Rebel to Redeemed…Sharing HIS Kind of Love
Time has passed and Jesus is probably a young toddler by this point. The Wise Men come to visit Mary, Joseph and Jesus, but with them arrives a threat from King Herod. Herod is afraid that this “king” will take his place and more importantly his throne and kingdom. When they left, an angel appeared to Joseph. Once again, the […]
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Last week, we spent with the shepherds who had first one angel and then a host of angels appear to them. The shepherds then made their way to Bethlehem to see the child they were told about. The child was now a little over a week old and the time had come to circumcise him. The Law, since the time […]
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I Wonder as I Wander was written by American folklorist and singer John Jacob Niles. Niles was attending a fundraising meeting in Murphy, North Carolina when they were ordered out of town by the police. Niles later wrote the following of hearing the song, “A girl had stepped out to the edge of the little platform attached to the automobile. […]
Read more Last week, we were with Joseph, as an angel came upon him in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife. We are fast-forwarding a few months and Mary and Joseph has travelled to Bethlehem, where they found a stable and Mary gave birth to a tiny infant named Jesus. One can only imagine how the angels […]
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The angel has appeared twice already to Zacharias and Mary, but He is about to appear a third time. This time to Joseph, who is engaged to Mary. Imagine Joseph’s shock and hurt when Mary told him she was expecting. Scripture tells us that he was trying to decide what to do with her and to put her away quietly. […]
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The Coventry Carol is an English Christmas Carol that dates back to the 16th century. The carol was traditionally performed in Coventry as part of the mystery play The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors in England. The play depicts the Christmas story found in the Gospel of Matthew. “The carol is the second of three songs included in the […]
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We are digging into Christmas from the viewpoint of the angels. Last week, we joined Zacharias as the angel Gabriel appeared to him. Today, we are join Mary, as we pick her story up in Luke 1:26-38. We do not know what Mary was doing or where she was, but she was going about her day when an angel appeared […]
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We have been taking a look at the Eyewitnesses to Christmas, as we’ve covered Mary, Joseph and Elisabeth and Zacharias. What better view of heaven than those witnesses that had the full view from both heaven and earth. That of the angels. An angel is a spiritual being acting as an agent, attendant or messenger of God. Often they are […]
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When I discovered I had to move, I was angry. I paid my rent every month on time. I was moving not because of something I did, but because of something the owners did. I was the only one suffering the consequences for their selfish decisions. The news was not new to them, because their actions had caused it. […]
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Today ministers have sound systems, radio and TV Cameras to help them spread the gospel. However, in the early days of the United States, ministers did not have all of these luxuries. Most ministers traveled by horseback. One such minister was Francis Asbury, known as the father of the Methodist Church in America. Francis Asbury was born on August 20 […]
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Last week, we discussed Leah and Rachel and their father Laban and husband Jacob. This week we discuss Jacob and Leah’s only daughter. While Jacob had twelve sons, only one daughter is mentioned in scripture. And then [Leah] had a daughter and she named her Dinah. (Genesis 30:21) Jacob and Leah named their daughter Dinah. The name Dinah means avenged. […]
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I was recently talking to a friend about how my student loan payment had increased dramatically and I wasn’t sure how I was going to make ends meet. We began to brainstorm ideas and options to relieve this stress and bring in some additional income. During the discussion, I was sharing my heart with her and some of the dreams […]
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Last week, we took a look at Elisabeth’s reaction when Zacharias arrived home with the news of his visit from Gabriel. Elisabeth was filled with wonder at all that was happening and could feel her shame removed. The scripture then moves to Gabriel’s visit to Mary, before bringing the two stories together. Upon hearing the news of Elisabeth, Mary has […]
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Mary, Did You Know? is a popular Christmas song that was written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene. The song originated from Lowry’s desire to ask Mary, “what was it like to raise God?” Mary Lowry is a popular comedienne that has also been a member of the Gaither Vocal Band off and on […]
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I Saw Three Ships {Come Sailing In} is a traditional and popular Christmas carol from England. The hymn was published in 1833 by William Sandys in his book, Christmastide: Its History, Festivities And Carols. However, it is believed that earlier versions may have been around from the 17th Century. Other sources believe the hymn originated from an English folk […]
Read more In our series eyewitness to Christmas, we viewed the events of Christ birth from the view point of Mary, the Mother of Jesus and his earthly father, Joseph. But, there were many others that witnessed and lived these events. This group included an older, mature couple that was related to Mary. This couple gave birth to the forerunner of Christ […]
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In the book of Genesis, Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers. However, God uses this to raise Joseph up and provide a provision in the drought. When he is reunited with his brothers, Joseph says, what you meant for evil, God meant for God. Even now he has prepared the way to provide for you. In Genesis 50:20, […]
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In discussing who in the New Testament deserves to be listed in the Hall of Faith, Mary Magdalene seems a very logical choice. Other than Mary, the Mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene is listed among the women who were the most faithful followers of Jesus. Her name derives from Luke 8:2 which says “Mary, called Magdalene.” The town of Magdala […]
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As we reach our last two weeks on spiritual gifts study, we are going to cover spiritual gifts that we often take for advantage or neglect today. These are two spiritual gifts found in the Old Testament. Both of these have to do with our artistic abilities. Craftsman—these are special abilities that are given to artists. Jesus was a […]
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No one mentioned in the New Testament is actually listed in the Hall of Faith. However, there are some in the New Testament that definitely deserves to be in the New Testament. More than anyone would be Mary and Joseph, the earthly parents of Jesus. They truly walked in faith and believed when the angel appeared to them. In the […]
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