“In the Fullness of Time", He came - & is Coming Again!

 Christmas is a celebration of Christ’s birth, yet He is often banished these days, out of hearts, homes, stores and public locations… some even substitute X for Christmas calling it Xmas. 

X is an unknown quantity but Jesus is never that. 

For He is our LORD, our Saviour and coming King.

There were many prophetic passages promising Jesus would come, starting with Genesis 3:15 - man sinned so our Loving God promised a Saviour.

Another promise oft forgotten is the promise given by the angels when Jesus went to heaven after His resurrection  … .

“… HE SHALL COME AGAIN, IN LIKE MANNER AS YE SEE HIM GO into heaven”

 Acts 1:11

As in the fullness of time, ie God’s time Jesus came the first time, He was born, died and rose again - Paul says here: 

.. but when the fulness of the time was come, 

God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 

to redeem (save, buy back) them that were under the law...” Gal 4:4

As with Christ’s coming there were a few faithful ones in total expectation of the promised Messiah.

They were not surprised in unbelief that He should come as a babe, not conquering King to rescue them from the Romans. Here’s a list of five but I’m sure there are more:

Elizabeth - the mother of John the Baptist was believing (though Zacharias, his father was struck temporarily dumb for his unbelief) Luke 1: 5-26, 40-45

Mary - Luke 1: 26-80

Joseph - Matthew 1:15-25, 2:13-23

Simeon - Luke 2:25-35 faithful prophecies were made by Simeon, to Mary.

Anna - Luke 2:36, 38, at 84 years, she’d long awaited in expection. 

This is my favourite Carol, so much good doctrine in Wesley’s hymn on "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", video link here, as well as below. If you want more in background on this is truly beautiful hymn - see here.

Two Gospels only tell of Jesus’ birth.

Matthew gives it from Joseph’s perspective and dealing in angel appearances and Magi coming; Luke is from Mary’s perspective, each also share their respective genealogies.

Are we likewise expectant that our beautiful LORD Jesus Christ will come again?

 "THEREFORE BE YE ALSO READY for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.”  Matt24:24

Will Christ find us ready longing for His coming as these faithful ones were at Christs first Advent, for its promised to be at any day unexpectedly?

Will I be ready, I pray so with all my heart.

At Christmas time, may Christ not be left out - but may we ALL remember the most important gift is not UNDER THE TREE,

BUT WAS PLACED UPON THE TREE TO DIE for our sin and salvation.

Praying earnestly - may the real reason of Christmas shine brightly in your home and heart.

may God richly bless your day wherever you maybe,

Shaz in Oz.x

 

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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Still here! All things WORK TOGETHER for Good. All the time!

Okay, when three bloggers in less than a week contact you to see if you’re okay, it’s a big prompt from the LORD to do a post.

Personal update:

A simple reason for silence since Easter is poor health. I’ve multiple congenital conditions (from birth) that have affected my health all my life, and been on critical life saving medications for 55years. When I had my heart attack three years ago Drs did their usual of thinking ‘they know best’, and refused necessary meds on admission. 

Result is a mild heart attack was not. This has totally affected my health stability. Combined with my 36 y.o brilliant local Dr retiring, I have spent the last 20 mths trying to source a new one, becoming more ill as time passed due to a Dr who wouldn’t listen. In God’s great mercy, I’m now (last 4 months) under another brilliant medical team and things are starting to stabilise a little, at last. I know that there is a good, God-chosen reason for everything, including this, and THAT is such a comfort at all times.

A Dr who will listen is a rare thing these days. It’s not taught in Medical Schools my Naturopath said (who teaches Physiology at our local Medical School on uni campus). New Drs are taught to listen to their learning above the patient! 😳 So grateful things are improving, but I’m not what I was when went on miracle trip in 2018 to visit all my blogging pals. I probably won’t even travel locally, my system is now too fragile, and won’t be able to blog much, as I’m so slow.

 After such an update the verse that leapt out in my mind was Romans 8:28. It’s oft quoted in times of hardship, because it is SO reassuring. 

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for GOOD to them that love God,

to them who are the called according to His purpose. 

Note: it's GOOD according to God's purpose... NOT good according what we think it should be!

It’s ALL THINGS … this of course is for those who love Jesus, we can be assured that everything happens for GOOD - and I add for GOD!

Our Loving Father God sees what we cannot, our wondrous God sees the BIG PICTURE.

The WHY behind everything. So when life gets tough it’s such a comfort to cling to “the God of all comfort”.

For some reason we are always expecting life to run smoothly, but this is exactly the OPPOSITE of what our LORD Jesus promised us. 

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. 

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Our Jesus promised PEACE in Him, but TRIBULATION or trouble in the world, BUT HE has overcome it all, and will give us the victory in it all in this world by faith in Him ... 

The key is to abide, or live in His peace - while in the midst of the world’s trouble. Jesus alone can HELP us do that.

There is trouble in the broken world, because of Genesis 3, man sinned and a curse was put upon all, for all have sinned (See Romans 3:23). BUT one glorious day, ALL CROOKED THINGS will be made STRAIGHT (see Isaiah 42:16)! 

INDEED What a glorious day that will be!

Thanks so much popping over for a peek and chat I truly appreciate your encouragement so much.

Prayer hugs, 🙏🤗 Shaz in Oz.x  

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!  

Happy News day = Resurrection Day!

 Well, YESS! today is a day of great rejoicing as my title shares. 

Today is Resurrection Day!

Can you imagine the depth of their sorrow among the women and disciples upon the first day of that week so long ago? 

They thought all was lost - Jesus dead upon the cross of Cavalry, then buried in stone tomb.

 

BUT INSTEAD - their grief would roll away as surely as that giant stone did at the tomb's door!

Sorrow - turned to joy!

 This is picture for our troubles today - tell them ALL to Jesus.

 

 He is the Burden Bearer, He will uphold us in our every care!

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
² And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
³ And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
⁴ And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
⁵ And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
⁶ He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
⁷ Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
⁸ And they remembered his words," Luke 24:1-8 (emphases mine)                               .

The STONE rolled away - what was unseen in the purpose of the cross is now seen! The same with our burden today - one glorious day the purpose of these trials will be revealed and as it says in 1 Cor 4:5 ".. every man shall have praise of God."  🙏💙🙏  What a day to look forward too, dear ones!

 

 

 

 I think this image of an empty tomb encapsulates Resurrection Day.  

The work of the cross  - the death, burial and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ, the Son of God our sin-bearer on the cruel tree.

May our Father God help us to walk every single day in the glory of resurrection day!
Satan is the defeated foe, for evermore the victory is in Jesus, as we rest and trust in Him alone! 

This hymn came to mind, I serve a Risen Saviour... may it bless your heart as it did mine.

I serve a Risen Saviour by A J Ackley

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He's always near.

Refrain:
He lives, He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart!

2 In all the world around me I see His loving care;
And tho' my heart grows weary, I never will despair.
I know that He is leading thro' all the stormy blast;
The day of His appearing will come at last. [Refrain]

 

3 Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind. [Refrain]

To Him alone be all the glory, honour and praise, with much thanksgiving for Resurrection day!

Shaz in Oz.x

Hymn sung below by Mennonite Youth choir. (link here if missing)

 

 PS.A special shout out for a very dear blogging  sister - Diane Ronzino of Hadarah - link here. Diane has issues in that her latest posts aren't showing on my sidebar feed - but locked on one from two years ago.

I've thought she wasn't posting. 

But she is, and it's invisibly for some time as she says none comment so I'm thinking others may have the same issue in finding her.

If you've followed her, please go give her some love. I will chat next week with her, hopefully, and see if we can fix it - I've a couple of ideas.  Praying one works, please LORD.

 

PPS. 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! 

God's Goodness on Good Friday

 Hullo there everyone! sorry for the very long silence, health is the usual reason. Since today is one of the most important days of the year, I had to pop in with this post.

  This is an April Illuminated calendar for 2014, from the Hong Kong Christian Book Room. They sadly don't make them any more, but I learnt from their book how to do my texts (see - here it is) is written by the founder of this Book Room. 

 

Isn't it a beautiful verse? 

It is the true reflection of what occurred on Good Friday all those years ago. On a rocky hillside, in sorrow and pain, a young Man shed His blood on a cross - a shameful, sinful death.

WHY?

Years ago (over 50) I well remember my sister's teacher asking me on a hillside (here near the beach) if I knew why Jesus had died? 

I said, " No."

.. and so she told me He had died for my sin, and the sins of everyone. 

Now I was a child.. and you may wonder - how a child can have sinned?

.. but believe you me, there was not argument at all from me on that point.

I knew I had done wrong.. and that was sin.. but that Jesus had died to take away my sin totally blew me away. 

That memorable day, when I saw Jesus on the cross for my sin, has lived evermore for me in these words of this hymn. (or see link here)

 

                                      There Is A Green Hill Far Away

                        There is a green hill far away, without a city wall,

                        Where the dear LORD was crucified, Who died to save us all.

                        We may not know, we cannot tell what pains He had to bear,

                        But we believe it was for us He hung & suffered there.  

                        He died that we might be forgiven , He died to make us good,

                        That we might go at last to Heaven, saved by His precious blood.

                        There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin,

                        He only could unlock the gate of Heaven, and let us in.

                        Oh, dearly, dearly has He loved, & we must love Him too, 

                        And trust in His redeeming blood & try His works to do. 

By C.F. Alexander

 

Jesus is our Living Redeemer, Saviour and Friend.

Or He is LORD Jesus once I have believed on the LORD Jesus Christ as my Saviour. 

 

"God sent His Only Begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him."
1 John 4:9

This is why Good Friday is Good.

 

By faith in the LORD Jesus we have the certain hope of life for evermore with Him. 

For more see here - Who or What is a Christian? or see sidebar.

The Easter story = The gift of His transforming love.

  Jesus' sacrifice brought us life.

There is sadness in the story. 

There is pain in the story. 

There is death. But there is more. 

The whole story includes the beauty of Easter. 
The triumph. 
The joy.

I would dearly love that all who read this might know or already KNOW that Beauty, Triumph, and Joy.. in Jesus.

I would like to close with a very early Illuminated text done in the early 1990's. 

(sorry, it is very poor "best-can-do" enhanced image - bad flare from old camera, etc. not digital.)

 The observant among you will realise it's the verse done on the header of my craft blog. 

It is also on the very first post I did on my blog, back here.

(I have done it four times now, three different colours, and one was duplicate of one on the header.

This, the original is the one and only one done in Aluminum leaf - very hard to work with but will not tarnish like silver leaf.)

 

May we all take time to ponder the importance of these words of the Lord Jesus.

"What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36

 

Zip, zero, zilch is the answer... 

The whole world will profit us nothing.

  YES, this is the whole key to Easter... 

Eternity... and what counts for eternity. 
May we live this truth.

 

Truth will help to keep a real perspective on life -  is it ETERNAL?

 

 May God richly bless you wherever you maybe and thank you SO much for poppng over and saying hi, I trust this blesses your heart!
Shaz in Oz.x

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!