My husband and I believed we were in God’s will when we moved to a small city further south in the state. Before moving, we had been part of a Messianic home fellowship where we had learned the significance of Jesus Christ, Yahshua Ha Moshiach, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies including the seven feasts of the Lord. We were looking forward to being a part of our new church family, for we had already met some of the brethren before relocating and knew they shared a similar background. One Sunday in late autumn, the children’s pastor stood up to make an announcement. She invited the children and their parents to become involved in a Christmas program she was planning. This puzzled me, because in my Messianic fellowship we had been taught that Christmas was of pagan origin and not a holiday instituted by God. We had relinquished many old traditions, including the Christmas tree, for we had learned of its idolatrous roots. Instead, my family embraced the winter feast of Hanukkah, The Festival of Lights, and celebrated Jesus fulfilling it as The Light of the World. As she spoke, I went to the Lord in prayer. “Why are they doing a Christmas program, Lord? Shouldn’t they be celebrating Hanukkah instead?” His reply was immediate. “Both Hanukkah and Christmas honor Me.” Like the Grinch who stole Christmas, a warm revelation filled me. What was in our hearts was all our Heavenly Father cared about. It did not matter to the Lord whether I put up a Christmas tree or not. What mattered was why I placed one in my home. Because of my mother’s teaching, to me the evergreen tree was a symbol of eternal life available through our Savior. This was good news indeed, for I missed the traditions of my childhood. I felt…free! Now at wintertime my family and I fill the house with decorations, including a brightly lit Christmas tree. We sing Christmas songs and bake Christmas cookies. Should we celebrate Christmas? Yes! Yes! Emphatically, YES! With our whole being let us celebrate and honor the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Tears of joy and relief poured down my face as the Spirit washed over me. I was listening to a prophetic word given through a sister in Christ and it unexpectedly touched me deeply.
Because your light shines so bright in the darkness you
have become a beacon of hope to those in the dark. You have done well my
faithful servant. Continue. Do not be discouraged by the course of events. It
must be so. I will give you wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Stay on the
narrow path. Help guide my sheep. Feed my sheep. Be encouraged. I am always
with you.
And know this. The adversary has seen the brightness of
your light and has stood up to take notice. This is why the trial is so
difficult and suffering so great. I will greet you when the mission is
finished. Be of good cheer for it is almost time to go home.
Not that I count myself as one who has suffered greatly or
that I fit the description precisely as given above, but this became a living
word to me because the Spirit of the Lord made it so. Also I will not give the
source of this utterance because it is not pertinent. I believe that Y’shua,
our Jesus, gives gifts to His people. Not that we are always perfect in
carrying out these gifts, but somehow God is able to orchestrate good out of
our clumsy efforts and this was the case here. I believe this is a word for the
Church as a whole.
A grievous vision is
declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler
spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made
to cease.
Therefore are my loins
filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that
travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing [of it]; I was dismayed at the
seeing [of it].
My heart panted,
fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear
unto me. Isaiah 21:2-4 KJV
I decided to take a look at Informed Christian’s Event
Study Calendar and the note printed on December 3 of this year was, “Rev.
12 sign approx. starting 42 weeks”. As I have written before, the Revelation 12
sign of the woman is to be completed on September 23, 2017, according to the Stellarium software.
And there appeared a
great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her
feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child
cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. Revelation 12:1-2 KJV
That would mean that today, December 3, 2016, could be the beginning or conception of this celestial pregnancy if it were a 42-week gestation (42 weeks
being the longest normal cycle). In a natural pregnancy cycle, first there
would be a time of intimacy between a man and woman. Could it be that this is
what is being referred to in Isaiah 21:4 where it reads, “The night of my
pleasure”?
Elam and Media
are references to modern day Iran. With this in mind while reading Isaiah 21 we
get a picture of a time of tribulation coming upon Israel—a time that is
compared to the pains of a woman in travail. The Revelation 12 sign, therefore,
is the celestial picture of this time of trouble coming upon Israel, and the ‘conception’
of this sign could be today!
Not only that but if you go by torahcalendar.com sunset tonight marks the last day of Hanukkah—the season associated with the conception of the
Messiah! (For more on this watch the spectacular presentation given by Rick
Larson entitled, The
Bethlehem Star.)
This does not mean that Jacob’s Trouble, another name for
the Tribulation period, begins this month. What I am saying is that first comes
the conception, then the approximate 9 months of gestation, THEN labor or
travail—tribulation. The entire Tribulation period is divided into two named
parts—the wrath of the Lamb (Rev. 6:16-17) and the wrath of God (Rev. 14:19).
But
to those of us who are not appointed to wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9)--BE OF GOOD
CHEER! It is almost time to go home!
Kiss theSon, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Ps. 2:12
You know what it's like to get a song stuck in your head, right? Especially around the holiday season when you hear those familiar tunes playing all around you. But have you ever had a song stuck in your head that the Spirit of the Lord put there? I believe that's what happened to me. Yes, I was listening to Christmas music recently and heard an old tune called, 'That's What I Want for Christmas'. The thing is, yesterday when I was singing the refrain (that's what kept repeating in my head), "Love me! Love me! That's what I want for Christmas"...the Lord spoke to my spirit. He said, "That is what I want for Christmas." Listen to this song and picture Him singing this to you...
When you said yesterday
That it's nearly Christmas
What did I want And I thought
Just love Me, love Me, love Me
That's what I want For Christmas
When I walk through a room
Let them see you need Me
Walk through a room
Let them see you love Me
Love Me, love Me
That's what I want for Christmas
Anyone can wish for all the trinkets in the window
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. - John 8:12 KJV
While thinking on the Lord recently I was led to read of when he healed the man born blind from birth. As I read the account in the Book of John I saw something that I had not seen before or had forgotten.
What I realized was that the Messiah performed this miracle just prior to going into the temple during the feast of dedication.
And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. - John 10:22-23 KJV Those of you who read my blog or are familiar with the scriptural holidays know that the feast of the dedication is also called Hanukkah or The Festival of Light (read also: Hanukkah and Jesus).
Going back one chapter to John 9 is the account I am referring to:
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John 9:1-5 KJV
I believe it is significant that the Lord speaks of day versus night--light versus darkness--for a couple of reasons.
First, the Messiah ministers healing to the man--born blind. A man who knew only darkness is given the gift of light. Not only does the man receive physical light, but he receives spiritual light. When questioned--or rather 'drilled' by the Pharisees:
The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and [yet] he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. - John 9:30,31,33 KJV
It had been written in the Old Testament that the Messiah would fulfill many prophesies including healing the blind. It is very significant that Jesus not only healed a blind person but healed one who had been born blind--
Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. John 9:32
So prior to walking into the temple during the feast of light, THE Light of the World fulfills prophesy by performing a miracle never done before.
Because of our Messiah fulfilling all things, those who believe on Him have His Spirit residing within and are able to do the works He did and greater (John 14:12).
We dwell in a world that seems ever darkening, but we are not of this world and therefore do not dwell in the darkness! We must look through eyes of enlightenment remembering it is Christ in us--the Light of the World.
Abundant Love and Blessings to You and Yours this Season of Light!
My sister sent me a Christmas card as usual, but this time she wrote a comment that struck me. "Hey, doesn't this look like something Grandma B. would have sent?" Sure enough the angelic print trimmed in gold resembled the old fashioned Christmas cards our grandmother sent us when she was living.
Lately it has really hit me--the pain of loss many, many folks experience at the holiday season--the loss of loved ones who are no longer with us for various reasons. This year I realized that I have no mother, no father, no grandmothers, and no grandfathers to celebrate the season with. No uncles and no aunts.
Instead of dwelling on the loss, I decided to recall favorite memories, like the one my sister shared with me. I have the old--I mean really old--Christmas songs that my mother would sing to us when we were children like 'Here Comes Suzy Snowflake' and 'Hurrah for Captain Santa Claus'. The words and melody just crop up in me and I begin to sing them no matter where I am or what I am doing. And I have old ornaments and holiday decor. There's the corroding silver ball ornament with my name and birthdate that my Mom painted onto it with red nail polish the first Christmas after I was born. I still remember that my husband's mother gave us the golden-haired angel with the flowing crimson gown.
Our Heavenly Father has a way to redeem all loss. Some losses are redeemed in this earthly lifetime. I was witness to such a thing recently.
I have a sweet neighbor who lost her husband and her long-haired dachshund this past year. My daughter Rachel and I visited her a couple of weeks ago. Knowing how lonely she must feel I asked, "Have you been thinking about getting another dog?"
She smiled and said she had put a few calls into places looking for a small dog but that it was difficult to find one that was not a puppy. She didn't have the strength to train a puppy. "Somehow I think this dog will just come to me," she admitted with a shy grin.
Later that week, Rachel went out to the mailbox and spied a small white dog trotting down the street. The poor thing looked wretched with its matted coat wet from the day's rainfall. "Here, puppy," Rachel coaxed. But the dog scurried away in fear.
Two days later another neighbor called me and told me how she had trapped a small runaway dog and was going to take it to the groomer and the vet. On her way home from the vet, Gloria came by to see me. In her arms was the cutest little dog I have ever seen with red and green plaid bows tied to her ears.
As if reading my mind, Gloria asked, "So who wants her?"
"My daughter Rachel just reminded me that this little dog would be perfect for our neighbor acrossed the street!" I exclaimed and gave her a few details. Gloria's mind was made up when I repeated my neighbor's comment, "And she believes this dog will simply come to her!"
Tears sprung to my eyes as I watched Gloria ring the doorbell to my neighbor's door. "Oh, Mighty Father! How good You are that You would do such a thing to bless this dear woman at this holiday season!"
I decided to wait a couple of days before poking my nose in and seeing how they were doing. "Thank you so much," she said when I called, "And thank Rachel too for thinking of me! I've named the dog Holly." She shared more of Holly's story with me. I was so happy for her...and for Holly!
My husband and I believed we were in God’s will when we moved to a small city further south in the state. Before moving, we had been part of a Messianic home fellowship where we had learned the significance of Jesus Christ, Yahshua Ha Moshiach, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies including the seven feasts of the Lord. We were looking forward to being a part of our new church family, for we had already met some of the brethren before relocating and knew they shared a similar background.
One Sunday in late autumn, the children’s pastor stood up to make an announcement. She invited the children and their parents to become involved in a Christmas program she was planning.
This puzzled me, because in my Messianic fellowship we had been taught that Christmas was of pagan origin and not a holiday instituted by God. We had relinquished many old traditions, including the Christmas tree, for we had learned of its idolatrous roots. Instead, my family embraced the winter feast of Hanukkah, The Festival of Light, and celebrated Jesus fulfilling it as The Light of the World. As she spoke, I went to the Lord in prayer.
“Why are they doing a Christmas program, Lord? Shouldn’t they be celebrating Hanukkah instead?”
His reply was immediate. “Both Hanukkah and Christmas honor Me.”
Like the Grinch who stole Christmas, a warm revelation filled me. What was in our hearts was all our Heavenly Father cared about. It did not matter to the Lord whether I put up a Christmas tree or not. What mattered was why I placed one in my home. Because of my mother’s teaching, to me the evergreen tree was a symbol of eternal life available through our Savior.
This was good news indeed, for I missed the traditions of my childhood. I felt…free!
Now at wintertime my family and I fill the house with decorations, including a brightly lit Christmas tree. We sing Christmas songs and bake Christmas cookies.
Should we celebrate Christmas? Yes! Yes! Emphatically, YES! With our whole being let us celebrate and honor the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
This year Hanukkah began at sunset on December 1. Were you aware that the Lord is mentioned in the New Testament regarding Hanukkah?
It was winter and Jesus was in the Temple in Jerusalem for Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication. John 10:22-23 KJV
This feast is also called ‘The Festival of Light’. It is not one of the seven major festivals as named in the Old Testament; nonetheless, we should be aware of its significance. (For more information on the seven festivals, see my blog posting in September 2010 titled ‘Remember I Love You’.)
Just as Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Feasts of the Lord, He is THE FULFILLMENT OF THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT—HE IS ‘The Light of the World’!
Another wonderful truth about Hanukkah is that it is the time of year when Mary conceived Jesus, Our Savior. Yes, The Light of the World came to earth during The Festival of Light. For greater understanding of how this could be true, follow this link to The Messianic Center's site and read the article 'Dreaming of an Autumnal Christmas': http://www.themessianiccenter.com/2009/10/1/dreaming-of-an-autumnal-christmas
Hanukkah is a special celebration begun many years ago to remember when God’s people were victorious over darkness. Let us celebrate Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light! (I Peter 2:9)
