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Ray Vander Laan and Focus on the Family have produced a series of DVDs, teaching the Scriptures in the Holy Land. One of these is called, "The True Christmas Story: Herod the Great, Jesus the King." In this Ray demonstrates through cultural and written history, archeology, the very places as well as the words of the Bible the great disparity in both appearance and Reality between Herod, the earthly ruler, and Jesus, the King of Glory.

While Herod to all appearances was the more powerful, living in a luxurious fortress, surrounded by acolytes and memorials, with one decree killing hundreds, Jesus came to a dark, smelly, dirty cave and was laid in an animal's feeding trough; His only admirers were his simple parents, some smelly shepherd children who were outcasts in their society, and a group of stargazers from foreign lands - and angels, whom most never saw or heard. Yet Jesus' Kingdom and Temple are ever being built, and Herod's lie in ruin. The most Herod is remembered for (if he is remembered at all) is the killing of the innocents, and he has no followers today. Jesus, who did not appear in majesty, reigns ever more powerfully and gloriously as each day goes by - "of His Kingdom and Righteousness there shall be no end." (Isaiah 9:7) Reality is not bound by or married to appearances! Yes, man judges by the outward, but God sees very differently; we must have His eyes to see what is real and true - O Come, El Roi, our God of Seeing! For eyes to see are a gift from Thee alone!

Your meditation on humility, periwinkle, along with Luke 2:8-11, Rte66, brought these things to my mind. Thank you for every reminder and all this Glory to God through His Word and Truth, through prayer and proclamation and preaching, through the Name above all names, the King of kings and Lord of lords, our born of a virgin, crucified, buried, risen, ascended, ruling, soon coming Messiah!

Hos 13:14 From the hand of Sheol I do ransom them, From death I redeem them, Where is thy plague, O death? Where thy destruction, O Sheol? .....
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1Co 15:54 and when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been written, `The Death was swallowed up--to victory;
1Co 15:55 where, O Death, thy sting? where, O Hades, thy victory?'
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Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
Isa 25:9 It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

Father, Thank you for this new day.
One more day to know you better, to serve you and to love you.
You have always promised to redeem us.
From the beginning you made known your Salvation and Redemption.
Thank you for the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world, for us, who deserve nothing like this.
Your love is stunning, breath taking, awesome, incomprehensible.
Your Grace is unmerited, unlimited, providing, cleansing, revealing the Son to us all day, every day that we seek you.
We give you praise.
Help us keep our eyes on the Prize today.
You see what this day holds.
Help us to Glorify you in all we do.
I ask this in the Name above all names.