BEAUTIFUL AND GLORIOUS
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 3-5
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
This is a great picture for Christmas Eve! The actors of Nazareth Village do their best to bring the Gospels to life. Their motive is that all who visit will believe in Jesus as did the Shepherds. Let us come to worship Him too. The “Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious!” (Isaiah 4:2). The Baby is “The Branch.” The original meaning of the word translated “Branch” may have been “Bud.” A bud is a baby branch. Merry Christmas!!!
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Isaiah 4:2
In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped.
Isaiah 3 could be depressing if not for the promise of our key verse. The actual destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians was still over 100 years away, but on the road to destruction (the people’s fault, not God’s) there would be famine, incompetent and corrupt leaders, chaos and gross sin.
The warnings in Chapter 4 give way to messages of hope. At some future time, Zion will prosper under the beautiful reign of “The Branch.” This is a term which refers to the rule of the “Messiah.” As Christians, we believe that “Branch-Messiah” is Jesus, whose birth we celebrate!!!
In Chapter 5 the word “woe” is repeated 6 times. The “woe” of “intoxicating drink” is referenced twice! Let’s pay attention to that one and act accordingly this Christmas. Other woes are selfishness, greed, materialism, the reversing of standards of behaviour, pride and injustice. “Woe” is the result of rejecting the Covenant, a most solemn and binding legal agreement, made between God and the human family. Jesus was born to turn “woe” into something “beautiful, glorious…excellent and appealing!” (Isaiah 4:2). God came to us, as Elizabeth, the cousin of the Virgin Mary said, “to take away my reproach!” (Luke 1:25). Click here to read Luke, chapters 1 & 2 on Christmas Eve.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, may I perceive the beauty and glory of “The Branch of the Lord” in all the fulness of His Person. May I, because of Your redemption, make the fruit of the earth, the redeemed of the Lord, more beautiful and appealing to others. Through Jesus Christ, I pray that I will daily run farther and farther away from sin, escaping forever from its clutches! In Your all-powerful Name I pray, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
In Isaiah 5:1 the prophet gives some personal words from God! “Let Me sing for My well-beloved a love song.” As I type these words, Norma-Jean is still sleeping, but when she awakes I’m inspired to sing her a love song. It will be our favourite called, “Unforgetable.” Singer Nat King Cole sang it so beautifully, and I’ll be a poor excuse for his voice, but it’s the thought that counts.
I remember childhood Christmases. I have such warm thoughts of the wood fire in the box stove and the little candles clipped onto the freshly cut Christmas tree branches, which gave light in the parlour. Yes, the flames near the branches could’ve been dangerous, but the tree was fresh (cut and decorated Christmas Eve), and we were careful. We’ve proven that we can, if necessary, get along without electricity, but we know for sure that we cannot get along without the One born in Bethlehem, Whose birth we celebrate. He is “A Light to bring revelation to the Gentiles.” I’m one of them! He is my “Light!” (Luke 2:32a).
Yours in “beautiful and glorious” celebration of Christ’s birth!
David
P.S. In the picture below, I’m on the roof of the Bethlehem City Hall, overlooking Manger Square. What is perhaps the world’s tallest (artificial) Christmas tree was in the process of being decorated when we took this photo on November 25th. Directly over the top of the tree is the Church of the Nativity. The cave/stable where Jesus was born is just underneath the church. The continuity of the families of the shepherds and the relatives of Joseph make this spot believable. Do you see the red roof next door to the Nativity Church? That’s St. Catherine’s Church. You may see midnight Mass from there on Christmas Eve as this service is carried every year around the world on TV. Also, click here for #4 in the TV specials I hosted from Bethlehem.
Wonderful prayers, words of encouragement and poem posted yesterday.
Merry Christmas and God bless every one of you, dear brothers and sisters!
Amen Deanna!
Deanna must have also went back to 2017 for the blog,as I did.Couldn’t sleep due to pain as I overdid it yesterday.This is normal from 2 knee replacements.They only ache when I lie down.Luke is a long read and now I feel like sleeping.I can’t allow myself to skip additional readings,and this one should be read today,even among scholars.Yall have a very Merry Christmas.(I’m repeating:This would be my father’s 119th birthday.Mustn’t dwell there.)God bless
Sorry your legs are hurting Bill, I pray that you will relax and enjoy this Blessed celebration of Christ’s birth. I am like you I don’t like bypassing the extra scriptures. I am so glad that I read them this morning, it was such a blessing to me( with tears running down my cheeks)
May each and everyone have A Blessed Christmas. Christian love to all .
Eleanor M.
A Blessed Christmas to all the Mainse family and all the faithful bloggers and their loved ones
Good morning William I just want to thank you for mentioning the fact that you’ve had two knee replacements and that you’re in in pain the reason why I’m responding is that in the summer of 2020 you’re looking at July or August I too am scheduled to have knee surgery because I have osteoarthritis but now that you mentioned that even with your replacement you still have pain it’s under it’s under my impression that I’m I’m in knee pain now it’s under my impression that once I get the replacement that I will have no more pain but you have just enlightened me that you still do have pain even though you’ve had the surgery so could you please get back to me and advise me of what it’s like to even though you’ve had surgery that you still have pain so I would I would really appreciate a response and tell me a little bit about daily life since you’ve had your operation and how long ago it’s been thank you very much and happy holidays
So if that’s the case then I’m going to really think about if I still want to have actually I need both knees replaced but they can only do one at a time but if this is your experiencing experience that you’re still having pain after you’ve had the surgery then maybe because I’m on a waiting list know so maybe I should reconsider if this is your experience I should reconsider not having it and and go a different route like pain pain and in injections so I would really appreciate if you could just like I said give me a little bit of oven in sight of when you had your your double knee replacement and and what daily life is really like because if if you’re still having pain then what’s the sense of what’s the sense of the replacement by I thought it would eliminate the pain that were already experiencing we we have knee surgery so the pain will we will have no more pain so if you could please respond sorry for this lengthy, but if you could please respond and tell me what life is thank you again and God bless
Merry Christmas and happy holidays 2 mi blogger friends I pray that you will have a blessed season as you spend time with family and friends and that we remember that this is Jesus’s birthday we are celebrating Jesus so God bless everyone
I just want to take the time to say thank you for sharing your experience with me it’s been very helpful but like I said I need to to do a lot of thinking now if I still want to go through with the with the surgeries you have really helped me thank you so much God bless
Thank you again William for sharing with me your experience and that what you have said has been very helpful to me to consider whether to still have surgery or not so thank you very much again
Merry Christmas fellow saints in the Lord. Wishing all who are in pain, much healing and love. Will try to post again. Our Lord’s blessings on you all!!
A very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus to all bloggers. I pray that all who will celebrate this blessed event, may think, not of just the holiday, but WHO came to earth to live and experience life as a human being (Jesus) and suffered so much, so that we (who believe) will enjoy eternal life.
Yes, a very Merry Christmas to the Mainse family and all my fellow bloggers, saints in the Lord! May the Lord really bless your day as you celebrate HIS birth with family and friends. Amen!
Amen Ger!!
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE MAINES FAMILY AND FELLOW BLOGGERS AND MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU TODAY AND ON IN THE THE NEW YEAR