“Then an angel of the Lord stood before [the shepherds], and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:9-11 (NRSV)
thedailylily.com 
May we join our family, friends and people of the earth as we collectively hear the voice of angels proclaiming far and wide;
“…The angel said to them…I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:9-11 (NRSV)
Good news of great JOY! WOW! My handwritten notes with names are traveling with me in prayer, chant, song, and talk…I just love the words of Hope for all nations today, “good news of joy for all the people! The voice of an Angel speaking and proclaiming good news of JOY!
The footnotes for Luke 2: 9,10 (NLT) says: “ The greatest event in history had just happened! The Messiah had been born! For ages the Jews had waited for this, and when it finally occurred, the announcement came to humble shepherds. The Good News about Jesus is that he comes to all, including the plain and the ordinary. He comes to anyone with a heart humble enough to accept him. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can have Jesus in your life. Don’t think you need extraordinary qualifications- he accepts you as you are.” Now that should bring to all mankind, the greatest JOY that exist! 🙏🙏✝️❤️
A beautiful scripture and words of Hope, Sara. And what a beautiful photo to illustrate it.
“May we join our family, friends and people of the earth as we collectively hear the voice of angels proclaiming far and wide;” Amen
Joy to the World” is an English Christmas carol written in 1719 by the English minister and hymnwriter Isaac Watts. The carol is based on a Christian interpretation of Psalm 98, Psalm 96 (verses 11 and 12), and chapter 3 of the Book of Genesis (verses 17 and 18), and is usually sung to an 1848 arrangement by the American composer Lowell Mason.
Since the 20th century, “Joy to the World” has been the most-published Christmas hymn in North America.” Wicki
Breathtaking to read the history of, sing a hymn so beloved and hear great choirs sing this hymn and above all believe; “He rules the world with truth and grace,…”
He rules the world with truth and grace! “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.1.14.NKJV
Grace and truth…beauty of stature dwells deep in my mind as I communicate with Him. He has the power and desire to knock the liars off our travelled path. Please do it Lord!
Truth about our gifts, talents and living should be wrapped in His Glory when shared with us or to others according to these awesome scriptures. I hope I find many on my walking path that I speak truth to and about and they to me. I hope there is no lie, or distorted truth all colored in envy, jealousy, backbiting, and other shades of ugly flesh floating in an evil eye and ear wax that blocks truth hearing. I don’t want silent liars in my midst to take up pure air and they leave thinking they know something we don’t and their evil mind distorted what they saw and heard and the air is gaseous from the wrong cavity when they see op to release. There are those that seem to enjoy gas release thinking they look good and accepted by their stench.
It might do us well to count our blessings and see how many “Words in flesh” are in our actions. We will know when we become peace makers and other beatitude makers.
Been a great joy digging in the scriptures this am and discovering “truth and grace” is ruling the world regardless of what Fox, CNN or a fake friends say or do.
You may have a different of opinion on this. That’s OK to the point that you share your truth? Maybe your truth will correct my truth!
🎶“ No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,..”🎶
“How does contemplating Christ’s first coming and anticipating Christ’s return deepen your celebration of Advent? Join the conversation.”
This was the question from a devotional for today in a conversation from study of; “In Good News of Great Joy,”24 daily readings explore the context, content, and spirituality of these canticles. Each of the four canticles has six daily readings. The daily readings include practices and questions to encourage further reflection…”
Just love this question? But, how well am I doing when standing on my street corner with lights displaying scenes from what some perceive of the first coming of Christ. And, how much contemplating or celebrating am I doing of his second return? Got it, love it when celebrating with my circle of showing of our decorating skills. It’s fun, it’s beautiful.
It’s that trick word says my selective thinking, “deepen.” Hum, Tammy Holton help, does question ask how I think or how I celebrate? Is there a difference?
Oh no🙈🤪🤯 I didn’t know it was exam week🥺 I better get busy seeing what I can do to research the possible answer to this question.🥸🤯🧐🤓📝📚❓🤔
Hehe Tammy don’t exams come just before Christmas break? You are always good answering exam questions🥰 Don’t fail us know🎄🎅🏻🤶🏻
I’m thinking Iwill look 👀 at this word first…….”deepen”……Collinsdictionary.com said: “ if you deepen your knowledge or understanding of a subject, you learn more about it and become more interested in it.” At least it’s a start?😳
Maybe 🤔 it wouldn’t be a bad idea to share about Advent? Some information I found in some of my research: “Many Christians celebrate Advent not only by thanking God for Christ’s first coming to earth as a baby, but also for his presence among us today through the Holy Spirit and in preparation and anticipation of his final coming at the end of the age. Advent begins on the fourth Sunday prior to Christmas day, or the Sunday which falls closest to November 30, and lasts through Christmas Eve, or December 24. Celebrating advent typically involves a season of prayer, fasting, and repentance, followed by anticipation, Hope,and joy.” Are there any corrections , misinformation, or more information needed on Advent here? I Sure am glad this exam it’s open book!🤓🧐🥰📖
Tammy, you often show your Daddy, Jack’s DNA with your love of study and desire to live in open fields of living on the higher plane life out of your studies. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Your thinking to think “deepen” has challenging me to think John 4:14 – ‘But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Water As The Word Of God…often water symbolizes the word of God because of its power to cleanse Christians from their guilt and sin.
Water As Eternal Life. …
The Spirit Of God. …
A Symbol Of Spiritual Things. …
And, on to the second coming….
Tammy, I’m back after coffee and treat…deepen…study… “…in preparation and anticipation of his final coming at the end of the age.”
Revelation 21:5-8 ESV
“And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
I don’t think we need correction on the information you have given as it seems to me a dot to dot outline to challenge us to study, breathe in the Word of God in its fullness as we celebrate a time called Christmas to learn about a virgin birth of One! What it meant to the world then, now and future. 🎂🎄🎚💡🕰
Thank you Tammy for taking time to encourage us to dig a little deeper.
“ Dig a Little Deeper” is song featured in the Disney film, The Princess and the Frog.” Look it up if you are like me and don’t remember all the words…and sing along…
🎶You’s a hard one, that’s what I heard
Your daddy was a lovin’ man
Family through and through
You your daddy’s daughter
What he had in him you got in you
You gotta dig a little deeper
For you it’s gonna be tough
You gotta dig a little deeper
You ain’t dug far enough
Dig down deep inside yourself
You’ll found out what you need
Blue skies and sunshine guaranteed
Open up the windows
Let in the light, children…’🎶
“Tammy, you often show your Daddy, Jack’s DNA with your love of study and desire to live in open fields of living on the higher plane life out of your studies. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻“… thank you Sara. You have written above: “Water as Eternal Life”….. I thought the footnotes for Revelation 22:1 was worth sharing here. (NLT) “ The water of life is a symbol of eternal life. Jesus used this same image with the Samaritan woman (John 4: 7-14). It pictures the fullness of life with God and the eternal blessings that come when we believe in him and allow him to satisfy our spiritual thirst(see 22:17).”
Working with BSF children’s program and having read the above comments, I see four words repeated in about Jesus on a tree. Remember JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. HIS attributes OF “grace”, “forgiver of sins”, “defeatsd death” , sets people free” bring light to each who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior. Jesus is the only one who can touch lives. Lights are added as more and more people come to Jesus.
In Matthew 9 we see several miracles which cause these four blinking lights to repeatedly blink in the lives of people. Jesus hands touch others lives, setting them free. In chapter nine are several examples of miracles that all these attributes affect us.
The students learned that grace is GOD’s kindness towards us which we don’t deserve.
1st Miracles mentioned is of about four friends who brought a paralyzed man to Jesus. Jesus saw the faith of the four friends. Jesus said to the man, “Your sins are forgiven.”. Only Jesus can forgive are sins. Next the man was told by Jesus, “Stand up and walk.” Then Jesus said, “ Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.”, he was healed. The man was touched by Jesus’ words and the man’s life was changed forever. The crowds saw it, and they glorified GOD. They too were touched but only God knew if they had a heart change.
The next man who was affected by Jesus was Matthew, a tax collector who lined his own pocket with money He had overcharged the people. Jesus said to him, “Follow me!” Think of it, Matthew believed. HE walked away from his comfortable home and things stolen money could buy.
Jesus attributes could be seen as HIS touch changed Matthews life forever.
The next action by Jesus was when a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” On the way to the girls house a woman suffering from hemorrhages for 12 years came up and she thought if only I could touch the hem of His cloak. She thought if only I could touch HIS cloak i will be healed.” Jesus turned and said, “ Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” Instantly she was healed. Jesus touched her life and she was changed forever. When Jesus got to the girl’s house, He dismissed the mourners and said the girl was not dead but merely sleeping. The people laughed. Jesus went and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.
Jesus by HIS TOUCH, changed her life from death to life.
Next two blind men were healed by Jesus as they believed He was able to heal them. He then touched their eyes and said “ According to you faith let it be done to you.”These men’s lives were changed.
Next a demoniac came to Him who was mute. The man was brought to Jesus whom Jesus caste out the demon and the man spoke. The crowds were amazed. By the touch of Jesus the man’s life was changed for ever.
Jesus’s touch set the touched lives of the people. The connection between each was the touch of Jesus showing grace, forgiveness, defeating of death, and setting people free. People who were affected became the light for Jesus. Jesus attributes are felt by all who are touched by JESUS.
Just like a Christmas tree the only way to see the lights are to plug lights into power source. Please help fill up Jesus’s tree with more lights. Go tell about Jesus wherever you go.
Rena, Your students @BSF have big shoes to fill! I see you, their teacher and mentor have sent them on a mission, “Go and tell about Jesus wherever you go.”
This line of teaching from BSF in your statement below is a big lesson for me. It gives me a photo of an elderly grandma lady sitting in chair knitting her child a sweater while her kitten knots her yarn. Grace is God’s kindness toward a child which they don’t deserve!
“The students learned that grace is GOD’s kindness towards us which we don’t deserve.”
Rena, teacher of young children would you break that statement down a bit more for ones like me. I need to unravel the yarn.
Reading all the comments and scriptures above was a help to study and “dig deeper” as was looking up and singing along with the “Dig a little Deeper“ sing along!
Thinking on the advent of Christ’s return, I read in Matthew 24 that Jesus disciples wanted to know…“when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” He let them know that, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36)
Then in keeping with Tammy’s comment, “Celebrating Advent typically involves a season of prayer, fasting, and repentance, followed by anticipation, Hope,and joy.” Jesus reminds us, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. (Matt. 24:42); and Peter stated, “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. (I Peter 4:7)
Also, Tammy’s comment above, and Rena writing about Light“ reminded me of that evergreen eternal circle of the Advent wreath, which holds the candles of Hope, faith (or love), joy, and peace.
[Jesus said,] “Stay alert! You don’t know when the head of the household will come, whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the early morning or at daybreak. Don’t let him show up when you weren’t expecting and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: Stay alert!”
—Mark 13:35-37 (CEB)