Genesis 49 And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days: … All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.
Lord God, my father gave me his blessing before he died. My mother, who is aging, gave me her blessing, too. Lord God, You have had me bless my children and pronounce to them the good which You have in store for them, and we eagerly await Your unfolding of their futures. Yet Father, the Greatest of all Blessings is what You bestowed on me the millisecond that You adopted me so You would be my Father! You gave me an inheritance that will never spoil, You give my Your promises in Your Word that I am to live by, and You made plans for me and are continually unfolding my purpose. – and the One Who died to give me my blessing was You, Lord Jesus Christ. You gave me Yourself, my Very Great Reward! (1)
Luke 2 Joseph also went, …with Mary… And she brought forth her firstborn Son, …and laid Him in a manger.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold,… suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
So the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
And behold, there was a man, Simeon, … it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. … he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: For my eyes have seen Your salvation… A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
Anna, a prophetess, … coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
At the Feast of the Passover… when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem … the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. …Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. …And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” … And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
The Father with His Son – Lord God Almighty, You were SO excited and proud at the birth of Your Baby Boy Jesus!! You had the whole sky explode with Brilliant Angelic Lights and Music!! You inspired the shepherds to leave their flocks running to greet Your Son for His arrival to earth! And they told everyone about Your Special Son!! Simeon was overjoyed to see the Promised Messiah, just as You had told in a preliminary notification! Anna was excited to give You thanks and tell everyone about Jesus Who would bring people redemption!
You nurtured Your Beloved Son Jesus by Your Grace! And Your Son loved You so much that He wanted to be right in the midst of You and Your Work! He had been doing it already since the teachers were astonished by His understanding of You and Your Word! And You continued to bless Your Son Jesus!
Father, You treat me and all of Your children, even those yet to be adopted by You, No differently! You are overwhelmed with excited anticipation for the time when we say “Yes!” to surrender to have Your Father-Headship over us! You send us Your people to encourage and build us up in what You say about us! You always talk to us, though we don’t hear or follow You as well as Your Son Jesus. And You put Your Grace and Favor on us – until You take us home to be with You permanently. (1) (2)
Job 15 Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: “Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge,…Yes, you cast off fear, And restrain prayer before God. … Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; Yes, your own lips testify against you.
Sadly, the very words that Eliphaz told to Job were words that Eliphaz should have said to himself. Later the Lord God told Eliphaz, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore … offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” Job 42:7-8
Too many times I have thought one way when the opposite was true, and very sadly I have spoken it. Lord God I have incurred Your wrath because of it! You called me to repent and learning from it. (Thank You for your Mercy Lord!) Yet many times, You, Lord God have held me shut to silence! Thank You!! I am always learning because I am sooo faulty!
You tell me to discern, not condemn. To judge rightly by fruits and to look for the Progression of growth not Perfection. Judgment, meaning understanding and analysis, for the purpose of pointing people to You is good. Judgment, meaning condemning, is pointing them to hell, which is not good. Yes, Lord God, I know people are going to hell without change – Ah Ha! But that is where You come in!! Pointing to The Savior Who saves us from our sins that condemn us – that is Success Your Way!! Bravo my King Jesus!! (3)
1 Corinthians 3 “I fed you with milk and not with solid food .. for you are still carnal.
God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. … And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”
Lord God, I had been on milk for years! Until You called me to participate in a weekly in-depth Bible study where Your Word changed my heart, thoughts, perceptions, emotions and actions! – Your subtle and powerful work of Your Holy Spirit changed me from the inside out – while I was unconscious of the changes. All I knew was that I was in Your Potter’s Hand.
Lord Jesus Christ, You have made me Your slave worker. I am SO honored, and especially to be a co-laborer with So many of Your fabulous, humble servant-children! Please keep their temples, and mine, clean and burning bright with Your Love and abhor the sins of the flesh! There is TOO much harvest to reap to waste workers or cause people to turn away from You. We are but dust and You are our Amazing Potter. You mix me with Your Holy Spirit living water, reach down deep within me and change me in places where no one can reach or fathom. I am completely powerless in the process – except I can yield, grieve the loss (of whatever) and be cleansed, renewed and newly empowered for Your next adventure of work under You! (4)
Bible Insights –
Crystal (PsalmThirty4)
Sixty-six books in a year 