Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Very early in the morning, while it was still  dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went  off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ~Mark 1:35

  And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:   And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.   Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.   Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.   Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.   Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: ...

We wait in lines, at work, at school, in traffic. Always waiting, our vaporous time on this earth dictated by clocks, buzzers, lights, ringing. Life around us constantly flowing, everyone about their business, everyone running and waiting, hurry up and wait. Isaiah waited for a Savior while preaching of His majesty, His healing. David waited as he sang psalms and adored the one he had not seen with fleshly eyes. They knew the promise.  The Messiah was coming. We celebrate the Advent, this season of anticipation, and we tend the sheep in cold silence, wonder about the star in the east, wonder when this promise will walk among us. The Word, which always was, took on flesh, flesh that laughed and cried, flesh that needed food and water, flesh that felt cold and heat. Flesh that awoke, worked, rested, slept. Flesh that walked among us. Divine flesh that died for our redemption.                       ...

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.   ~ Jesus John 16:33

Jesus answered,  “ I   am   the   way   and   the  truth   and   the   life....  No one comes  to  the  Father except  through me."                          ~John 14:6

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for Great is the HOLY ONE of Israel among you. ~Isaiah 12:6

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.   They took palm branches  and went out to meet him, shouting,  Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the  name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!   Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;      see, your King is coming,      seated on a donkey’s colt. ~John 12: 12-15

The Donkey                                                           BY   G. K. CHESTERTON When fishes flew and forests walked       And figs grew upon thorn,    Some moment when the moon was blood       Then surely I was born. With monstrous head and sickening cry    And ears like errant wings,    The devil’s walking parody       On all four-footed things. The tattered outlaw of the earth,    Of ancient crooked will; Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,       I keep my secret still. Fools! For I also had my hour;    One far fierce hour and sweet:    There was a shout about my ears, ...

Every Sunday morning, a group of twenty or so ladies meet together to love on Jesus and each other, and learn more about Him.  Every three months, we have a yummy breakfast as well. To this world, we may look like a motley crew.  We bring our baggage--sickness, broken homes, financial concerns, wandering children, losing those we love.  We all struggle; we all are needy. To God, we look like children.  We are a reservoir of His strength, of His power. We hold each other up through the storms, and rejoice together when the clouds disappear. These are my sisters, and I love them all. The food is just a lovely bonus.

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus  the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing  counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through  hard times, and before you know it, he brings us  alongside someone else who is going through hard  times so that we can be there for that person just as  God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times  that come from following the Messiah, but no more  so than the good times of his healing comfort—we  get a full measure of that, too. ~2 Corinthians 1:3-5 The Message

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, And teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. ~Matthew 5:10-12

Some Pharisees and Sadducees were on him  again, pressing him to prove himself to them. He  told  them, “You have a saying that goes, ‘Red sky at  night, sailor’s delight; red sky at morning, sailors  take warning.’ You find it easy enough to forecast  the weather—why can’t you read the signs of the  times? An evil and wanton generation is always  wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you’ll get  is the Jonah sign.” Then he turned on his heel and  walked away. ~Matthew 16:1-4; The Message

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him  a name which is above every name: That at the name of  Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and  things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every  tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  ~Philippians 2:9-11

Jesus looked at them and said, “ With man this is impossible, but not  with God;   all   things   are   possible  with  God .”   ~Mark 10:27

The twelve days of Christmas is the time between Christmas Day and Old Christmas, or the Feast of the Epiphany.  All of us have heard the silly carol written about it, and if you are like me, it seems to never end.  I'm usually ready to move on at five golden rings. Last week, I heard a storyteller tell what the song is about, and I don't think it is so silly now. I don't know how much of this is truth, but it is entirely possible. It is a lovely tradition. In the sixteenth century, Henry VIII got mad at the Pope because the Pope informed him that he had to go by the rules, even if he was king.  Henry VIII declared himself the head of the church of England, and publicly beheaded Sir Thomas More when he wouldn't bow down to him.  It was a crime to be a Catholic, so this song was written to teach  children about their beliefs without danger of persecution.  Here is the meaning the storyteller assigned to each of the verses. My True Love refers to ...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.    And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. ~John 1:1-5

I, Jesus , have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.            I am the Root                     and the Offspring of David,                          and the bright Morning Star.   ~Revelation 22:16

  I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.     If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. ~Jesus, in John 15:5-8

Did Mary know? Surely her back was aching as she rode the donkey; maybe caused by travel weariness, maybe the first contractions, faint at the beginning. For months she had known she was the chosen one. She had felt and watched the baby grow inside her. Surely her young skin was riddled with stretch marks, her feet swollen. As she continued mile after mile, did she wonder if there would be a resting place for her tonight, if there would be a place of welcome? Did she know that this was the last day; the last day the Savior, our blessed Jesus, would reside in her womb? Did she know that by tomorrow, she would be different, the world would be different, all time and eternity would be different? Could her heart and mind comprehend spiritual things so glorious? For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6