Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts

He Knew

After another morning of hustle and bustle, kids off to school and some still asleep, I decided to crawl back in bed.
My firstborn born son slept with me last night.  As I cuddled up to him so many thoughts came rushing through my mind.
As fast as the thoughts rushed in, the emotions rushed into my heart, and the tears of sadness and joy began to fall from my face. 
My Father in heaven, He knew I'd have this moment. 
My mind began to think and marvel as I thought about Mary and Jesus.
I'm not sure what Jesus laid on when it was time for bed.  Was his bed separate from where his earthly mom and dad slept or did he cuddle in with mom and dad?
Did Mary sometimes move from their separate places to cuddle up to Jesus in the wee hours of the morning?
Jesus knew before He came how many times His mom would cuddle Him.
He knew He would exchange his streets of gold to sleep each night on the cold rugged ground.
He knew there would be moments when His Mom would hold Him and scold Him.
Jesus stayed back in Jerusalem while His parents were heading back home.
He knew it would be a few days, a day for them to realize He was missing and they would have to travel back to find him.  
Joesph taught Jesus the trade of carpentry. When Jesus used the nails to complete the projects with his father Joseph.
He knew. And continued on.
He knew he'd be rejected, mocked, and spit on. 
He knew he'd be flogged, to the point of no recognition.
He knew he'd be tempted.
He knew in the flesh He would be weak.
He knew He would need the strength from His Father in heaven.
My Father, your Father the Creator of heaven and earth.
He knew.
He knew He was coming for me and for you. He wanted to be a comfort to us, and dwell with us, and give us rest.
He knew I couldn't do it on my own, and how weak the flesh is.
He knew so He came.
He knows not all will come to Him. 
He knows everything there is nothing I can hide from him.
There is no where I can go, where He does not exist.
No mountain, no deep sea that I can go that He can’t find me. 
He knew and He didn't change His mind, He didn't turn back.

He knew.

Birthdays x 2

My dad was born on Feb. 29 in a leap year.
However on his birth certificate,
his date of birth is indicated as Feb. 28, 1936.
Next year 2012 will be a leap year.
My dad would only be 19 years old.
In "regular" years,
he would be 75  years old, this coming up week.
We weren't a family who celebrated birthdays each year.
However, I do celebrate them now!
I would like this blog to be a tribute to my dad, for all the years we missed celebrating!

So in tribute to him, I want to look at the most important birthday on the calendar.
December 25th.

Which is it?
Immanuel,
or Emmanuel,
or Jesus?  >All are correct

Immanuel-Hebrew  (Isaiah 7:14)
KJV- King James Version

-Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

Old Testament *
Immanuel = "God with us" or "with us is God"
1) symbolic and prophetic name of the Messiah, the Christ, prophesying that He would be born of a virgin and would be 'God with us.'

Emmanuel-Greek (Matthew 1:23)
KJV- King James Version

-Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 

New Testament*
Emmanuel = "God with us"
1) the title applied to the Messiah, born of the virgin.


The actual day of Jesus' birth has been a topic of debate for many years.
This controversy can make us lose our focus.

Some people all together deny Jesus came.
Some because of not knowing the actual day, because it's not,
"in the box" they've created, say;
"We don't celebrate because we don't know the actual day, we don't celebrate, because of the "bad" birthday situations in the bible.  (Take a peek at the previous Birthday posting.)

I, however believe He was born.
He was birthed on a day by the virgin Mary.
I consider it an honor and privilege
to celebrate His day
each year on December 25th.

Why?

When I sit and consider His birthday I rejoice and celebrate.
There are so many things that blow my mind!

God came to me, to us, took on this, my, our sinful flesh, walked with us, dwelled with us, all so that I, you would be saved.

The foundation of the faith I proclaim and the core, the Rock I stand on.

He never stopped being God, and also became man.  God-Man with US.

Why? For me. For you.

How?  I don't know, it's beyond my comprehension.  By faith I believe.

It's a topic I revel in!

Every December, Christian or Non, some way or another recognize that December is 'THE MONTH" and there is a day, (the 25th) that  IS
"The Reason for The Season."
It's a miracle! One to ponder! One to Celebrate!

Look at his names again...

ImMANuel !
EmMANuel !
JesUS !


GOD WITH US!
WITH US IS GOD!
AS A MAN!

Happy Birthday Dad!
I miss you!
I love you!
I don't know what happens in those last seconds from, here on earth, and our time before You.
But I will always think of
the one man on the cross next to
JesUS,< = > GOD knew his heart.
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth , today you will be with me in paradise."

Luke 23: 42,43 NIV-New International Version- (emphasis added-) mine

My cry, my prayer:
Just call on His Name!





*References taken from www.blueletterbible.org

What's in a name?

Today, if given the chance;
How would you introduce yourself to God?
What would you tell Him about yourself?

How would God introduce himself to you?
Have you ever allowed Him the opportunity to introduce himself to you?

You might be thinking,
"O.k. hypothetically, I'll play along."
No really! Not any hypotheticals.
How would you introduce yourself
to your Father in heaven?
The facts remain: we will come face to face with Him one day.

You could give an answer like my husband gave;
"I don't need to, He already knows me."
True! Very True!
Sure Honey,  take the easy way out!

But follow me for just some time.
You know I'm never quick!

Baby names-We buy books, we look on-line,
we ask people.
You search, and talk, and search, and talk,
and then you decide.
Then you search again and again and...
You have a name! Awe! Yes!

So you decided, then you think,
"Oh-no" will they call him this?"
"Oh they wouldn't shorten her name to that!
They better not!"
Great back to square one......
or you "put your foot down and say...
With a great big smile on your face
"No I'm _____ that's what Mommy and Daddy named me." And hope they get the "hint."

So really what's in a name?
My name Melissa, means "Bee." 
(Yes I know I'm always "buzzing" about something.) 

(As of today, if I were to leave you know, and go up to heaven and be with Him.)
I could introduce myself by saying;
"Hi, Lord, I'm Melissa, you know Bee.....
I'm a wife, 36, I have 5 kids, you know I liked baking, gardening, reading, researching.....
NO!
Come on let's get real! Let's be honest!
He already knows anyway.
Lord remember when I first went and talked to my Pastor and asked, 
"How do I pray?" "What do I call God, just God?"
"How do I address him?" "Do I have to use "Jehovah?" "What's the Proper name to use?"
"What if I call Him by the wrong name, will he even listen, will my prayer be heard?"

Well you know my Pastor, Pastor Jerry, and you know what he said.
He said, "Well how do your children address you?
How does your husband address you?
How do your friends address you?"
Well they call me Mom, Mommy.
My husband calls me Honey, or Sweat Heart. 
My friends call me Melissa, and sometimes they don't even use my name we just start talking. Sometimes people call me Michelle, and I still answer.
"So you don't reject them?" No.
"Do you respond?" Yes. 
"So no matter how your approached, you begin your conversation?"  Yep.
"All right, it's the same way with God.
Just talk to Him, that's all He wants.
He's always waiting for you.
He'll show you who He is."  
 O.k.
 "God here I am in prayer, not really sure what to call you. I believe your listening.
I have so many questions, like,
"What is your name? What do I call you? Who are you?" and...and...and...
(Time passes; I pray, I seek, I search, I learn and then I discover!)

You have so many names!
You revealed yourself to me!
You told me your name, who you are!
 ----------------------------------------------

(Here are some of my findings-former JW's it's amazing!)
You are I AM:
..I AM WHO I AM- Exodus 3:14 (*NIV see below)
(hayah-to be, become, come to pass, exist, to happen) 

You are the Living God:
..My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
 Ps.42:2 
... God('elohiym-the (true),for the living(chay-living, alive)God ('el- God, the one true God)

 
You are Jehovah:
...is the LORD, Are the Most High...Psalm 83:18 
(Yĕhovah- the proper name of the one true God) 

You are Jehovah-You are Jesus!

I and the Father are one.
John 10:30
...Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father... John 14:9-11
...before Abraham was born, I am!John 8:58
(eimi-to be, to exist, to happen to be present)*Look Back at Exodus 3:14*

....that he was the Messiah.  Matt 16:20 NLT

 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."Revelation 1:8

HERE'S THE BREAK DOWN-I'm in Awe!

(I am- eimi-to be, to exist, to happen, to be present) *Look Back at Exodus 3:14*
(alpha-First letter of Greek alphabet, Christ is the Alpha to indicate that he is the beginning and the end)
(omega-Ō-the last letter in the Greek alphabet, the last)
(the Lord -kyrios-about which he has power of deciding; master, lord) (this title is given to: God, the Messiah)*Look Back at Matthew 16:20*
(God-theos spoken of the only and true God)- *Look Back at Psalm 83:18*
(the Almighty-pantokratōr-the ruler of all, almighty:God)

I am the Living One... Revelation 1:18
(zaō-to live, breathe, be among the living) *Look Back at Psalm 42:2*
---------------------------------------------------

I didn't say it. 
He did!
But I must say I believe Him, All of Him!

Lord, I searched for you and I found you.
(Matthew 7:7...seek and you will find...)

So now how would I introduce myself to God?
Now that I know Him...
Lord,
Hi it's me. Not all of me because in blog world there isn't enough time.
But when I do see you there will be no time limits! Yes!
You know I was lost, and you found me.

I believe you are real.
Thank you for making me creative and spunky.
Thank you for making me a wife and mommy.
I am blessed!
I gave my life to you in the year 2004. The best thing I ever did!
I pretend to be a Pastry Chef.
I love the water. I want to go to Maine.
I want to seek the lost.
I don't want to fail you.
I make mistakes.
I yell at my kids.
My journey has had plenty of ups and downs, and oh so many crossroads.
Would I change some things, most definetly!
I'm sorry I lied. I'm sorry I stole. I'm sorry I abused alchol. I'm sorry I ____.
I'm sorry I _____. I'm sorry I_____. (Somethings are just between me and Him.)
I was all those things, and much much more! Please forgive me!
When I found you, I started to lose my anger, my fear, my rage, my bitterness.
I discovered there is unconditional love, I had compassion for others, I wanted to trust, I wanted to obey.
I once was mad that I was born into a Jehovah's Witness family, but now I'm thankful because it has made me the person I am today. Discovering Truth, discovering You.
I_____...I_____...
They intended to harm me, but you intended it for good.
You are everything I imagined and more!

Lord, Thank you for showing me who you are!

I Love You!
I've finally  realized you've  always had your eye on me!
Little old me.
Thank you!
Yep that's what I'd say.


*All verses come from the NIV Bible-New International Version unless otherwise noted.