Nativity 3…a simple stencil…

 Nativity 3…a simple stencil….

A simple stencil of a nativity…Gold to represent royalty…on white to represent purity….which are found in Jesus…

 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”

Gen.17.15-16

 I have found David, my servant;with my holy oil I have anointed him, so that my hand shall be established with him;my arm also shall strengthen him. 

The enemy shall not outwit him;the wicked shall not humble him. 

I will crush his foes before himand strike down those who hate him. 

My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him,and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 

I will set his hand on the seaand his right hand on the rivers. 

He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’ 

And I will make him the firstborn,the highest of the kings of the earth. 

My steadfast love I will keep for him forever,and my covenant will stand firm for him. I will establish his offspring foreverand his throne as the days of the heavens. 

His offspring shall endure forever,his throne as long as the sun before me.

Ps.89.20-29,Ps.89.36

 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. 

And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke.1.32,Luke.1.33,Luke.2.10-12

 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

1Tim.6.13-16

 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

Rev.1.5

Thank YOU….

What child is this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jroBAl3WW8&list=RD6jroBAl3WW8&start_radio=1

Interesting…puts a different light on the birth place of Jesus…

https://biblearchaeology.org/research/chronological-categories/life-and-ministry-of-jesus-and-apostles/4866-away-in-a-manger-but-not-in-a-barn-an-archaeological-look-at-the-nativity

Psalm 32:1-5

 Psalm 32:1-5

 

Forgiveness has been God’s plan since the beginning…

He told Moses, revealed it in  the psalms, and showed it through Jesus…how great a gift…

Forgiven….

sin covered…

Doesn’t count our sins against us…

 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

Exod.34.6-8

The ultimate gift of forgiveness….

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

 

“As you read these psalms, note the pattern followed by the psalmists in responding to God…

They recognize their sinfulness..

They realized that sin was rebellion against God himself….

They admitted their sins to God…

They trusted in God’s willingness to forgive….

They accepted his forgiveness….

Similar psalm that emphasize these themes-6;14; 31; 32; 38; 41; 51; 102; 130; 143” Bible study notes…

 1. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,whose sin is covered. 

 You forgave the iniquity of your people;you covered all their sin. Selah

Ps.85.2

 2. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 

 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Rom.4.7-8

 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

2Cor.5.19

 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

John.1.47

3.For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 

 For my life is spent with sorrow,and my years with sighing;my strength fails because of my iniquity,and my bones waste away.

Ps.31.10

4. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah 

5. I acknowledged my sin to you,and I did not cover my iniquity;I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah 

 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

Prov.28.13

 as far as the east is from the west,so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Ps.103.12

 “But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me,

Lev.26.40

Thank YOU…

For God so loved the World…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8Ycg8KcN1A&list=RDw8Ycg8KcN1A&start_radio=1

Psalm

Psalm 27:7-14….who do we seek…

 

Psalm 27:7-14….who do we seek….

Two of my husband’s favorite verses  are found in the book of Matthew…

 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Matt.7.7-8

As a surprise when we repainted one of our houses one time, I had them painted on the wall in our bedroom…so they were the first verses we saw upon awakening…ask, seek, find….what promises…..

7. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;be gracious to me and answer me! 

 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,

Ps.13.3

8.You have said, “Seek my face.”My heart says to you,“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”     

 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;my soul thirsts for you;my flesh faints for you,as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Ps.63.1

 Glory in his holy name;let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! 

Seek the Lord and his strength;seek his presence continually!

Ps.105.3,Ps.105.4

 I love those who love me,and those who seek me diligently find me.

Prov.8.17

 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matt.6.33

9.Hide not your face from me.

Turn not your servant away in anger,O you who have been my help.

Cast me not off; forsake me not,O God of my salvation! 

 Hide not your face from your servant,for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.

Ps.69.17

10. For my father and my mother have forsaken me,but the Lord will take me in. 

11.Teach me your way, O Lord,and lead me on a level path because  of my enemies. 

 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies;make your way straight before me.

Ps.5.8

 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;teach me your paths.

Ps.25.4

 Teach me your way, O Lord,that I may walk in your truth;unite my heart to fear your name.

Ps.86.11

12.Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;for false witnesses have risen against me,and they breathe out violence. 

 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;for false witnesses have risen against me,and they breathe out violence.

Ps.27.12

 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward…

Matt.26.60

13. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 

 Oh, how abundant is your goodness,which you have stored up for those who fear youand worked for those who take refuge in you,in the sight of the children of mankind!

Ps.31.19

 But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter.I did not know it was against me-they devised schemes, saying,“Let us destroy the tree with its fruit,let us cut him off from the land of the living,that his name be remembered no more.”

Jer.11.19

 then I will make you go down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of old, and I will make you to dwell in the world below, among ruins from of old, with those who go down to the pit, so that you will not be inhabited; but I will set beauty in the land of the living.

Ezek.26.20

14. Wait for the Lord;be strong, and let your heart take courage;wait for the Lord!

 I waited patiently for the Lord;he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction,out of the miry bog,and set my feet upon a rock,making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth,a song of praise to our God.Many will see and fear,and put their trust in the Lord.

Ps.40.1-3

 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,“therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him,to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Lam.3.24-26

Thank YOU….

Seek ye first….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SllpeAbjcng&list=RDSllpeAbjcng&start_radio=1

Psalm 4-6…celebrate…sing unto the Lord….

 

Psalm 27:4-6….celebrate…sing unto the Lord…

 I will sing to the Lord,because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Ps.13.6

Whenever there is something positive as in good from a cancer result, my cancer  doctor asks, “so how are you going to celebrate?”…at first, I didn’t know how to answer and sometimes still don’t…but, this week I did…I had another birthday…and my family added unexpected surprises to that as well…

With cancer or other diagnoses we don’t always get to celebrate…but even small things, advances are worth the celebrations…

David said he would “sing and make music to the LORD” and it is worth it….

THANK YOU….

4..One thing have I asked of the Lord,that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. 

 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,and establish the work of our hands upon us;yes, establish the work of our hands!

Ps.90.17

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me-all the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Ps.23.6

 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.

Ps.26.8

5. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;he will lift me high upon a rock. 

 Keep me as the apple of your eye;hide me in the shadow of your wings,

Ps.17.8

 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men;you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.

Ps.31.20

 My soul thirsts for God,for the living God.When shall I come and appear before God?

Ps.42.2

6. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me,and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the Lord. 

 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Ps.3.3

 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

Ps.107.22

Sing the Lord…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=69OEHJOEvuA&list=RD69OEHJOEvuA&start_radio=1&pp=ygUQU2luZyB0byB0aGUgbG9yZKAHAQ%3D%3D

 

Psalm 27:1-4… light and fears….

 Psalm 27:1-4… light and fears…

Right now cancer is a reality for me…I really don’t want to be known as the woman with cancer…there is so much more to life than that…but I don’t want to fear to assail or trap me…I want live while I can…be apart of life that revolves around. ….every time I go to the cancer center, I see despair…the staff is amazing with smiles and encouragement…they to brighten everyone’s day with encouraging words…

I realize this psalm may not be about cancer, but that is the way it spoke to me…

I like the words…

Light…

salvation…

No fear…

Stronghold…

Strength…

Song…

Love…

Enemies stumbling….not winning…

Confidence…

Hope…

integrity…

Thank YOU ….

 1. The Lord is my light and my salvation;whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;of whom shall I be afraid? 

 The sun shall be no more your light by day,nor for brightness shall the moon give you light;but the Lord will be your everlasting light,and your God will be your glory. 

Your sun shall no more go down,nor your moon withdraw itself;for the Lord will be your everlasting light,and your days of mourning shall be ended.

Isa.60.19-20

 The Lord is my strength and my song,and he has become my salvation;this is my God, and I will praise him,my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Exod.15.2

 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John.8.12

 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.What can man do to me?Ps.118.6

“ fear is a dark shadow that envelops us and ultimately imprisons us within ourselves….if we want to dispel the darkness of fear, we need to remember with the psalmist that “the LORD is my light 

and my salvation.” Bible study notes…

 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

1John.4.18

2. When evildoers assail me-to eat up my flesh,my adversaries and foes,it is they who stumble and fall. 

 When my enemies turn back,they stumble and perish before your presence.

Ps.9.3

 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord?

Ps.14.4

3..Though an army encamp against me,my heart shall not fear;though war arise against me,yet I will be confident. 

 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.

Ps.3.6

 Is not your fear of God your confidence,and the integrity of your ways your hope?

Job.4.6

4. One thing have I asked of the Lord,that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. 

 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,and establish the work of our hands upon us;yes, establish the work of our hands!

Ps.90.17

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me-all the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Ps.23.6

 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.

Ps.26.8

Whom shall I fear…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0gu0nOaFsI&list=RDR0gu0nOaFsI&start_radio=1

Today…

 Today….

 This is the day that the Lord has made;let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Ps.118.24

Last night I watched a partial speech given by a young widow whose husband was killed before a crowd a few short weeks ago.  personally I had never heard about him until that day….

She said he would ask himself these three questions everyday…

“1.  What can I do for someone today?

2. What is something I can add value to the world today?

3. How can I honor God today?”

I thought of those questions this morning as I was reading this  portion of scripture…apparently this young man was getting death threats and still he stood his ground. His desire was to live for the Lord…just as David did…no matter the circumstances…

 The Lord is my light and my salvation;whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid? 

When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh,my adversaries and foes,it is they who stumble and fall. 

Though an army encamp against me,my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me,yet I will be confident.

Ps.27.1,Ps.27.2,Ps.27.3”

“He ( the pastor) spoke to them of Jesus’ love and the need for every Christian to grow to be the kind of Christian whom God could use in His service. He spoke of the need to do something with their lives instead of wasting the time God gave people here on earth…”…Darlene Mindrup…

Each day is important…and each person has a purpose, a plan…

I Corinthians 12,14…

Romans 12…

 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. 

And this is not your own doing; 

it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Eph.2.4-10

Thank YOU…

Palm 27 song…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jqj6QXmy68&list=RD8Jqj6QXmy68&start_radio=1&pp=ygUZcHNhbG0gMjcgc29uZyB3aXRoIGx5cmljc6AHAQ%3D%3D

Room. 7….

 Room 7…

Yesterday my infusion room was number 7, my favorite…I have had it all seasons except winter and if infusions go well, I may have it this winter this year sometime…

Rooms 4-7 face the outside with ceiling to floor glass looking out on different views of a fresh water feature, Lilly pads, lilies, fish, maybe a duck or two, a large  pruned shrub-with dozens of bird nests and bird feeders…

But room 7 has a platform birder low to the ground next to the window…so low-feeding birds feed are there as well as the high-feeding birds …and now the squirrels have added their antics to the show…

Yesterday, someone had placed a large block of bird seed on the platform as well as peanuts …it was busy! Towhees, doves, sparrows, little snow birds and finally the squirrels who would zoom through quickly while the birds would flutter up, then settle down, eating with gusto…the squirrels would finally get their chance and one at a time would sit, flicking their tail, while eating the peanuts like corn on the cob, moving their tiny paws back and forth…

This is small pleasure at the cancer center…you are there for a much harder reason…so little pleasures are not taken lightly…

 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matt.6.25-34

 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 

So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,

Matt.10.30-32

Thank YOU….

This a song from the past, but so good…

His eye is on the sparrow…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkCoaNgFj-s&list=RDCkCoaNgFj-s&start_radio=1