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Extreme Measures

December 19, 2017

The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10

A few years ago, a friend of mine lost track of her young son while walking through a swarm of people at Union Station in Chicago. Needless to say, it was a terrifying experience. Frantically, she yelled his name and ran back up the escalator, retracing her steps in an effort to find her little boy. The minutes of separation seemed like hours, until suddenly—thankfully—her son emerged from the crowd and ran to the safety of her arms.

Thinking of my friend who would have done anything to find her child fills me with a renewed sense of gratitude for the amazing work God did to save us. From the time God’s first image-bearers—Adam and Eve—wandered off in sin, He lamented the loss of fellowship with His people. He went to great lengths to restore the relationship by sending His one and only Son “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Without the birth of Jesus, and without His willingness to die to pay the price for our sin and to bring us to God, we would have nothing to celebrate at Christmastime.

So this Christmas, let’s be thankful that God took extreme measures by sending Jesus to reclaim our fellowship with Him. Although we once were lost, because of Jesus we have been found!

Heavenly Father, in the midst of all the joy of Christmas, remind me that the true meaning of this season lies in the depth of Your love. Thank You for sending Jesus to reclaim undeserving people like me!

Christmas is about God taking extreme measures to reclaim those who were lost.

INSIGHT

Do you know someone who has broken hearts by turning their back on friends, family, or faith? Is that person now living as someone who has lost their way?

Consider Zacchaeus. Though Jewish, he was no friend of Israel. Working for the Roman occupation he collected taxes from his countrymen and lived off the wealth of his overcharges. Who wouldn’t resent someone who loved money more than family, country, or neighbor?

That’s why Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus. He wasn’t just trying to see over the religious crowd that had their reasons for hating him. He was a lost child of Israel and maybe the most unlikely person in Jericho to be given special notice and honor.

That was the day God chose Zacchaeus to show us, or maybe those who are hiding from us, that no one is too lost to be found and changed by Jesus.

Good Morning Everyone
~Happy GratiTuesday To Amy's Place~

Thanking God every day for my many blessings.
My dear FRiends are among those blessings.
I Wish You A Very Grateful Day

~Happy GratiTuesday!~

Happy Gratituesday!

What Am I Grateful For?

My FRiends, OF COURSE!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

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Breaking the Silence

December 20, 2017

He will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah . . . to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1:17

At the end of the Old Testament, God seems to be in hiding. For four centuries, the Jews wait and wonder. God seems passive, unconcerned, and deaf to their prayers. Only one hope remains: the ancient promise of a Messiah. On that promise the Jews stake everything. And then something momentous happens. The birth of a baby is announced.

You can catch the excitement just by reading the reactions of people in Luke. Events surrounding Jesus’s birth resemble a joy-filled musical. Characters crowd into the scene: a white-haired great uncle (Luke 1:5–25), an astonished virgin (1:26–38), the old prophetess Anna (2:36). Mary herself lets loose with a beautiful hymn (1:46–55). Even Jesus’s unborn cousin kicks for joy inside his mother’s womb (1:41).

Luke takes care to make direct connections to Old Testament promises of a Messiah. The angel Gabriel even calls John the Baptist an “Elijah” sent to prepare the way for the Lord (1:17). Clearly, something is brewing on planet Earth. Among the dreary, defeated villagers in a remote corner of the Roman Empire, something good is breaking out.

You have come to us, and we rejoice! Jesus, You are the gift of redemption and hope for us. Thank You.

Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world. C. S. Lewis (from The Last Battle)

INSIGHT

The virgin birth of Christ is not the only miracle in the Christmas story. John the Baptist’s birth was also miraculous. His father, Zechariah, was a priest of the line of Abijah (a priest during David’s time descended from Aaron) who served at the temple in Jerusalem twice a year. John’s mother, Elizabeth, was a cousin of Mary and also a descendant of Aaron (the first high priest). Zechariah and Elizabeth faithfully followed God’s laws, yet they were “very old” and were childless because Elizabeth could not conceive (Luke 1:5–7). God miraculously blessed this elderly couple with a child—and no ordinary child. Their son would be “great in the sight of the Lord” (v. 15) and “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (v. 17).

What in the Christmas story is most meaningful to you?

Welcome To Warm Fuzzy Wednesday At Amy's Place
Have A Lovely Day, My FRiends

And thank you, Rus, for starting our day off right every day.
I appreciate you.

Happy Warm & Fuzzy Wednesday!

For the Best Warm & Fuzzy Results, Cuddle Up a Little Closer!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

Why, yes, it IS very warm and fuzzy here today!.................

It’s Florida..........................

I MISS Florida.

But not the hurricanes.

AS LONG AS THE HURRICANES MISS US THEN IT’S OKAY!..................

Indeed. I liked the “Fish-Storms” best. :-)

And let’s not forget the Alligators and Crocodiles.

I believe Florida is the only place on the planet that has BOTH!

and Panthers, and pythons and bears....................

Oh My!

Happy Warm and Feathery
Wednesday before Christmas!

Thank You For Your Cute Graphics ML and LUV!
I Wish You All A Beautiful Afternoon

Beautiful picture of n angel. I searched in several stores for Christmas cards with angels but couldn’t find any other than two that were unattractive and cheap. Seems to me the quality of Christmas cards has declined.

Thank You, Jane!

~~~~~ Prior Threads ~~~~~ July, 2005, Closing Thread

2008 February, 2008 March, 2008 April, 2008 May, 2008 June, 2008 July, 2008 August, 2008 September, 2008 (Sept 26, 2008) October, 2008 November, 2008 December, 2008	2009 January, 2009 February, 2009 March, 2009 April, 2009 May, 2009 June, 2009 July, 2009 August, 2009 September, 2009 October, 2009 November, 2009 December, 2009	2010 January, 2010 February, 2010 March, 2010 April, 2010 May, 2010 June, 2010 July, 2010 August, 2010 September, 2010 October, 2010 November, 2010 December, 2010	2011 January, 2011 February, 2011 March, 2011 April, 2011 May, 2011 June, 2011 July, 2011 August, 2011 September, 2011 October, 2011 November, 2011 December, 2011	2012 January, 2012 February, 2012 March, 2012 April, 2012 May, 2012 June, 2012 July, 2012 August/September, 2012 October, 2012 November, 2012 December, 2012	2013 January, 2013 February, 2013 March, 2013 April, 2013 May, 2013 June & July, 2013 August & September, 2013 October, 2013 November, 2013 December, 2013
2014 Jan. & Feb. March April May June - Sept Oct - Dec	2015 Jan - Mar April - June July - Sept Oct - Dec	2016 Jan - Mar Apr - June July - Sep Oct - Dec	2017 Jan - Mar Apr - Jun Jul - Sept