Christmas 2021 ~ God Leaves the Best Bit till Last!

The Christmas story is probably the best known of all ALL Bible stories. Everywhere the Word of God it has been shared. The crux of it is Christ’s first coming is as the babe, Jesus, for He was born to die as our Saviour.

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Meditating upon this story, I wondered if ALL of the heavenly hosts were there rejoicing? or a select multitude of heavenly host to serenade the arrival of the LORD Jesus? 

In any case, they made a lasting impression in eternal matters on humble hearts! For God’s word is eternal and so was their announcement!

And 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, good will toward men. Luke 2:13-14 

Glory to God in the highest.

Peace, goodwill to ALL men.

Well, we certainly need that today “PEACE, GOODWILL TO ALL” 

- as in the time of Jesus’ birth. 

Jesus was born in troubled times, as today. 

Roman rule is little like the rule of today. There were distinct classes strongly separated in Judaism, and Romans and non-Romans. Jesus came to break down those barriers with PEACE, GOODWILL TO ALL!

I wonder what the baby Jesus would think of it all today, as newborn of today? As a babe seeing faces in masks, not learning proper facial recognition… NO! let’s not go there. 😷🤔

Instead, let us focus on our beautiful Saviour’s First Advent. 

Yes! There is more than one Advent. 😃❤️☝️

Thank the LORD for that! 

That is the brightest part of this story, you know!

This is NOT a one off! JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!

YAY! He IS coming again!

(See verses here Luke 2:10-38)

As we look at this story it’s really a story of Willing and Waiting Hearts.

The Anticipating Cast:

**Elizabeth and Zacharias parents of John the Baptist. (See Luke 1:5-25 here)

Elizabeth is Mary’s cousin. They’d long prayed for a son, but it was impossible. Until God’s miracle and John was born! “they were both righteous before God” v.6

**Mary and Joseph (Matt. 1:19-21 and Luke 1:26 -56)

Like Zacharias and Elizabeth they were “just” and “blessed, highly favoured” .. these are waiting, anticipating, believing Old Testament saints.  

**Shepherds Luke 2:6-18 

**Wise men Matthew 2: 1-13 

These believed “as it was told them”, so many do not do so today 🙏🙏🙏

**Simeon and Anna Luke 2:21-39

These last two are truly remarkable! 

Both are “righteous before God”, both for many decades we’re praying waiting with such anticipation for the Promised Messiah. 

Both had been told of God that they would see Him! These are Simeon’s words when this promise was fulfilled. I love this!

Luke 2:29-33 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

“A LIGHT to lighten the Gentiles and the GLORY of Thy people Israel.”

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Am I, are we willing joyfully awaiting?

Waiting right now, today, this moment for our coming King. 

For our LORD Jesus’ Second Advent?

 HIS COMING IS AS SURE AS THE DAWN

Do we walk daily in the light of “Perhaps today?” 

Because truly perhaps 🤔  it IS TODAY! 

May we be ready waiting as we’re Elizabeth, Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, Wise men, Simeon and Anna, who waited so long too. 

For joy, today perhaps it is that He returns for the second time? 

Amen even so come, Lord Jesus!

 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Rev 22:20

Bless, LORD God of glory, bless us ALL, in spite of our great sinfulness. 

This Christmas time, may we remember afresh the promise of your coming again. May we daily desire to walk in the light of Your Son’s Return for His own, looking forward with anticipation as they did so many millennia ago.

Oh Father, please save souls today, all over our poor, sad world today, for ETERNITY’s sake, please, in Thy great mercy, for Thy Eternal glory. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Thanks to all who pop across to read this blog and Thank YOU, especially if you’re able to leave some love and encouragement.

Prayer hugs,🙏🤗

Shaz in Oz.x 

If you are not sure if you are a Christian, a Christ follower, please read this post here - Who or What is a Christian?

PS. If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager

of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊

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The Most Important Thing we Can Ever Do

 We live in times and seasons which were foretold millennia ago. As Jesus birth was first mentioned in Genesis 3:15, so days in which we now live were foretold by faithful prophets, servants of the LORD and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

(Links at end for this)

 In such troubled times it’s most important to have an Anchor, a stronghold in the day of trouble.

The most important thing you will ever do is PRAY.

PRAYER is submissive communication with One far above mere humans.

It's all God.

Not of us. 

Not me or you. 

All God.. 

 "for of Him, and through Him and by Him are ALL things: to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."

Romans 11:36

MOST IMPORTANT is PRAYER.

We are apt to underrate PRAYER.

One is heard to say, “Oh well, at least we can pray!”

As if it’s a last resort, a stop-gap.

However as Jesus said PRAYER moves mountains.. when mixed with fasting. (See Matt 17:21)

PRAYER saves souls 

PRAYER keeps souls 

PRAYER grows souls

PRAYER is ETERNAL, it will never pass away, it is Spirit-breathed and life (this thrills me 😊). 

PRAYERS are lifted to heaven, whether we keep on praying them or not. (Rev 8:4) 

If uttered in true faith to our Father, in Jesus name, prayer will not fail.

In hard, sad times it’s a great comfort of heart to remember, to remind myself of the great power of prayer.

In our prayers and their answers, we can trace the hand of God’s great love for us. Prayer works! 

Your children, loved ones, can run from God.

But they can never run from your prayers. 

 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26

PRAYER finds lost things, temporal or eternal. If prayed humbly to our God.

PRAYER will alter the course of this ship of life upon which we are sailing now!

  May I never ever forget that. 

Neglect it at our peril.  

PRAYER, believing, God-honouring God-fearing prayer is the ANSWER TO EVERY DILEMMA.

 Without prayer, no one will ever trust Christ. 

Our first act as a believer is a halting, stumbing prayer. One of the most precious prayers I've heard was a 78 yr old lady praying earnestly in halting utterance for salvation: 

"Be merciful to me a sinner." 

This is of course is the prayer of the publican or tax collector in Jesus' parable (Luke 18:13). I'm quite sure dear Fran didn't consciously know that story. She had attended church all her life, but did not realise her personal need of a Saviour from sin, till attending our little church.

In her prayer, Christ was present, indeed, in the heart, if not in word.. that's meeting God's standards, not ours for our God looks on the heart. Her life showed her heart faith.

No one will ever come to pray a repentance prayer of salvation, unless they’ve been prayed over. All believers in Christ have indeed been prayed over...

The greatest prayer chapter to me is John 17, where our Saviour lifts us all up to His and our Heavenly Father in prayer.. read it HERE, meditate AND just  think this was PRAYED over two thousand years ago in the garden of Gethsemane - for you and me! 

I've often mentioned Bro. Mac who'd pray 7 to 8 hours a day over a map of the world. 

Now he did not know names of all those people, who lived in all the countries upon the earth at that time - but our God did. As our Saviour, the dear LORD Jesus knew us when He prayed for us, 2,000+ years before!

We serve the all wonderful EL SHADDAI, the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.

Infinite. Eternal. 

Not limited. 

*Omniscient *Omnipotent *Omnipresent.

So don't hold back, pray in Faith as brother Mac did, praying for all, everyone everywhere to repent. It’s not impossible. Pray BELIEVING that all things are possible.

With God ALL things are possible. 

Praying on 🙏🙏 dear ones, our Heavenly Father hears the softest cry of His little sheep. ❤️🙏🐑

Men ought ALWAYS to PRAY, not to faint. Luke 18:7

I'm praying and trusting in the God of miracles, as so many have before.

Bless, LORD God of glory, bless us ALL, in spite of our great sinfulness, we have fallen so far short of Thy Holy righteousness, we live in wicked, idolatrous nations, save souls today, now, for ETERNITY’s sake, please, with Thy holy mercy abounding, for Thy Eternal glory. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Thanks to all who pop across to read this blog and Thank YOU, especially if you’re able to leave some love and encouragement.

Prayer hugs,🙏🤗

Shaz in Oz.x 

Update: Sat11th Dec is a Call To Repentance and Prayer for REVIVAL in Australia 🇦🇺.  Repentance with prayer and fasting- for our great sins are so many..

EARNEST REPENTANT HEART PRAYER - this indeed will bring REVIVAL.

Pray with us.. please. 

Link here - please join us!! We need your prayers!! 🙏

If you are not sure if you are a Christian, a Christ follower, please read this post here - Who or What is a Christian?

Links for prophecy articles in the Australian Herald of Hope

Link to Article on How Will the Tribulation be Shortened?

Link to article “God’s Prophetic Plan”

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PS. If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager

of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊

If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link, which is on the top of sidebar. Thank YOU