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Emmanuel - God with Us...Christmas Meditations - 11/28/2008 8:28:21 PM
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CherishedbyGod
Posts: 2272
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Light Pierced the Darkness!
~The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined~
Isaiah 9:2
Darkness…how dark it had been for hundreds of years! It was a time of political darkness as a cruel king ruled. It was a time of spiritual darkness and social-economical darkness. Palestine was in a state of decline. Hopelessness and despair abounded in many hearts.
Why were You silent, oh God? Why were You silent so long? But, quietly God stirred beneath the darkest of nights. He was born; the long-promised Messiah was brought forth in humble surroundings.
There were only a few during those early years that recognized Him as Emmanuel, God with us. Of those that God so favored, Heavenly praise burst forth from their tongues. And Mary, the mother of Jesus, wondered.
Unnoticed by most, He was born in an obscure town. Under the cover of night His mother and step-father fled with Him to Egypt, fearing the wrath of King Herod who wanted to slaughter Him. When Herod died, back the couple came with the young Jesus and dwelt in a city called Nazareth.
And then, the quiet years, as He grew up. How He must have loved nature and spent much time alone with His Heavenly Father observing the birds, the flowers, the ways of God. Years later He would gently say, in the common language of the day, things such as ~Your Father knows~, ~Will He not take care of you, oh ye of little faith? ~ ~Your Father cares, and knows all of your needs, little ones~. How tender, how kind, this gentle Jesus was!
Finally the time appointed by the Father, for His public appearing, came. ~Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world! ~ John the Baptist cried out upon seeing Jesus. John, the apostle, later wrote of the first public manifestations of Christ to a waiting world:
~In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
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:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
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.
John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ~
John 1: 1-17
Onward to the wilderness, the Holy Spirit drove Him to be tempted by the devil for forty days and nights. He then returned in the power of the Holy Spirit…
~And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears~
Luke 4: 16-21
With these words, He announced, that the greatest Love and Light of the world had come down from Heaven to dwell amongst His creatures – Emmanuel - God with us. It was a fulfillment of the words of Isaiah from hundreds of years earlier of what Jesus Christ came to do….
~The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound~
Isaiah 61:1
He had come! God finally came to this sinful, dark, death-filled earth to fulfill what He promised to do.
~O Come, O Come Emmanuel~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys4YgiZ392Y&feature=related
< Message edited by CherishedbyGod -- 11/28/2008 10:04:06 PM >
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~I would love for you to come and learn about Jesus of Nazareth with me in the Writer's Roundtable Folder~
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RE: Emmanuel - God with Us...Christmas Meditations - 11/29/2008 2:09:03 AM
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dwain
Posts: 103
Joined: 3/4/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: dwain
Are they just words
Wonderful Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father
Emmanuel.
A babe in the world,
a world that He grew to love.
The one true God.
Never of the world,
Yet for love He was in it,
and gave His life for us all.
Did He have blue eyes, brown hair, brown skin?
Did he cry to Mary to be fed?
He was worthy of the best gifts,
and our worship.
He was, is, the best gift.
The Saviour.
The Light that showed the Way,
by the Truth foretold many, many years ago.
We thank you God, Lord, Y'shua.
For the Word of Life, your Name, your Spirit.
You, only you, have the words of eternal life, they are found in You.
You have cleansed us with your word, and we wait
with hope
to see you again.
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http://www.home.earthlink.net/~dwainfred/thegoodnewsofjesuschrist/
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~dwainfred/
Deut. 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
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RE: Emmanuel - God with Us...Christmas Meditations - 11/29/2008 10:14:29 PM
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CherishedbyGod
Posts: 2272
Status: offline
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Oh....Please come and worship with me in song that Jesus is here with us...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymuU76NafrE
_____________________________
~I would love for you to come and learn about Jesus of Nazareth with me in the Writer's Roundtable Folder~
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RE: Emmanuel - God with Us...Christmas Meditations - 11/30/2008 3:10:10 PM
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CherishedbyGod
Posts: 2272
Status: offline
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The Angels Sang
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men! (Luke 2: 8-11, 13-14 NKJV).
All time and eternity was poised for this moment; the moment when The Savior, Christ the Lord was born on earth.
It was a very dark and fearful time upon the known world when Jesus came to us. Emmanuel – God with us. For around four hundred years, no spiritual prophet had spoken. It appeared as if God was silent. The people of Palestine were very oppressed due to the wickedness of Herod the Great.
And then…God came to earth in the form of an infant. The Lord of Glory finally graced this earth with His human Presence.
We should not wonder that God sent angels to announce His birth. God only knows how long they had been worshipping Him in Heaven before He came to earth. He gives us faint glimpses into the Heavenly scene of worship and adoration in Isaiah 6: 1-3 – "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"
And now, during this unparalleled time in history they are unable to contain their wonder and adoration as they behold the Lord of Glory coming to show sinful man what they have known all along; just how beautiful God really is.
Sing, choir of angels,
Sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of Heaven above.
Glory to God
Glory in the highest
Oh, come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
_____________________________
~I would love for you to come and learn about Jesus of Nazareth with me in the Writer's Roundtable Folder~
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RE: Emmanuel - God with Us...Christmas Meditations - 12/1/2008 7:11:27 PM
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CherishedbyGod
Posts: 2272
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I consider my writings a form of worship to our God. As I study and learn of His heart and ways in the Word of God, I am often moved to write what I learn, so that I might share with others the precious treasures of God I discover.
The past two years I have gone through the most sorrowful time of my life and have not written much. As I begin to emerge from my dark night of the soul, with joy I discover that the desire to write is returning.
And so, I just wanted to share a song with my readers; kind of a re-dedication of the gifts He has give me...an offering of joy I give back to Him.
I would be blessed if you listen with me to "Christmas Offering" by Casting Crowns because it is what is in my heart this Christmastime, 2008...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuR3Npi5uM8&feature=related
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~I would love for you to come and learn about Jesus of Nazareth with me in the Writer's Roundtable Folder~
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RE: Emmanuel - God with Us...Christmas Meditations - 12/2/2008 8:54:17 PM
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CherishedbyGod
Posts: 2272
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The Son and the Child
~But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting~
Micah 5:2
Full of wonder and awe, my heart becomes each Christmastime as I ponder the mystery of the incarnation. It seems each year His story becomes ever more precious as He reveals, through the Holy Spirit, the ways of God to my ever-inquisitive mind.
I thank Thee, O, God, for keeping Your story alive in my heart and in the hearts of millions of Your adoring children. Forever, please, keep our hearts seeking You and your ways so that our worship will never become old, but ever childlike as we ponder Your beauty and glory…
Bethlehem was a small town in Judea, a little south of Jerusalem. Hardly a town one would expect a King to be born in. Especially this King, Who all of the prophets had spoken of for thousands of years. The name Bethlehem means “house of bread” and the name Ephratah means fruitful. In Old Testament times, names revealed character.
As we ponder our Lord’s character, the Christian would gladly tell the whole world that Jesus, as the “bread of life”, truly sustains us and satiates our hunger. He is all the hungry soul needs to keep one full and needing nothing more. He satisfies us with His beauty. He is also fruitful. Fruit represents, amongst other things, the character of God such as love, joy peace, goodness and gentleness. Oh, what a gentle God this Jesus is; how good and kind bringing such peace and joy to our hearts!
However, let us note again that Bethlehem was a small town and such a fact reveals more of the ways of God. How can it be that this One, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting, chose to be born in a small town?
These are His ways! For this King, Who is the adoration of Heaven, Who angels veil their face before because of His holiness and beauty is a humble King. God, our Creator, the everlasting One, chose the lowly, the insignificant, the unnoticed, to begin to unveil before our adoring eyes, the greatest story ever told; His story, the story of Emmanuel, God with us.
He still comes, for the most part, to the lowly, the heartbroken, the needy, the sinners. He still comes to the outcasts, the rejects and those that others look down upon. He still comes to the small and insignificant. My dear reader…you that know you are needy, you that feel insignificant…He longs to come to you and that you come to Him. His arms are outstretched to you.
~ The Child was born in Bethlehem but the Son was from everlasting ~
12.01.08
CBG
_____________________________
~I would love for you to come and learn about Jesus of Nazareth with me in the Writer's Roundtable Folder~
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RE: Emmanuel - God with Us...Christmas Meditations - 12/5/2008 6:23:43 PM
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CherishedbyGod
Posts: 2272
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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.
Isaiah 9:6
Above we find a Scripture from the Book of Isaiah that was written hundreds of years before Christ was born.
I want to welcome any readers that might not know this beautiful Savior yet. I believe it is no accident that you are here reading this. The thought thrills me as it shows me that God is drawing you to Himself.
Perhaps you need peace in your heart today. Peace with God. Do you need peace, dear reader? As we approach another Christmas time would you allow me to share with you this song "I Heard the Bells"? Would you ask God to begin revealing this beautiful God, as He is described in the above verse, to your heart? 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7670CXvPX0&feature=channel
_____________________________
~I would love for you to come and learn about Jesus of Nazareth with me in the Writer's Roundtable Folder~
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RE: Emmanuel - God with Us...Christmas Meditations - 12/7/2008 8:43:43 PM
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CherishedbyGod
Posts: 2272
Status: offline
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This King
~But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom~
Hebrews 1:8
God the Father declares that forever the Son of God will reign as King from His throne. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He rules over all now and shall throughout eternity. His name is the Lord Jesus Christ.
A finer study of contrasts can not be found, as is found in this King. For He is mighty, yet gentle. He is all-powerful, yet tender. He rules over all, yet He is humble. He hates sin, yet is merciful. Such a beautiful God He is that with one breath of His sweet Holy Spirit, He can bring a soul to their knees in worship and adoration!
Oh, how beautiful you are, my God!
Since He is the King of Kings it might behoove us to study a bit the individuals He descended from. One might think that it would be the most sterling of bloodlines that the Most High God would come from. Christians, of course, know that His mother was Mary, a young, humble, virgin woman. This had been prophesized hundreds of years earlier ~ Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel ~.
But what of the women that God the Father chose to be part of the Son of God’s genealogy before Mary? Oh, here we find hidden treasure that can give hope to the most desperate of souls. For as we look a little deeper we find, Tamar as one of the woman that Jesus came from. Tamar had played the part of a harlot and had relations with her father-in-law. What is this? A harlot in the genealogy of this King? And what of Ruth who is part of His lineage? Ruth was a Moabite. The Moabites descended from Lot and were not allowed into the congregation of the Lord under Old Testament Law. And yet, God chose this Moabite woman. Who else was so favored to be in the lineage of this King? Why, look! Bath-Sheba made it in! An adulteress! The one who committed adultery with King David!
The pure, spotless Son of God was born over two thousand years ago. Perfectly Holy and harmless He has always been. He is a righteous God Who abhors sin. The wrath of God will be poured out upon all sin someday.
Yet, woven into His genealogy we find hope for the sinners, the outcasts the desperate, the desolate. Amongst His pure, spotless life we find golden chains of mercy, grace, forgiveness and peace. We find Him reaching out for all that would come to Him, even for the loveless and rejected. What a King this King is! What a King You are, oh God!
_____________________________
~I would love for you to come and learn about Jesus of Nazareth with me in the Writer's Roundtable Folder~
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RE: Emmanuel - God with Us...Christmas Meditations - 12/10/2008 9:30:28 PM
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CherishedbyGod
Posts: 2272
Status: offline
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Our Bright, Morning Star
~ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him~
Radiant, brilliant and beautiful it is against the backdrop of the dark of night. Often we see it in the early hours of the morning when the hush of night is still upon us. One cannot miss it; its brilliance and glory makes me pause as I stand and gaze at its beauty.
We know it as the star Venus. But there was to be a more glorious Star that would grace this dark earth one night bringing hope, light and love with Him. His name is Jesus.
This Star, infinitely more beautiful than the fairest diamond, was sent by God the Father to reveal to us what God is like.
He revealed Himself first to the wise men who followed this magnificent Star until it stood over where the young child was. Their souls overflowed with joy when they saw the Christ Child.
So full of joy and adoration, they did the only thing possible at the time – they fell down, and worshipped Him. Somehow, it was revealed to them Who this Child was. He was God with us – Emmanuel who would live and then die for us.
He was born a King. Such a King there never has been before or after. A gentle, humble and most kind King He is. Holiness, perfect purity is the essence of His being.
The wise men first presented themselves in worship and then they gave Him gifts. And what were the gifts they offered to Him? They offered gifts that replicated Who He is and what He came to do. They brought Him gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.
Sweetness flows from Frankincense when it is crushed. This gentle King was crushed on the cross for us. To those who know this Jesus, sweetness surrounds His presence. Gold, representing Deity was given to Him. He was God. He is God. Myrrh speaks of death. God died for you. God died for me.
As the wise men worshipped and gave their best to the Christ Child, what can we give our beautiful Savior this Christmas? Let us follow the example of the wise men. Let us seek His Star, His Personhood. More than any other thing, He wants us to seek Him and know Him. How beautiful He is! Then, as we find Him and He reveals Himself to us, let us fall down in adoration at His feet to worship. Finally, after we present ourselves to Him in worship and adoration, let us present to Him our own gifts.
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~I would love for you to come and learn about Jesus of Nazareth with me in the Writer's Roundtable Folder~
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