IMMANUEL
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 6-8
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: “Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His Name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). In our photograph, the believers of the Nazareth Village are doing a superb job telling the story. God has placed something in every human heart, believer or not, that causes a desire to celebrate at this time of year! Merry Christmas!!!
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Isaiah 6:3; 7:9b,14
And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”… If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established…Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
In the Gospel of John 12:41, John speaks of Jesus when he says, “These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.” John was with Jesus for over three years and John began his record of Jesus by writing, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1:1)… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His Glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth!” (John 1:14). As a result of his vision of Jesus, Isaiah was transformed; first in his CONFESSION (Isaiah 6:5), second in his CONFIRMATION of forgiveness (Isaiah 6:7), and third in his COMMISSION (Isaiah 6:8). Isaiah believed and his life and ministry were established.
Those who do not want to believe in the virgin birth of Jesus will often say that the word translated “virgin” in 7:14 can also be translated “young woman.” Of course Mary was a very young woman, perhaps 13,14 or 15 years old. Be assured that in that culture and at that time, the entire tiny community of Nazareth, besides parents, guaranteed that all young women would be virgins. Early Hebrew scholars, as well as the early Church leaders, never doubted that the young woman referred to here would be a virgin. Otherwise this would be a normal conception and in no way would this be a miraculous sign from God to King Ahaz (Isaiah 7:11). We need to use our minds to do as the Lord said to Isaiah, “Let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18a).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I say with all my heart along with Isaiah, “Here am I, send me!” I pray that my 100% commitment to You will not waver in any way. Grant that I may “behold Your glory,” seeing with fresh insight the Person and work of Jesus Christ in Whose Name I pray. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Inside my heart and mind I’m shouting with the Seraphim Angels, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD OF HOSTS; THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY!!!!!” (Isaiah 6:3). In the picture below, I’m on the edge of the mountain called Herodian. Bethlehem is seen behind me on the horizon. King Herod was probably on this mountain in his fortress for safety from an uprising of the people after he had ordered the killing of the boy babies two years old and under in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16). Bethlehem was a small village then with perhaps 300 people. In such a community there may have been a dozen babies. Herod had murdered his wife and two of his sons along with many others. Infanticide was common throughout the Roman Empire, so the death of these children would not have created much of a stir in the rest of the country. Because of the birth of Jesus, I have complete confidence in the fact that I will meet these murdered babies in Heaven soon. Christmas gives me such wonderful hope! What would I celebrate today if Jesus had not come as “Immanuel?” “God with us!” Amen!!!
Yours for a glorious celebration of “HIS GLORY” today,
David
P.S. Here is a link to episode #5 in the TV series for Christmas, which I taped two years ago in Bethlehem. MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MY PERCH OVERLOOKING BETHLEHEM!!!
Merry Christmas fellow blog readers! Thoughts and prayers to the Mainse family. Thank you Ron and family for carrying on your father’s legacy and continuing thr blog!
Merry Christmas to all the saints and Mainse family–Norma-Jean, Ron, Ann, Reynold, Kathy, and all your children and grand-children, and everyone at Crossroads. May the peace love and joy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, be with all of you, today! Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Luke 2:12 KJV
Nat King Cole The Christmas Song (Full Album)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EgZAajTf08
Amen, Beverlee and a Blessed Christmas to you and yours and A Joyous New Year too!!
Christmas Blessings and a Happy New Year to you, as well, sister Irene!
Merry Christmas brethren.
Well we got a skiff of snow here last night on the west coast near Vancouver and we are supposed to have a chance of flurries today… a rarity indeed for us.
Thank you to the Mainse family for carrying on the tradition blog “100 Words”.
To all blog friends, may you have a blessed Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Christ Jesus…
Merry Christmas Mainse family and all blog friends. Definitely a while Christmas here on Vancouver Island. Great sermon yesterday at church. We are so blessed. Thank you Jesus.
Thank you, Ron, for continuing your Dad’s blog. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Yes. Merry Christmas to all! May God’s precious Spirit fill us all so others will taste and see that God is good! May each of us believe it and be those living stones – part of what God is doing here on this earth.
Lord God, may we be truly thankful for all Your goodness every day. Thank You most of all for coming to save us. Thank You for being faithful, and that You live to intercede for us. Please draw all our families to You, Lord. In Jesus’s great name, amen
Merry Christmas to the Mainse family, Norma Jean, Ron, Ann, Reynold, Kathy, all the rest of the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren plus all the blog families. Just watching the tribute to dear David on 100 Huntley St. now and heard Rev. Billy Richards’ tribute yesterday. Now you are carrying on Ron with this blog. We are in a big snowstorm and really appreciate the Christian programs on tv. Blessings to all.
Merry Christmas
To Norma- Jean
and Family.
My father and your husband
will spend their 1st Christmas in heaven
together.
Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year to you Norma-Jean and all your family. I pray for the arms of the Lord to enfold you during this Blessed time of the year as you celebrate the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!
And a Blessed Christmas and a Joyous New Year to all bloggers and your loved ones:)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I pray for those who are out in the cold, some because they prefer to be and others are needing a place to live! I pray the Lord will bring them comfort and warmth from the people around.
I pray for those who suffer with a chemical imbalance. I pray that people will reach out and help those who are dealing with any and all types of mental illness. I pray that our governments will remember what Jesus said, to “look after the children, the elderly and those who cannot look after themselves”
It is important for ALL people to realize that EVERYONE has a chemical imbalance because we all have hormones! these hormones go up and down every day, and seasons, moon positions, temperatures of the climate, life styles, alcohol, any street drugs, family dynamics all affect these imbalances.. I pray that people will reach out and speak to anyone who has a chemical imbalance, find out all the information regarding their illness, extend an understanding attitude.
We are not to be feared HOWEVER some people are very ill and need to be in a safe place……
MERRY CHRISTMAS