Isaiah prophesied hundreds of years prior to the event that, ”a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14). In miraculous manner the child would be conceived, like no one before, nor any after.

Then this prophecy was fulfilled, not in splendor, but in humble circumstances.

His parents were not royalty, but a carpenter and his betrothed.

The one who would be called “God with us” was not born in regal fashion, but in a barn where He was laid in an animal feeding trough. His crib was not of gold and fine linen, but of wood and hay.

The Lord of glory lay aside His majesty, and took the form of man, all so He could give His life “a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28).

Let us remember today this reason we celebrate, and give Him the honor and glory He deserves.

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, December 25

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

Let us today go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see Him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in Him, and can sing, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend; let us adore and admire. Let us notice at the very first glance His miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin should conceive and bear a Son. The first promise ran thus, "The seed of the woman", not the offspring of the man. Since venturous woman led the way in the sin which brought forth Paradise lost, she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer of Paradise. Our Saviour, although truly man, was as to His human nature the Holy One of God. Let us reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory; and let us pray that He may be formed in us, the hope of glory. Fail not to note His humble parentage. His mother has been described simply as "a virgin," not a princess, or prophetess, nor a matron of large estate. True the blood of kings ran in her veins; nor was her mind a weak and untaught one, for she could sing most sweetly a song of praise; but yet how humble her position, how poor the man to whom she stood affianced, and how miserable the accommodation afforded to the new-born King!

Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendour.

Faltering Faith | Words and Stuff
https://rumble.com/v733z1y-faltering-faith-words-and-stuff.html

Video Sermon #kjv #kingjamesbible #bible #scriptures Pastor Ricky Kurth - The Staggering Faith Of #Abraham #Romans 4:18-25 https://youtu.be/iEFlldeddAA?si=kYjO49b3kycFZD_w

Isaiah
Chapter 25

1 O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

2 For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.

3 Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.

4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

5 Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.

6 And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.

8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

10 For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.

11 And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.

12 And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.

Brethren, be strong, but realize our strength comes not from within. We can do all things, but we do them through Him who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13). God says, “I will strengthen you” (Isa. 41:10). Therefore, let us not fear, nor be anxious (Isa. 41:10).

At times we may feel weak, but this is when God’s strength is able to shine through. Paul explains this when he in his own weakness writes, “He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

Let the power of God dwell in you (2 Cor. 12:9); let Christ live through you (Gal. 2:20). Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Eph. 6:10). Do not rely on your own strength, but humble yourself before God, and let Him exalt you when the time is right (1 Pet. 5:6).

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, December 22

"I will strengthen thee." Isaiah 41:10

God has a strong reserve with which to discharge this engagement; for He is able to do all things. Believer, till thou canst drain dry the ocean of omnipotence, till thou canst break into pieces the towering mountains of almighty strength, thou never needest to fear. Think not that the strength of man shall ever be able to overcome the power of God. Whilst the earth's huge pillars stand, thou hast enough reason to abide firm in thy faith. The same God who directs the earth in its orbit, who feeds the burning furnace of the sun, and trims the lamps of heaven, has promised to supply thee with daily strength. While He is able to uphold the universe, dream not that He will prove unable to fulfil His own promises. Remember what He did in the days of old, in the former generations. Remember how He spake and it was done; how He commanded, and it stood fast. Shall He that created the world grow weary? He hangeth the world upon nothing; shall He who doth this be unable to support His children? Shall He be unfaithful to His word for want of power? Who is it that restrains the tempest? Doth not He ride upon the wings of the wind, and make the clouds His chariots, and hold the ocean in the hollow of His hand? How can He fail thee? When He has put such a faithful promise as this on record, wilt thou for a moment indulge the thought that He has outpromised Himself, and gone beyond His power to fulfil? Ah, no! Thou canst doubt no longer.

O thou who art my God and my strength, I can believe that this promise shall be fulfilled, for the boundless reservoir of Thy grace can never be exhausted, and the overflowing storehouse of Thy strength can never be emptied by Thy friends or rifled by Thine enemies.

"Now let the feeble all be strong,
And make Jehovah's arm their song."

Robert Scott Bell, who I host on Radio America USA - A Sunday Conversation With Robert and Super Don – #Faith, Curiosity, and Seeking #Truth Beyond #Belief Systems https://rumble.com/v73af38-a-sunday-conversation-with-robert-and-super-don-faith-curiosity-and-seeking.html

God gives EVERYONE a measure of faith! One uses it, another doesn't
https://rumble.com/v730lt8-god-gives-everyone-a-measure-of-faith-one-uses-it-another-doesnt.html

Dear brethren, consider how great a love our Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called “children of God” (1 Jn. 3:1). For, “In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself” (Eph. 1:4-5).

We would not know love if not for Him. After all, “we love, because He first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19). We did not love Him first; we could not. As John wrote, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 Jn. 4:10).

If ever you question that love, remember Paul’s words similar to John’s: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

What a comforting and consoling message. Never forget that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).

For God Himself says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3). We should marvel at this, because we have done nothing to earn that love.

Let us then love Him, and love one another, for if we do not love one another whom we can see, we cannot claim to love Him whom we cannot see (1 Jn. 4:20). “And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also” (1 Jn. 4:21).

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, December 20

"Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3

Sometimes the Lord Jesus tells His Church His love thoughts. "He does not think it enough behind her back to tell it, but in her very presence He says, 'Thou art all fair, my love.' It is true, this is not His ordinary method; He is a wise lover, and knows when to keep back the intimation of love and when to let it out; but there are times when He will make no secret of it; times when He will put it beyond all dispute in the souls of His people" (R. Erskine's Sermons). The Holy Spirit is often pleased, in a most gracious manner, to witness with our spirits of the love of Jesus. He takes of the things of Christ and reveals them unto us. No voice is heard from the clouds, and no vision is seen in the night, but we have a testimony more sure than either of these. If an angel should fly from heaven and inform the saint personally of the Saviour's love to him, the evidence would not be one whit more satisfactory than that which is borne in the heart by the Holy Ghost. Ask those of the Lord's people who have lived the nearest to the gates of heaven, and they will tell you that they have had seasons when the love of Christ towards them has been a fact so clear and sure, that they could no more doubt it than they could question their own existence. Yes, beloved believer, you and I have had times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and then our faith has mounted to the topmost heights of assurance. We have had confidence to lean our heads upon the bosom of our Lord, and we have no more questioned our Master's affection to us than John did when in that blessed posture; nay, nor so much: for the dark question, "Lord, is it I that shall betray thee?" has been put far from us. He has kissed us with the kisses of His mouth, and killed our doubts by the closeness of His embrace. His love has been sweeter than wine to our souls.

Believer, how do you respond to sin? Not that of others, but your own? Are you afflicted deeply with sorrow? Or are you more like the Pharisees, making a show of your repentance while remaining unchanged?

The “religious” among us would, as did many in Scripture, rend their garments when confronted with sin or injustice. Yet this outward act was matched by neither inward grief nor change. This is not what God desires.

God wants people with a changed heart, people mournful of misdoings, not those who would signal misery on the outside while remaining unchanged. For God says through the prophet, “rend your heart and not your garments” (Joel 2:13). God wants a people who are broken by sin, not who wallow in it.

And when we truly repent, if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins, and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9).

Brethren, examine your heart today. Are you truly repentant? Do you despise sin as He does? Or do you rather justify yourself, making an outward show of seeking forgiveness, but having your heart untouched?

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, December 18

"Rend your heart, and not your garments." Joel 2:13

Garment-rendering and other outward signs of religious emotion, are easily manifested and are frequently hypocritical"; but to feel true repentance is far more difficult, and consequently far less common. Men will attend to the most multiplied and minute ceremonial regulations- for such things are pleasing to the flesh- but true religion is too humbling, too heart-searching, too thorough for the tastes of the carnal men; they prefer something more ostentatious, flimsy, and worldly. Outward observances are temporarily comfortable"; eye and ear are pleased; self-conceit is fed, and self-righteousness is puffed up: but they are ultimately delusive, for in the article of death, and at the day of judgment, the soul needs something more substantial than ceremonies and rituals to lean upon. Apart from vital godliness all religion is utterly vain; offered without a sincere heart, every form of worship is a solemn sham and an impudent mockery of the majesty of heaven.

HEART-RENDING is divinely wrought and solemnly felt. It is a secret grief which is personally experienced, not in mere form, but as a deep, soul-moving work of the Holy Spirit upon the inmost heart of each believer. It is not a matter to be merely talked of and believed in, but keenly and sensitively felt in every living child of the living God. It is powerfully humiliating, and completely sin-purging; but then it is sweetly preparative for those gracious consolations which proud unhumbled spirits are unable to receive; and it is distinctly discriminating, for it belongs to the elect of God, and to them alone.
The text commands us to rend our hearts, but they are naturally hard as marble: how, then, can this be done? We must take them to Calvary: a dying Saviour's voice rent the rocks once, and it is as powerful now. O blessed Spirit, let us hear the death-cries of Jesus, and our hearts shall be rent even as men rend their vestures in the day of lamentation.

To all fans followers of #LowCarbohydrate #Carnivore and #SugarFree #Health Freedom! #SatietyRules #carnivorediet #lowcarb #nocarb #nocarbs #keto #ketodiet #yes2meat #meatheals #ProperHumanDiet #beef #eggs #butter #realfood #NSNG (No Sugar No Grains) #NotVegan #salt #steak #chickenburger I am planning a section on Radio America USA for shows regarding above hashtags, free of charge, all I ask is for those of faith and Americans to donate via #PayPal to help with costs! https://www.radioamericausa.com/

Wing of the Ancients

Step lightly.
daughter of dawn.
The earth remembers
every quiet footfall.

Carry the kindness
those before you
pressed into your hands.

Hold the strength
that lives beneath sorrow,
steady as breath,
simple as being.

Know this truth:
You do not walk alone.
Even the wind
keeps faith
with those who listen.

When your path narrows,
Lift your face.
The ancestors
have already widened
the sky.

Faith based colleges and universities make up only a small fraction of all universities and colleges and yet they were targeted the most by the Biden creature for alleged legal violations that other universities and colleges were not targeted for.

[Suspicious]
https://www.rvmnews.com/2024/11/report-biden-harris-department-of-education-overwhelmingly-targeted-christians/

Isaiah
Chapter 11

1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.

9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.

15 And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.

16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

Christian, to what length are you willing to go in order to reach the lost? Paul declared, “I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:22).

But what does this mean? Did Paul become an adulterer in order to reach adulterers? Or a homosexual that he might draw homosexuals to Christ? Did he become a thief in order to save thieves? While Paul explains that, to the Jews he became as a Jew, and to those without the law, he became as one without the law, his statement of becoming all things is clearly not literal.

Paul here is making the point that he met people where they were, just as did Jesus Himself. Paul was willing to sacrifice his liberties (not to go against his beliefs or violate them) in order to have opportunity to preach the gospel.

Make no mistake - Paul did not water down the gospel, he used no “hook,” he did not entertain to be heard, nor use enticing or eloquent speech. For what does Paul say?

“I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified…my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:1-5)

Paul preached in or near the synagogues, in jail, on the streets. The purpose was to carry the good news of the kingdom to the lost and hurting, to a dark and dying world. He regarded his reputation, his freedom, any worldly possessions, as worthless compared to reaching the lost. We would do well to do the same.

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, December 7

"I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." 1 Corinthians 9:22

Paul's great object was not merely to instruct and to improve, but to save. Anything short of this would have disappointed him; he would have men renewed in heart, forgiven, sanctified, in fact, saved. Have our Christian labours been aimed at anything below this great point? Then let us amend our ways, for of what avail will it be at the last great day to have taught and moralized men if they appear before God unsaved? Blood-red will our skirts be if through life we have sought inferior objects, and forgotten that men needed to be saved. Paul knew the ruin of man's natural state, and did not try to educate him, but to save him; he saw men sinking to hell, and did not talk of refining them, but of saving from the wrath to come. To compass their salvation, he gave himself up with untiring zeal to telling abroad the gospel, to warning and beseeching men to be reconciled to God. His prayers were importunate and his labours incessant. To save souls was his consuming passion, his ambition, his calling. He became a servant to all men, toiling for his race, feeling a woe within him if he preached not the gospel. He laid aside his preferences to prevent prejudice; he submitted his will in things indifferent, and if men would but receive the gospel, he raised no questions about forms or ceremonies: the gospel was the one all-important business with him. If he might save some he would be content. This was the crown for which he strove, the sole and sufficient reward of all his labours and self-denials. Dear reader, have you and I lived to win souls at this noble rate? Are we possessed with the same all-absorbing desire? If not, why not? Jesus died for sinners, cannot we live for them? Where is our tenderness? Where our love to Christ, if we seek not His honour in the salvation of men? O that the Lord would saturate us through and through with an undying zeal for the souls of men.

Isaiah
Chapter 8

1 Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.

2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.

4 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.

5 The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,

6 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;

7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:

8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

9 Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.

10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,

12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.

13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.

22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

Here is an explanation of what the Hebrew Shabbat or Sabbath is all about. In case you would like to see it from another perspective besides - oh - that’s just their religious thing.
Lol. It’s really not about a religious obedience thing. It’s about HOPE.
In the beginning of creation according to Genesis in the Bible - all life was related and intertwined, and the crown of physical creation was, is humankind. Everyone shared the ultimate dignity of being created in the image of G-d. This world was originally meant to be a paradise. Something else happened when a snake entered the scene and convinced a human being to forgo service of others and only promote what you want for yourself. Forget this, all people are valuable, and use resources only for yourself. So what happened? Humankind believed the lies of the snake and took a different direction. The gates to paradise closed.

Creation happened within time, not within space alone. Time was involved. G-d created the world in 6 days (a metaphor of course) and rested on the 7th day. Then told his humankind to follow suit. Rest on the 7th day too and I your G-d will refresh you. Refresh us from what? From now living in a world that operates without peace. Wars, competition for resources, where before we closed the gates to paradise we had abundant resources and an untrammeled right to life with the world structured to sustain the infinite value of the human being.

Jews have suffered explosion, persecution and destruction because of all the lies believed about them.

Shabbat draws us back to believe paradise can be returned, with a hope in a redemptive fulfillment that will return humankind back to loving G-d and their neighbors in way that recovers the abundance the earth offers making life a good thing for everyone, not just the Jews.
The idea behind Shabbat- a day of rest from all kinds of working to get needs meant, from all media and the news. Phones turned off. Meals and everything else prepared ahead of time so a true rest from the cultural demands can happen. Then we get together with each other and celebrate our value, looking to our hope.

The idea behind observing Shabbat is to remember our original creation that G-d spoke into existence. Now living in a world of paradise lost, we get to create a day of remembrance and that gives us hope that what has been lost, when humanity grows up G-d will return. The Messiah will arrive and the value of a human being will be restored as all the earth and everyone on it will be able to understand G-d’s original plan, get to know G-d as the earth will be filled with the knowledge of our benevolent Creator.
Shabbat is Judaism’s central attempt to inject Hope into life. To find a way to live dialectically, accepting the world, affirming its sanctity, participating in it fully and enjoy it. Jew’s have become the prophets of permanent descent because our Biblical faith is a permanent revolution. A revolution that is moving in ceaseless steps towards justice and a messianic fulfillment.
Shabbat keeps us from a permanent dissent leading us to being sour and cynical. For dwelling on the “not yet” can rob every present moment of its intrinsic value.
Through total immersion in the Shabbat experience, Jews renew the hope and live the reality of a redeemed world in our now. There is no work to be done, no deprivation, no anxiety or bad news. The world does not yet exist in space but in time so on the 7th day we step out of time and enter a perfect world for a night and a day. As time travelers we create a reality that makes it possible for us to absorb true values and be renewed. G-d knows the end of a thing before its beginning and when G-d says take a 7th day rest He is challenging us to be in His rest of His work completed though we haven’t seen the “end” yet. It is there. We are waiting in anticipation for it. Everything G-d accomplished in person as our Messiah is on its way to fulfillment and our Messiah will arrive/ return when it is time for Him to do so. When looking outside of time the end of the beginning is seen and yes, G-d is still at work in the world accomplishing His Word while in His Throne room outside of time He says take a day of rest and know you will eventually see it had all been done. completed. It’s a gift we can experience in our now. Adapted from Rabbi Irving Greenberg’s book -“The Jewish way to living the Holidays.”

God Will Meet You Where Your Faith Is
https://johnhouk.substack.com/p/god-will-meet-you-where-your-faith

SUMMARY: I’m one of those Word of Faith adherents condemned by so many mainline Christians. Many Word of Faith critics claim the movement takes Scripture out of context yet fail to actually and validly show anything out of context… When a Preacher or Teacher expounds the Word of God to help the listener line up with the Word of God – THAT IS GOOD! When a Preacher or Teacher uses the Word of God to increase donations – THAT IS EVIL! … In early November I went in for a checkup with my Primary Physician. I pointed out a large bump bottom left from my eye. … The Mohs Surgery was undertaken on 12/11/25. It went well and was pronounced skin cancer free. …THANK YOU JESUS! …YOU CAN READ ALL.
#ChristTheHealer

Christian, whom do you serve? Jesus said you cannot serve two masters (Mt. 6:24).

Are you serving men? Yes, we are called to do so in a proper manner, but our service to others is an extension of our service to God.

Are you serving money? Being consumed by a desire for material wealth leads to grief (1 Tim. 6:9-10). God promises if we seek first His kingdom, He will provide our needs (Mt. 6:33), and with that, Paul teaches, we should be satisfied (1 Tim. 6:8).

Are you serving self? This is the most difficult master from whom to separate. Yet Jesus exhorts that, in order to follow Him, one must deny himself (Lk. 9:23)

It is Christ we are to serve (Col. 3:24), and God through Him. We are to be steadfast in this, abounding in the work of the Lord, not working as though for men, but for God (Col. 3:23). We have no excuse to do otherwise. God provided what we need to be fully equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16). Let us by faith, therefore, set about the good works for which God called and saved us, which He prepared beforehand for us that we might walk in them (Eph. 2:10).

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, December 11

"Ye serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:24

To what choice order of officials was this word spoken? To kings who proudly boast a right divine? Ah, no! too often do they serve themselves or Satan, and forget the God whose sufferance permits them to wear their mimic majesty for their little hour. Speaks then the apostle to those so-called "right reverend fathers in God," the bishops, or "the venerable the archdeacons"? No, indeed, Paul knew nothing of these mere inventions of man. Not even to pastors and teachers, or to the wealthy and esteemed among believers, was this word spoken, but to servants, ay, and to slaves. Among the toiling multitudes, the journeymen, the day labourers, the domestic servants, the drudges of the kitchen, the apostle found, as we find still, some of the Lord's chosen, and to them he says, "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." This saying ennobles the weary routine of earthly employments, and sheds a halo around the most humble occupations. To wash feet may be servile, but to wash His feet is royal work. To unloose the shoe-latchet is poor employ, but to unloose the great Master's shoe is a princely privilege. The shop, the barn, the scullery, and the smithy become temples when men and women do all to the glory of God! Then "divine service" is not a thing of a few hours and a few places, but all life becomes holiness unto the Lord, and every place and thing, as consecrated as the tabernacle and its golden candlestick.

"Teach me, my God and King, in all things Thee to see;
And what I do in anything to do it as to Thee.
All may of Thee partake, nothing can be so mean,
Which with this tincture, for Thy sake, will not grow bright and clean.
A servant with this clause makes drudgery divine;
Who sweeps a room, as for Thy laws, makes that and the action fine."

Brethren, God is faithful. He is not a man that He should lie; what He says, He does, and what He promises, He brings to pass (Num. 23:19). Do you truly trust this?

Herein lies our confidence. Not only that He will bring prophecy to fulfillment, but that He will fulfill His promises to us. Most important of those promises is, of course, our salvation. And part and parcel of that salvation is our sanctification.

Paul affirms this for us when He exhorts his confidence that “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). Just as with salvation, we do not bring about our own sanctification - God does. It is He who is working in us “to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

Read that again. It is God who works in us both to will and to do. This does not mean that He makes puppets out of us; but He transforms us. This is why Paul was able to say that it was no longer he who lived, but Christ lived in Him (Gal. 2:20), as we should also.

If you do not see this yet playing out in your life, do not despair. Pray. Surrender yourself. Put the flesh to death (Rom. 8:13), or as Christ said, daily deny yourself (Lk. 9:23). Because “faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring [your sanctification] to pass” (1 Thes. 5:24).

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, December 11

"Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Heaven is a place where we shall never sin; where we shall cease our constant watch against an indefatigable enemy, because there will be no tempter to ensnare our feet. There the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. Heaven is the "undefiled inheritance"; it is the land of perfect holiness, and therefore of complete security. But do not the saints even on earth sometimes taste the joys of blissful security? The doctrine of God's word is, that all who are in union with the Lamb are safe; that all the righteous shall hold on their way; that those who have committed their souls to the keeping of Christ shall find Him a faithful and immutable preserver. Sustained by such a doctrine we can enjoy security even on earth; not that high and glorious security which renders us free from every slip, but that holy security which arises from the sure promise of Jesus that none who believe in Him shall ever perish, but shall be with Him where He is. Believer, let us often reflect with joy on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, and honour the faithfulness of our God by a holy confidence in Him.

May our God bring home to you a sense of your safety in Christ Jesus! May He assure you that your name is graven on His hand; and whisper in your ear the promise, "Fear not, I am with thee." Look upon Him, the great Surety of the covenant, as faithful and true, and, therefore, bound and engaged to present you, the weakest of the family, with all the chosen race, before the throne of God; and in such a sweet contemplation you will drink the juice of the spiced wine of the Lord's pomegranate, and taste the dainty fruits of Paradise. You will have an antepast of the enjoyments which ravish the souls of the perfect saints above, if you can believe with unstaggering faith that "faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."

LUKE
CHAPTER 22

VS 1-35

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.