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New Year 2024

 “. . . and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”  (Revelation 21:4-5, NASB)

To me, the New Year is about introspection, a time for a new beginning.  It’s a time to reflect on what has been, and a time to resolve to be better, with God’s help.  It’s a time to look forward, and to hope.  What better way, than to consult God’s Word?  The Apostle John, in God’s Revelation, provides such a hope to us. 
John, in his vision, promises a day when we’ll see no more death, nor crying, nor pain.  “The first things have passed away.”  God has promised to “make all things new.”  I look forward to that day with great hope! 


Revelation 21:5 image.  Found at Liberty Church, https://reachoutliberty.org/2022/01/02/behold-i-make-all-things-new/. 

I resolve to go through the Bible again with the chronological study.  I’m going to study the psalms as well. 

I’m also going to change the frequency with which I publish these essays.  I’ll post every five days instead of every three days.  I’ve found it’s difficult to do it more frequently because of my eyes.  Some days I can’t work my computer because my eyes can’t function.  So I think it’s better to give an extra two days so I can do as well as I can.  I’ll publish on days that are multiples of five (the 5th, 10th, etc.).  

I wish you all a happy and God blessed New Year. 

SHA’ALU SHALOM YERUSHALAYIM! 

Worship:  “Glorious Day,” by Passion 

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Hope Was Born This Night

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.  (1 Peter 1:3-4, NASB)

I began these essays with the purpose of providing hope to those who are in the same position as me:  Suffering from a terminal condition, and who might not have the same hope that I do.  While I don’t say the word “hope” that often, I mean to tell everyone that my hope is in my Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus is Hope!  In this passage from 1 Peter, the Apostle tells us of this same hope.  

Peter starts his epistle by praising God for His Plan of Salvation.  God’s “mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  It’s up to each of us to acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifice for us to be “born again to [that] living hope,” for an eternity with God in heaven.  In this Christmas season, we prepare for the hope that Jesus will soon retain to us, just as He promised us! 

Worship:  “Hope Was Born This Night,” by Sidewalk Prophets

Our dear friend Alana Cole was here for Christmas dinner with Sue, and she shared this song with us.  It’s what Christmas should be about.  Here’s “It’s About The Cross,” by The Ball Brothers:  

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Advent VIII

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  ( Luke 2:10-11, NASB)

The night Jesus was born, a legion of angels descended upon some shepherds nearby to Bethlehem.  They had an announcement:  “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  This was indeed good news, and of great joy!  The shepherds knew that God had promised them their Messiah.  Israel had long awaited for the Christ to come to the earth.  They quickly gathered, then went to Bethlehem to see the Baby. 

The shepherds left their flocks to worship the Spotless Lamb of God!  

The shepherds went to worship the Good Shepherd! 

These lowly servants hurried to worship at the feet of the King of Israel! 

We must also bow in worship to our King! 

Merry Christmas to you all and your families!  God rest ye merry! 

Christmas 2023.  “I AM smiling!”

Worship :  “Bethlehem Morning,” by Sandi Patty 

Worship:  “Stille Nacht, ” by Mannheim Steamroller 

Worship:  “Gloria (The King Has Come)” by Point of Grace 

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Advent VII

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16, NASB)

Nicodemus, a Pharisee, has come to Jesus stealthily by night.  He doesn’t want others to know that he is coming to Him.  They’re talking about eternal life, how we must be born again.  Nicodemus, rightfully, doesn’t understand.  What follows is the most famous verse in our Christian Bible.  

This is about God’s Gift to us on that first Christmas.  God loves us SO MUCH that He gave us Jesus, Who wiped away all of our sins.  Jesus loves us SO MUCH that He “gave Himself up for us.”  (Galatians 2:20)  God saved us, not because of who we are, and not because of what we’ve done, but rather because of Who He is, and because of what He’s done!  Now THIS IS LOVE! 

Love is also knowing that God WILL SEND JESUS AGAIN!  We must prepare our hearts for the Second Advent! 

SHA’ALU SHALOM YERUSHLAYIM! 


Worship:  “Love Has Come,” by Amy Grant 

Worship:  “Make Room,,” by Casting Crowns 

Worship:  “Noel,” by Chris Tomlin, ft. Lauren Daigle

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Advent VI

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  (Psalm 51:7, NASB)

King David wrote Psalm 51 after his adultery with Bathsheba, and after he murdered her husband, Uriah the Hittite.  I’m sure that I wrote in my Bible in the margin next to Psalm 51, “How to pray when I blow it,” or something like that.  But this is why Jesus came to the earth:  To rescue us from our sins!  This is why we celebrate in this season of Advent.  Jesus has washed His people, so we “shall be whiter than snow.”  

Psalm 51:7 image.  Found at The Soaring Eagle
, https://thesoaringeagle.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/wash-me-2/.

Below is my favorite rendition of “White Christmas,” because of the ending. 

Worship:  “White Christmas”/”Whiter Than Snow, ” by Twila Paris 

Worship:  “Emmanuel,” by Chris Tomlin 
SHA’ALU SHALOM YARUSHALAYIM

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Advent V

So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.  (Exodus 19:16, NASB)

We continue our look at the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”  The Bible scholar who Sue and I saw on The 700 Club linked the fifth stanza of the hymn with the verse above from Exodus.  The context has the Israelites cowering at the supernatural circumstances that they see and hear before them.  Moses is up on Mount Sinai, hearing from God!  Now for the fifth stanza of the hymn: 

” . .  O come, Adonai, Lord of might,

Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,

In ancient times didst give the law

In cloud and majesty d awe . . . “

I’ve noticed that different versions of the hymn use different stanzas, probably for brevity.  This version should have all the stanzas: 

Worship:  “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” by The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge This fifth stanza implores God Most High to come down from heaven, just like when He did on Mount Sinai, at which He gave Moses the Ten Commandments.  It recounts the shock and awe that the tribes felt as they observed what was going on at Mount Sinai. 

I love this version of the hymn by Selah.  Throughout there are strains from the Israeli National Anthem, “Hatikvah.”

Worship:  “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” by Selah
I’m reminded that when Jesus returns to the earth, He will come through the clouds.  And He shall reign forevermore!  He is my Hope! 

Worship:  “He Shall Reign Forevermore,” by Chris Tomlin 

PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM, AND GOD’S PEOPLE ISRAEL!

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Advent IV

Let’s continue our study on the Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”  Sue and I saw on The 700 Club a Bible scholar who explained that this hymn has its roots in the Bible. She linked the fourth stanza to two verses:  Isaiah 22:22, and Luke 21:27.  Here they are:

Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder. When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.   (Isaiah 22:22, NASB)

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:27, NASB)

I believe that Jesus has “the key of the house of David on His shoulder.  When He opens no one will shut, and when He shuts no one will open.”  Jesus sits on the throne of the house of David.  He is Lord of all!

The verse from Luke is Jesus speaking to His Disciples.  He’s telling them what to expect when He comes back for His elect. 

Now the lyrics for the fourth stanza:

” . . . O come, Thou Key of David, come

And open wide our heav’nly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high,

And close the path to misery . . . “

I think that the link between “the key of David” is obvious.  The hymn implores God to send His Son, so that we’ll have a way to heaven, where those of us who love Jesus will spend eternity with Him! 

When Jesus returns for us, He’ll definitely “close the path to misery.”  What a time that will be! 

Jesus is my Hope!  Let’s prepare our hearts for His Glorious Reappearance!  

Worship:  “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” for KING & COUNTRY 

Worship:  “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel,” by Hayley Westenra

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Advent III

We continue our look at the Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”  This hymn has its roots in scripture.  According to the Bible scholar we saw on The 700 Club, the third stanza of the hymn is comparable to Malachi.  Let’s look closer:

For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.”   (Malachi 4:1-2, NASB)

The third verse of the hymn: 

” . . . O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,

And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

And death’s dark shadows put to flight . . . “

Malachi 4:1 is a warning from God:  “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.”  God warns us that a time is coming when those who don’t fear Him will burn in hell.  The remedy?  Jesus, Who is promised in the second verse:  “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.”

Now to the hymn.  According to Miriam Webster, the definition of “dayspring” is “the beginning of day,” or “he beginning of a new era or order of things.”  The hymn pleads for “Thou Dayspring” to come to the earth.  Jesus coming to the earth would indeed be the dawn of a New Day, the beginning of a New Era, or a New Order!  He IS the Promised Messiah for Whom Israel has longed for centuries!  Jesus is our Hope! 

Worship:  “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” by Jeremy Camp

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Advent II

Then in that day The nations will resort to the root of Jesse, Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious.  (Isaiah 11:10, NASB)

According to the Bible scholar we saw on The 700 Club, the second stanza of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” has its roots in Isaiah.  This verse in this prominent Advent hymn talks about “the rod of Jesse,” or “the root of Jesse” in the NASB.  This refers to a descendant of Jesse, who was King David’s father.  Let’s look deeper. 

” . . . O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;

From depths of hell Thy people save,

And give them victory o’er the grave . . . “

“Then in that day The nations will resort to the root of Jesse.”  “In that day” refers to the end of time, when all the Jesus-followers will be in Paradise.  The nations will indeed “resort to the root of Jesse,” which points to Jesus!  Jesse, King David’s father, is in the lineage of Jesus.  Many of the prophets of God predicted that Messiah would be a descendant of King David, Who will sit on David’s throne forever!  And that’s what we celebrate in Advent.  The Apostle Matthew has documented the lineage of Jesus in Chapter 1 of his Gospel.  Although Joseph is not Jesus’ actual father, he is His step-dad, which was legally binding. 

In heaven, Jesus “will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious.”  Everyone in heaven will worship Him, and His resting place will indeed be glorious!  After all, it’s heaven! 

In heaven, we’ll worship and serve our King Jesus. I can’t wait! 

SHA’ALU SHALOM YERUSHALAYIM! 

Worship:  “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” by Chris Tomlin 

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Advent

1Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. 3So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up” . . . “Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt.'”  (Exodus 3:1-3, 16, NASB)

Sue and I were watching The 700 Club on Thanksgiving, and they had an interesting segment about Advent and the traditions behind this time of year.  The Advent wreath was mentioned, as was Advent hymns.  They said that it was tradition that certain Christmas hymns were not to be sung until Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day, but we’ve ignored this tradition.  One of the Advent hymns of tradition is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”  I thought that I’d write about this hymn over several essays.

Exodus 3:2 image.  Found at Knowing Jesus, https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/exodus-3-2

A Bible scholar mentioned that the first segment was tied to Exodus 3, and the story of Moses and the burning bush.  Let’s look at this: 

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.  And ransom captive Israel.”

Moses had escaped from slavery in Egypt after murdering an Egyptian who was mistreating a fellow Israelite.  In the passage above, Moses was tending the sheep of his father-in-law by Mount Sinai (Horeb), when he saw a burning bush.  He decided to investigate, and noticed that the bush was not being consumed by the fire.  Now that God had his attention, He explained His mission to Moses:  God wanted Moses to set His Chosen People free, to lead them out of slavery (” . . . and ransom captive Israel.”).  

When Jesus came to the earth which He created, the same conditions existed:  Israel was entrapped in slavery, by sin.  Jesus came to the earth on the greatest rescue mission in history!  We have the same problem today:  We’re shaves to sin.  We need a Savior!  That’s where Jesus comes in.  This Advent season, we prepare our hearts to commemorate His appearance on this earth.  But we must also prepare our hearts for His glorious Reappearance!  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel! 

SHA’ALU SHALOM YERUSHALAYIM! 

Worship:  “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” by Joshua Aaron