PUT YOUR GOD GOGGLES ON

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUasfMUxpWo6GVNL33QB5LAvpzWUQadjaS55D5OFACWCfQQr4mgR30aPxj2ySBtwKTrUb5R6anBVp79hXUfVd5rXKYMl_V1Dz60VxOpN1dG6UPIuT8XkjjFA4VWB71jZzKrmUOXxv5ikH/s1600/SS+2-24-14-stonegableblog.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUasfMUxpWo6GVNL33QB5LAvpzWUQadjaS55D5OFACWCfQQr4mgR30aPxj2ySBtwKTrUb5R6anBVp79hXUfVd5rXKYMl_V1Dz60VxOpN1dG6UPIuT8XkjjFA4VWB71jZzKrmUOXxv5ikH/s1600/SS+2-24-14-stonegableblog.com.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you read StoneGable with any frequency, then you probably know that I am soooo tired of snow and cold this year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But, this morning when I got up and looked outside I saw a sight that was so beautiful... and so full of wonder, that I saw God's magnificent handiwork in the magical scene...</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The sky was saturated with blue and the snow glistened with the reflection of the sun and the neighboring farm looked like a picture on a postcard. I stopped being tired of the snow for just a few minutes and told God how perfect and resplendent His creation is! I could see God in the scene right outside my back door!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How often do we speed through our days or get caught up in our own little dramas and forget to look for God?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I sure do!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But, when I look for God in all of my situations He will show Himself. I just need to be aware of His presence.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I like to call that PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of my very favorite bible verses is...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">CALL TO ME AND I WILL ANSWER YOU, AND I WILL SHOW YOU GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS WHICH YOU DO NOT KNOW.</span> Jeremiah 33:3</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although this was a verse meant for Israel in a time of great tumult and trouble, I still think it is very very relevant to us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When I get up each day I ask God to show Himself to me in some way. I ask Him to make me be awed by His glory! To do something so big that I know it's Him!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And if I look... and correct my vision... from just looking at earthy things, sure enough I see God in His creation, other people or even everyday situations. And I am awed!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In other words...I need to remember to put my God goggles on! To correct my vision from seeing things  with worldly eyes and to see things through the lens  of faith. What a difference that makes!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How about you? Do you want to be WOWED by God today? Ask God to show Himself big to you and ... remember to put your God goggles on!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>

PUT YOUR GOD GOGGLES ON

If you read StoneGable with any frequency, then you probably know that I am soooo tired of snow and cold this year. But, this morning when I...

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FINDING GOD IN THE STRANGEST PLACES

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_j_iEiMrEmYjrqjdtAopvSR7alpyLwdOlGFutDkT2sNDlKoBwHuyS88xf9yqiGQiQdycwOlZCJFT5DVOF2U3_AwBg8Z2wx0GduiG8qieSuvqsBtkyhx9TNpZP6pmB9vacOoJPpr4oZ-E/s1600/SS+2-16-14+FINDING+GOD+IN+THE+STRANGEST+PLACES-stonegableblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_j_iEiMrEmYjrqjdtAopvSR7alpyLwdOlGFutDkT2sNDlKoBwHuyS88xf9yqiGQiQdycwOlZCJFT5DVOF2U3_AwBg8Z2wx0GduiG8qieSuvqsBtkyhx9TNpZP6pmB9vacOoJPpr4oZ-E/s1600/SS+2-16-14+FINDING+GOD+IN+THE+STRANGEST+PLACES-stonegableblog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Sea Of Galilee, Israel<br /><br /><br />This week I found God in a very strange place! In the wee hours of Friday morning... He was sitting behind a curtain in a small cubicle in the emergency room at our local hospital.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I know He was there... because I was there too!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bobby had rushed me there about 11:00 on Thursday night with crushing chest pain. We were almost certain it was not a heart issue and pretty sure it might be another bad reaction from yet another antibiotics.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But, at four in the morning I was back from a chest CT scan waiting to hear if I had a blood clot in one of my lungs... and I was very frightened! Another reaction to antibiotics didn't seem so bad, I was almost used to them popping up. But a blood clot was very scary...</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Bobby was sitting in a chair in the cubicle too... somewhere between worn out from a long day of work and being very much in his head trying to figure out what was wrong with me.  He sat silent and had that "certain look" I know so well... a look that told me he was methodically going over and over all my symptoms and  meds and recent medical history. I knew he running diagnoses in his mind.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was at that moment I noticed HIM! Quiet and always the Gentleman. He was there... waiting for me!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So I began to talk to Him. Not out loud... but talk to Him nevertheless!<br /><br />"I'm so glad you're here.. I just forgot for awhile that you would be!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Father, I am very very frightened! I don't want a blood clot. It really scares me! See, I am shaking. My palms are sweaty and it's even hard for me to concentrate right now!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"But I know that You hear me and understand just what I mean... I may not be making much sense right now... but You know."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"You have the answer... you control everything. You know that I am here and it is no surprise to you. By Your will You let all of this happen to me. I sure wish I knew why. It would be so much easier if You would just speak to me out loud! Yes, I know that is not Your "style."<br /><br />"I really need You right now. I need Your mercy and grace and favor. Please be with me and calm me and if it be Your will... and I really really want this to be Your will... please don't let this recent problem be serious."<br /><br />"I just think I'm about at the end of my "complications" rope... for sure!"<br /><br /><br /><br />I don't know if those were my exact words... but close enough. I kept asking for calm and mercy and grace and favor.<br /><br />And I did remind God that I was His... just so He would know that I knew!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Bobby and I got home about 5:45  Friday morning. He showered and went to work. I went to bed. When I got up, sometime in the early afternoon, I began to think about how God has a habit of hanging out in the strangest places! If I were the King of every thing you probably would not find me in an emergency room at 4:00 am. Certainly not my first choice!<br /><div><br /></div><br />Actually,God has a<span style="font-size: large;"> history</span> of hanging out in STRANGE places!<br /><br />Just look at Jesus!<br /><br />When He lived on planet earth Jesus was all about "His Father's business". So where ever His Father sent Him, Jesus went.<br /><br />He was (and is) the King and yet we would have not found Him being born in a palace. The Magi made that mistake. They went to King Herod's palace in Jerusalem looking for Him... but Jesus was not there! It does seem that a palace would have been the most logical place to find a King!<br /><br />Instead, He was found by lowly shepherds... lying in an animal food trough in a small town called Bethlehem.  There He was in all His newborn kingly splendor hanging out with a poor young couple, livestock and shepherds!<br /><br />As He grew up, Jesus lived in a pioneer-type town... very small. The Eternal King became a carpenter. And schmoozed with humble work-a-day people! Oppressed people under the thumb of the cruel Roman Empire.<br /><br />During Jesus' ministry He could be found with common fishermen and hated tax collectors and with a half naked lady who had been brought to him because she had been caught in adultery.<br /><br />He spent time in Samaria. A town the Jews hated with people the Jews hated!  And Jesus stayed awhile with them and loved them. He loved them right into eternal life!<br /><br />He found his constant companions were the sick and disfigured and chronically ill and downtrodden and demon possessed and disenfranchised and hated and even dead on an occasion or two. And He loved all of them.<br /><br />They followed Jesus because He was the only answer... the only One who could make them well.  He welcomed them and cured them and offered Himself to them.<br /><br />Jesus went to the strangest places to find people who needed Him! Places that good Jews of His day would not go. But Jesus did!<br /><br /> He even took a dead-of night-walk ON the Sea Of Galilee to be with a group of fishermen he loved!  Jesus went out of His way to be with the most lowly, discarded and hated of His day! He was all about His Father's business!<br /><br /><br />In the book of John, chapter 10 Jesus says...<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down His life for His sheep." </span>John 10:11<br /><br />God is in the "sheep" business! He has a flock and He is all about finding and keeping every single sheep He owns and not letting a single one go!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">"For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture. And the sheep under His care. If only you would listen to His voice today".</span> Ps 95:7<br /><br />We are His sheep! And He will go to the strangest places to be with us, to rescue us and to save us.  He even went to the strangest place of all for us... the cross!<br /><br /><br />Jesus said...<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me"</span> . John 10:25<br /><br /><br />Jesus will go to the strangest places to be with His sheep and to call them and to lead them.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If you are wondering, it was not a blood clot. Just another bad reaction... just like Bobby suspected! But that is not the focus of why I am telling you this.  It is that my Shepherd showed up. He was with me.<br /><br />Even if the outcome would have been not so good... He was still there!<br /><br />He leads me though good and bad. And because He leads... He goes ahead of me and goes through it first!<br /><br />He IS the Good Shepherd! And one day He will lead me straight to my Father's arms and I will be home.<br /><br /><br />How about you? Is Jesus your Good Shepherd? If not, there is no place He won't go to find you and be with you and call you back to Himself.<br /><br />All you need to do is perk up your little sheepie ears to hear Him!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>

FINDING GOD IN THE STRANGEST PLACES

Sea Of Galilee, Israel This week I found God in a very strange place! In the wee hours of Friday morning... He was sitting behind a curtain ...

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SUNDAY SCRIPTURE~ WHAT IS LOVE?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7u47CgN9tymmf5NNIgtbQFAoEPVziKeYuHVJNuqbId5JAWUQOFAMemrx8_aaHqFlfz7WJQlm0mkegZMP3jeo-CGg223EEm4SAdJIP57pppla58mARQqhBReCl-q8nDHFjlJNI_OwscpGW/s1600/SS+2-9-14+What+is+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7u47CgN9tymmf5NNIgtbQFAoEPVziKeYuHVJNuqbId5JAWUQOFAMemrx8_aaHqFlfz7WJQlm0mkegZMP3jeo-CGg223EEm4SAdJIP57pppla58mARQqhBReCl-q8nDHFjlJNI_OwscpGW/s1600/SS+2-9-14+What+is+love.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Love is a huge and permeating theme in the bible! According to Bible Gateway, the word love is used 471 times in the bible.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So today let's talk about LOVE....</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">First let me say that LOVE is such a huge concept that it cannot be fully explained here in this post! Not even close.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But to begin to understand  love we must first understand that</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">GOD IS LOVE! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">God is the source of love, and it is God's whole and perfect character!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Love is God's moral character... the way He relates to man. He relates to us though love!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Without God there would be no love!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Before we go any further it's important to distinguish what God's love looks like.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1 John 4:16 says...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">GOD IS LOVE</span><span style="font-size: large;">, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The word for LOVE in the original Greek is Agape (ah-gah-pe'). It is a word that is exclusive to the bible.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Agape love is unlike all other forms of love. It is a love that is benevolently bestowed to the object of that love. It is a love that has nothing at all to to with "feelings" for the love object, but rather it is a love that is really in spite of the love object. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is a sacrificial love. It is the "lover" bestowing good will, esteem, favor and benevolence on the "lovee". It is all about the lover or the source of love and has nothing to do with the behavior, worthiness or character of the love object.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Agape love is a decision. It is a conscientious, eyes-wide-open, no-matter-what kind of love. It is not human love... not even a little bit! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Agape love is all about sacrifice!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A good way to understand Agape love is to read the passages around the GOD IS LOVE verse.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The very best example of Agape love is seen in versus 9 and 10.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's break these magnificent passages down... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">God, the source of love manifested... showed forth so we could see, made love clear, brought it out in plain view and clearly showed us what real love was...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">By the act of sending His only begotten Son... by sending Jesus who is God in the flesh to this world.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">God sent Jesus because man... all humanity... all of us... every single one... was so lost and defiled and sinful and depraved and in darkness and so full of hate and fear... and we really did not think about our state.. we did not know or care that we could never find their way back to God and dig themselves out of the miserable pit the had made for themselves. Even though we have all turned our backs on God and have chosen for ourselves a path that would lead to death and separation from God, God decided to send Jesus, whom He LOVED to show us the way back to Him and life. But in loving us the cost for God's love was costly beyond what we can think or comprehend!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In doing so, God knew that He had signed Jesus' death sentence. He knew that Jesus would have to shed His perfectly holy blood to make propitiation for our sins, because we could not do it for ourselves.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The word propitiation carries with it the idea of satisfying a debt. It means to make amends and pay a price that brings peace between two parties that are warring against each other.  Once the debt is paid there can be peace.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jesus was the price that brought us back to God. God in the flesh died and paid the price for bringing us back into a right relationship with God. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is love... this is agape... this is God!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Romans 5:8</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">God's love...  agape... is sacrificial. It costs Him. He is the one who sacrifices for the well being and favor of the object of His love... sinners!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">AMAZING LOVE... isn't it?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Is it possible for humans to love that way? Yes, it is possible... but only for those who believe that Jesus is who he says He is and has done what He says He has done. It is possible for those who acknowledge that they are sinners and that their own rebellion has caused them to be far away from God. It is possible for those who bow down before Jesus and declare Him their LORD... their Creator and OWNER of their lives! It is possible when God Himself dwells in us in the form of the Holy Spirit and begins the work of changing us...a work we could never do ourselves!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is impossible to love, to truly love without the Holy Spirit of God himself!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.</span>  </div><div style="text-align: center;">1 John 11 </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you imagine what Valentine's Day would look like if we liberally spread Agape love to all we meet? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now that would be a celebration of true LOVE!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE~ WHAT IS LOVE?

Love is a huge and permeating theme in the bible! According to Bible Gateway, the word love is used 471 times in the bible. So today let...

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PRAYERS AND PEACE AND SOVEREIGNTY

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AzQseCARtrjauen3NuOXOR5Pai2OJi7IbFAq1abOAYzWyQH2x4rgvZIO2I3VnnAC026TtXKJeAn4fcPWjxPsEk4B3RBKS03FnqXzjSqYGKuv4t2LVk8-al-BWPQCY4F13lkW0CghUzkp/s1600/SS+1-26-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AzQseCARtrjauen3NuOXOR5Pai2OJi7IbFAq1abOAYzWyQH2x4rgvZIO2I3VnnAC026TtXKJeAn4fcPWjxPsEk4B3RBKS03FnqXzjSqYGKuv4t2LVk8-al-BWPQCY4F13lkW0CghUzkp/s1600/SS+1-26-13.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This week I had an unexpected surgery. Out of the blue. I was doing great and three hours later, I felt like truck had run over me and was in the hospital.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I knew something was very very wrong. My left knee had blown up like a balloon, was very sore and hot to touch. This was particularly troubling because I had just had knee cap surgery 9 weeks before and had been warned about the dangers of infection...</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">To make a long story short... I am doing well. In 24 hours my knee was cultured, I found out that I had an awful knee infection, I had surgery (again!) and am now in the hospital on iv antibiotics. I feel much better but the doctors say I must stay here for a little while. Not quite what I wanted to hear! And my fever is jumping all over the readings on the thermometer! Not great news.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I am at peace about it all!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One very big thing I had going for me was PRAYER! I have the most wonderful group of bible study women who are real prayer warriors and one of my dear friends got the word out quick.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My family is continually lifting me up in prayer too!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I also have an army of facebook friends that are so generous in their prayers and good thoughts!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am so thankful beyond words for all the prayers and continuing prayers they are raising up before the Lord in my behalf.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I could really "feel" the prayers for me. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How you ask?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I felt a peace that went far beyond my circumstances! I felt a "shalom" or wholeness in all of my circumstances even though some of the outcomes of my problems could have been very serious and still are a little troublesome.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This really got me thinking... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What is the connection between prayer and peace? And what does the sovereignty of God have to do with all of that?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a very familiar verse in the Bible...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your heart and mind as you live in Christ Jesus.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Philippians 4:6-7</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">No where in God's word does it say to pray and God will give you just what you want! God is not a Santa Clause or even a Tooth Fairy. HE is THE KING! A benevolent, all-loving KING! A King with a plan for our very best, that far exceeds what we can see or imagine. His plan is one for eternity!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You see prayer, true prayer is an act of faith. It shows God that you believe in Him. In all He says... in all He is... in all He can do. It also says that you believe that He is SOVEREIGN.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is an act of spiritually bowing down before the KING of everything and bringing your wants and needs before him. It is believing that He will give us the peace He promises... a peace... a shalom that we will experience in spite of our circumstances. Prayer is trusting our all knowing, all wise, all just, all merciful, all powerful, all gracious KING to do not only right by us, but best for us! Even if it is not what we want!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's get back to these wonderful verses above and take a look at what they say...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't worry... in the closest translation to the original Greek it really says don't be anxious. The word anxious is <i>"merimnao'"</i> . It is the idea of being drawn in opposite directions, of a part ripped away from the whole, moving away from the whole.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is stunning when we look at the word for peace. <i>"Shalom"</i> means total wholeness. A state of perfection... all the parts of us working together and in harmony.. the way our great Creator intended.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, when we worry or are anxious our wholeness is disturbed and pulled apart. Isn't that so fascinating?  God knows!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">God says don't worry about anything. Don't let anything steal or pull apart your shalom!  The bible speaks in many places about worry. It says it can't do one thing to help any circumstance. It is a thief. It steals our peace and the bible says it weighs us down.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Worry is such a natural reaction. When we start to listen and heed that part of us, we need to pray all the more! Worry hurts us. Concern is different from worry!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The next part of the verse says to tell God what we want and thank Him for what He has done. I love the idea that I can come before the Throne of all creation and boldly request things of God.But that is only half of it... we must remember to always tell Him thank you for His grace... His undeserved blessing to us for they are countless and wonderful! And just like any parent God loves when we recount the good He has done for us! It's a way of showing God we love Him.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And the peace... shalom... wholeness of God which exceeds...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Exceeds is the idea of being so superior to anything else, so far above and beyond it's inconceivable! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And that above and beyond, superior wholeness will guard...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Guard is a word that depicts a sentinel, a military armed guard protecting us. So this peace, this wholeness will be an like an armed, trained military guard over our mind and our heart. It will keep worry and all the demons of fear and things that are ungodly out of our thoughts, emotions, will and intellect.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And who is this promise for? For those IN CHRIST. Those who are in an intimate relationship with Jesus.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's put this together....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do not worry or be pulled apart by anything. But instead, pray about everything! Run to God and tell Him your needs, your story, pour it all out! And remember to tell Him thank you. Remember what He has done for you in the past and the way He worked in your life and tell Him about it in a thankful way.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And because you are in a saving relationship with His son Jesus, God will put a guard as big and as strong as an armed military man around your mind and your heart. He will bring a wholeness to your life that exceeds your circumstances and is far above and beyond what you ever could have imagined!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know about you... but that is how I want to live.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I know that there are much bigger problems than a knee infection. And life is filled with uncertainty. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I also know that worry is an enemy and it tries to steal our emotions and clear thinking. God however is the giver and guarder of our mind and heart (mind, will ,emotion and intellect) and wants to guard them so we can experience our best thinking, our best emotional stability our best decisions in bad situations. He wants to bring His wonderful wholeness into our times of trial and crisis!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I pray that in your times of crisis you run towards God and let Him supply His peace to you and your situation!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>

PRAYERS AND PEACE AND SOVEREIGNTY

This week I had an unexpected surgery. Out of the blue. I was doing great and three hours later, I felt like truck had run over me and was i...

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PRACTICING PRACTICAL WISDOM

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kCmbLelyJKMccDVWgv3Iqxwyt5E6dVllhFxMJSUQP4c5Y3nR_BQ9j6Zy5bkv9bKP1tOBbo_YtuSswGpmMnsZThYzVlgPr60cqqwZb8tvn-iG4wdYFup0nhuQV9zgsMITR8OIqk-4hMdE/s1600/SS-+1-19-14+Practicing+Practical+Wisdom-stonegableblog.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kCmbLelyJKMccDVWgv3Iqxwyt5E6dVllhFxMJSUQP4c5Y3nR_BQ9j6Zy5bkv9bKP1tOBbo_YtuSswGpmMnsZThYzVlgPr60cqqwZb8tvn-iG4wdYFup0nhuQV9zgsMITR8OIqk-4hMdE/s1600/SS-+1-19-14+Practicing+Practical+Wisdom-stonegableblog.com.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes I think wisdom in today's world is a lost commodity. I think that fools get more attention than the wise... and folly is portrayed more than prudence!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What an upside down world!  And that is right... we live in an upside down world.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Bible, and especially the book of Proverbs, has much to say about the fool and the wise or prudent...</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name="more"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The very purpose of the book of Proverbs is...</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That people may know skillful and godly wisdom and instruction</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">To discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Receive instruction in wise dealings and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice and integrity,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That prudence may be given to the simple and knowledge, discretion and discernment to the youth-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The wise will also hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skills and attain to sound counsel (so that he may able to steer his course rightly)~ </span> Pro 1: 2-5</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let those thoughts from God sink in... Proverbs is a book to make the a person wise... to make them wise in practical everyday wisdom! And to make a wise person's wisdom increase.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Before we go any further, it's important to define wisdom as God sees it... There is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Knowledge is to have understanding or information about something. I like to think of it residing in the "head".  Wisdom is taking that knowledge and letting it seep into every part of us... it is the ability of applying that knowledge to our DAILY life! Wisdom is the daily practice of knowledge in practical ways. Wisdom is taking what God says and applying it to our lives! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When each of my children turned 13 I asked them to read a chapter of the book of Proverbs a day until they graduated from high school. But not just read over it like a fiction novel, but spend a little time each day digging out God's truth and wisdom in it! I asked them to apply it to their lives!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are 31 chapters in Proverbs... so that meant that they would read the book of Proverbs 12 times in a year... and by the time they had graduated high school they would have read it over 60 times!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My children carried on this practice well beyond high school!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Proverbs is a the instruction book for becoming wise...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How blessed (happy, fortunate, enviable) is the man who finds skillful and godly wisdom, and the man who gets understanding (drawing it forth from God's word and life's experiences), for gaining of it is better than gaining silver, and the profit of it better than fine gold. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Skillful and godly wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you can wish for is to be compared to her (wisdom).</span> Proverbs 3:13-15</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is so much practical, everyday, walking-around-on-the path-of-life wisdom in Proverbs! Yes, it was written thousands of years ago and it is in the language and customs of the one God chose to be His scribe... but it is as relevant today as it was during the reign of King Solomon! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is just a sampling of God's practical wisdom...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Watch over your heart (the seat of your mind, will, emotion and intellect) with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flows the springs of life.</span> Prov 4:23</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. </span>Pro 10:4</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.</span> Pro 11:22</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Folly is joy to him who lacks sense, But a man of understanding walks straight. </span>Pro 15:21</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">An arrogant man stirs up strife, But the man who trusts in the Lord will prosper.</span> Pro 29:25</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those who guard their mouths and their tongues guard themselves from trouble.</span> Pro 21:21</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> God has given us His instruction book for life... the Bible. And within it's pages lie life, blessings and wisdom!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tucked close to the center of the bible is the little book of Proverbs, a small book but full of godly practical wisdom! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How about you ... do you want to live wisely in a world of folly? Then here's my challenge to you... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Read a chapter of Proverbs everyday. Let the words sink in. Find out what each proverb mean and above all put them into practice in your life. You will reap a life of godly wisdom and it will touch all those around you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you don't have a bible you can find the book of Proverbs on line  <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs&version=AMP" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you would like to read Proverbs daily I suggest the Amplified bible to begin. It is easy to read in today's language and gives definition of many important words.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a little gem of wisdom from today's Proverb...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hear counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, that you may be wise in the time to come. </span>Pro 19:20</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>

PRACTICING PRACTICAL WISDOM

Sometimes I think wisdom in today's world is a lost commodity. I think that fools get more attention than the wise... and folly is portr...

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ONE LITTLE LIFE

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqZuM1bMO7rmBO8GXsqWoT-7GMnFWmS24qasYswDDiuF7kwsF9_YZL58mofBmbcIeCGK_BGGyYR8Kw4OImnYsLD-H8bq6We_yfsHoCmnDXRhXhFr0-Cl8o4GJFEAZnMtbSvFNLOsLj7_H/s1600/SS+1-12-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqZuM1bMO7rmBO8GXsqWoT-7GMnFWmS24qasYswDDiuF7kwsF9_YZL58mofBmbcIeCGK_BGGyYR8Kw4OImnYsLD-H8bq6We_yfsHoCmnDXRhXhFr0-Cl8o4GJFEAZnMtbSvFNLOsLj7_H/s1600/SS+1-12-14.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/agree-terms.php?id=100146774" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo credit-night sky with stars by Just2shutter</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you could summarize what you would want for your life in one sentence what would it be?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wow! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What a big question. Have you ever thought about condensing your life's meaning into just a few words? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sifting through all the day-to-day, the mundane, the internal clutter, the noise and the business of life and getting your life's goal into such focus that you can pinpoint it's meaning into one concise, easy to understand thought! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you could do that, you would have a central theme around which your whole live and everything you do would turn.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you do that? I think it's worth trying...</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Time is such a precious commodity! It seems so sad to fritter away our days... or to strive after silly things... or to spend time on things that really don't matter.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Believe me I know! I so wish I could get back so much of my life and have a re-do. I guess I'm pretty normal in that! How many of us have said... If only I could go back and know what I know now! Most of us are shaking our heads in agreement I'm sure!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's why it is important to know what we are living for.  And know what we want our life to be about.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When we are breathing our last breaths, what will we want from the years we have lived?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As a believer, I know that at my last breath, this tent... my body, will drop off of my spirit... and I will step into eternity! I will live a life so much bigger than I have now! A life with my Lord and Savior Jesus. A forever life!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But, I'm not there yet. My race is not over. You see I... we... are responsible for the life we are given here on earth. It is ours to use. We must decide HOW to use it. And really, the way we use our lives here is of eternal importance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I made a decision when I was 33 years old to give my life... my whole life... over to Jesus. When I really understood what Jesus had done for me... how he had died in my place because of the foolish and sinful way I was living my life... the only response for me was to put my life into His nail pierced hands!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My life did a BIG U turn. I went from darkness to light. From death to life. From the family of Satan to the Family of God. I gained a Savior, a Kinsman Redeemer, a Champion, a King! I gained security... eternal security!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Is my life perfect... by no means. I still make mistakes and am sometimes full of self-motivated sin. But my life is on a journey... a path. My life has direction! When I get off my life's path and follow rabbit trails... I'm never lost. I know how to get back on the right path and keep following it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have found a sentence... a verse in the Bible that my life revolves around...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the thought that defines my life...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">WALK IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE LORD, TO PLEASE HIM IN ALL RESPECTS, BEARING FRUIT IN EVERY GOOD WORK AND INCREASING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.</span> Colossians 1:10</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is my life... or at least what I am striving for. My life in one sentence! This is what my whole life is about since I have entursted Jesus with it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love this verse and its wonderful meaning.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What it is saying is... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">WALK... live a life, walk this earthly life... it means to walk a path that has been cut out. A big circle. I like to think of it as a "circle of life". No Lion King references, please!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">WORTHY...it's the idea of matching the values of, being like</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">TO PLEASE HIM IN ALL RESPECTS... is the idea of being a worker. It is the idea of being a worker that carries out and accomplishes just exactly what the boss wants so He is pleased.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">BEARING FRUIT... bringing forth a crop. Making a life full of good works that please one's boss. Having something good to show that we have done at the end of our lives. A crop of good things worth something to the boss.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">INCREASING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD... This is a magnificent phrase. It carries with it the idea of not just knowing who God is or facts about Him, but having a deep and intimate and close and meaningful relationship with Him.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, I want that!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What my life's verse says is that I want to live a life that looks like Jesus. I want everything I do to be pleasing to Him. I want a life that counts. A life that is full of good deeds that glorify God! And as I walk this life, I want each step I take to be in the imprint His feet have left. I want to be in a close, intimate relationship with my Creator. I want to continually be awed and amazed by Him. To be humbled that He would even want a relationship with me. I want to know, really deep down know Him.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's a pretty tall order for one little life. But here it is! That is what I want out of life. That is what I consider as my life well lived!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How about you? What do you want from life. Can you narrow it down into a single, all-important thought?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I say, don't try to lasso the moon or even reach for the stars... reach beyond them to the One who created them!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>

ONE LITTLE LIFE

    photo credit-night sky with stars by Just2shutter If you could summarize what you would want for your life in one sentence what would it...

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WHY IS THE ACCOUNT OF CHRIST'S BIRTH IN ONLY TWO OF THE FOUR GOSPELS... VERY INTERESTING!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGfSU7qNSsYWvZY5_n0qZkOLh7BaMwcaantfRkXBBNsY36PGnsCjA1RwlVbKxTNfaoQdtJdcAouV-zsac6aEg4QoEdQFkq400mtPthMZ2nzK16fwGY8sPBdIrPhjHdjG8zRYZ0c4ODgyB/s1600/SS-12-15-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGfSU7qNSsYWvZY5_n0qZkOLh7BaMwcaantfRkXBBNsY36PGnsCjA1RwlVbKxTNfaoQdtJdcAouV-zsac6aEg4QoEdQFkq400mtPthMZ2nzK16fwGY8sPBdIrPhjHdjG8zRYZ0c4ODgyB/s640/SS-12-15-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the Christmas story as it is told in the Bible... in the books of Matthew and Luke!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But, I think the most famous telling of Jesus' birth is Luke 2...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">From the Bible to Charlie Brown's Christmas Pageant, this story has been told for centuries!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But do you know why the birth of Jesus is only told in two of the four gospels (the story of Jesus living on earth)?  Very interesting...</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name="more"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(I know this is a long post, but I hope you will be blessed by reading it)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is the Birth of Christ as you probably have know it from Luke's gospel...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1161.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1161. de (deh) -- but, and, now, (a connective or adversative particle)">And</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1096.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1096. ginomai (ghin'-om-ahee) -- to come into being, to happen, to become">it came to pass</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1722.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1722. en (en) -- in, on, at, by, with">in</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1565.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1565. ekeinos (ek-i'-nos) -- that one (or neut. that thing), often intensified by the art. preceding">those</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2250.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2250. hemera (hay-mer'-ah) -- day">days,</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1831.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1831. exerchomai (ex-er'-khom-ahee) -- to go or come out of">that there went out</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1378.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1378. dogma (dog'-mah) -- an opinion, (a public) decree">a decree</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/3844.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="3844. para (par-ah') -- from beside, by the side of, by, beside">from</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2541.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2541. Kaisar (kah'-ee-sar) -- Caesar, a Roman emperor">Caesar</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/828.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="828. Augoustos (ow'-goos-tos) -- Augustus, the name of a Roman emperor">Augustus,</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/3956.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="3956. pas (pas) -- all, every">that all</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/3625.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="3625. oikoumene (oy-kou-men'-ay) -- the inhabited earth">the world</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/583.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="583. apographo (ap-og-raf'-o) -- to copy, enroll">should be taxed.</a><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/3778.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="3778. houtos (hoo'-tos) -- this">([And] this</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/582.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="582. apographe (ap-og-raf-ay') -- a register, enrollment">taxing</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1096.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1096. ginomai (ghin'-om-ahee) -- to come into being, to happen, to become">was</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/4413.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="4413. protos (pro'-tos) -- first, chief">first</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1096.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1096. ginomai (ghin'-om-ahee) -- to come into being, to happen, to become">made</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2958.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2958. Kurenios (koo-ray'-nee-os) -- Quirinius, a governor of Syria">when Cyrenius</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2230.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2230. hegemoneuo (hayg-em-on-yoo'-o) -- to command">was governor</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/4947.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="4947. Suria (soo-ree'-ah) -- Syria, a region N. and East of Pal.">of Syria.</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/strongs.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="Strong's">)</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2532.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2532. kai (kahee) -- and, even, also">And</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/3956.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="3956. pas (pas) -- all, every">all</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/4198.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="4198. poreuomai (por-yoo'-om-ahee) -- to go">went</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/583.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="583. apographo (ap-og-raf'-o) -- to copy, enroll">to be taxed</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1538.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1538. hekastos (hek'-as-tos) -- each, every">every one</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1519.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1519. eis (ice) -- to or into (indicating the point reached or entered, of place, time, fig. purpose, result)">into</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2398.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2398. idios (id'-ee-os) -- one's own, distinct">his own</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/4172.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="4172. polis (pol'-is) -- a city">city.</a><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1161.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1161. de (deh) -- but, and, now, (a connective or adversative particle)">And</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2501.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2501. Ioseph (ee-o-safe') -- Joseph, the name of several Israelites">Joseph</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2532.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2532. kai (kahee) -- and, even, also">also</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/305.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="305. anabaino (an-ab-ah'-ee-no) -- to go up, ascend">went up</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/575.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="575. apo (apo') -- from, away from">from</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1056.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1056. Galilaia (gal-il-ah'-yah) -- Galilee, the northern region of Palestine, also the name of a sea">Galilee,</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1537.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1537. ek (ek) -- from, from out of">out of</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/4172.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="4172. polis (pol'-is) -- a city">the city</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/3478.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="3478. Nazareth (nad-zar-eth') -- Nazareth, a city in Galilee">of Nazareth,</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1519.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1519. eis (ice) -- to or into (indicating the point reached or entered, of place, time, fig. purpose, result)">into</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2449.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2449. Ioudaia (ee-oo-dah'-yah) -- Judaea. ">Judaea,</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1519.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1519. eis (ice) -- to or into (indicating the point reached or entered, of place, time, fig. purpose, result)">unto</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/4172.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="4172. polis (pol'-is) -- a city">the city</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1138.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1138. Dabid (dab-eed') -- David. ">of David,</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/3748.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="3748. hostis (hos'-tis) -- whoever, anyone who">which</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2564.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2564. kaleo (kal-eh'-o) -- to call">is called</a> <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"></span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/965.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="965. Bethleem (bayth-leh-em') -- 'house of bread,' Bethlehem, a city near Jer.">Bethlehem;</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1223.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1223. dia (dee-ah') -- through, on account of, because of">(because</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/846.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="846. autos (ow-tos') -- (1) self (emphatic) (2) he, she, it (used for the third pers. pron.) (3) the same">he</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1511.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1511. einai (i'-nahee) -- am, was, come, is, there is, to be, was. ">was</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1537.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1537. ek (ek) -- from, from out of">of</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/3624.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #99d6ff; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="3624. oikos (oy'-kos) -- a house, a dwelling">the house</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2532.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2532. kai (kahee) -- and, even, also">and</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/3965.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="3965. patria (pat-ree-ah') -- lineage, family">lineage</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1138.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1138. Dabid (dab-eed') -- David. ">of David:</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/strongs.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="Strong's">)</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/583.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="583. apographo (ap-og-raf'-o) -- to copy, enroll">To be taxed</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/4862.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="4862. sun (soon) -- with, together with (expresses association with)">with</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/3137.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="3137. Maria (mar-ee'-ah) -- Mary, the name of several Christian women">Mary</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/846.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="846. autos (ow-tos') -- (1) self (emphatic) (2) he, she, it (used for the third pers. pron.) (3) the same">his</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/3423.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="3423. mnesteuo (mnace-tyoo'-o) -- to espouse, betroth">espoused</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1135.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1135. gune (goo-nay') -- a woman">wife,</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/5607.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="5607. on (oan) -- be, come, have. ">being</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1471.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1471. egkuos (eng'-koo-os) -- pregnant">great with child.</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1161.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1161. de (deh) -- but, and, now, (a connective or adversative particle)">And</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1096.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1096. ginomai (ghin'-om-ahee) -- to come into being, to happen, to become">so it was,</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1722.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1722. en (en) -- in, on, at, by, with">that, while</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/846.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="846. autos (ow-tos') -- (1) self (emphatic) (2) he, she, it (used for the third pers. pron.) (3) the same">they</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1511.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1511. einai (i'-nahee) -- am, was, come, is, there is, to be, was. ">were</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1563.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1563. ekei (ek-i') -- there, by ext. to there">there,</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2250.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2250. hemera (hay-mer'-ah) -- day">the days</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/4130.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="4130. pletho (play'-tho) -- furnish, accomplish, fill, supply">were accomplished</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/846.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="846. autos (ow-tos') -- (1) self (emphatic) (2) he, she, it (used for the third pers. pron.) (3) the same">that she</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/5088.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="5088. tikto (tik'-to) -- to beget, bring forth">should be delivered.</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2532.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2532. kai (kahee) -- and, even, also">And</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/5088.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="5088. tikto (tik'-to) -- to beget, bring forth">she brought forth</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/846.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="846. autos (ow-tos') -- (1) self (emphatic) (2) he, she, it (used for the third pers. pron.) (3) the same">her</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/4416.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="4416. prototokos (pro-tot-ok'-os) -- first-born">firstborn</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/5207.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="5207. huios (hwee-os') -- a son">son,</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2532.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2532. kai (kahee) -- and, even, also">and</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/4683.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="4683. sparganoo (spar-gan-o'-o) -- to wrap in swaddling clothes">wrapped</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/846.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="846. autos (ow-tos') -- (1) self (emphatic) (2) he, she, it (used for the third pers. pron.) (3) the same">him</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/4683.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="4683. sparganoo (spar-gan-o'-o) -- to wrap in swaddling clothes">in swaddling clothes,</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2532.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2532. kai (kahee) -- and, even, also">and</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/347.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="347. anaklino (an-ak-lee'-no) -- to lay upon, lay down, to lie back">laid</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/846.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="846. autos (ow-tos') -- (1) self (emphatic) (2) he, she, it (used for the third pers. pron.) (3) the same">him</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1722.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1722. en (en) -- in, on, at, by, with">in</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/5336.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="5336. phatne (fat'-nay) -- a manger">a manger;</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1360.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1360. dioti (dee-ot'-ee) -- on the very account that, because, inasmuch as">because</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2258.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2258. en (ane) -- agree, be, have charge of, hold, use. ">there was</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/3756.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="3756. ou (oo) -- not, no">no</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/5117.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="5117. topos (top'-os) -- a place">room</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/846.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="846. autos (ow-tos') -- (1) self (emphatic) (2) he, she, it (used for the third pers. pron.) (3) the same">for them</a> <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"></span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1722.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="1722. en (en) -- in, on, at, by, with">in</a><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2646.htm" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title="2646. kataluma (kat-al'-oo-mah) -- a lodging place">the inn.</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Luke 2: 1:7</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some people and "scholars" use the fact that Christ's birth only appears in two of the fours gospels to discount the veracity of the Word of God. But I'm here to tell you, this fact actually shows that the Bible is indeed God's absolute TRUTH!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When we understand God's purpose for inspiring men to write the books of the bible... His love story and message to the world... we can understand that message much better!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Did you know that each book of the bible was written with a central message in mind!  God wanted to convey a certain point... a theme... to the people of the world. He did this by inspiring a human to be His scribe to tell all the people of the earth something very very important!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's also important to remember that when we read these ancient books of the bible we are reading the words of God that were written over a span of 1,600 years by 40 different inspired authors from 3 continents who used 3 different languages!  The bible was not written all at once. It is a revelation (revealing something in surprising ways a little at a time)!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The flavor of the times, the culture and the traditions of men are evident in the words... but the truth, message and purpose for writing each and every book of the bible is wholly and holy...God inspired!  The bible is "GOD BREATHED"(2 Tim 3:15)!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">AMAZING!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So why IS such an important account as the birth of EMANUEL ( God with us)... Jesus (God saves).. The Messiah (the anointed to be king) only in two of the four books that tell the story of Jesus' life on earth and the reason He came?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The answer is AMAZING!  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Remember I said that God had a special theme... a special purpose... a special message he wanted the world to know when He inspired each book of the bible?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, the 4 gospels... Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are no different!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The theme of of the book of Matthew is...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">BEHOLD THE KING OF THE JEWS</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">God wanted the world... and especially the Jews of the day... to know that Jesus was THE KING OF THE JEWS!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Matthew is a very "Jewish" book. There are more references to the Old Testament in this book than in the the other gospels. References of prophesy about the coming King Of The Jews who would set up an eternal kingdom and rule and reign forever! And this was very very important to the Jews!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The first words of the book of Matthew read...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="reg" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the genealogy of <b>Jesus</b> the Messiah the<b> son of David</b>, the son of<b> Abraham</b>:</span></div><div class="outlinelist" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; padding: 0px 25px; text-align: justify;"><div class="item1" style="margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 25px; margin-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; text-indent: -25px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Abraham was the father of Isaac,</span></div><div class="item2" style="margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 50px; margin-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; text-indent: -25px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Isaac the father of <b>Jacob</b>,</span></div><div class="item2" style="margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 50px; margin-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; text-indent: -25px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jacob the father of <b>Judah</b> and his brothers,</span></div><div class="item2" style="margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 50px; margin-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; text-indent: -25px;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The nation Israel, for centuries and centuries, had been waiting for this special king! Even more so since their captivity in 722 BC.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To be a king of Israel one had to meet certain requirements...God's requirements!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1~ one had to be a<span style="font-size: large;"> male</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">2~ one had to be a direct descendant of King<span style="font-size: large;"> David</span> (God's first choice for king of the Jews) and one had to be a direct descendant to the kingly line.</div><div style="text-align: center;">3~ one had to be a descendant of <span style="font-size: large;">Abraham</span>... the first Hebrew (another word for Jew)</div><div style="text-align: center;">4~ one had to be a direct descendant of Abraham's son<span style="font-size: large;"> Jacob</span> (who's name was changed to ISRAEL by God)</div><div style="text-align: center;">5~ one had to come from the "tribe" (or family descendants) of <span style="font-size: large;">Judah </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the first words of the book of Matthew... this book written especially for the Jews... who's theme is "BEHOLD THE KING OF THE JEWS"... God starts with Jesus' genealogy right away! God builds a case that Jesus is...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1~ a male </div><div style="text-align: center;">2. He is the "son" or ancestor of David through the kingly line</div><div style="text-align: center;">3~ and He is a direct descendant of father Abraham</div><div style="text-align: center;">4~ and a direct descendant of Jacob</div><div style="text-align: center;">5~ and Jesus is a direct descendant of Judah (Judah means Lion... and infers king)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is so much more I could tell you that would<i> knock your socks off</i> about how wonderfully God put together facts that proved Jesus, and Jesus alone was the Anointed One (Messiah) to be THE KING OF THE JEWS... the special and much awaited KING. The KING that would rule and reign planet earth forever and ever! But it would take too long for one post!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As I read the first chapter of Matthew I get so filled with emotion and love... when I see that big long line of genealogy... of names I don't necessarily know and certainly can't pronounce... I see God laying out the facts of Jesus' right to be THE KING OF THE JEWS. All Jews in good standing knew their genealogy at that time... and to be a king you had to meet the kingly credentials set forth by God!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The whole book of Matthew hinges on the fact that Jesus is KING OF THE JEWS.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, we can see why the genealogy and birth of Jesus would be so important and recounted in the book of Matthew!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now let's take a look at Luke...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What reason would there be  for God retelling the story of Jesus' birth in the book of Luke? Again we have to look at the theme or purpose for the book.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The theme for the book of Luke is...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">BEHOLD, THE PERFECT MAN</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">God wants the world to know that Jesus is a human. All human! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But why?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This brings tears to my eyes... Jesus came to earth to die. That was Jesus' main purpose for living.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He died so we could be restored to a perfect and intimate relationship to God. A relationship that was broken because of our sin (turning away from God and doing our own thing and not God's).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now stay with me... God says in the Book of Romans that the </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH</span>... Romans 6:23</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Both physical and spiritual death! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And God also says that...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">LIFE IS IN THE BLOOD</span>... Leviticus 17:11</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When we sin we bring death down upon us!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">God's system for the consequence of sin is death. That's why we all die! We all sin... so we all die!<br /><br />But, our death does not make amends for our sins. So without the right "payment" we have no hope for life... for a life of intimate connection with God. It is God who is LIFE! When we sin we walk away from LIFE!<br /><br />But God, who loves us more than we can think or comprehend so wants us to live eternally with Him, devised a saving plan for all of us!!!!<br /><br />He would send Jesus, God in the flesh, down to earth to live as a real man and He would save us through paying the price for our sins!<br /><br />He would die in our place and shed his blood in our stead!<br /><br />But not just any blood! His perfect sinless blood. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer! I love this very important concept! Kinsman means one like us... a human. One that is our kin or relative. Redeemer means someone who buys something back for a price. Someone who buys something back and gives it to it's rightful owner!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jesus, one like us, came to planet Earth and bought us out of the clutches of sin and death and eternal separation from God with his sinless human blood! He died and shed his blood to pay the price we could not pay with our sinful blood for our sins and to give us back to our owner, God... to have an incredible, intimate relationship with Him as His child!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The book of Luke is all about Jesus' humanity. A perfect human able to reunite us to God!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In Luke, God proves that Jesus was born a human by a Jewish girl named Mary!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">God's beautiful story of  Jesus' birth is proof that Jesus came to earth as a human!<br /><br /><br /><div>SELAH!<br /><br /><i>A word that appears in the bible and means that something is so awesome that we should stop and think about it for awhile! So I say to you...</i><br /><br />SELAH!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now let's just take a very quick look why the other two gospels, Mark and John DON'T tell the Christmas story!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The theme for the book of Mark is</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">BEHOLD THE SUFFERING SERVANT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It portrays Jesus as a servant...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was important for God to let the world know that Jesus was a servant to Him and also to all mankind!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now to a Jew of that day, a servant's genealogy or the circumstances of his birth was not important!</div><div style="text-align: center;"> So Jesus' birth was not included</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">God wants us to know Jesus and His perfect servant's spirit as he lived on Earth... one who does the will of His Father and serves humanity.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And the last gospel to be written was the book of John who's theme is</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">BEHOLD, THE SON OF GOD!!!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The book of John deals with Jesus' deity. Jesus and only Jesus is GOD IN THE FLESH!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">God does not need you to know that Jesus was born a baby... he covered that in two other gospels, but God is all about wanting you to know that Jesus IS GOD! Maybe that is why I have taught John so many times... I stand in AWE!<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I hope this builds your faith in the veracity of the Bible and amazes you... I hope you stand in Awe today of  what a perfect and wonderful God we serve!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I hope you stand, no... bend your knee and kneel to THE ALL HUMAN, ALL GOD, ALL SERVING, </div><div style="text-align: center;">KING OF THE JEWS...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">JESUS!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">May you celebrate Jesus' birth with a new love and devotion!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I pray this Advent season Jesus' birth has a deeper and awesome meaning!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>

WHY IS THE ACCOUNT OF CHRIST'S BIRTH IN ONLY TWO OF THE FOUR GOSPELS... VERY INTERESTING!

I love the Christmas story as it is told in the Bible... in the books of Matthew and Luke! But, I think the most famous telling of Jesus...

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