Saturday, December 31, 2011
UPDATE FROM 1/3/2012:
Haley Faith Wilson has been found, thank God!
Please don't think she is still missing.
She has been found and is now safe and sound.
All glory to God, and thank you so much for your prayers for her!
Haley Faith Wilson has been found, thank God!
Please don't think she is still missing.
She has been found and is now safe and sound.
All glory to God, and thank you so much for your prayers for her!
# posted by Missygirl : 1:29 PM
Monday, December 26, 2011
# posted by Missygirl : 8:40 PM
Friday, December 23, 2011
“The Christmas Story -(re-visited)”
The wise men clearly did not visit Jesus when he was still lying in the manger, as is commonly shown on greeting cards and in plays. The magi did not arrive until sometime after Christ’s presentation in the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:22-39).
At this time, Scripture calls Jesus a “child,” not a “baby.” It is possible that little Jesus was walking and talking by then. Based on the calculations of King Herod and the Magi (Matthew 2:16), Jesus could have been two years old or under.
They came. They saw. They gifted.
After being warned in a dream to avoid the murderous King Herod, the Magi returned home "by another road." Metaphorically, that suggests they were transformed by their experience. While Matthew doesn't say they converted to Christianity, legend holds that they were baptized by St. Thomas and died in Armenia in 55 A.D.
We must remember that Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, really was born in Bethlehem long ago. That part is not custom and tradition. The story is found in the Gospel of Matthew. This is where we find the account of the wise men visiting the Baby who would be King. And, the Bible does not state there were three of these men.
We can read the story in the book of Matthew:
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 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.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. •
We can see a few things from this story:
The men did not appear on the day and hour of Jesus' birth, but afterward, and they did not go to a manger in a stable, but to a HOUSE where Mary and Jesus were staying.
These were not simply wise men, or educated scholars, or local rulers, but Magi.
The star had appeared at a certain time, and it moved independently, leading them to Bethlehem and stopping over the very house where Mary and the Baby were staying.
There were THREE gifts listed, but that doesn't mean there were three Magi present
– the number of Magi is not mentioned.
Who were the MAGI? No one really knows with certainty. Whoever the Magi were, they were important enough to gain an immediate audience with King Herod!
(You can read the thoughts of the eminent scholar Alfred Edersheim on the Magi's visit of Jesus from his major work entitled The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.)
Was the star Halley's Comet? Not likely, since it appeared at a certain time, then moved to a position over a particular house in Judea, showing without question where the Magi were to visit. No star, comet, or other celestial body could do that!
The three gifts mentioned -- gold, frankincense, and myrrh -- were traditional gifts given to kings by visitors!
Of course, the number of wise men is a very small thing. But God may be opening up your mind, little by little, pointing out one tiny error in "the Christmas story," and watching to see what your reaction is. If you show God you wish to learn His truth, God will probably show you another little truth, then another. •
(The word “Christmas” means “Christ mass,” a special celebration of the Lord’s supper—called a mass in the Roman Catholic Church and a Communion supper in most Protestant churches.)
Despite human misconceptions, the actual facts about Jesus are more marvelous than words can express. He was indeed born of a virgin in the city of Bethlehem exactly as prophesied many years before. Jesus was conceived in Mary, not by man, but by the Holy Spirit of God. As the apostle John reveals, Jesus existed before the Creation of the world (John 1). He is part of the Holy Trinity we know as God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit ‘1 John 5:7' ). The Son of God came in human form for a purpose—to die as a willing sacrifice in payment for the sins of mankind. He did this to provide eternal salvation as a free gift to all who will accept it and follow Him. •
(We Praise and Worship You, Lord Jesus Christ!!!)
The wise men clearly did not visit Jesus when he was still lying in the manger, as is commonly shown on greeting cards and in plays. The magi did not arrive until sometime after Christ’s presentation in the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:22-39).
At this time, Scripture calls Jesus a “child,” not a “baby.” It is possible that little Jesus was walking and talking by then. Based on the calculations of King Herod and the Magi (Matthew 2:16), Jesus could have been two years old or under.
They came. They saw. They gifted.
After being warned in a dream to avoid the murderous King Herod, the Magi returned home "by another road." Metaphorically, that suggests they were transformed by their experience. While Matthew doesn't say they converted to Christianity, legend holds that they were baptized by St. Thomas and died in Armenia in 55 A.D.
We must remember that Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, really was born in Bethlehem long ago. That part is not custom and tradition. The story is found in the Gospel of Matthew. This is where we find the account of the wise men visiting the Baby who would be King. And, the Bible does not state there were three of these men.
We can read the story in the book of Matthew:
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 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.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. •
We can see a few things from this story:
The men did not appear on the day and hour of Jesus' birth, but afterward, and they did not go to a manger in a stable, but to a HOUSE where Mary and Jesus were staying.
These were not simply wise men, or educated scholars, or local rulers, but Magi.
The star had appeared at a certain time, and it moved independently, leading them to Bethlehem and stopping over the very house where Mary and the Baby were staying.
There were THREE gifts listed, but that doesn't mean there were three Magi present
– the number of Magi is not mentioned.
Who were the MAGI? No one really knows with certainty. Whoever the Magi were, they were important enough to gain an immediate audience with King Herod!
(You can read the thoughts of the eminent scholar Alfred Edersheim on the Magi's visit of Jesus from his major work entitled The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.)
Was the star Halley's Comet? Not likely, since it appeared at a certain time, then moved to a position over a particular house in Judea, showing without question where the Magi were to visit. No star, comet, or other celestial body could do that!
The three gifts mentioned -- gold, frankincense, and myrrh -- were traditional gifts given to kings by visitors!
Of course, the number of wise men is a very small thing. But God may be opening up your mind, little by little, pointing out one tiny error in "the Christmas story," and watching to see what your reaction is. If you show God you wish to learn His truth, God will probably show you another little truth, then another. •
(The word “Christmas” means “Christ mass,” a special celebration of the Lord’s supper—called a mass in the Roman Catholic Church and a Communion supper in most Protestant churches.)
Despite human misconceptions, the actual facts about Jesus are more marvelous than words can express. He was indeed born of a virgin in the city of Bethlehem exactly as prophesied many years before. Jesus was conceived in Mary, not by man, but by the Holy Spirit of God. As the apostle John reveals, Jesus existed before the Creation of the world (John 1). He is part of the Holy Trinity we know as God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit ‘1 John 5:7' ). The Son of God came in human form for a purpose—to die as a willing sacrifice in payment for the sins of mankind. He did this to provide eternal salvation as a free gift to all who will accept it and follow Him. •
(We Praise and Worship You, Lord Jesus Christ!!!)
# posted by Missygirl : 6:12 PM
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
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