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 1:11-14
Christmas
It Was Not A Little Baby Who Died On The Cross
And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save Thyself. If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Matthew 27:39-44
At this time of year all Christendom remembers the birth of a baby boy. He was certainly a very special little boy. This baby boy came with one intention, and that was to glorify His Father, through obedience and going to the cross to die for our sins,
It is seen in Luke chapter two that the religious leaders respected His wisdom for that age of twelve years, and He was teaching them (Luke 2:31-52). The young Man Jesus was respected, but when Jesus grew to His fullness the religious leaders grew in hatred of Him. Jesus was exposing their sin, hypocrisy, and greed, and there lust for power over the people.
The above verses show us how He was treated for being who He said that He is. They reviled Him in blasphemy, and mockery, and saying things like, “He saved others, but cannot save Himself.” They also said, “If You are the Son of God, deliver Yourself.
Jesus came and gave His life for the sins of Adam kind. That Baby in the manger followed His Father’s pathway walking with Him wherever He walked doing all that the Father did. Even going to His death on the cross for the remission of our sins. He was buried, and He rose again, and is alive forever more. Since He has been raised we will be raised up from the grave also; because He lives.
It was not a little baby who died on that cross; it was the full grown Son of Man the Son of God who died. Believe Him.
A Message For Christmas
It broke my heart when just minutes ago I read a post from someone I know, that they did not like Christmas, and was glad it would soon be over.
Now, I cannot be sure what he meant by that, but if you get caught up in the commercialism of it, the traffic messes that are involved, the hectic pace of being sure you got all the right gifts, or deciding if you want to buy gifts or not. If you mean that then I can agree. However, all the hustle and bustle of it is not what Christmas is about.
As Christians we must remember why we celebrate Christmas. It started with God so loving us that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. God sent His Son; God became flesh and dwelt among us.
When we are reminded of that we must be thankful, praising, and practicing the life of being Christ like in this world of darkness.
Christmas is the time to remember Christ death on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection; also remembering His promise that He will come again.
God bless you and have a Christ filled and Merry Christmas.
-Tim A.
You Must Be Born Again
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, “Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him,
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus saith unto Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” Jesus answered,
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ‘Ye must be born again.’ The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said unto him,
“Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that We do know, and testify that We have seen; and ye receive not Our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” John 3:1-12
The Baby who was born in a stable, and laid in a manger for a crib, grew up and met Nicodemus and had the above conversation and taught him what one needed to see God and be with Him for eternity. You must be born again.
Jesus died on the cross, not a baby, but the Man Christ Jesus, and He died for our sins. When the Spirit of God turns the spirit within us to Himself, then we are born again. That is when we believe and trust Him with all our hearts. Hear Him. Believe Him.
Have a very Merry Christmas. It is all about Jesus Christ, crucified, buried, and rose again. He is coming again.
He Was, He Is, and Forever Shall Be
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. John 1:1-5
It is the week of Christmas. The day set aside for the remembrance of the birth of our Lord and Savior. How many of us really realize and know who He is. He is often spoken of in the past tense in ways like, “He was a good man” or “He was a good teacher”, and even some who profess Jesus and faith in Him say, “He was the Christ of God.” He was all those things, and He is all those things, and He forever shall be those things.
That Incarnation of God; God becoming Man; throws some people into a hissy theological fit, because they cannot grasp God becoming Man. That is exactly who Jesus is. When Jesus came as the God-Man it was as a Babe in the stable, laid in a manger for a crib. He cried like all babies, yet this baby grew and never sinned. At the age of 12 He was found in the temple teaching the Bible scholars, and growing in the wisdom and knowledge of God.
It is that same Boy who grew to be a Man, called disciples to follow Him and He taught them, and many others for three years. He performed many miracles, including raising dead people to life, touching and healing lepers and giving sight to a man born blind.
He came from His position in Glory with the Father to go to the cross to die, and in His death take all the sins of the world upon Himself, taking the wrath of God Himself for our sins. He died, was buried, and He rose from the grave and to never die again. He was our Lord and Savior, and He is our Lord and Savior, and He will forever be our God, Lord and Savior.
Do you know this One who was, who is, and forever shall be? You can make this Christmas a very Merry Christmas by calling on the name of Jesus Christ the Son of God who is God the Son.
Keeping Watch…
…There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them,
“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
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.”
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Luke 2:8-20
It is that season of the year when Christians are remembering the coming of Messiah; the Lord Jesus Christ; to do His work among His people. It is a very special thing to remember His birth. His birth shows us that He is the incarnation of God; and first of all that God loves the world (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9) .
Though, I do not believe that Jesus was born in December, this is the time His birth is remembered so I will give Him the praise and glory for such remembrances. I believe lambs were born mainly in the Spring of the year, weeks before the Passover, and there would be many lambs offered for the sin sacrifice for each family. I cannot be dogmatic about that, but it seems quite clear in my thoughts and heart.
Jesus was the ultimate Passover Lamb who would die to take away our sins (John 1:29); and He did.
As we think of the shepherds, they were the lowest of the people of Israel. It is said that they could not even testify at trials and such as that. This the people God chose to reveal the birth of His Son to as first witnesses. Who better to reveal the Lamb of God to but the shepherds; and what better place for a lamb to be born than in a stable, laid in a manger.
Let us remember Him as the Baby in a manger; never forgetting He is the crucified, buried, and resurrected; ascended and coming King of kings. No longer a baby, meek and mild, but the Judge of all the earth.
Remember Jesus Is
Christmas day. That means a whole lot to many people. It is a holiday and you can get off from work. It is a time of families gathering together, and enjoying one another’s laughs, jokes, and hearing of some different life situations from each other.
Christmas is about the birth of a King. His name is Jesus. He is called Immanuel or Emmanuel meaning “God with us”.
This day each year is a reminder each year that God came down, in the Person of His Son, was born as a baby, and laid in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. We also need to remember why He came down to us.
He came to redeem us to Himself. He did that by living a sinless life; without spot or blemish He obeyed God the Father in all things; went to the cross, shedding His own blood to give us a relationship with the Creator of all that is – the Heavenly Father.
I sometimes hear people speak of Jesus in the past tense. I have a few times caught myself doing the same, and I speak to myself, and or others and say, “He is”. He was there with the disciples, and He was in the manger. He died, was buried, and He rose again. Because He rose from the dead we can rest assured that He not only was; but Jesus is, as well.
Have a very Merry Christmas and I hope you remember each day that Jesus is.
…To All People
“And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people…” Luke 2:10 (KJB)
I find it somewhat odd that the scholars, the priest, the religionist of the day in Jerusalem missed the obvious signs. The signs that the Messiah was on the way. I will not get into what those signs were. Others saw them from further away.
The shepherds in the field were not the first. They are the first mentioned in our text, but in the totality of the text of the gospel it includes the wise men from the east (Matthew 2:1-12). The wise men would have began most likely weeks before when they saw the “star”, and they traveled together and found the new born King, not in a manger, but a house.
In the birth of Jesus the LORD of Creation is declaring that His Son’s birth is a gift to all who will come to Him and believe in the gift of His grace. The grace that will be displayed by His death on the cross, His burial not only proving He died, but that He also carried all our sin, condemnation, guilt, and shame away, and then He arose leaving all of that behind and He eternally lives. Because He lives all from every nation, every tongue, and every tribe of people who believe in Him have eternal life.
“Fear not” the angel said. The great good tidings to all the earth. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christmas Day 2016
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want every Christian to remember this is another Lord’s Day, not unlike any other; it is only as special as we ourselves make it; if we honor, praise and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ only today we do nothing more than slap His face, and stomp His shed blood in the ground, and make it of no affect in our lives or the lives of others; Remember Christians that He came as a Baby in a manger, in order to die for our sins, and He desires your love, worship and praise 365 – 366 days every year.
I want you to have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, but it will only be so if you love Him and live for Him everyday of the year.
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galations 4:4-5 (KJV)
Christmas Day 2 (Christmas Day)
What do I want for Christmas today?
Welcome to Christmas Eve.
I want all who have visited this site, to have a wonderful Eve before the day we remember our Savior’s birth; to love your family, friends, neighbors, and that would include those who you may not have been kind to yesterday; I want to be sure and tell everyone I meet… MERRY CHRISTMAS
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 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. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn Son: and he called His name JESUS.” Matthew 1:18-25 (KJV)
Christmas Day 3 (2, Christmas Day)
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want all my family and friends (Including those who visit this blog) who are traveling to have safe, trouble free traveling to their destinations; and to have a joyous, peaceful, healthful, happy and a Christ filled MERRY CHRISTMAS.
“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, 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. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, and thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 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.” Matthew 2:1-8 (KJV)
Christmas Day 4 (3, 2, Christmas Day)
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want to renew friendships with people I have considered friends, and endeavor to be the friend to them that I have not been; and I want to be a friend to any who are friendless, or feel that way.
I read the first two chapters of Job this morning, and saw how Job’s friends had responded to his tragedies. They came and sat with him for 7 days and nights. I only pray that I never stay too long as they did.
“So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.” Job 2:13 (KJV)
Christmas Day 5
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want you to be reminded today, and the following four days that Christmas is about the incarnation of Jesus Christ; God becoming flesh and dwelling among us; that the Son of God became the Son of Man, so that the sons of men might become the sons 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 1:14 (KJV)
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christmas Day 6
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want all of those who claim to be “Christian” to love God’s Word, believe His Word and live, in the power of His Spirit, what He teaches us; remembering these things; “To love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves;” and also this “To do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God”.
Christmas Day 7
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want to always hear the word of God, and to do it; and I want all who are neglecting to hear His word, and searching in other documents, and signs, and wonders, and sorcery to know that if you will not hear God’s word in the Holy Bible you will not hear Him, though One rose from the dead.
“…Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:29-31 (KJV)
Christmas Day 8
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want all to realize that even though your Church may not be having worship services today due to ice and snow the Lord is still on the throne, worthy of worship; so we must worship Him on this Lord’s Day as well as the other days we live.
God bless you all, and have a great Lord’s Day.
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man, that You are mindful of him; and the son of man, that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passes through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:3-9 (KJV)
Christmas Day 9
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want to be more verbal of the work of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; His death on the cross, His burial, and resurrection; and His coming again; I want to share the gospel with all who will hear, so that they might come to believe Him.
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (KJV)
Christmas Day 10
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want to thank the Lord of life and salvation for the 62 years He has blessed me, the family, friends, and people I work with.
Thank you Lord Jesus, and thanks to my family for your love and patience.
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for His mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for His mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 136:1-3 (KJV)
Christmas Day Ten and One
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want the Light of Jesus Christ to shine brightly, so that children, their parents, grandparents; the whole families may see the baby born in a manger two thousand years ago, grew into the Man who lived without sin, became sin for us, was judged by God the Father on our behalf on the cross, was buried, and bodily arose and came out of the grave; and that He is one day soon returning to put an end to evil in the world over which He will reign supremely.
“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 1:23 (KJV)
Christmas Day Ten and Two
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want for all my children and their spouses to be at peace with God through Christ Jesus, at peace with themselves, and with their families; so there will be peace in their homes, and ultimately in their neighborhoods, cities, State, and Country; and I want that for every family of the U. S. of A..
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 (KJV)
“Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Psalm 119:165
Christmas Day Ten and Three
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want all the people; all the men, women and children in the world who are about to do harm to others through a terrorist act, in a domestic dispute, or any possible family related murderous act to know that God loves you; and that He loves you so much that He gave us His only Son, that if you will believe in Him you will not perish, but have everlasting life with God; and even if you have already done these acts of violence God still loves you, and there is forgiveness and healing for you.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Christmas Day Ten and Four
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want every Christian to receive the desires of their heart.
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4 (KJV)
Christmas Day Ten and Five
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want to call on every Christian to hear, receive and believe the word of God today that is written in the Bible; will be spoken from every Christian pulpit around the world; hear it, and put it to work in our lives, because it is powerful, to rid us of evil in our own hearts, minds and lives, to set us apart from the world, to empower us as the witnesses of our Lord and God Jesus Christ who came as a baby in a manger, grew into a man, and gave His life as a ransom payment for our sin, was buried, and He arose from the grave, ascended into heaven; and soon will be returning.
“Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.” [Jesus’s prayer] John 17:17 (KJV)
Christmas Day Ten and Six
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want to always remember that Christmas is about Jesus coming to dwell among mankind, as one of us, that He might die for our sins; and set us free from the chains of sin, death and eternal death; to give us life eternal.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” [Jesus] John 5:24-29 (KJV)
Christmas Day Ten and Seven
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want to always drive safely, and legally, and drive with headlights on when safety requires it; like when it is near dark, when it is cloudy, when it is raining, snowing, foggy with sunlight or without it; and at night in the dark.
When you are driving on our Highways: Please let your light [from your car or truck at least] be seen by others. Even some law enforcement officials need to learn this.
The Fire and Hammer 