| JEREMIAH 29:11-13; "FOR I KNOW THE THOUGHTS THAT I THINK TOWARD YOU, SAITH THE LORD, THOUGHTS OF PEACE AND NOT OF EVIL, TO GIVE YOU AN EXPECTED END. THEN SHALL YOU CALL UPON ME, AND YOU SHALL GO AND PRAY UNTO ME, AND I WILL LISTEN TO YOU. AND YOU SHALL SEEK ME AND FIND ME, WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART." Satan has represented God as selfish and oppressive, as claiming all and giving nothing. But when we look at the Gift that God gave us in His Son, we really see the Father's heart. The cross is a strong statement that while God's hatred of sin is as strong as death, His love for the sinner is stronger than death. The heart of God yearns over His earthly children with a love we can't even understand. In giving up His Son, God has poured out to us all heaven in one gift. What if you were to describe a rainbow to someone who had never seen one? You could take them to a physics lecture but a far better way would be to take them outside after a big rain and let them stand in awe at the beautiful colors in the magnificent arch. The same thing happens when you hear about the cross of Christ over and over again and have all this information in your head and it becomes just a bunch of religious facts instead of a wonderful love story. You can read and study about a rainbow or you can go outside and behold the wonder of one. You can read and study about Jesus or you can behold Him as He walks through the pages of your Bible. JOHN 12:32; "I, IF I BE LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH, WILL DRAW ALL MEN (& WOMEN) UNTO ME." Before Jesus came to planet earth, He passed from star to star, from world to world, superintending all ... supplying the needs of every order of being in His vast creation. How could it be that Jesus would consent to leave His glory and step down from the throne of the universe and take upon Himself human nature? How could this be that Jesus was willing to come and die for the ones He created and were in rebellion against Him? This same Jesus who ruled a universe so big that the only way to measure distances is by figuring how long it would take light to get there. Light travels at 186,000 miles a second and yet light from the nearest galaxy takes more than 2 million years to get here. How can it be that Jesus ... who ruled a universe that immense would give all that up and become the helpless little baby in Bethlehem's manger? Jesus, who has 'life' in Himself became a tiny, little baby who was now dependent on 'life' from His young mother. PHILIPPIANS 2:6-8; "(JESUS) WHO, BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD; BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, AND TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT, AND WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN; AND BEING FOUND IN FASHION AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS." Jesus, God's Son, emptied Himself. He took the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death .. even the death of the cross. Jesus emptied Himself. The Son of the living God left all that power in heaven and emptied Himself until He became totally dependent upon His Father. JOHN 5:19: "THE SON CAN DO NOTHING BY HIMSELF." From King of kings .. Jesus came to planet earth. Our Savior set aside His power and trusted Himself totally to His Father's love and protection. Notice that the Bible doesn't mention a royal guard stationed around baby Jesus in Bethlehem. None of the great men and women were there. His parents, who were uneducated peasants were His only guardians. Jesus didn't look like a king .. but many recognized in that tiny baby Christ, the King of the universe and fell down and worshipped Him! Others gave their hearts to Him and recognized Him as their Savior. Isn't Jesus wonderful! Isn't God wonderful for sending His only Son! When we stop and behold their love, it makes us want to return their love! I pray that you will enjoy these pictures of Jesus to hang in memory's hall of fame. The Bible says that "By beholding, we become changed." What are you beholding? When we behold violence and crime and adultery in the news or on TV and in the movies, we become like what we are beholding. When we behold Jesus, we become like Him! Keep the Son (of God) in your eyes! Focus on Jesus! Barbara |
| Jesus loves YOU and thats GOOD NEWS! |
| Pictures of Jesus to hang in 'Memory's hall of fame'! LUKE 2:52; "AND JESUS INCREASED IN WISDOM AND STATURE, AND IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND MAN." These words are very brief about the early life of Jesus. The childhood and youth of Jesus was spent in a little mountain village. For hundreds of years, every home was looking for the baby Jesus and every one of those homes would have been honored by His presence. And wonder of wonders, He passed by the wealthy homes, the palaces and came to the town of Nazareth. Even as a child, Jesus was ready to serve others. From the earliest times, the parents in Israel were very careful in the education of the youth. Yet the teaching had become formal and just like today, tradition seemed more important than the Word of God. The mind was crowded with material that was worthless to the learner. In searching for knowledge, many had turned away from God, the source of wisdom and knowledge. The child Jesus did not go to the synagogue schools. His mother was His first teacher. It's kind of interesting to read what the people thought about Jesus and the education He received. JOHN 7:15; "AND THE JEWS MARVELLED, SAYING, HOW DOES THIS MAN KNOW LETTERS, HAVING NEVER LEARNED?" They were saying, "How does He know these letters and words because He didn't receive His education from us." Everyone can gain knowledge as Jesus did. He studied God's Word and spread out before Him was the great library of the created works of God. Jesus studied the life of plants and animals and the life of man and He loved to teach lessons of truth using nature stories. As we behold the beautiful lessons in nature, we are drawn to God because nature is God's other Book. I grew up in town and I wasn't very interested in the beautiful things around me. I have talked to others who listened for the singing of the birds ... stood in awe at a sunset ... looked up into the night sky at the twinkling little lights ... etc. I was not a Christian when I was growing up and I was interested more in 'things' like dolls and playing house and records and games. I could look past a sunrise or a tree or even a beautiful flower and really not give it much thought. When I became a Christian, I began to see things in a different light. I realized that Someone had to create all this beautiful world in which I lived and took for granted. I began to see the beauty in the trees .. the fluffiness of the clouds .. the green, lush carpet that God had created for my enjoyment. I watched the little birds get up in the morning and go singing on their way .. praising God .. not worrying about where their next meal was coming from .. not worrying about anything .. just knowing that their needs would be met. I began to ask Jesus for nature lessons as I took my walks. Jesus began to share awesome little adventures in my garden and everywhere I looked. When we read the Bible, we see that Jesus often used these nature lessons with the people of His day and He will do the same for us today. Ask Him! Then ask HIm to open your eyes to see the lesson He has for you. You will be surprised what He will show you! Be patient ... Ask expecting an answer! Keep the Son (of God) in your eyes! Focus on Jesus! He is the Answer to all of life's problems and He is coming soon! Your friend, Barbara |
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| LUKE 2:40; "AND THE CHILD GREW AND WAXED STRONG IN SPIRIT, FILLED WITH WISDOM; AND THE GRACE OF GOD WAS UPON HIM." As a child, Jesus lived to bless others. Heavenly beings were close beside Jesus as He tried to understand the reason of things through the Word of God and the works of God in nature. As we try to become acquainted with our heavenly Father, angels will draw near. As we behold Jesus as He walks through the pages of our Bibles, we shall become more like Him because the Bible says in II COR. 3:18; "BUT WE ALL, WITH OPEN FACE BEHOLDING AS IN A GLASS THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE CHANGED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, EVEN AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD." That is a law. You and I know that we become like what we are beholding. If we behold soap operas, x-rated movies and magazines, violence, etc. ... it may take awhile for us to become like that but if we continue down that path, the Bible says that we will become changed into whatever we are beholding. What are your friends like? Everyday we are beholding and becoming changed. As we behold the beautiful and grand in nature, our affections go out after God. Communing with God through prayer, develops the mental and moral and spiritual powers. The life of Jesus was a life in harmony with God. Jesus was not exempt from temptation. The people who lived in Nazareth were known for their wickedness. In John 1:43-46, we read that Jesus found Phillip and said, "Follow Me." Phillip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found Him ... Jesus of Nazareth." And listen to Nathanael's words, "CAN THERE BE ANY GOOD THING COME OUT OF NAZARETH?" Jesus was placed where His character would be tested so that He would honestly know what it is like when you and I have a hard time in the family or at work. Think about it. We serve a living God who is not out of touch with His creation. He has been here. He's walked in our shoes. He was subject to all the conflicts and temptations that we have to meet. As the Son of God, Jesus could have come to our planet as a man but He chose to come as a baby so that He might be an example to us in childhood, youth and manhood. Satan did everything he knew to do to overcome the child of Nazareth. He left no means untried. No child of humanity will ever be called to live a holy life amidst such a fierce conflict and so many temptations as was our Savior. The parents of Jesus were poor and dependent upon the work that they did every day. Jesus faithfully and cheerfully helped with the burdens of the household. Jesus .... who had been the Comander of heaven where angels had delighted to fulfill His word .. now was a loving son and a willing servant. Picture it. About 2000 years ago, in a humble little village in Nazareth, we see a shop that is different. We enter and see a child planing a piece of wood. Jesus learned a trade. He worked right alongside Joseph in the carpenter's shop. Just like you and I, He rests a moment. As He turns, we can see that He is the Prince of heaven. Jesus, God's only Son, walked the narrow little cobblestone streets coming and going from the carpenter shop much like you and I as we go to work. He didn't use His divine power to lessen His load or lighten His trials. He simply lived life like you and I. Jesus wanted to do His best .. even in handling a piece of wood. Whatever His hands found to do, He did it with all His heart. By His example, He taught us that it is our duty to perform our work with exactness and thoroughness and that work is honorable. If it is worth doing, it is certainly worth doing right. God appointed work as a blessing. The approval of God rests on all .. especially on children and youth who cheerfully take their part in helping with the duties in the home. PROV. 20:11; "EVEN A CHILD IS KNOWN BY HIS DOINGS, WHETHER HIS WORK BE PURE AND WHETHER IT BE RIGHT." Such children will go out from the home to be useful members of society. Jesus lived each day of His life to be an example to us! Behold Jesus in the Word of God and you will become like Him. Keep the Son (of God) in your eyes! Focus on Jesus! He is the Answer to all of life's problems and He is coming soon! Your friend, Barbara |
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| ISAIAH 26:3: "THOU WILL KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON THEE; BECAUSE HE TRUSTS IN THEE." In this fast-paced world of ours, how does perfect peace sound to you? Notice how you can have out-of- this-world perfect peace. It is for the one whose mind is stayed on Jesus .. focused on Him. That's not a quick glance! That means that you and I spend time with Him in His Word, talking to Him, focusing on His life from His earliest moments to His closing breath. That means that we continue to focus on Him as our great High Priest in heaven where He lives to intercede for us and that's why I like to send out 'pictures of Jesus' to hang in 'Memory's Hall of Fame"! Throughout His life on earth, Jesus was an earnest and constant worker. He expected much, therefore He atttempted much. Jesus knew by experience the cares and hardships of the poor and He could comfort and encourage those who were having a hard time. Jesus was cheerful in His work. Jesus brought Bible religion into the home .. into the workplace. He was never so full of the cares of this world as to have no time or thought for heavenly things. Jesus loved to sing songs and often those in Nazereth would hear Him singing thanksgiving and praise to God. Many who were tired and lonely were cheered by the uplifting songs. Just praising God seemed to banish all darkness and evil angels and those who listened thought of the wonders of heaven. All during those growing-up years ..... those who sorrowed, the elderly, those who were burdened down with sin, little children playing, the little creatures in the woods ... all were happier when Jesus passed by. Can you imagine what it would have been like to just be in His presence? Jesus, whose word of Power upheld the worlds ... would stoop to minister to a little bird that had fallen out of a tree. With an atmosphere of love, hope and life all around Him ... He was a blessing in every home. Often ... in church on the Sabbath day, He would read the lesson from the Word of God. In Jesus' homelife, He is the pattern for all children and youth. Jesus had a quiet and a simple life, free from artificial excitement. His life was more in harmony with nature and He spent a lot of time outdoors. This type of life is much better for physical and mental vigor than the lives most children live today sitting at a desk focused on a computer game or just watching tv. With active little legs and mind, He scampered here and there .. climbing trees .. wading in brooks ... studying closely the lessons in nature . With tan little sandaled feet .. Jesus went on missions of mercy even as a child. You will never find beauty anywhere comparable to fixing your eyes on Jesus! Remember that by beholding, we become changed. What and who are you beholding? There is life-changing power when you focus on Jesus! He says, "GIVE ME YOUR FULL ATTENTION. I HOLD THE ANSWERS TO EVERY PROBLEM AND CIRCUMSTANCE OF YOUR LIFE." However much time you are spending in the Word .. focusing on Jesus ... will determine just how much victory you are having in your life. Want perfect peace? The Bible tells you how to get it. Get your eyes off the problems and refocus on the ANSWER to all your problems ... Jesus Christ! Keep the Son (of God) in your eyes! Focus on Jesus! He is the Answer to all of life's problems and He is coming soon! Your friend, Barbara |
| Barbara's Thoughts & Notes! |
| LUKE 2:41 & 42; "NOW HIS PARENTS WENT TO JERUSALEM EVERY YEAR AT THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER. AND WHEN HE WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD, THEY WENT UP TO JERUSALEM AFTER THE CUSTOM OF THE FEAST." One by one the happy years of childhood slipped away! The birthdays came and went and Mary must have thought often about what the angel said to her: "HE SHALL BE GREAT, AND SHALL BE CALLED THE SON OF THE HIGHEST." Surely, this little boy that was so gentle and so good, so kind & thoughtful & so full of love must be the Son of God! After Mary taught Him to read, Jesus began to study the Holy Scriptures Himself. Because of all that Mary had taught Him since He was a baby, Jesus had many questions about the coming of a little boy who would grow up to be the Deliverer .. the Savior of the world! We don't know exactly when the thought first came to Him but gradually, Jesus began to realize that He must be this child of destiny! Among the Jews, twelve years old was the dividing line between childhood and youth. There were three annual feasts that the men of Israel were supposed to attend. LIke all devout Israelites, Joseph and Mary went each year to Jerusalem for the Passover and it was the most largely attended. Jesus was now a youth &Mary and Joseph wanted Him to go with them this year. Think about it! A trip like this for a carpenter's son nineteen hundred years ago must have been very exciting! The observance of the Passover began with the last night of the Hebrews bondage in Egypt. There was no way of deliverance and God commanded them to prepare for an immediate release. God came down to deliver them and the Hebrews went out an independent nation. God commanded that the Passover feast be kept every year and the story of their wonderful deliverance was to be repeated. When Jesus and Mary and Joseph reached the main road to Jerusalem and they began traveling toward the Holy City .. Jesus must have imagined that last night in Egypt. He remembered the stories from the Scriptures where God warned the people to sprinkle the blood of a lamb upon the doorposts of their homes, saying, "WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD, I WILL PASS OVER YOU." Now remember that it was about this time that Jesus was beginning to put the pieces of the puzzle together that He was that lamb! For the first time, Jesus looked upon the temple. He saw the priests in their white robes offering the bleeding lambs upon the altar of sacrifice. Something was beginning to stir inside of Him! He must have seemed silent at times .. remembering the Scriptures He had read .. He seemed absorbed as He bowed in prayer with the others. Twelve years old .. and beginning to realize that the little lamb represented Him and that one day, as the Savior of the world .. He too would suffer and die. Jesus had read about these things but now He was seeing them firsthand. I doubt that Jesus remained by His parents but probably slipped away to be alone ..to pray... to contemplate the Scriptures and the 'lamb' that was being offered. The mystery of His mission was beginning to open to the Savior! To Jesus, the Passover was something very sacred .. even though to most people it had degenerated into formalism. This special feast really didn't have the significance to others as it did to Jesus. There were so many questions trouping through His young mind ... one after another. Why did God say that a lamb should be killed? Why was the lamb's blood to be placed on the doorway of their homes that night? Could it be ... could it be ... that Messiah must suffer and die before He could save anyone? So many questions ... Where could He get the answers? Was there anyone in Jerusalem who could help Him? Surely the priests would know ... if they would listen to a twelve year old boy! Oh, if only He would have the chance to ask them ... What a lot of questions He would have! We will continue the story next week! Keep the Son (of God) in your eyes! Focus on Jesus! He is the Answer to all of life's problems and He is coming soon! Your friend, Barbara |
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| LUKE 2:46 & 47; “AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT AFTER THREE DAYS THEY FOUND HIM IN THE TEMPLE, SITTING IN THE MIDST OF THE DOCTORS (TEACHERS), BOTH HEARING THEM, AND ASKING THEM QUESTIONS. AND ALL THAT HEARD HIM WERE ASTONISHED AT HIS UNDERSTANDING AND ANSWERS.” The parents of Jesus wanted to bring Him in connection with the great teachers in Israel. With wide-open eyes, Jesus took in everything! When they arrived at the Temple, Jesus must have been very shocked and surprised to find that it was not the peaceful place of worship that He expected. It looked more like a cattle market. Men were in the Temple selling lambs, birds, sheep and oxen for the sacrifices. It was very noisy. The money-changers were arguing with the visitors about the rates. Can you visualize the boy Jesus standing off to the side watching the people offer their sacrifices mostly because it was the custom of the times? To offer a sacrifice, you were supposed to be sorry for your sins … and take an innocent little lamb and offer it upon the altar representing the innocent Son of the Living God .. who would one day offer Himself as a Sacrifice for all sin. How casually they argued over the prices of the animals and then quickly took the lamb to offer it as a sacrifice … so they could go on with their lives. There was an apartment connected with the temple that was devoted to a sacred school. This was where young people were taught by the rabbis during the big feasts. Here the child Jesus came and seated Himself among the other boys his age. Jesus listened closely to their instruction. With an honest, searching face, His hand went up! “May I ask a question”, said Jesus. Wouldn’t you liked to have been there just to see the shock on these learned men’s faces? The rabbis talked about the Messiah and how He would come and reign as a King. Then the twelve year old boy would ask one pointed question after another about the prophecies that pointed to the suffering and death of the Lamb of God. As one thirsting for knowledge, His question were deep and penetrating and suggestive of deep truths that had long been overlooked. Now, other rabbis came in to see what was going on. Who was this child who knew the Scriptures so well and gave them new meaning that they had not thought of before. Now, the rabbis started asking Him questions. In amazement, they listened to His answers. The rabbis knew that Jesus had not been instructed in their schools, yet He understood the prophecies better than they did. “Where were you born?” “IN BETHLEHEM OF JUDEA.” Where did you go to school, Jesus … and how did you learn the Scriptures?” “MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME!” These learned men wanted Jesus as a student so they could mold His mind and be in charge of His education. One teacher after another … shot questions to Him and His answers came back quickly and they were always right. The hours went by and these men stayed over to hear the words from this young boy’s lips who had moved their hearts as they had never been moved before! LUKE 2:47; “AND ALL THAT HEARD HIM WERE ASTONISHED AT HIS UNDERSTANDING AND ANSWERS" Jesus was so happy to have the chance to ask these questions that were heavy on His heart that He didn’t realize that the Passover services had come to an end and the thousands of visitors were on their way home … including His mother and Joseph. Keep the Son (of God) in your eyes! Focus on Jesus! He is the Answer to all of life’s problems and He is coming soon! Your friend, Barbara |
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| "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 |
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| LUKE 2:48; "AND WHEN THEY SAW HIM, THEY WERE AMAZED; AND HIS MOTHER SAID UNTO HIM, 'SON, WHY HAVE YOU DEALT WITH US LIKE THIS? BEHOLD, YOUR FATHER AND I HAVE LOOKED FOR YOU, SORROWING." I wonder how far Mary and Joseph had gone on their way home when they missed Jesus! The Bible tells us that it was a day's journey. THEY HAD LOST SIGHT OF JESUS! There was much confusion when they left the city and they were enjoying the company of friends & were probably talking about the past few days in Jerusalem. It was probably early evening when they stopped to rest and noticed that Jesus wasn't among their company. Jesus was always there! Where could He be? They had not been worried because they thought He was right behind them with the other children. Now they became anxious. Surely He was in that vast crowd, probably talking to the other boys His age. But He wasn't! Now they began to look for Him in earnest. "JESUS! JESUS! they called again and again. They searched for Him throughout their company but in vain. Stopping strangers and friends, they said, "Have you seen Jesus?" "No, sorry," they heard again and again. The same thing happens to us at times. We get so busy that we don't realize it but a whole day goes by and we haven't stopped to talk to Him or read His WORD. Sometimes several days go by .. a week or more and we feel like Joseph and Mary when they searched for Him. "JESUS, WHERE ARE YOU?" No Jesus! They would have to go back .. all that way! Can you imagine the fear in their hearts as they retraced their steps with darkness gathering around them? At first, they were upset that He hadn't kept up with them. Then they remembered how Herod had tried to take His life when He was a baby. Could He still be in danger? Anxiously, they looked at the travelers leaving Jerusalem. Arriving in the city, they knocked on doors and asked everyone, "Have you seen our Son? He's just twelve years old!" "SORRY, NO!" Hours and hours, they searched. Nothing! The next day at the Temple, they heard a familiar voice. They stood outside the room and listened. It was His voice alright ... musical, serious, in earnest. There with the rabbis, they found Jesus! It was an unforgettable sight. They were astonished at His questions & answers. Mary was so happy to see Him that she forgot all about the learned doctors and teachers and ran over to Him. Mary, tenderly rebuking Jesus said, "Why have you done this? You father and I have looked for you sorrowing." Just as tenderly, Jesus answered, "Why have you been looking for Me? Don't you know that I must be about my FATHER'S business?" Jesus pointed upward! There was a light on His face. They wondered! In His answer to His mother, Jesus showed that He understood for the first time His relationship to His heavenly Father & that He was the 'Messiah'. Mary knew that when He spoke of doing His Father's business, He was not talking about Joseph. Jesus did not ignore His relationship with His earthly parents. From Jerusalem, He returned home with them and all the Bible says about the next eighteen years is: LUKE 2:51; "AND HE WENT DOWN WITH THEM, AND CAME TO NAZARETH, AND WAS SUBJECT UNTO THEM; BUT HIS MOTHER KEPT ALL THESE SAYINGS IN HER HEART." Jesus hid in His own heart the mystery of His mission as the Savior of the world. Eighteen years in twenty eight words but how much they tell! Notice that He was subject to His parents. This means that He was kind, obedient, and courteous ... even as a teenager! He was cheerful, uncomplaining, & kind as a Son, a brother, a friend and even as a citizen. But remember. For an entire day, Mary and Joseph had lost sight of Jesus .. and when they found Him, they were upset with Him! When we lose sight of Jesus, and the trials and circumstances start piling up .. whose fault is it? When you lose your 'PEACE' ... you've separated from the Prince of Peace! The longer you stay away from Him, the more stressful life becomes as you try to fix things yourself. By one day's neglect, they lost the Savior, but it cost them three days of anxious search to find Him. The same thing can happen to us. By neglecting to read the Bible, not taking time to pray, gossiping, doing something we know to be wrong .. we separate ourselves from Jesus. Sometimes it takes us some anxious days to try to find Him again & regain our lost peace! I encourage each one to: Keep the Son (of God) in your eyes! Focus on Jesus! He is the Answer to all of life's problems and He is coming soon! Your friend, Barbara |
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| The Jewish child was surrounded with the requirements of the Rabbis from it’s earliest years. There were rigid rules for every act .. down to the smallest details of life. From childhood, Jesus acted independently of the Rabbis and all their rules. The Scriptures of the Old Testament were His constant study. Jesus began to see that men and women were departing from the Word of God & holding tradition in a higher place … much like many people are doing today. Jesus watched and saw that in their faithless services, they found no peace! Jesus did not attack the practices of the learned teachers but when reproved for His own simple habits, He presented the Word of God! Jesus was gentle and submissive and tried to please those He came in contact with. These learned teachers felt that He would be easily influenced by their teaching but when they urged Him to receive the traditions and laws handed down by the Rabbis, He asked for their authority from the Word of God. Jesus seemed to know the Scriptures from beginning to end and these men knew that no authority could be found in Scripture for their traditions. They became angry because Jesus would not obey them. Nothing could turn Jesus from obedience to God’s Word. Jesus exercised His helping power to all who needed help. At all times and in all places, Jesus was interested in people. Jesus would seek out cases of suffering and those who needed encouragement. Jesus was God’s very own Son and yet here He was a child. Jesus was the Creator of the worlds (Heb. 1:2; Eph. 3:9) … the earth was His and yet He grew up in a very poor home. He did not strive for worldly greatness and was content wherever He was. Jesus hated only one thing in the world and that was ‘sin’. Satan worked to make the life of Jesus as trying as possible. There were those who talked about His birth … how Mary was pregnant before she married Joseph. There were always evil whisperings … & gossip about this precious child. He saw their looks of contempt. To every temptation, He had one answer, “IT IS WRITTEN … in the Scriptures!” There were many who sought out Jesus because they felt peace in His presence. I know how they felt. I feel ‘peace’ in His presence even today. I can be so anxious about a hundred things but if I can just get alone with Jesus and His Word, I know that I enter the region of peace. Jesus’ hours of happiness were found when alone with nature & with God. My happiest hours are when I am alone with nature and with God. That’s when I do most of my praying .. when I’m walking and talking with Jesus out on the acres beside our home. Jesus loved to talk to His Father. In the early morning hours, you could find Him in some secluded spot .. searching the Scriptures and praying and meditating. From these quiet hours, He would return to His home and His work and His life .. bringing with Him a little bit of heaven and life and light and peace. He is our Example! We can learn how to receive the same life and light and peace to take back to our little corner of the world by spending time with Him and His Word! Keep the Son (of God) in your eyes! Focus on Jesus! He is the Answer to all of life’s problems and He is coming soon! Your friend, Barbara |
| As His mission had opened to Jesus in the temple, He wanted to be alone. He wanted to return to His home in quietness … to think about things. Have you ever wanted to get away from the confusion in your own world at times and just think about spiritual things? By offering a little lamb … God was seeking to call His people away from the cares of this world and to remind them of the wonderful love He had for them in sending His only Son to die for them and deliver them from ‘sin’. As the blood of the slain lamb sheltered their homes .. so the blood of Jesus was to save their souls. The reason God gave that service was to direct the people to Christ so that they would make Him their personal Savior and that’s what He wants for all of us today! As Jesus walked along, He wanted to meditate and pray about what He had learned. But .. as the multitudes Left Jerusalem, there was lots of ‘talk’ and excitement of travel & all too soon they forgot the services that they had just witnessed. Jesus wanted to direct His mother’s mind to the prophecies of the suffering Savior. He was thinking of her now. Mary was to witness His death on that cross and oh, how He desired her to understand His mission … that the dying lamb represented Him! As Jesus had been separated from her for three days and she had looked for Him and sorrowed for Him .. so one day .. He would die on the cross and be lost again to her for three days … and then He would come forth from the tomb and her sorrow would be turned to joy. Oh, how Jesus tried to turn Joseph and Mary’s minds to the prophecies! If they could just understand the Scriptures, they could bear the anguish of His death so much easier. Many, many attend religious services and are comforted and refreshed by the Word of God. Lots of people lose the blessing by not praying and meditating on what they have heard and that is why discouragement is found so often, even among God’s people. It would be well if we spent a thoughtful hour each day beholding Jesus .. spending time with Him in His Word. If we really belong to Christ, our sweetest thoughts will be of Him. We shall love to talk to one another of His love and His sacrifice. You know what? God notices when you do! MALACHI 3:16; “THEN THEY THAT FEARED THE LORD SPAKE OFTEN ONE TO ANOTHER; AND THE LORD HEARKENED, AND HEARD IT, AND A BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE WAS WRITTEN BEFORE HIM FOR THEM THAT FEARED THE LORD AND THAT THOUGHT UPON HIS NAME.” A book in heaven! Awesome! I am sure that Joseph and Mary were very sorry that they had lost sight of their precious Son so long. Just like you and I … we certainly don’t mean to! We just get wrapped up in other things and people and circumstances and even the ‘cares of this world’. We must not allow anything or anyone to crowd Jesus out of our thoughts! It is so easy to lose Him and so much harder to find Him and His peace again! With a week like we’ve had, it’s important to stay close to our Savior! Keep the Son (of God) in your eyes! Focus on Jesus! He is the Answer to all of life’s problems and HE IS COMING SOON.! Your friend, Barbara |
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| ROMANS 3:23; “FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” This verse doesn’t leave anyone out. All of us have sinned and come short! Whether we have sinned a lot or a little really doesn’t matter because the Bible says in Romans 6:23: “THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH! … BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” The Bible tells us that we have all sinned and that the payoff for ‘sin’ is death. God tells us that’s why we need a Savior! John knew for sure that he had just baptized the Messiah! Pointing to Jesus, he said, “BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD, WHICH TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.” I’m sure the people, not even John himself understood the importance of these words, “THE LAMB OF GOD.” Isaiah spoke a prophecy about Jesus and called Him the “Lamb”. ISAIAH 53:7; “HE WAS OPPRESSED, AND HE WAS AFLLICTED, YET HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH; HE IS BROUGHT AS A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER,………” ISAIAH 53:6; “ALL WE LIKE SHEEP HAVE GONE ASTRAY; WE HAVE TURNED EVERY ONE TO HIS OWN WAY; AND THE LORD HAS LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY (SIN) OF US ALL.” The people had been offering lambs since Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden. This sacrificial service was to help them understand that one day, God would send His only Son to be the Lamb that would take away the sin of the world. But the people had not understood the lesson. The people around must have wondered what John meant. How could any man be a lamb? How could this carpenter … this young Galilean, take away the sin of the world? Maybe those looking on didn’t understand … but Jesus did! You know that His mind went back to the Temple and the first time he had ever seen a lamb offered as a sacrifice. He remembered how the lambs were killed in all the Israelite homes just before they came out of Egypt. The pieces of the puzzle were fitting together. Jesus knew that He must be offered as a sacrifice just like the little lambs that pointed forward to His great sacrifice at Calvary. Those were beautiful words; “The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” God’s only Son … His most precious Lamb, was a most awesome love gift … the very best gift that heaven had to offer. What is ‘sin’ anyway? Always let the Bible answer your questions because then you know what is really true! I JOHN 3:4 WHOEVER COMMITS ‘SIN’ TRANSGRESSES ALSO THE LAW; FOR SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW.” Pretty plain, isn’t it? God has a law! They are called the “Ten Commandments”. When we break that law, that is what God calls “sin”. Sin is another name for disobeying God and it always brings ‘death’. God made this very plain to Adam and Eve in the garden but they chose to sin anyway and brought ‘death’ to this planet. Since that day, everyone of us have sinned and there was no way back to God because the “WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.” Romans 6:23 A law had been broken and ‘death’ was the penalty. Someone had to die or there would be no way out of the grave for any one of us here on planet earth. Wonder of wonders …. Jesus, the Lamb .. the only Son of the Most High God … the Lawgiver Himself came down to die in our place! He became our Substitute. He made it possible for us to be forgiven and to live forever. It was a most wonderful plan because Jesus took upon Himself the penalty of sin. Jesus also broke the power of sin so we could be like Him. Our Father in heaven loved us so much that He would rather give up His only Son than give up on us. Jesus loved us so much that He would rather die than live without us. Love, love, love! John didn’t know how to describe this love so he just called on us to behold it. JOHN 3:1; “BEHOLD, WHAT MANNER OF LOVE THE FATHER HAS BESTOWED UPON US, THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED THE SONS (& DAUGHTERS) OF GOD ….. Keep the Son of God in your eyes! Focus on Jesus! He is the Answer to all of life’s problems and He is coming soon! Your friend, Barbara |
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