Jesus is the Giver of eternal life and is One with the Father (John 10:27-38). (5) “Prince of Peace!” Paul writes of Jesus, “He, Himself is our Peace!” (read Ephesians 2:14-17). Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). And in Isaiah 10:17, in the midst of prophesies of judgement, Isaiah declares that there is hope in “The Light of Israel!”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I thank You for the Child, and thank You for the gift of Your only begotten Son! All glory to You for the One who is 100% human and 100% God! Grant me, I pray, all the grace I need in order to enter more fully into His provisions for me, so that I will glorify You all the more. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Here, on the day after Christmas, it’s good to reflect on Jesus’ birth. Some of our blog partners have mentioned that December 25 is probably not the correct date of His birthday. However, I believe that it’s still a great celebration day. The world does pay attention, in spite of all the trappings of a traditional Christmas, to the fact that Jesus did come to live on the earth. There’s got to be an influence when we hear, as I did in a local mall, the words being sung, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come…born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.” I read that Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, was in the line of Abijah, one of the priestly families who served in the Temple for the month of March (approximately). If Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant immediately after Zechariah’s return home from the Temple, and we know that she was six months along when Mary arrived, then adding Mary’s nine months to Elizabeth’s six months, it would mean that Jesus was born 15 months later. The Shepherds did not pass on the date, neither did Mary and Joseph. The world’s most popular song, “Happy Birthday” had not yet been composed. I think that the message to us is not the date, but the fact that He was “born” and “given!” Let us rejoice and keep celebrating for the next 365 days. That way we’ll be sure to hit the right date. By the way, our friends from the Orthodox Churches celebrate January 6th, and the Armenian Church celebrates January 9th. I’ve just turned to Philippians 4:4 and read, “REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS! AGAIN I WILL SAY, REJOICE!” I refuse to dampen my celebration in any way because of a confusion over dates.

Yours for celebration anyway and just because!

David

P.S. Below is a photo of how some of my family kept warm after their power went out from the ice storm. There are some benefits to living in a high rise apartment along with hundreds of other people. We made room in”The inn” for at least 20 people, children and adults, from time to time in our 1100 square foot apartment. Can you imagine how good a hot tub experience would’ve felt to Mary and Joseph? Left to right – yours truly, David Reynold, our photographer (top picture), Jason Patterson, Ron’s son-in-law, and Adam, Ron’s son. My son Ron is taking the picture. I miss our home north of Kingston, but not too much when I’m soaking in the hot tub. On Christmas day, some of you who receive this by e-mail, received a repeat of the blog from the previous day. I apologize and by 11 a.m. the Christmas day blog was sent out again to all who’ve signed up. Just click on the second “100words.ca” for Dec. 25th.

15 thoughts on “Thursday, December 26, 2013

  1. You deserve the rewards of that hot tub after living your entire life as a faithful servant to the Lord; guiding the world to come to know Jesus, David!! So happy you enjoyed the time with your family!! Thank you for the clarity regarding Jesus’ birth and remembering the importance of His purpose.

    Praise God and thank You, Jesus! You are ‘Wonderful’, our mighty ‘Counselor’, ‘Mighty God’, ‘Everlasting Father’, ‘Prince of Peace’, and ‘Light of Israel’. To You, do we humbly bow, and mightily worship. Wishing all saints a blessed day!

  2. It was a wonderful spirit filled Christmas with all the trimmings. No matter our emotions and life’s events, believing the peace which Christ leaves us, not as the world leaves us, is truly the best gift possible! As we move towards 2014, it is time to reflect upon our lives, to move forward in steadfast growth, to be the person whom Christ intends us to be. Have a great day, to all!

  3. Hey, as Mallala would say, “give the girls a chance”. Did they get a turn too? (I’m sure they did)! A beautiful scene here today. A view of God’s “Treasury of snow”. Trees dressed in white and no footsteps visible in the snow. Have a wonderful day/week.

  4. I like your idea….let us celebrate the next 365 days, that way we will get the day right.

    May the peace of Christ dwell in each heart always.

    It is so beautiful out, only the hand of a creative God could make it so.

    Blessings to all. I am so much s throngs today after my surgery a couple of weeks ago. PRAISE THE LORD!

    Great picture Reynold.

    Enjoy many days in th hot tub!!

  5. So thankful to the Christ Child who came to this earth with the invitation: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. Matthew 11:28.
    Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are still without hydro, and for those who are doing all the repair work.
    Greetings to all in His wonderful Name.

  6. i truly enjoy the music whether at Christmas or other times…..i enjoy hearing and praising the name of JESUS CHRIST. i agree we should focus on whom we worship rather than fret about the date…….focus and pray “thank you” for being born of a human mother, taking on human form so HE could die completely, they pierced His side and only water came out…so He was dead! BUT GOD did not leave the story right there! THey buiried Jesus Christ, in a tomb, a coffin so to speak, put a HUGH stone in front so no one could enter in and maybe steal the body…..NOT GOD!…..He had a real ending to this story, actually it is a “Never ending” story and I am so thankful, when I screw up, my Heavenly Father puts His arms around me and lets me cry and get angry sometimes and upset sometimes and hears me when I say I am sorry and He says, I understand, I still love you and each day My love for you is new and I don’t remember yesterday…….WOW!
    that happens 365 days a year, and i am so THANKFUL for this amazing God!

  7. This past week has been so very special for me as you took us through the scriptures of Jesus coming to earth as our Saviour. And all the pictures you shared from Israel,the place we read over and over again in our New Testament, they have meant so much to me since I was able to go see this land in 2012.with the Rawlings ,Dr Jay and Meridal.Thank You for these special Christmas Blessing you have brought me. I do love you blog.

  8. http://youtu.be/oGUlWa2r-bk howdy brother David, if you have an hour and want to have a clearer understanding of dates concerning the birth of and celebration of our saviour, I highly reccomend this!
    Gods richest blessings on you as you continue to walk beside Him!

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