Day 360 of My 3rd Bible Study Journey Part 2

Day 360, 25 December 2024  -Merry Christmas


2) Our Daily Bread for 25 December 2024 titled
<a href="https://odb.org/2024/12/25/welcome-baby-jesus"> 
Welcome Baby Jesus </a>

Luke 2:8-20

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And in the same area there were shepherds living in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 (2Co 3:18) And then an angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very afraid.
10 (Ge 12:3; Isa 40:9) But the angel said to them, "Listen! Do not fear.
For I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people.
11 (Mt 1:21; Lk 1:43; Mt 16:16) For unto you is born this day
in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 (1Sa 2:34; 2Ki 19:29) And this will be a sign to you:
You will find the Baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."
13 (Ge 28:12; 32:1-2) Suddenly there was with the angel a company
of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 (Lk 1:79; 19:38) "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, and good will toward men."
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said
to each other, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see what has happened,
which the Lord has made known to us."
16 (Lk 2:7; 2:12) So they came hurrying and found Mary and Joseph,
and the Baby lying in a manger.
17 When they had seen Him, they made widely known the word
which was told them concerning this Child.
18 And all those who heard it marveled at what the shepherds told them.
19 (Lk 2:51; Ge 37:11) But Mary kept all these things and pondered them
in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things
they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

[8] And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
[9] And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
[10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
[11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord.
[12] And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
[13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying,
[14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
[15] And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into
heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath
made known unto us.
[16] And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe
lying in a manger.
[17] And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was
told them concerning this child.
[18] And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told
them by the shepherds.
[19] But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
[20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

It felt like we’d been waiting forever for news that our pregnant neighbour 
had welcomed her first baby. When a sign declaring "It's a Girl!" finally 
appeared on their front lawn, we celebrated the birth of their daughter and 
texted friends who might not have seen the outdoor display.

There's great excitement awaiting the arrival of a baby. Before Jesus' birth, 
the Jewish people hadn't just been waiting a few months, they’d longed for 
the birth of the Messiah, Israel's expected rescuer, for generations. 
I imagine that over the years faithful Jews wondered if 
during their lifetime they would see the fulfillment of this promise. 

One night the long-anticipated news was displayed in the heavens when an angel
appeared to shepherds in Bethlehem announcing that the Messiah had finally 
been born. He told them, "This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby 
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12). After the shepherds 
saw Jesus, they praised God and "spread the word" (v. 17) about the baby.

God wanted the shepherds to know that the long-awaited baby had arrived so 
they could tell others about Jesus' birth. We still celebrate His birth 
because His life provides rescue from the brokenness of the world to anyone 
who believes. We no longer have to wait to know peace and experience joy, 
which is good news worth announcing!

By:  Lisa M. Samra

Reflect & Pray

How do you think the shepherds felt hearing the news that Christ was born? 
How might you share the good news of Jesus’ birth?

Dear Jesus, I want everyone to know that Your birth is good news.

3) From The Billy Graham Evangelical Ministry Association

Words in Season - Scripture Memory Tools

Week 3 - Saved Now and Forever - Day 4 - Daddy!

Romans 8:15

'For you have not received the spirit of slavery again to fear. But you have
received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba, Father." '

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

"I've always been a Daddy's girl," Sandi said proudly, and her relationship
with her father proved it. She was never spoiled, but even as a grown woman,
Sandi maintained a closeness with her father, sharing intimately with him the
important issues of her life. And just her use of the name "Daddy" indicated
that he was, indeed a warm, approachable, affectionate man.
Many people are not so fortunate. Some fathers are stern and harsh;
others absent or uncaring, some even abusive. Few have the king of father
who presents a picture of the loving fatherhood of God.
But whatever our concept of fatherhood, God makes clear that he is everything
we always wanted our fathers to be - loving, forgiving, approachable,
totally accepting of us as we are, encouraging us to become all he has
created us to be.
In Romans 8, Paul calls God our "Abba Father". The Aramaic word for Father,
Abba, is an intimate term that might well be translated, Daddy.
God is our "Daddy," our "Abba" - not a distant, stern patriarch ready
to strike us down at the first sign of transgression, but a gentle,
loving Father who longs for us to climb into his lap and let him comfort us.
When we commit ourselves to Christ, Paul indicates, we do not receive a
"spirit of bondage to fear" but a "spirit of adoption." We are not called
to respond to God out of fear, but out of love and reverence.
We can relax and enjoy his presence, for we are his children,
and he is our loving Daddy.

Application

a) What concept of fatherhood do I have from my own experience with my father?
How does that correspond to Paul's description of God as "Daddy"?

b) How can this verse help change my perception of what it means to have
God as my Father? 


4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland

Exodus 3:7-8

7 (Ps 106:44; Ex 2:23-25)The Lord said,
"I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt
and have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters,
for I know their sorrows.
8 (Ge 50:24; 15:18-21; Ex 13:5) Therefore, I have come down
to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians,
and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land,
to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of
the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites,
the Hivites, and the Jebusites."

7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people
which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters;
for I know their sorrows;
8 and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand
of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and
a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the
Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites,
and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:

When you are lonely

PSALMS 23

A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) He restores my soul;
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup runs over.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Psalm 23

A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Remember God's promises when You pray 

The Lord's prayer

Matthew 6:9-13

9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: 
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 
11 Give us this day our daily bread. 
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2023 edition?)

The Northern Territories of Canada

Yukon

Yukon Total population (2015) 36500 Muslim (est) 69

In Whitehorse the Muslim population grew from 2 families
in 2001 to more than 60 people in 2014. Originally meeting in a church,
they now meet for prayer service in a former office space.

Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse to come together,
and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.

Northwest Territories (NWT)

NWT population (2015) 43600 Muslim (est) 473

The Muslim community of Yellowknife has grown from 275 to 330 un the past year.
To replace their inadequate facility, they are planning a C$2 to C$2.5 million
Islamic Centre.

Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to
spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Nunavut (NU)

NU total population (2015) 36600 Muslim (est) 86

The Islamic Centre of Iqaluit now claim about 100 Muslims and have surpassed
80 % of their funding goal to building the first mosque in this territory.
Their stated goal is "To spread the message of Islam
in the far northern reaches of Canada."

Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel. 

Adding further

30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020

Under the Keep Praying page

When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.

Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."

Peter's Speech at Pentecost

14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'

- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.

- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.

Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."

Ideas for prayer

- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -

Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!

My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity

(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) 


7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada

http://www.ehc.ca

Day 25 of the Month

a) Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.

(Acts 2: 41,47b

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized,
and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
47 ... And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:
and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
47 ... And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
)

b) Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.

( Prov 11:1

1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is His delight.

1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD:
But a just weight is his delight.

)

Christmas Day
From C.S. Lewis A Grand Miracle Joel Heck

Saturday, Fourth Week of Advent

"That time He was creating not simply a man but the Man
who was to be Himself: was creating Man anew: was beginning,
at this divine and human point, the New Creation of all things.
The miraculous conception is one more witness that here is Nature's Lord.
He is doing now, small and close, what He does in a different fashion
for every woman who conceives." - C. S. Lewis

(Read this and more in Miracles, p. 182.)

The New Creation

Most of us like new things. We like new cars, new houses, new clothes,
a new day. We like the new things we receive at Christmas, a new outlook
on life, a new baby. We like the newness of spring, the freshness
of the morning, and the originality of a new piece of art.

The ultimate purpose of God's Grand Miracle-becoming one of us-was
to make all things new, including us. This is our greatest Christmas gift,
if we can see it. Jesus came for us and became one of us, so that we might
become like him. We mentioned that earlier when Lewis wrote,
"The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God."

In today's last quotation for these devotions, Lewis makes it clear
that through the Grand Miracle Jesus became human to show us what we could
be like. He came not only as an example. He also became a man in order
to recreate humankind, to start all over again. That is, he came in power
to reshape us. A miracle! A Grand Miracle!

Jesus, the Creator of the Universe, came to create all things anew,
as John writes, "He who was seated on the throne said,
'I am making everything new!"' (Rev. 21:5).
This Christmas Day, and every day, it starts in us, one by one,
as we sing with the hymn-writer,

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child, Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

(Martin Luther, From Heaven Above, stanza 13)

May God grant it for Jesus' sake.

Son of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
0 come, let us adore you, Christ, the Lord. Amen.

Therefore, if any man is in Christ,
he is a new creature.
Old things have passed away. Look, all things have
become new.

2 Cor 5:17

From Follow the Story by Marva J. Dawn

CHRISTMAS DAY

News of Great Joy

But the angel said to them, "Listen! Do not fear.
For I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people. "

-Luke 2:10

Composers in this world cannot envision music magisterial enough!
Oh, how I wish we could have joined the shepherds to hear the regal
angel choir sing, "Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace ..."!

Oddly, God deigned to present this fabulous concert to the outcasts
of that society and to grant unpretentious shepherds the privilege
of being the first to visit the Christ Child and to carry the news
of his birth to those around them. No wonder everyone was flabbergasted
at what the shepherds told them! No wonder Mary treasured all these words
and pondered them in her heart!


That is why I capitalize the word Joy and employ it exclusively
for divine gifts! When we declare the Joy of Christmas (and of Easter),
there is no greater. The euphoria of Christ's birth (and resurrection)
overwhelms all human infatuations and electrifies us with a heavenly
exhilaration that can't be shackled!

prayer

Oh, Jesus, how we love and revere you! May we always cherish
and broadcast the Joy of your birth! Amen.

Read Luke 2:8-20.

8 And in the same area there were shepherds living in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 (2Co 3:18) And then an angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very afraid.
10 (Ge 12:3; Isa 40:9) But the angel said to them, "Listen! Do not fear.
For I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people.
11 (Mt 1:21; Lk 1:43; Mt 16:16) For unto you is born this day
in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 (1Sa 2:34; 2Ki 19:29) And this will be a sign to you:
You will find the Baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."
13 (Ge 28:12; 32:1-2) Suddenly there was with the angel a company
of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 (Lk 1:79; 19:38) "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, and good will toward men."
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said
to each other, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see what has happened,
which the Lord has made known to us."
16 (Lk 2:7; 2:12) So they came hurrying and found Mary and Joseph,
and the Baby lying in a manger.
17 When they had seen Him, they made widely known the word
which was told them concerning this Child.
18 And all those who heard it marveled at what the shepherds told them.
19 (Lk 2:51; Ge 37:11) But Mary kept all these things and pondered them
in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things
they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

From The Ah-Has of Advent by Rich Bimler

FOURTH SATURDAY
AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and AMEN!
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory,
the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. JOHN 1:14

Christmas has come to you and all of your AH-HA family and friends!
We are all ambassadors of health, hope and amen because of Christ's
birth, death and resurrection!

We say amen because the "Word became flesh and lived among us!"
Amen, of course. does not mean "the end," but rather it means "Yes,"
and 'Hooray." and "So be it," and even "You betcha!" And so Christmas
is not the end of our AH-HAing. It's only the beginning!

Once I was looking at one of the manger scenes in our home. As I
focused on each character individually, like Mary and Joseph and the
shepherds and even the animals, each one of them seemed lonely and
way too serious. But when l looked more closely at each of them, I noticed
that they all were focused on one main point--God in the Flesh, Jesus!
Once l knew that they all were focused on Jesus, their faces became
not lonely. but lovely. and were not too serious, but reverent.

A little child was asked to finish the Scripture sentence, 'And the Word
became ...' He was puzzled for a while, but then all of a sudden he
shouted out. 'And the Word became FRESH!" And he was right!
The Word, Jesus Christ. became Flesh for us so that his Word would
be FRESH in and through our lives! That's the AH-HA of Christmas!

Lord. we greet thee. born on Christmas morning! Jesus, to thee be glory
given, Word of the Father now in flesh(and fresh!) appearing!

Amen and amen ... and, of course, AH-HA!


Read John 1:14-18

11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
12 Yet to all who received Him, He gave the power to become sons of God,
to those who believed in His name,
13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory,
the glory as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, "This was He of whom I said,
'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' "
16 We have all received from His fullness grace upon grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has seen God at any time. The only Son, who is at the Father's side,
has made Him known.


Conclusion:

Pray to the Lord and pray to thank Him for coming in the world 
humbly in a manger.

Pray to the Lord: "Dear Jesus, I want everyone to know 
that Your birth is good news."

Pray to the Lord and pray to Him as Loving Abba/Daddy.

Pray to the Lord and pray to know the Lord Will Hear your Cry for Help.

Pray to the Lord and pray to know the Lord is Your Shepherd.

Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse and the Yukon to come together,
and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.

Pray for Muslims and believers in Yellowknife to come together,
and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ. 

Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel. 

- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people - 
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims 
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days! 

Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.

Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.

Pray to Give me a heart, Lord, that gives as you gave. Amen.

Pray: Son of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
0 come, let us adore you, Christ, the Lord. Amen.

Pray: Oh, Jesus, how we love and revere you! May we always cherish
and broadcast the Joy of your birth! Amen.

Pray: Lord. we greet thee. born on Christmas morning! Jesus, to thee be glory
given, Word of the Father now in flesh(and fresh!) appearing!
Amen and amen ... and, of course, AH-HA! 

Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
-- 
Member - Liberal International This is [email protected] Ici [email protected]
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
Merry Christmas 2024 and Happy New Year 2025