From the Heart by B.Demaere

  (This was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah about 800 years before Jesus Christ was born) 6. A child is born to us, a son is given to us.  And the government will rest on his shoulders.  These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7.  His ever expanding peaceful government will never end.  He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David.  The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this.    (Isaiah 9:6-7) As a child, I was expected to believe in this unseen Santa Claus and a donkey going down through a chimney.  I believed it until my parents told me otherwise and then I felt let down.  Don't you love the faith of the little children.  Just believing is God's expectation for all of us.  Believing in the unseen, such a faith to behold.  Why is it so hard now as adult to believe in miracles and the unseen.  Do you want to know the answer?  We have moved!  We have move

  29. Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean 38. Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant, and willing to accept whatever he wants.  May everything you have said come true." And then the angel left. Although as humans we might think of ourselves as mighty powerful beings, we sometimes fall short in times of adversity.  It doesn't take very much to tick us off or throw us out of balance.  Frustration or confusion comes in quite easy.  It's even harder for us to admit our defeat which shows our weakness in a greater dimension. Nevertheless, as we look at this first Christmas episode unfold before us in the Bible.  We see human weakness in its entirety. First of all, Mary, Jesus's mother finds herself in a very vulnerable position not only as a single, virgin woman who became pregnant by the work of the Holy Spirit. Before this, she is confused and disturbed as she is visited by an angel in the announcement of the birth.  Another cu

  King Herod speaking: Matthew 2:8:  Then he told them, "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the  the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship, too!" Warning from God in a dream: Matthew 2:12  But when it was time to leave, they went home another way, because God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.  Warning to Joseph in a dream: Matthew 2:13  After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up and flee to Egypt with the child and his mother, because Herod is going to try to kill the child. " Herod did want to kill the Christ of Christmas: Matthew 2:16  Herod was furious when he learned that the wise men had outwitted him.  He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, because the wise men had told him the star first appeared to them two years earlier. Before I start this post, let me tell you why I believe the Bible to

Keeping Christ-Mas (Matthew 2:8,12-13,16)

  To Zechariah, John the Baptist' father: Luke 1:13  But the angel said: " Don't be afraid , Zechariah! For God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son!  And you are to name him John..." To Mary, Jesus's mother: Luke 1:28-31  Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!"  Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.  " Don't be frightened , Mary" the angel told her, "for God has decided to bless you!  You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. To the shepherds Luke 2:9-10 ...They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them.  " Don't be afraid ", he said, "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! First of all, I chose to celebrate Christmas earlier.  After all it's a season of joy and celebration and yet for a lot of people it can mean loneliness and bad memories.  The first

  6. ...And if any of them have special skills, put them in charge of my livestock 17. So they gave their livestock to Joseph in exchange for food.  Soon all the horses, flocks, herds, and donkeys of Egypt were in Pharaoh's possession.  But at least they were able to purchase food for that year. (Genesis 47:6,17)   Pharaoh dreamed a dream.  Joseph through a chain of events was now in the land of Egypt.  Joseph interpreted it as meaning seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine.   Presently, the predicted seven years of famine had arrived which drew foreigners to Egypt for food.  With time, the Israelites who were the complete family of Jacob were through God's plan in Egypt.  They were shepherds.  Shepherds were a despised trade among the Egyptians.  Fortunately, for the Israelites not despised enough to be enable them to offer some service to the Pharaoh in exchange for his generosity.  Here was an opportunity to grow some business.  They just had been hired

Taking Opportunities (Genesis 47:6,17)