DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 1.2.21

Grace for Families in the New Year By: Sarah Phillips For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. - Genesis2:24 NIV Part of my job includes receiving letters from readers about family issues. Something that struck me this past year was how many Christian families suffer - truly suffer. Some struggle from financial woes,others from the behavior of rebellious teenagers, and some from painful relational problems within their marriages. While I can't offer quick fixes in this small devotional entry, I want to reflect on some scriptures here that will hopefully offer you some encouragement if you are among those facing a difficult familysituation. "The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree,and I ate it." - Genesis 3:7-12. First, if you're facing a broken situation or relationship, remember you're not alone. With the fall of man came the fall of family life. We can see this in Adam's dysfunctional words as he blames Godand Eve for his own sinful decision to eat the forbidden fruit. You may compare your family to others and feel like a failure - like everyone else has this family thing figured out. But truthfully, we are all sinners who marry sinners and give birth to sinners. While this truth doesn't excuse a person's hurtful, sinful behavior (God himself is grieved by such behavior), it helps ground me a littlemore in reality when I find myself playing the comparison game or building up unrealistic expectations of others. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord." - Ephesians 5:8 Second, we're not doomed to this sinful state forever. Becoming Christian doesn't necessarily make family life easier, but it does make healing possible. It is through the sanctifying grace of Jesus Christthat not only can we be transformed as individuals, but our relationships can also be transformed, successfully reflecting the Trinitarian love of God to each other and the world. This is God's desire for every Christian family, not just a privileged few.For as many disheartening letters as I receive from distraught spouses and parents, I receive encouraging letters and articles from those who have found true transformation and healing in Christ. If you are a believer, know that you have profound spiritualsupport to overcome your family trials. "Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Havenothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." - Ephesians 5:8-11 Third, transformation requires humility, help and work on our part. This may seem like I am stating the obvious, but sometimes it's helpful to me when a loved one reminds me of basic truths. Just as wedidn't instantly become perfect upon our acceptance of Christ, neither will our families. Each day we have choices - choices to choose Christ and accept his grace or to turn our backs. Occasionally we have breakthroughs - giant leaps forward in sanctity - but most of the Christian life consists of small, everyday decisions to seek God and live in his truth. Sometimes we need help from fellow believers to live successfully as children of the light - even Christ, who needed no help, graciously received help from Simon in carrying his cross (Matthew27:32). I encourage you to plug into a local support group or check out some of the resources at the end of this devotional if your family is hitting particularly dark days. "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." - Matthew 26:42 ----------------------------------------------------------- God Is for Us Romans 8:31-34 Throughout life, there will be times when our sins and failures lead us to conclude that God is disappointed or angry with us. How can He still love me after what I've done? If I'm really forgiven, why do I still feel so guilty? At such times, we need to fix oureyes on the truth of Scripture and ask the questions Paul posed in Romans 8. If God is for us, who is against us (v. 31)? Our heavenly Father proved His loyalty to us when He delivered His own Son over to death in order to save us. Without Christ's atoning death on our behalf, we would face eternal separation from God. ---------------------------------------------------------- Wonderat the Word “Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.” (Psalm119:129) Josiah was eight years old when he became king of Judah. His grandfather was Manassah and his father Amon, both evil kings. While it seemed Josiah would follow the same path, he didn’t. “He did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in theways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left” (2 Chronicles 34:2). What made such a difference? As the text above testifies, Josiah found wonder in God’s Word. When Josiah was a young man (age 26), a godly leader read to him the law (torah), which engaged his soul. And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are writtenin this book. (2 Chronicles 34:31) Such was the case of the psalmist. The earlier portions of Psalm 119 declare the good that he had done, but now his soul was motivated. He longed (v. 131) and cried for direction and help from the Lord: “Look thou upon me, and...Order my steps in thy word....Deliverme from the oppression of man....Make thy face to shine upon thy servant” (vv. 132-135). These unselfish prayers were each coupled with a promise to obey. With his heart and correct behavior involved, the psalmist wept for those who “keep not thy law” (v. 136). When the hearts of God’s people break because of sin, revival comes (2Chronicles 7:14). HMM III -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot by Laura MacCorkle Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James1:2 During the holidays, I have used my oven quite a bit. Because it is electric, it automatically has a mind of its own. It heats up very quickly and will char whatever is baking much faster than the time required for completion. That means I have to adjustthe times for any recipe that I'm attempting to follow. So, as you can imagine, for the home cook this is extremely frustrating. It means I must constantly be monitoring whatever is inside the oven. Putting on the potholder gloves. Opening up the door. Pullingout the rack. Checking the top of whatever's baking to make sure it's not burnt to a crisp. Closing up the oven. Waiting a few minutes. Putting back on the gloves. Opening up the door again. Covering with foil to protect as needed. Waiting some more. And then testing with a toothpick near the center to check for doneness, while hoping that the bottom isn't blackened and ultra crispy. Ugh. What … a … pain! One of the recipes I made was for some bar cookies called "brandied cranberry-apricot bars." Dried fruit, brown sugar, vanilla, butter, pecans … what's not to like? The instructions called to bake the crust first (flour, sugar, butter). And of course, myoven-baked it much faster than the 20 minutes ("or until golden") that was required. It was actually more like "or until darkest brown" by that point. Still undeterred, I pulled it out and then poured in the filling (fruit, eggs, pecans, vanilla and more flour and sugar). Next, I baked it for another 35 or so minutes. All the while, though, I was worriedthat the already partially-baked crust would be blackened by the time the cookies were done. I couldn't see it (since it was on the bottom), but I kept thinking maybe I should take out the pan before the time was up (Was my oven baking at warp speed or not? How annoying! And what to do?). Eventually, I decided to let the cookies stay the course. And thankfully, they weren't scorched beyond recognition. But they were done. Despite the small culinary victory, situations like this always frustrate me. Why? Because the heat is on! And I need it in order to complete what I'm baking. But, it also forces me to make adjustmentswhile it's doing its thing. And that isn't something I'm clamoring to do. --------------------------------------------------------- Why Do People Follow Jesus? John6:22-71 When Jesus walked this earth, a vast multitude followed Him. They came for all sorts of reasons—some noble, some selfish. The same is true today. It’s important that we understand what motivates people to come to Christ, because not all who seek Him are reallyHis followers. In fact, we each need to analyze our own walk with the Lord: What do we want from Him? How committed are we to being His disciples? Many of the people who followed Jesus did so because they had urgent needs that He alone could meet. Everywhere He went, the sick and demon-possessed were brought to Him—this is one of the ways that God draws us to Himself. Those who can solve all their ownproblems never need a Savior. Other folks came for sensationalism. They wanted to see the signs and miracles and feel a thrill of excitement. Today some people come to church or conferences to get pumped up, but mountaintop experiences are always followed by valleys. When hardships or challengescome, such people are quick to abandon the Lord. But Jesus’ disciples followed Him because they genuinely believed He was the Messiah, the very Son of God (Matt.16:16). Their commitment went beyond emotions or needs. They wanted to know Christ and walk closely with Him. Are you more interested in what Jesus can do for you than in just being with Him? Do you find it hard to stay committed without an emotional experience to sustain you? Our physical and emotional needs can draw us to the Lord, but they should never be the foundationfor our walk with Him. -------------------------------------------------------- True Education “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep theway of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” (Genesis 18:19) This is a very important verse comprising the first direct reference in the Bible to what we today would call education, and it is given in connection with God’s approving testimony concerning Abraham. Note that nothing is said concerning degrees or diplomas,the sciences or humanities, school buildings or textbooks. It does tell us that God’s highest priority in the training of the young is that they learn to “keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment.” Such instruction is the responsibility of the home—not of the government or some educational association.It is to be given in the context of God’s promises and plans (thus in the context of divine revelation) and is to be framed in terms of “commands.” This is also the teaching of the New Testament: “Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians6:4). The Bible never refers to “education,” but there are many references to teaching, learning, and instruction. There are no references to teaching under the sponsorship of the government, however. As far as biblical precepts and examples are concerned, teachingthe young is strictly a function of the home and the church (this could no doubt include several homes and churches cooperating in the provision of advanced or specialized instruction). Most importantly, all instruction, in every subject, should be governedby biblical criteria, for “all Scripture...is profitable...for instruction....That the man of God may be perfect [i.e., ‘fully prepared’]” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)for the work God wants him to do. HMM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our True Identity Ephesians1:3-8 When I hear a believer announce, “I’m just a sinner,” I feel like saying, “That’s what you used to be.” A lot of folks cling to a view of themselves as a patched-up, slightly-better-than-before version of their old self. The Bible contradicts that opinion: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away, behold, new things have come” (2Cor. 5:17). In fact, according to Scripture, we’re dramatically different once we are complete in Christ. The question is whether people will trust in what they feel or believe what God says about them. His Word calls us saints (Rom.1:7), disciples (Matt.28:19), and fellow heirs with Jesus Christ (Rom.8:17). If your opinion is that you are “just a sinner,” then you cannot fully experience and enjoy your identity in Christ. Believing what God says about our new self is a choice. Satan certainly conspires to convince believers that God’s Word doesn’t apply to them. He knows that people held captive by spiritual poverty back away from opportunities to share the gospel and servethe Lord’s kingdom. It’s much easier to spiritually bankrupt someone who already thinks of him- or herself as “just a sinner” than it is to conquer a disciple who knows God is his loving Father. Our true identity is defined not by our past actions but by the Savior’s. Jesus purchased our lives with His blood and brought us into relationship with God the Father, who adopted us as beloved children. We have every reason to hold our heads high, stand firm,and courageously proclaim the gospel. ----------------------------------------------------------- Keepingand Avoiding “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositionsof science falsely so called.” (1Timothy 6:20) Note that there are contained here both positive and negative charges. Timothy, Paul’s son in the faith, is instructed to keep certain things and avoid others. The word “keep” is a military word that might better be translated “guard.” The word “avoid” impliesmore than merely refraining from contact. It has to do, instead, with actively and deliberately turning away from something. Timothy is to guard that which has been committed into his care—by inference, something quite valuable—the complete gospel of Jesus Christ. “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That goodthing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost” (2Timothy 1:13-14). Paul knew, however, that in order to guard the truth, Timothy must actively avoid the false, and lists three specific potential pitfalls. The first is profane babbling, i.e., any of those conversations and arguments that are of a worldly, ungodly, unclean nature.Next, he is to avoid vain, empty, hollow arguments. Elsewhere, Paul teaches “shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2Timothy 2:16). Lastly, he is to avoid the opposing arguments of false science, or knowledge. Human wisdom found to be contrary to the wisdom of God may be called knowledge by some, but if so, it is “falsely so called.” Even “some professing [Christians] have erred concerningthe faith” (1Timothy 6:21). Paul closes with the benediction “Grace be with thee.” May we all enjoy God’s grace as we attempt to keep the true, avoid the false, and discern the difference. JDM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God and Treadmills By Ryan Duncan May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. - 2Thessalonians 3:5 Ever since I moved to Richmond I’ve acquired a taste for working out. There’s just something addicting about going to the gym after a long day at the office and pounding a treadmill until you feel the moistureon your forehead. If I don’t get my usual workouts, I tend to go stir crazy. That’s why I can’t stand January. After every New Year’s celebration, like clockwork, the gyms become crowded with people who have resolved to become healthier. Because of the crowds, it becomes harder to get equipment, find parking spaces, or do any of my usual exercises. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m glad people are trying to get healthier and I encourage anyonewho wants to start working out to give it a try, but I still get frustrated because I know that within a month most of these people will be gone. Exercise requires a lot of commitment and perseverance, and while a lot of people have resolved to live better,when the hard part comes they give up. You could say the same thing applies to faith. I cannot tell you how many times God has revealed himself in my life through his grace, his power, or even his sense of humor. But despite all these moments, it’s still so easy for me to doubt, to get angry with God and wonder if he has a plan, orif he’s even there at all. The book of James is useful in moments like this, and even offers some encouragement for when we’re tempted to doubt. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because youknow that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, andit will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable inall he does.” – James 1:2-8 Spiritual workouts are no different from our physical ones. If you want to run a marathon, you first have to run a mile, and if you want to become a tool for Christ, you have to trust him first. So don’tbe afraid of trials and challenges, but instead embrace them as opportunities to mature in your faith. It won’t be easy, and odds are you’ll probably have to endure some difficult and painful experiences, but in the end you’ll look back and know you’re strongerbecause of it. -------------------------------------------------- Judgmentfrom the Word “I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.” (Psalm119:121) The Hebrew word mishpat is one of the eight terms used in Psalm 119 to identify the Word of God. The psalmist used mishpat in the opening of this stanza (Psalm 119:121-128) to declare obedience to God’s “judgments”—especially regarding those who oppress the Lord’speople. Sometimes the Lord seems to delay action against those who rebel against truth. The prophet Habakkuk lived during such a time: O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!...for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth nevergo forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. (Habakkuk 1:2-4) During such times, we need “surety” (Psalm 119:122) from God to strengthen our minds. Paul warned Timothy of “perilous times” (2Timothy 3:1) ahead but also reminded him of God’s pledge: “They shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their’s also was” (2Timothy 3:9). After pleading his case, the psalmist stated: “It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law” (Psalm 119:126). He expressed his lovefor the commandments—exceeding his desire for wealth—and concluded: “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Psalm119:128). May our hearts be as resolute and as strong amid our opposition. Make it so, Lord Jesus. HMM III -------------------------------------------------- How to Experience Christ's Peace John14:27-31 "My peace I give to you” (John14:27). Jesus spoke these amazing words just hours before His crucifixion. His peace isn’t dependent upon external circumstances, but rather, it transcends them. Although He gives His peace to every believer as a gift, our experience of it is related toour faith in the following truths: • God is in control of everything. Without this assurance, the world is a scary place. • He loves me and will see me through every circumstance, no matter how difficult or painful it may be. • To have Christ’s peace, I must surrender my life to Him. When I hold onto my ways and plans, I’ll experience turmoil. • I have a limited perspective and understanding of my circumstances and God’s purposes for allowing them. His goals for me are greater than my immediate comfort. • The Lord promises to work all things out for my good. He is continually working to transform my character into Christ’s image. • I must live in sync with God, walking in the Spirit and promptly confessing and repenting of sin. • Scripture is my foundation for peace. It increases my trust in the Lord’s goodness, assures me that He keeps His promises, and reminds me of His sovereignty over every situation. • Sadly, many Christians live their whole lives without consistently experiencing this incomprehensible peace. Perhaps faith and submission are the most challenging issues. But only as we surrender control of our lives to Christ and trust in His plans for us will we discover tranquil rest for our souls ---------------------------------------------------------- TheTrinity in Ephesians “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith,one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians4:4-6) Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus is surely one of the most profoundly doctrinal—yet intensely practical—books of the Bible, and it is not surprising that the doctrine of the triune God breaks into his message so frequently. For example, note Ephesians 2:18: “For through [Christ] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” More often, however, it appears not in a succinct formula like this but rather in interconnected references to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, always implying that each is deity, but never that they are three different “gods.” Paul prayed that “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians1:17). He also prayed “unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,...That he would grant you,...to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (Ephesians3:14, 16-17). Thus, the believer is “filled with all the fulness of God” (v. 19). We are exhorted to “grieve not the holy Spirit of God,...even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians4:30, 32). And “be filled with the Spirit;...Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians5:18, 20). There are others, but note especially our text, speaking of our unity in Him and His triunity in us. “There is...one Spirit...One Lord,...One God and Father of all, who is above all [i.e., the Father], and through all [the Son], and in you all [the Spirit].” All this is a magnificent mystery, but a wonderful reality! HMM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want vs. Need by Laura MacCorkle Did you get what you wanted for Christmas today? Or did you get what you needed? What we want and what we need do not often go hand in hand. I should know. There are things that I have wanted in my life for a long time now, that apparently the Lord has not seen to be necessities. Atleast not yet. I know he knows what is best for me, but it is still hard to wait. And it is difficult not to look longingly at what others have received and wonder why I, too, cannot be the recipient of such things inmy life. This kind of struggle is not new to any of us. And Hannah, who we read about in the first chapter of 1 Samuel, is a great example of how to live when what you want is not yet something God says you need. For years Hannah had wanted to become a mother. To bear a child. To give her husband, Elkanah, a son—just like his other wife, Peninnah. Being barren was considered a disgrace for a woman in those times, so Hannah most likely felt ashamed and alone and perhaps like a societal outcast. Instead of turning away, though, Hannah took her sorrowand her request for what she wanted to the Lord. We don't know for sure how long she waited (perhaps years)—and we don't know the exact purposes of God's timing in her life—but we can still learn a great deal from Hannah's example … She was persistent and continually sought the Lord. She did not give up and stop asking the Lord for what she wanted. Like clockwork, Hannah kept bringing her requestto God, year after year at the temple in Shiloh (v. 7). No doubt her want continued to drive her to the Father and most likely deepened her relationship with him. She was blessed with a lifeline. I am quick to forget that the beauty in the midst of Hannah's pain is that Elkanah loved her very dearly (if not more than Peninnah).I am sure this buoyed Hannah to make it through the years when she may have wondered if God would ever answer her prayer for a child. God was gracious in giving her a loving husband (v. 5, 8). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When the Fog Settles In by Sarah Phillips For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastnessand by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 One of my favorite scenes in children's literature can be found in one of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, The Horse and His Boy. It occurs well into the story, when the main character -- an orphaned boy named Shasta - has endured many battles and adventures with his talking horse companion by his side. Now he arrives at a part inthe journey where he must travel alone in order to warn a neighboring kingdom of impending attack. As he travels in the wilderness, fog settles in. As the fog thickens into opaque clouds, Shasta suddenly senses another presence walking beside him. Heavy breathing, large paws...a lion is within inches of him and his common horse. Paralyzed with terror,the boy rides on for quite some time, awaiting his tragic end. Finally, the wait becomes too agonizing, and he cries out to the presence, demanding to know who it is and why he's there. What follows is a beautiful conversation between Shasta and King Aslan- who has been anxious to speak with him for some time. But it doesn't end there. As Shasta reaches Archenland, he is able to complete his mission, and the reader sighs in relief. But when he looks back at the path he traveled, he is stunned to see what thefog concealed - a narrow and treacherous mountain pass with deadly cliffs on one side. Only then does it become clear to Shasta and the reader that Aslan's presence and encouraging words quite literally saved Shasta's life. I may be young, but I know this journey. I know what it's like to look down a winding path that seems to stretch endlessly into murkiness. I know what it's like to feel alone, afraid, and confused and youprobably do too. You question if you'll have the endurance to see the trial through, to make it to your destination. We obviously don't have a Narnian lion to converse with and walk beside us when life gets tough (wouldn't that be nice?). But God does walk with us and speak to us in the real world, even when the roadfeels lonely and frightening. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6 The Christmas rush is here. There are plans to make, gifts to buy, and parties to attend. Sometimes these activities leave us exhausted and cranky—instead of peace and joy, we may feel inner churning because there’s too much to do. Or perhaps this time of theyear brings nothing but sad memories and loneliness. Unrealistic expectations and conflicts with loved ones often leave us depressed and discouraged. How can Jesus be our Prince of Peace when our expectations and traditions fight against the tranquility we desire? To understand why Jesus was given this title, we must first understand what it means. First of all, God’s Son did not come to do away with allconflicts—not yet, anyway. One day He will return to earth and rule as King in an environment of external harmony, but that was not the purpose of His first coming. So while we’re on earth, we’ll have trouble (John16:33). When Christ left heaven to become a human baby, His goal was to bring us peace with God by reconciling us to the Father. His death on the cross paid our sin debt in full, and our relationship with God is restored. Now He offers us divine peace—an inner serenitythat fills our hearts and minds no matter what is going on in our circumstances. Is your life characterized by a quiet assurance that guards your heart and mind all day long (Phil.4:6-7), or have stressful circumstances left you feeling depressed or agitated? Try setting aside time each day to fix your eyes upon Jesus. Then let Him heal your heart and calm your spirit. VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM

CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONALS AND MORE: 12.25.20

GodGave Himself For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should notperish, but have everlasting life.” (John3:16) It is singularly appropriate that we look at this greatest of all verses on Christmas Day, for it records the greatest of all gifts. The theme of giving is very prominent in the Bible, with such words as “give,” “gift,” “gave,” etc., occurring more than 2,100times. The first is Genesis 1:16-17 when God created the sun, moon, and stars “to give light upon the earth,” and the last is Revelation 22:12 when Christ will return with His rewards to “give every man according as his work shall be.” “He...gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons,” as well as “life, and breath, and all things” (Acts14:17; 17:25). But the greatest gift, clearly, was when God gave Himself for a lost and undeserving world. It was the greatest gift because it met the greatest need, revealed the greatest love, and had the greatest scope and purpose of any gift that could ever be conceivedin the heart of an omniscient Creator. That was not the end of His giving, of course. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans8:32). “Trust...in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1Timothy 6:17). This great gift of God is abundantly sufficient to provide salvation and everlasting life for the whole world. But a gift only becomes a gift when it is accepted, and the greatest of all tragedies is that this greatest of all gifts has been spurned and evenridiculed, or—worst of all—simply ignored by multitudes who need it so much. When they brazenly refuse God’s free gift of everlasting life, they can only perish in everlasting death. God did all He could do when He gave His Son; for when He gave His Son, Hegave Himself. HMM Wonderful God- by Greg Laurie www.harvest.org You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. Psalm 77:14 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/wonderful-god/- Listen Bertrand Russell claimed that the fear of boredom causes at least half the sins of mankind. We've never been more advanced technologically. We're constantly flooded withnew developments, trends, and discoveries in science and technology. Yet amazingly, we still get bored. For instance, you might get the latest and greatest gadget and be thrilled with it. But after a couple of weeks (or maybe even less),you become bored with it. Or a new model hits the market that suddenly makes your version outdated. We need to realize this world doesn't have what we�re searching for. God created us to know Him. The Bible says of Jesus, the Messiah, And His name will be called Wonderful (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV). In contrast to the passing things of this world, Jesus is wonderful. There's nothing this world has to offer that will satisfy our desire for wonder, our desire to knowmore than what we're experiencing. In fact, a lot of our technology can dull our senses to the extent that we fail to enjoy how wonderful life is. The psalmist David wrote, When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers the moon and the stars you set in place what are mere mortals that you should thinkabout them, human beings that you should care for them?ï (Psalm 8:34 NLT). As I contemplate this wonderful God and the sacrifice He made for us, it gives me a sense of awe, wonder, bewilderment, and yes, worship. The fact that God would love usin spite of our shortcomings and sinfulness should cause us to bow in worship. When you know this wonderful God, He will satisfy the deepest needs of your life. Do you know Him in that way? Keeping Christ in Christmas by Sarah Phillips "'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight...' " Mark 1:3 Here in America, Christmas is almost over. We only have a few more days before the radio stations switch to their normal mix and abrubtly stop playing the same five Christmas carols over and over again.How do you feel about this year's preparations? Do you feel ready? Do you feel stressed? Do you wish it was easier to focus on the reason for the season? For me, this year held a lot of firsts - firsts that forced me to reflect on how I celebrate Christmas and why. I got married this November, so melding family holiday traditions was the first project wetackled as a married couple. It's been a pretty fun process, but also a learning experience. Here's lesson #1: You can be the same religion and still experience that religion very differently! Although we haven't decided exactly how we'll celebrate Christmas every year from here on out, a friend shared an article with us that outlined the traditional German Christmas centered on Christkind ("Christ child"). We are definitely considering implementing some of these ideas in the future because it seems to combine the joyful festivities with the sacredness of the season so well.Here are the basics: In this tradition, it is not Santa Claus who brings gifts but the Christkind himself. Now, many families who celebrate Christkind still have a version of jolly, ol' St. Nick, but he arrives on his official feast day, December 6th, bearing gifts more modest than our American Santa Claus. The miraculous Christmas day arrival of Christkind requires a slow build-up throughout the month of December. Advent is observed carefully; Christmas decorations can wait. Family members take turns lighting the Advent candles as the entire family sings O Come, O Come Emmanuel every evening before dinner. Children also focus on developing virtue to prepare their hearts for the coming of Christkind. Throughout December, every time a child acts virtuously, he or she can place a piece of straw into the humble, empty manger. Inthis way, children can tangibly participate in "making the paths straight" for Christ's arrival. When Christmas finally comes, the family participates in prayer and the youngest child places a replica of baby Jesus into the manger filled with loving acts performed by the children. Then the parents reveal the stunning glitter of Christmas decorations and gifts left by the Christkind. The celebration of Christkind's arrival continues through January 6th- the day marked to commemorate the arrival of the Magi. Doesn't this sound peaceful? Doesn't this sound focused? Doesn't this sound appropriately paced? I certainly wish we had more than 24 hours to celebrate Christmas here in the U.S.! And I can practicallyhear the hushed Advent prayers leading up to the glorious unveiling of Christkind's arrival. The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown- Pete Garcia - https://www.rev310.com/2020/12/the-cradle-the-cross-and-the-crown-3 First published December 1st, 2014. Updated for 2020. After the year we�ve had, it is time we enjoy this hard-earned Christmas Season. 2020 has definitely been an exceedingly difficult year for many. As we reflect on the propheticpromise fulfilled in Christ�s first coming let us take hope in His promise to come again. It is often fitting for Christian households and churches to focus on the first coming of Jesus Christ. In times past, and perhaps, not as much anymore, there used to besome common signs that we were in the season of our Lord�s birth. The sight of manger scenes in town squares all across America, and also in front of churches from all denominations. Christmas cards bearing the Star or the three Wise menwere passed amongst believers during this season. Preachers preached mostly from Matthew 1-2 or Luke 1, while churches held their annual cantatas, and the sounds of �peace on earth, goodwill toward men� filled the ears of believers around the world. Bethlehem,Israel, once again becomes the focus of the world stage, as Christians flock to see the Church of the Nativity, which is currently being held hostage by the Palestinians. However, by 2020 standards, our westernized way of life has largely become post-modern and post-Christian. The gaining worldview is that Christ is too controversial. Christianityis too exclusive and divisive. Christians are too intolerant. Thus, everything is watered down so as not to offend. Furthermore, paganism is on the rise again and rivals everything we thought we knew about the season with the offerings of Saturnalia and thewinter solstice. Controversy sweeps in as Christian families become divided over things like gift-giving, Christmas trees, and whether we keep up pretenses about �Old Saint Nick.� This controversy was not a surprise to God. Jesus said, �Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to �set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law�; and �a man�s enemies will be those of his own household. Matthew 10:34-36 But the world will only tolerate two forms of the real Christ. The first is Christ as a baby. The second is a Christ dying on a cross. The former, because babies are deemedhelpless. The latter, because it presumably shows Christ�s defeat. However, as believers, we know this is far from true. Even as a newborn babe, Jesus (Yeshua), was already fulfilling numerous Old Testament prophecies (Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Jeremiah 31:15,Hosea 11:1, etc.). The Incarnation (God putting on flesh) in the form of Jesus through a virgin birth, was the only hope mankind had for redemption. It was the four-thousand-year-old fulfillment of the first prophecy/promise God made in the Bible. In the Gardenof Eden, God said this to the Serpent (Satan); And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel. Genesis 3:15 The Cradle But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive theadoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5 When the fullness of time had come�is a phrase so packed with meaning that it would not be possible to break it all down in the limited space (or ability) I have at my disposal.But it speaks to the eternal purpose of God�s plan for the redemption of mankind, and of all the created order. It speaks to the specific moments on mankind�s timeline, where (and when) God would intervene in a supernatural and visible way, to put feet toHis plan. Dr. Andy Wood�s makes much use of this phrase in his teachings, and really brought to my mind, the preciseness and purpose for why God chose that particular time frame for Christ�s first coming. Consider these points: � Since Alexander the Great, Koine Greekhad become the predominant language in the Mediterranean. Koine Greek is a very precise language which is perfect for capturing the original intent and meaning of the Scriptures�no matter which language they get translated into in the future. � The Roman republic form of governmentends under Julius Caesar and he creates a total dynastic dictatorship under what would become the rule of the Caesars. Christ was born and dies under the reign of a Caesar, and will return one day when another Caesar (Antichrist) who has set his empire upover the entire world. � The Romans perfected the creationof the road networks, which spanned the boundaries of the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, Europe, and even up into Britain. � Israel remained under the subjugationof Gentile powers (as described in Daniel 2:31-45, 7, 8, & 11) which had played out from the time of their exile to Babylon (605-539BC) � Looking at it from a holistic pointof view, there is a lot of commonalities for why Christ came when He did. There was a common language (Koine Greek), an advanced network for travel (all roads lead to Rome), a dominant pagan world power (fertile fields no doubt), and Israel in the final yearsbefore her diaspora. While there is still some debate as to exactly which year Christ was born in, all we know for sure is that when He was born, the nation of Israel wasn�t expecting it. Weknow from the world�s perspective, the birth of Christ in some backwater province of the Roman Empire, did not even register as a blip on their geopolitical radar. We know Christ lived up unto the age of 30 virtually as an unknown, before exploding onto the scene to present the world with 3 � years of God in the flesh, ministry. Atthe end of that, He managed to make the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Zealots mad enough to trump up false charges and have Him brought before the Sanhedrin to be tried as a political prisoner. The Cross In Genesis 49, we see Jacob blessing his sons who would become the heads of the 12 tribes of Israel. When Jacob came to bless Judah, he gave him an interesting prophecy; The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. Modern Jewish scholars today will refute that Christ is the Messiah because their argument is that the �scepter� departed from Judah back in 605BC when the Babylonians underNebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. Furthermore, from then, until 1948, the Jewish nation had been under some form of Gentile domination. All that is true. But what is also true is that the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans allowed the Jews to have a form of semi-autonomous rule over themselves (Zerubbabel, Ezra, Maccabeus)up until King Herod Archelaus was removed from power by Julius Caesar in 6AD (Josephus, Antiquities 17:13). That�s when the Jews lost any remaining semblance of autonomy and were subject to a series of Roman procurators with Pontius Pilate being the most famous. When Christ came, the Jews were either not anticipating the coming of their Messiah, or had largely ignored the literal fulfillment of the prophecies pertaining to His coming(Matt. 2:3-8). They thought they had lost their right to wield capital punishment on Him, which is partially why they no longer believed the Messiah would come. This is why when they finally did get the chance to kill Him, they had to turn it over to Pilatefor the official sentencing. Now, that didn�t stop them previously from trying to stone Him to death on a couple of prior occasions when they were riled up, but He always managed to allude them (John8:58-59, 10:30-33). They (the Sanhedrin) didn�t want to crucify Him on Passover because of the negative publicity, but again, the timing was such that God orchestrated everything to coincide with exactly the Passover Feast. (Mark 14:1-2; 1 Cor. 2:6-8) Also, in Numbers 24:17, the prophet Balaam prophesied that this same scepter would be accompanied by a Star, by which the wise men (Matt. 2:2) would later use to know wherethis One born King of the Jews, would be found. �I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult The victory at the Cross represented something much more significant than a literal kingdom on earth (which is still to come), but that Christ conquered death and hell.(Rev. 1:18) Because Christ had to be a man to die for the rest of mankind as our Kinsman Redeemer, Christ willingly endured the joy set before Him, in order to pay the price for OUR salvation. (Lev. 25; Heb. 12:2; Rev. 5:6-10) It would be equivalent to Godrigging a game that placed all of the burden and rules against Himself so that by His losing, we win. Christ trading His own perfect holiness, for our sinful and corrupted lives, is oft referred to as the most lopsided trade in all of recorded history. Andyet, that is exactly what transpired. We don�t think about it this way, but God the Son, traded His former estate, to take on forever, that of God in a glorified human body. The Crown I�ve often heard Amillennialists and Preterists state emphatically, that Christ will not return to rule and reign on earth because they say that we are in the Kingdom already.I couldn�t disagree more. The Scriptures tell us, that this world, is currently (and temporarily) under the sway and control of Satan himself (Luke 4:5-6; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 5:19; Rev. 2:13). And as much as these Christian-skeptics might wish, the Cross didn�tusher in some Edenic age where lambs lay down with wolves, children play with cobras, and nations beat their swords into plowshares (Isaiah 2:4, 11:2-8). Any theological interpretation or hermeneutic that detracts from the certainty that God Himself will right all the wrongs, and restore nature back to its original order,is heresy. Any teaching that states anything less than the literal fulfillment of Christ�s kingdom on the earth, is to depart from the plain reading of the text and making it allegorical folly. It was to King David that God said, �And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, whowill be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.� (1 Chron. 17:11) God states over and over, that the Kingdom Come is not established by man or by earthly efforts, but by God Himself (Dan. 2:44-45; Psalm 2; Rev. 19:11-16). Christian liberals and skepticshave introduced this idea that the Kingdom is purely spiritual, and they ignorantly argue that the Kingdom is now in play, however, only in the heavenly realms. They do this by taking several texts out of context such as Luke 17:20-22 and Romans 14:17. Ifthose who deny the coming, literal Millennial Kingdom on earth had their way; Christ would only come to earth to die, and not to reign; for Christ to be born �King of the Jews�, but to not actually become �King of the Jews�; for Him to ride a donkey,but not a white horse; for Christ to be spat on, beaten, and hang naked upon a cross of shame, but not to return in triumphal glory coming on the clouds with the armies of heaven behind Him. If Christ doesn�t return, then He remains defeated on the earth thatHe spoke into existence, that God�s word does not mean what it says, and that God can break unbreakable promises. The reason that men and women promote these heretical teachings, is because man-made religion, be it Roman Catholic or Protestant, has become too invested in the thingsof this world. They want life to continue on in some endless cycle of man rising and falling (2 Peter 3). They depart from a plain reading of the text and insert their own interpretations, which supplants God�s promise to return in victory and claim what isrightfully His. Not only to claim what is rightfully His, but also that every knee should bow, whether it is in heaven, on earth, under the earth. Throughout all of creation, all will confess that Jesus Christ is King (Philippians 2:9-11). So are these skeptics and liberals (who deny that Christ will literally return and rule on the earth) saying that Christ is free to rule everywhere, but the earth? The Christ-rejecting world, as well as those Christians who have fallen into spiritual slumber, will be astonished in that Day when Christ comes for His Church. Becausethat Day opens the window of time for Daniel�s 70th Week (the Tribulation) to begin. The Rapture doesn�t begin the Tribulation, but it clears the path for it, as the Church must be removed prior to the start of that final week of years. After the Rapture, perhaps a few days, weeks, months, years after, the seven-year Tribulation will begin just as it has been foretold in Daniel 9:27. The final seven-yearswill be the most horrifying, ferocious, and disturbing time humanity has ever experienced (Matt. 24:21-22). God will accomplish two things by it; first, He disciplines the nation of Israel, and secondly, He destroys all the Gentile nations round about her,by bringing the whole Babylonian system crashing to the ground (Jer. 30:7-11). It is noted by the Old Testament Prophets, that THAT DAY will begin in unimaginable calamity, perhaps masking the Church�s departure. The prophet Joel records��The sun shallbe turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.� Paul writes that �For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, �Peace and safety!� then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.� 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 Make no mistake that the Lord will return and will come with the clouds and in great power and glory. Christ will come and reclaim that which was lost with Adam. He hasthe title deed to the earth. He no longer wears the crown of thorns, but now wears �many crowns�, meaning He has ALL authority. When the prophet Isaiah saw the throne room, he was undone. When the holy prophet Daniel sees the throne room, he was shaken. WhenJohn sees the glorified Christ in all His splendor, he falls over as dead. How much more traumatized will an unrepentant, Christ-rejecting world be when it sees the sky splitting open and Christ returning in power and glory? The whole world will mourn (Rev. 1:7). The world at this moment doesn�t care. The religious academics try to minimalize or explain-away His soon coming with fanciful wordsmithing.Those actively opposed to Christ, who loathe Him, are filled with anger because they know deep down that this age is coming to an end. Thus, they are ramping up their evil plans in these final moments� But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keepthis commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ�s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light,whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Christmas Reminds us of the Integrity of Scripture � JonathanBrentner - https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/https/jonathan-brentner-g8fgsquarespacecom/config/2020/12/19/christmas-affirms-the-integrity-of-scripture Christmas provides us with the opportunity to celebrate the Father�s gift of His Son to the world. The story of our redemption begins with Jesus virgin birth, finds itsbasis in His death on the cross, burial, and resurrection, and will reach its climax when Christ appears to take us home to the place that He�s prepared for us. This Christmas, I am particularly mindful of the integrity of God�s Word because in the story of our Savior�s birth we see the beginning of many of the prophecies Jesusfulfilled during His stay on earth. My conviction regarding the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture rests on these four truths, which include fulfilled prophecy: Jesus� resurrection from the dead. If Jesus rose from the dead, and He did, that means we can trust all that He claimed and told us. This includes His verification of theOld Testament Scriptures as well as His promise of future revelation to His disciples (John 16:12-14). The incredible fulfillment of prophecy. When one considers the astounding number of prophecies Jesus� fulfilled with just His first coming, how can one not trust the wordswe read in our Bibles? The incredible supernatural fulfillment of prophecy also confirms the integrity of God�s Word and its message to us. The inner witness of the Holy Spirit. I grew up in a Bible-believing home and ever since I can remember, I have had a consistent inner conviction that what I read in Scriptureis true. I do not attribute this in any way to myself or to my parents, but to the work of the Holy Spirit who continually bears witness within me to the truths of Scripture. The amazing cohesiveness and unity of Scripture. Despite being written by many human authors over a period of about 1,500 years, the unity and cohesion of the Bible�s messageis miraculous; there�s no other way to describe it. From Genesis through to the end of Revelation, the consistent message points to Jesus as our Redeemer and King. I could write at length about any one of the above topics, but for now I will write about the amazing fulfillment of prophecy that occurred with Jesus� first appearanceon the earth. CHRISTMAS REMINDS US OF FULFILLED PROPHECY Imagine the entire state of Texas covered two feet deep with silver dollars. If you have ever spent any time driving in Texas, you realize this is an extraordinarily largenumber of coins. Texas is a huge state; it�s second in size only to Alaska and comprises over 268 thousand square miles. California, another large state, lags far behind Texas in land mass. Let�s say someone puts one coin, painted red, somewhere in the state amidst all the trillions of other coins. What are the odds that someone, with a blindfold covering hisor her eyes, could walk into Texas and pick up the red silver dollar on the very first try? The chances of doing so would be exceedingly low, nonexistent for all practical purposes. Peter W. Stoner, the former Chairman of the Departments of Mathematics andAstronomy at Pasadena City College, placed the likelihood of doing so at 10 to the 17th power. �What does this have to do with fulfilled prophecy?� Let me explain. Dr. Stoner joined with Robert C. Newman to write the book Science Speaks in which they calculated theodds of any one person in history fulfilling just eight key prophecies regarding the birth, life, and death of Jesus. Their calculation came out to the number equal to the odds of a blindfolded person walking into Texas and picking up the red silver dollaron the very first try amidst the entire state covered with the coins, an impossible task.[i] Here are the eight prophecies they considered for their calculation of the odds. 1. Jesus� birth in Bethlehem, Micah 5:2; Matthew. 2:1-6. 2. Someone to prepare the way for Jesus� ministry. Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament era, wrote this, �Behold, I send my messenger, and will prepare the waybefore me� (Mal. 3:1). John the Baptist fulfilled these words with his ministry calling people to repentance and announcing Jesus as �the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world� (John1:29). 3. Jesus� entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey, Zechariah 9:9 and Matthew 21:1-10 4. Jesus� betrayal by a close friend. The Old Testament predicted Jesus� betray by a friend. Zechariah 13:6 speaks of the wounds inflicted upon him �in the house of my friends.� Psalm 41:9 also refers to Christ�s eventual betrayal by a �close friend.� 5. The payment of thirty pieces of silver for betraying Jesus. Zechariah 11:12-13 and Matthew 26:14-15 6. Judas throwing the thirty pieces of sliver back into the house of the Lord. Zechariah 11:13 and Matthew 27:3-9 7. Jesus� silence while on trial for his life. Isaiah 53:7 says this, �He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter,and a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.� See Matthew 26:57-66. 8. The piercing of Jesus� hands and feet. Psalm 22:16 says this about manner of Jesus� death, �For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have piercedmy hands and feet.� Remarkably, David accurately predicted Jesus� death by crucifixion centuries before it existed as a form of execution. Do you see how remarkable it is that the prophets could be so accurate regarding Jesus� birth, early life, and death on the cross? By the time Jesus began calling his disciples,He had already fulfilled many things written about Him in the Old Testament. In all, Jesus fulfilled forty-eight specific Old Testament prophecies. It�s utterly impossible that this could be a coincidence. FULFILLED PROPHECIES AFFIRM OUR HOPE IN JESUS� SOON APPEARING Christmas reminds me that God keeps all His promises. Just as the Lord fulfilled many prophecies beginning with Jesus� birth in Bethlehem, so also, He certainly will fulfillall His promises and prophecies that have to do with the end times includes His return to take us back to His Father�s home and the Second Coming. Indeed, we now see so the beginning of so many yet unfulfilled prophecies, which tells us they will certainlybecome a reality in the near future. If such a being as the �spirit of Christmas future� exists, it would remind us of the certainty that God will keep all His promises contained in yet unfulfilled prophecies.It would point us to the imminent return of Jesus at which time we will receive our immortal and glorified bodies (Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:51-55). The �spirit� would assure us of the Lord�s promise in 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, �For God has not destined us forwrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.� We will not experience the wrath of the day of the Lord. Of course, there�s no such thing as the �spirit of Christmas future;� however, we have something much, much better. We have the words of Scripture upon which we can restour hopes and dreams of a glorious eternity because it�s the very words of God to us. In contrast to the heartache and despair most of us have experienced in 2020, the incarnation we celebrate each Christmas reminds us that God keeps His promises. He sentHis Son, the Messiah, into the world just as He promised long, long ago. In the same way, our hope in the rapture, our glorious immortal bodies, and our reign with Jesus in His kingdom are just as sure as the sunset today or the sunrise tomorrow. Those inChrist will experience this glorious future. Your take-away blessing this Christmas season may vary from mine, but for me the story of Jesus� birth reminds me that we can absolutely trust the words of Scripture regardingour future. He may make us wait a little longer, but He will not fail to come for us at just the right time. Our journey here below may grow even darker and more menacing in the weeks and months ahead, but the Christmas story reminds us that the Lord will keep His promises andsomeday, hopefully very soon, we will fully experience the gift of eternal life that we already possess in Christ. Maranatha! CelebrateJesus - Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com Today we have many concerns and tomorrow is uncertain. We worry about a virus, wars, elections, and many things that can affect life for years to come. Prophecy seems tobe running on fast-forward, but no matter what happens tomorrow, an event that happened many centuries ago should bring us peace. I�m talking about the birth of Jesus Christ. That event changed the course of history, yet many who claim to be Christians havenever read the account of His birth from Scripture. When Christmas comes around, we make sure our children believe there�s a guy up in the North Pole who has a workforce of elves making toys and we see his supposed picture everywhere. Is that what Christmasis really about? You and I both know that only Jesus Christ is the true meaning of Christmas�God�s gift to us. Let�s take time right now and turn our attention to God. There�s a verse that I quote many times and it�s probably the best-known verse in Scripture. �For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.� John 3:16. Think about that verse and then think of the way in which God�s Son entered His creation. He was bornhumbly in a manger. That�s the truth we need to instill in the hearts of our children. The Gospel of Matthew gives Jesus� genealogy through His step-father, Joseph, who was a direct descendent of King David through the royal line of his son Solomon. The Gospelof Luke gives the genealogy of Jesus through His mother Mary, who was also a descendent of King David, but through a different son, Nathan. The Gospel of John also contains the genealogy of Jesus, God incarnate. �In the beginning was the Word, and the Wordwas with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darknesscomprehended it not.� John 1:1-5. This passage informs us that Jesus existed in the beginning and created everything. Parents, be sure you teach this truth to your children. Evolution is as fictional as Santa Claus, and you�re responsible for teaching yourchildren truth. �And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.� John 1:14. We know that Jesus was born in a manger, but His beginning was long before thatevent. Actually, He had no beginning, but was the beginning of all things. Instead of reading some fictional story to your children about a jolly fat man coming down the chimney and leaving gifts, read the truth of the birth of God in the flesh.The Gospel of Luke tells us about the virgin birth. Mary was young, but had been betrothed to a man named Joseph; they would not come together as man and wife until after they had been married. In those days, if a woman became pregnant prior to marriage shecould be stoned. God is serious about marriage and families. Her life would soon take a miraculous twist. Her cousin Elizabeth already had a miracle of her own. She was past child bearing age, but after her husband encountered the angel Gabriel, Elizabethbecame pregnant. This child would be known as John the Baptist and fulfilled a prophecy in Isaiah �The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.� Isaiah 40:3. The miraclethat Mary experienced was even more spectacular. �And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubledat his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.� Luke 1:28-29. It was Gabriel�s words that troubled Mary. The Greek word is diatarasso which means �to agitate greatly, trouble greatly�. This is the only time this word is usedin Scripture. Mary wasn�t terrified of Gabriel, but troubled by his words. �And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.� Luke 1:30-33. In 2 Samuel 7:12 et seq, God promisedDavid that his kingdom would be eternal and Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. �Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power ofthe Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.� Luke 1:34-35. Mary was obedient to God and only wanted to know how this miracle was to be accomplished. If she had any worries overthe result of her obedience to God, she didn�t express her doubts. Would Joseph want to marry her? If he didn�t, how could she raise the child alone? It was the husband�s responsibility to provide for the family and a woman had no way of earning a living.In spite of all the things that could go wrong, Mary trusted God to provide for her. Whenever we choose to obey God, we run the risk of ridicule from family and friends, but we can learn from Mary. If we�re obedient to God, we can trust Him. �And, behold,thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.� Luke 1:36-37. Be sure your children understand this. God is full of miracles and nothingis impossible for Him. �And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.� Luke 1:38. Mary seems like a very sweet person, and her obedience to God is an example to all of us. The Gospel of Matthew tells us how Joseph reacted to this situation. He had no idea of the circumstances of the pregnancy and could only assume Mary had been unfaithfulto him. �Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a publickexample, was minded to put her away privily.� Matthew 1:18-19. Joseph didn�t want her stoned, but he couldn�t marry her if she was carrying another man�s child. God knew Joseph was considering releasing Mary from their betrothal and He put Joseph�s mind atease. �But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bringforth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring fortha son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.� Matthew 1:20-23. The name �Jesus� means Jehovah is salvation, and �Emmanuel� means God with us. Jesus was God incarnate, is our only means of salvation, and is with usalways. �Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.� Matthew 1:24-25. Joseph was a God-fearing manwho was also obedient. He and Mary were the perfect couple to raise God�s only begotten Son. There was still more prophecy to be fulfilled. The Messiah had to be born in Bethlehem. �And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus,that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city ofDavid, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.� Luke 2:1-5. This fulfilled Micah 5:2. That journey must have been difficult for Mary, and Joseph must havebeen very concerned for her and the Baby. Plays and movies usually show them getting to town just as she was about to deliver. Joseph desperately looks for lodging, but is forced to take her to a stable. That�s not exactly what Scripture describes. There weremany people in Bethlehem for the taxing, so chances of getting a room wasn�t good. Also, if there had been family there, they surely wouldn�t be pleased to take in Mary who wasn�t married, but �great with child�. So, they lodged in a stable. While they werethere, Jesus was born. �And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no roomfor them in the inn.� Luke 2:6-7. I�m sure Mary would have rather given birth to the Son of God in a better place, but if God had wanted that to happen, He would have made a way. As it was, the humble birth of God�s Son is an example of His life. He didn�tcome to us in order to be the King of kings, that�s still in the future, but He did come to teach us humility, love, and to serve others. It also allowed the lowliest of people to be the first to worship Him. �And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the gloryof the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.� Luke 2:8-9. The shepherds had a very different reaction to seeing an angel than Mary. They were truly frightened. �And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidingsof great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And suddenly therewas with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.� Luke 2:10-14. What a sight to see and a sound to hear! The shepherds went immediately and found Jesus, justas the angel said. Then, they shared the Good News. �And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.� Luke 2:18. Shouldn�t we tell everyone the Good News that Jesus Christ was born? Shouldn�t we celebrate Jesus insteadof Santa Claus? Jesus� birth meant that God had come in the flesh to bridge the chasm of sin that separates humanity from Him. Today and every day, celebrate Jesus�and share the Good News. God bless you all, Nathele Graham The Story of a Gift - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, EverlastingFather, Prince of Peace. �Isaiah 9:6 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-story-of-a-gift/- Listen The first Christmas was not a gift to a child; it was the gift of a Child. The story of Jesus Christ coming into this world is not so much the story of a birth as much asit�s the story of a gift. For us, it was the entrance of Jesus to Planet Earth. But for God the Father, it was the departure of a Son from Heaven. �For unto us a Child is born,� the Scriptures say. �Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace� (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV). We sometimes think that when Jesus was born into the human race in Bethlehem, He essentially made His entrance into the universe. But that isn�t true at all. Jesus is God. Therefore, He is eternal. He has always existed. The Bible says, �But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. Godsent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children� (Galatians 4:4�5 NLT). His birth was His entrance into the world as the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the world. The prophet Micah said, �But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel,whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting� (Micah 5:2 NKJV). The words from everlasting could be translated �from the vanishing point.� Micah was revealing by the Holy Spirit that the Messiah, God in human form, would be born in amanger. This is the great miracle of Christmas: God became a man. A Revealed Savior by Katherine Britton "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13 I wish I could ask the Magi what it was like after they returned to their homeland. After watching the skies for years, journeying for weeks, and seeing Jesus with their own eyes, how did they return to the life they once knew? Did they ever hear about therest of Jesus's life? Did they realize the Jew who was killed on the tree was the same child to whom they offered gifts befitting a king? Did they understand that his birth was a precursor to a far greater event? We don't know much with certainty about these men. They brought three gifts�gold, incense, and myrrh�but there may have been dozens of Magi who went on that journey. These wise men were certainly Gentiles, probably from Persia. They acted as something closeto astrologer-priests in their homeland, we think, marking the movements of the heavens to find out its impact on man. Judging by their gifts and their titles, their status and wealth came close to royalty. Now consider what we definitely know about them: these Magi considered it worth their time, efforts, riches, and worship to come worship at a Bethlehem house. "When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they openedtheir treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." - Matthew 2:10-11 These pagans searched for the Messiah as no one else did. Their adventure is an extraordinary tale of God's grace mixed with man's hunger, as they followed the star God set up in the heavens with single-minded devotion. They were on a search for God, who hadgiven them the signs to find him. I think these men, who knew so much less than I do about the Messiah, sought him harder than I ever have. Consider Matthew Henry's commentary on what transpired: "They might have said, �If such a prince be born, we shall hear of him shortly in our own country, and it will be time enough then to pay our homage to him.' But so impatient were they to be better acquainted with him, that they took a long journey on purposeto enquire after him. Note, Those who truly desire to know Christ, and find him, will not regard pains or perils in seeking after him." Personally, I don't think the Magi were ever the same after their encounter in the Bethlehem house. They invested themselves to finding the King of the Jews, and he revealed himself to them. I think all other stars must have paled in comparison. Intersecting Faith & Life: Like the psalmist sings, the "heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalms8) to each one of us. Those signs are God calling us to seek him with our whole heart, so he can reveal himself to us more and more. This Christmas season, I want to follow the Magi's example. I want to find the mystery of the Gospel so incredible that I pursue it with all my heart, and all my strength, and all my soul. I pray this mystery captivates your heart this Christmas! Maryand the Grace of God �And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.� (Luke1:30) This announcement by the angel Gabriel to the virgin Mary, that she had been chosen as the mother of the coming Savior, contains the first mention in the New Testament of the Greek word for grace (charis). Mary was chosen, not for anything she haddone, but because she had �found grace.� In a remarkable parallel, certainly implying divine inspiration, the first mention of grace in the Old Testament is also associated with the coming of a new dispensation in God�s dealings with men. �But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD� (Genesis6:8). Just as Mary found grace, so Noah had found grace. Grace is not something one earns or purchases; grace is a treasure that is found! When a person finally realizes that salvation is only by the grace of God, received through faith in the saving work of Christ,he or she has made the greatest discovery that could ever be made, for it brings eternal life. But there is an even greater dimension to the grace of God. When we do �find� grace, it is actually because God in His infinitely precious grace has found us and revealed to us the Savior of our souls. Just as God found Moses in the desert and found Paul onthe road to Damascus, then saved and called them to His service, so He finds us, and then we also find His saving grace. Mary�s discovery of God�s grace in salvation, through the coming of the �seed of the woman� into the world, is revealed in her Magnificat: �My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour� (Luke1:46-47). This could well have also been the testimony of Noah long ago, and it surely should be the testimony of each of us who has found grace today. HMM VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM

CHRISTMAS AND GENEALOGIES

By Hal Lindsey The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of wise men from the east following the Christmas star to Jerusalem, and then to Bethlehem. The Gospel of Luketells about the night of Christ�s birth � of angel choirs and lowly shepherds rejoicing together at the plan of God unfolding before their eyes in the Person of Jesus. But those two Gospels give us another, even more astounding aspect of Christmas. When most people get around to reading the New Testament, they�re surprised that such a thrilling story seems to begin with a yawn. Matthew, the firstbook of the New Testament, begins with a genealogy. Is the fact that �Azor begat Sadoc� an important part of Christ�s story? It is crucial. Starting with Abraham, Matthew gives the genealogy of Joseph � the adoptive father of Jesus. That genealogy shows that Jesus is a descendant of Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob. It shows that Jesus can rightfully be called by the messianic title, �Son of David.� Through the generations, God had been preparing for the birth of Jesus. Luke gives us Mary�s genealogy. Mary was the Lord�s physical mother. She, too, was a descendant of David and of the patriarchs. Between the two genealogies,we learn that Jesus was physically and legally qualified to be Israel�s Messiah. Today, most of Christendom believes that God�s promises to the physical descendants of Israel have become null and void. They believe God ditched Abraham�sphysical descendants in favor of the Church. They see the Church as �spiritual� Israel. In his ministry�s magazine, the late, great R. C. Sproul articulated the idea that the Church replaced Israel in the program of God. �We�re not dispensationalistshere�� he wrote. �We believe that the church is essentially Israel. We believe that the answer to, �What about the Jews?� is, �Here we are.�� But if being a physical descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob can be canceled out and the Jews can be replaced by �spiritual� descendants, why wasit important for the New Testament to show the precise lineage of Jesus? Why not just have a �spiritual� descendant of Abraham and David as Messiah? The answer is that God�s word is paramount. Through the prophets, God clearly said certain literal things about the Messiah. If Jesus had not been aliteral, physical descendant of David, He could not be the Messiah. No one would have even considered it a possibility. God made sure that His word contains these two crucial genealogies. They prove that He takes His word seriously. He is not capricious. His word canbe trusted. And when He says, �Israel,� He literally means �Israel.� The New Testament uses the word �Israel� 75 times. And in each instance, it means the literal, physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Christmas shows yet again that God means every word He speaks. And that means you can trust Him completely. VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM

TRUMP WATCH: 12.25.20 - Election Update Does SCOTUS wink?

Election Update �Does SCOTUS wink? – Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com Like sands through the hour glass, the time to resolve election integrity issues is slipping by. Many options are being considered in attempt to get the court system, statelegislators and the US Congress to take action. Sunday, the President and his legal counsel filed suit with the Supreme Court to consider the constitutionality of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court “eviscerating the laws enacted by the Pennsylvania Legislaturegoverning the election of presidential electors in the middle of the 2020 Presidential election.” The suit claims that Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court violated Article II of the US Constitution and various other statutes. This case may serve as precedent to similarviolations by other states. The suit claims, “The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decisions involve issues of the utmost federal importance involving the Constitution’s most fundamental rights as exercisedin the Nation’s most important election. The outcome of the election for the Presidency of the United States hangs in the balance because the selection of presidential electors is governed by the Constitution and congressional enactment, in addition to statelaw enacted by the Legislature. In the four related opinions, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court dramatically changed Pennsylvania law governing absentee and mail voting during the 2020 Presidential election, which likely changed the result in Pennsylvania and,potentially, the outcome of the overall Presidential election. “The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s changes are contrary to settled caselaw, the unambiguous language of the Election Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Bush v.Gore, 531 U.S. at 104-05 (“Having once granted the right to vote on equal terms, the State may not, by later arbitrary and disparate treatment, value one person’s vote over that of another.”). Only the state Legislatures, not the Courts, are empowered to set(or change) the rules for selecting Presidential electors.” The President’s lawyers are asking for SCOTUS to expedite “an appropriate remedy” to 1) decide before the election result finalization deadline on January 6, and 2) time is “plainly of the essencebecause once candidates have taken office, it will be impossible to repair election results tainted by illegally and belatedly cast or absentee and mail ballots.” Please understand that this is just one of the many avenues being taken to ensure election integrity. The battle is uphill because Democrats and their media shills are onlysaying there is no evidence of election fraud, or that the President refuses to concede an obvious defeat. Notice they are not saying “We didn’t cheat” or “We didn’t break the law.” This is key. It is all part of the art of deception. The President is tryingto clearly demonstrate that laws were broken and that cheating did occur. Proverbs 6:13 says a wicked man, “winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers.” If SCOUTUS winks and shuffles its feet at this situation, there is no assurancefrom this day forward that any election will be fair and honest. And with that, our freedoms of speech and of religious expression are well in jeopardy as is the Republic. We need to know the Truth � Bill Wilson � www.dailyjot.com As we approach Christmas and the deadline for electors to choose the president, we as Americans, are faced with extraordinary and unprecedented times. These are times whenwe are told repeatedly that there is no evidence of election fraud, yet there are many documented reports saying there has been massive chicanery going on with the election. Ballots hauled in and counted in the early hours of the morning. Machines manipulatedby algorithms. State bureaucrats unilaterally changing election laws to allow illegal mail-in voting. Each one of these facts are disputed by the news media and by Democrat and some Republican operatives. Yet, they call into question the very legitimacy ofthe presidency. Before any electoral vote certification, We the People need to have some answers. It is not about politics, it�s about truth. Our most fundamental constitutional right asa free people is the vote. If we don�t have honest elections, we don�t have freedom. Why even vote? They say there is no evidence of election fraud. What about those ballots that suddenly appeared and were counted hours after the polls closed? Why is my votecancelled out by illegal mail-in ballots? Why did bureaucrats in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Georgia change the voting laws without consent of the legislature? What about the massive documented flaws in the voting machines? Voting machines with connections to China? Who else is connected to China? Why is the National intelligence report on foreign election influence delayed? Is this the deepstate again? We have a right to know. Over 74 million citizens voted for president Trump, more than any president in history. Joe Biden received over 81 million votes�outpolling any previous president, even Barack Obama, by 15 million votes. Were legitimatevotes cancelled out by illegal mail-in votes, and foreign-controlled voting machines? Patriot Thomas Paine once wrote: �These are the times that try men�s souls.� This election shocks my soul. This election tries my conscience. These are indeed unprecedentedtimes. On Christmas 244 years ago, a small band of patriots led by George Washington boldly crossed the Delaware River. Heavily outnumbered and mostly armed with only their faithand their love of freedom, these brave souls put into motion the defeat of the most powerful force then known to man, the deepest of the deep state, a globalist power. Today, another bold move is needed to preserve and defend what it is to be an American.In the course of human events, when there are forces against life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; when our freedom is at stake, we must cross that mighty river again, armed with our faith and love of freedom. It is time for all good citizens to cometo the aid of their country. Demand Truth. Know Truth. As Christ said in John 8:32, �the truth shall make your free.� The Truth will keep you free, too. The lesson of the communist pig�s milk � Bill Wilson � www.dailyjot.com There is a prevailing mindset among politicians in America that the government must provide everything for everybody, except those who are culturally cancelled. Take forinstance the most recent COVID relief bill�5,593 action packed pages of pork, most of which doesn�t have anything to do with COVID, and everything to do with an uninterrupted flow of breastmilk from what has become a growing communist pig. Yes, not communistin the sense of secret killings, concentration camps, a one-party system and jack-boot tyranny, but communist in the form of soft tyranny, group think, mass propagandization, and little by little the �free� government sustenance as provided by wealth redistribution. Congress passed a $600 payment relief for Americans, and sent millions overseas in foreign aid. President Trump said that was an insult to the American people and suggestedan increase in relief to $2,000. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) jumped on the idea to spend more money, saying she could get that extra $1,400, tweeting: �Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let�s do it!� Unanimousconsent is politician-speak for not taking a recorded vote�everybody just says �aye� or �nay� and the �aye�s� have it even if the �nay�s� are louder�kind of like what the democrats did for the presidential election. With the national debt soaring toward $28 TRILLION with each taxpayer�s share over $220,000, �gotta wonder where all this COVID and other money is coming from? Chinese payoffs�nothat goes directly into the Biden family trust; Russian payoffs? No, that all goes into the Clinton Foundation and the Bide family trust��just kidding, I think. No, really someday it will all catch up with us, like it did when President Reagan drove the SovietUnion into bankruptcy in the arms race. The Soviet Union collapsed financially and there wasn�t much left of its social infrastructure to remain a nation. These communists in Congress are spending our tax dollars as if there is no end to them. And they arelocking down our businesses due to COVID. Sure, it makes great sense to exchange our business or job for $2,000. As is said in Jeremiah 6:14, �They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.� Take heed. Do not be deceived.America is on a bad track and you and I need to pray and act. Sometime, somebody has to pay up. The politicians make us feel good by voting more of our money to go somewhere. Pelosi, the head sow, is giddy. �Icing on the cake,� she probably thinks. When it�sreally lipstick on the pig. Sucking the teat of the communist pig is dangerous for all Americans because that pig is growing bigger and stronger as it robs the piglets of their ability to grow up and be healthy. The communist pig gives a little milk whilehogging the entire manger from its litter. And sometimes she just rolls over and smashes her piglets. VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM

AMERICA IN CRISIS: 12.25.20 - Bracing For A Painful 2021: 38% Of Americans Expect To Live In 'Survival Mode'

Bracing For A Painful 2021: 38% Of Americans Expect To Live In 'Survival Mode' If nearly 40 percent of the entire nation anticipates spending the next 12 months in "survival mode", that is not a good sign for what the coming year will bring. Traditionally, Americans have looked forward to the turn of the year with tremendous optimism, but this time around things are very, very different. 2020 brought us the COVID pandemic, tremendous violence and civil unrest in our major cities, and thegreatest economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Sadly, a large chunk of the country is anticipating more difficulties in the coming months, because one recent survey found that 38 percent of all Americans plan to spend 2021 in "survival mode"... Of the 3,011 surveyed adults, over 38% said they will spend the year in "survival mode," meaning they'll focus on the day-to-day rather than long-term goals to try to get themselves and their families through 2021. The biggest reason why so many anticipate being in "survival mode" is because of the financial problems that they experienced this year. According to that same survey, a whopping 68 percent of all Americans say that they experienced some sort of "financialsetback" in 2020... Although some respondents maintained their usual income over the past year, 68% had setbacks. Of those, 23% lost a job or household income; 20% had an unexpected non-health emergency; 18% had to provide unexpected financial aid to family or friends; and16% had a health emergency in their family. As I keep reminding my readers, Americans have filed more than 70 million new claims for unemployment benefits this year, but even many of those that have been able to keep their jobs have fallen on very hard times. Another new survey found that approximately one-third of all full-time workers in the U.S. "have experienced a pay cut" in 2020... Roughly 1 in 3 full-time workers have experienced a pay cut due to the coronavirus pandemic this year, according to a recent MagnifyMoney survey of 984 professionals surveyed Nov. 6 to 11. If you were employed throughout all of 2020 and you are still able to pay all of your bills on time, you should be very thankful for your blessings, because you are now in the minority. For most Americans, the past 12 months have been exceedingly painful, and this new round of lockdowns promises to extend the economic suffering long into 2021. Some industries that were absolutely devastated by the first round of lockdowns are officially in panic mode at this point. For example, we have already permanently lost approximately 17 percent of all of the restaurants in the entire country, and theNational Restaurant Association is warning that 10,000 more could permanently shut down "in the next three weeks"... About 17% of America's restaurants have already permanently closed this year, with thousands more on the brink according to a new report. The National Restaurant Association is publicly pleading with Congress to pass new stimulus to help the industry that has been damaged by the pandemic. The group said Monday that 10,000 restaurants could close in the next three weeks, in addition to the110,000 that have already shuttered in 2020. Even during the best of times, running a successful restaurant is exceedingly difficult. The margins are razor thin, new competition is always popping up, and employees are constantly coming and going. When you add a global pandemic on top of all of that, it has become almost impossible for many eateries to keep going, and we are being told that the future for the industry looks quite "bleak"... 87% of full-service restaurants (independent, chain, and franchise) report an average 36% drop in sales revenue. For an industry with an average profit margin of 5%-6%, this is simply unsustainable. 83% of full-service operators expect sales to be evenworse over the next three months. Although sales are significantly lower for most independent and franchise owners, their costs have not fallen by a proportional level. 59% of operators say their total labor costs (as a percentage of sales) are higher than they were pre-pandemic. The future remains bleak. 58% of chain and independent full-service operators expect continued furloughs and layoffs for at least the next three months. Of course it isn't just the restaurant industry that is laying off workers in large numbers. Just about every day there are more major layoff announcements in the news, and many experts are expecting the job loss numbers to accelerate as we make the transition into 2021. Without paychecks coming in, millions of unemployed Americans are unable to pay the bills, and we are being warned that we could be facing a historic tsunami of evictions starting just after the holiday season... The day after Christmas, the extended unemployment benefits that have kept 12 million people and their families afloat are scheduled to expire. Then, mere days after that cliff, on New Year's Day, a national ban on renter evictions from the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention is also set to lapse. Overnight, an unprecedented bill of $70 billion in unpaid back rent and utilities will come due, according to estimates by Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi. In all, up to 40 million people could be threatened with eviction over the coming months,research from the Aspen Institute says. The politicians insist that they are keeping us caged up for our own good, but the truth is that they are absolutely destroying millions upon millions of lives in the process. There is a lot of debate about whether or not the lockdowns have helped to prevent the spread of the virus, but what we do know is that thousands of businesses have been permanently destroyed, millions of jobs have been lost, more people are committingsuicide, and Americans are increasingly engaging in self-destructive behaviors... Overall, one in three Americans report binge drinking during the coronavirus pandemic. The average person also reports spending about four weeks in lockdown this year; spending 21 hours a day at home. More than seven in 10 people in the survey did noteven leave their home for work. If we cannot even handle the COVID pandemic, how in the world is our society going to be able to handle what else is coming? As things continue to unravel all around us, people are going to be in great need of hope. Millions of Americans are already in "survival mode", and the road ahead is certainly not going to get any easier. Originally published at Economic Collapse Blog - reposted with permission. VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM

ISRAEL WATCH: 12.25.20 - Will the King of Morocco Get a Seat on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount?

Will the King of Morocco Get a Seat on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount?- by Aviel Schneider - https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/will-the-king-of-morocco-get-a-seat-on-jerusalems-temple-mount/ The latest peace agreement between Israel and Morocco might introduce yet another player into Islam’s push to control the Temple Mount. Moroccan kings have always consideredthemselves defenders of Jerusalem’s Islamic holy sites. For this reason, in 1969, two years following the reunification of Jerusalem, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) was founded in the Moroccan capital of Rabat. On that occasion, the numberone agenda of the OIC was to “liberate” the al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem. Today, the OIC includes 56 Muslim member states and claims to represent all Islam. With the Palestinian Authority, there are 57. One of the most important committees inthe original OIC was the Jerusalem Committee, which only dealt with the liberation of Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque. The Moroccan kings Hassan II and his successor King Mohammed VI chaired this committee. Now, with the normalization agreement with Israel,Morocco is moving to stabilize its political position regarding the al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Morocco has been signaling its interest in the Temple Mount, Islam’s third holiest site, for some time. In connection with this, Morocco has donated numerous expensive carpetsfor use in the Temple Mount mosques. Through the Jerusalem Committee, funds were also transferred for use in the renovation of buildings and structures surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Jewish Western Wall. In March of 2018, Moroccan Foreign Minister,Nasser Bourita, visited the al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount. Bourita, by the way, was one of the key players in bringing about official normalization between the two states. Why official, because thousands of Israelis have been vacationing in Morocco foryears, even though both states have not officially had diplomatic relations. I am not exaggerating when I say that many of my friends have been to Morocco and rave about this country. But now the cards are being shuffled in the Islamic power game over the al-Aqsa Mosque, now that Israel and Morocco are officially friends and Israel is quietly and carefullymoving closer to Saudi Arabia. Up until now, the country of Jordan on the eastern bank of the Jordan has been the sole guardian of the Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem. This was enshrined in the 1994 Oslo Accords between Israel and Jordan, as well as in otheragreements. It is often believed that the Palestinians are the guardians of the mosques on the Temple Mount, but that is not true. Who will control the temple mount? As a result of Donald Trump’s American “Deal of the Century,” the competition with regard to who will lead as the Islamic protector of the Jerusalem mosques has also heatedup. For years, behind the scenes, the larger member states like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran (the only Shiites) have claimed leadership in the OIC. For the Hashemite kingdom in Jordan, the task of guarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque is not only a long-standing religious and historical legacy, but above all a major factor inits Middle East policy, which has acted to strengthen its monarchy, especially against the extreme Islamists in the country. Now, if Jordan’s position regarding the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is weakened because of the new players from Rabat and Riyadh, thestability of the Jordanian kingdom could be further diminished. Israeli Middle East experts are even of the opinion that this could threaten the country’s very existence since Palestinians make up 70 percent of Jordan’s population. The Jerusalem Committee, under the leadership of the current king’s father, Hassan II, decided many years ago that Jordan’s status with regard to the Temple Mount was onlytemporary. In response to this decision by the Jerusalem Committee, the Jordanian representative angrily abandoned the deliberations and returned to Amman. At the time, Saudi Arabia and Egypt gave Morocco their political backing. The OIC with its Jerusalem Committee has been somewhat irrelevant in recent years but can now become relevant again with these new political developments between Israeland the Arab governments. Morocco and Saudi Arabia are maneuvering behind the scenes and want to get more involved in matters relating to Jerusalem’s mosques. They may try to weaken Jordan’s status as the sole guardian of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, butat the same time this could also be seen as a dangerous challenge to Israel and the United States with regard to the super-sensitive issue of Jerusalem. In addition, one must not ignore the new voices in the Arab world, which in recent months have increasinglydiscussing the Islamic tradition regarding the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem considered the third most important holy place mentioned in the Koran. Israel has to be very careful here and not take the wrong position when it comes to Islamic religious issues regardingJerusalem. VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM