Jesus is Alive

The Death of Jesus

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land. At about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni? " that is, " My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? "

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling for Elijah!"

Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, and offered Him a drink. But the rest said, "Let's see if Elijah comes to save Him!"

Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened and many bodies of the saints who had gone to their rest were raised. And they came out of the tombs after His resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.

When the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, "This man really was God's Son!"

Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and ministered to Him were there, looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

The Burial of Jesus

When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Then Pilate ordered that it be released. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb.
Matthew 27: 45-61

Resurrection Morning

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men.

But the angel told the women, "Don't be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.' Listen, I have told you."

So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. Just then Jesus met them and said, "Good morning!" They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. Then Jesus told them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there."

The Soldiers Are Bribed to Lie

As they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money and told them, "Say this, 'His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.' If this reaches the governor's ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble." So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.

The Great Commission

The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Matthew 28

Why is Barack Obama Rejecting Jesus Christ?

I heard Mr. Obama say, this morning on T.V., that words are meaningless. As a politician, we all know we should not take his every word seriously because most politicians say anything to win. What he said, after quoting some famous statements, was that they are just words. What he means is that it is not what a man says, it is what he does. This is true for human beings because we are the lower intelligent life form and we cannot be trusted, as far as speech is concerned, but do you think it is wise for a man seeking the highest office in the land to stress on the insignificance of words.

God ordains the roles of leadership because they are basically a representation of God. God is the ruler of the Universe as the President is the leader of his country. And when you seek this elevated existence you have to start being that elevated self making your words the most important part of your life. If you say it, it should be as good as done, no matter what the delay factor may turn out to be. I will show you the word is the most powerful thing in the Universe.

Now this is not a political site. It is a site where truth is dispensed in accordance with the word of God. We are on the side of God. Now let me show you where Mr Obama fell. It just struck me as odd the Mr Obama, a professed born again Christian, would be so non chalant about the words that come out of the mouth. God said that all men will be held accountable for every idle word that comes out of his mouth.

Words are everything to God. He creates with them. He teaches us to prophecy with them. Why?

The question is: Who is the Word?

Answer: John 1:1-4

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.

He was with God in the beginning.
All things were created through Him,
and apart from Him not one thing was created
that has been created.

Life was in Him,
and that life was the light of men.

So the Word is none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the very words that flow out of God's mouth which is why God says he was there at the beginning of the world in Genesis and everything was created by him, Jesus. Because God is righteous all his words are spoken through Jesus Christ. God and Jesus Christ are the same, Thoughts and Words synchronized. Remember every word was a thought first which is what the father and son are. The Father is the thought which existed before and creates the words which is the son. This is why God says The Word is a very powerful thing. But humans are opposite to God but God said we should try to be like him because that is the perfect way.

Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and He called the darkness "night." Evening came, and then morning: the first day. Genesis: 1:3-5

The Nature of the Son: Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrews 1:1-4

So here is the sequence:

1. The Thought

2. The Spoken Word
3. The Act or Physical Representation of the Word

This is the way God operates. He says you can change your thoughts but once you say it, it is sealed and must be done or you are a liar and sin. You see the word and the physical representation are the same. This is why Jesus became flesh. "The Word became flesh"

I think whoever becomes the President of the United States should incorporate this God quality to truly effective in his work.

Pray for the Next President of the United States

Trials and Testings: God Does Not Tempt Anyone

Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1:2-3

Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him.

No one undergoing a trial should say, "I am being tempted by God." For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone.

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Susan Hall
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But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
James 1:12-15

True Religion

"The Lord of Hosts says this: Render true justice.
Show faithful love and compassion to one another.
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor,
and do not plot evil in your hearts against one another."
Zechariah 7:9-10

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My dearly loved brothers, understand this:
everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
for man's anger does not accomplish God's righteousness.
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil excess,
humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.

But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer,
he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror;
for he looks at himself, goes away,
and right away forgets what kind of man he was.

But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom
and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts
—this person will be blessed in what he does.
If anyone thinks he is religious, without controlling his tongue
but deceiving his heart, his religion is useless.

Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress
and to keep oneself unstained by the world
James 1:19-27

Light of the World

The World has been celebrating December 25 as the Birth of Jesus Christ for a very long time but was Jesus really born on December 25, or in December at all? Why do most Theologians not care about this. Does it make a difference when Jesus was born? Well, I believe that if God is righteous then Jesus came into the world at the right time and the knowledge of truth is power. In the Bible it says that an angel used to come down to this pool at a certain time and disturb the water and the sick person who got in first would be healed. This did not happen at any other time.

Here's the more likely explanation for when Jesus was born and His conception from www.christiananswers.net

Although it's not impossible, it seems unlikely. The Bible does not specify a date or month. One problem with December is that it would be unusual for shepherds to be "abiding in the field" at this cold time of year when fields were unproductive. The normal practice was to keep the flocks in the fields from Spring to Autumn. Also, winter would likely be an especially difficult time for pregnant Mary to travel the long distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem (70 miles).

"A more probable time would be late September, the time of the annual Feast of Tabernacles, when such travel was commonly accepted. Thus, it is rather commonly believed (though not certain) that Jesus' birth was around the last of September. The conception of Christ, however, may have taken place in late December of the previous year. Our Christmas celebration may well be recognized as an honored observation of the incarnation of 'the Word made flesh' (John 1:14).

…The probability is that this mighty angel, leading the heavenly host in their praises, was Michael the archangel; this occasion was later commemorated by the early church as Michaelmas ('Michael sent'), on September 29, the same as the date of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. It would have at least been appropriate for Christ to have been born on such a date, for it was at His birth that 'the Word was made flesh and dwelt (literally tabernacled) among us' (John 1:14).

This would mean, then, that His conception took place in late December. Thus, it might well be that when we today celebrate Christ's birth at what we call Christmas (i.e., 'Christ sent'), we are actually celebrating His miraculous conception, the time when the Father sent the Son into the world, in the virgin's womb. This darkest time of the year--the time of the pagan Saturnalia, and the time when the sun (the physical 'light of the world') is at its greatest distance from the Holy Land--would surely be an appropriate time for God to send the spiritual 'light of the world' into the world as the 'Savior, which is Christ the Lord' (Luke 2:11)" [Dr. Henry M. Morris, The Defender's Study Bible (notes for Luke 2:8,13)].
- www.christiananswers.net

This also makes perfect logical sense that Jesus would be born around the end/beginning of the Jewish year. Jesus came to put an end of an old corrupted system (also represented by the human body corrupted by sin). He ushered in a new system with his death and resurrection. A new eternal life and body for mankind. As Jesus says in Revelations 1:18

"'I am the alpha and the omega' says the Lord God, 'the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty."

Therefore, December 25 may be the day that the spirit of Christ enter into the womb of Mary, known as the immaculate conception in the Christian world.

The Truth About The Birth Of Christ

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We Are God's Workmanship
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Apostles' Creed

The twelfth Day Of Christmas

• Twelve drummers drumming-Twelve articles of Apostles' Creed
  

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Christian Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

- Ecumenical version

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Known of God
Bill Stephens
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The Apostles

The Eleventh Day Of Christmas

• Eleven pipers piping-Eleven apostles (excluding Judas Iscariot who did fail)

Twelve Apostles, Tasman Sea, New South Wales,
United Kingdom, Australia

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The 12 Apostles

Then He went up the mountain and summoned those He wanted, and they came to Him. He also appointed;He also named them apostles; to be with Him, to send them out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons.

He appointed the Twelve:
To Simon, He gave the name Peter;

and to James the son of Zebedee,
and to his brother John,
He gave the name "Boanerges"
(that is, "Sons of Thunder";

Andrew;
Philip and Bartholomew;
Matthew and Thomas;
James the son of Alphaeus,
and Thaddaeus;
Simon the Zealot,

and Judas Iscariot,
who also betrayed Him.

Mark 3: 13-19

The Ten Commandments

The Tenth Day Of Christmas

• Ten Lords a-leaping-Ten commandments

The Ten Commandments

Then God spoke all these words:

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.

Do not have other gods besides Me.

Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers' sin, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands.

Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the LORD will punish anyone who misuses His name.

Remember to dedicate the Sabbath day: You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the foreigner who is within your gates. For the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.

Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Do not murder.

Do not commit adultery.

Do not steal.

Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.

Do not covet your neighbor's house. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Exodus 20:1-17

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Fruits of the Spirit

The Ninth Day Of Christmas

Nine ladies dancing-Nine fruits of the Spirit

The Spirit versus the Flesh

I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don't do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar, about which I tell you in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5:16-26

The Beatitudes

The Eighth Day Of Christmas

• Eight maids a-milking-Eight beatitudes

The Beatitudes
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Blessed are those who mourn,

because they will be comforted.

Blessed are the gentle,

because they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger

and thirst for righteousness,

because they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

because they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

because they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

because they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness,

because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

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"Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:3-11

Gifts of Holy Spirit

The Seventh Day Of Christmas

• Seven swans a-swimming-Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
  

4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:
If prophecy, use it according to the standard of faith;

7 if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching;

8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity;
leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.

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Rainbow of Miracles
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^{Romans 12: 4-8}

Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God is active in everyone and everything. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial:

to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit,
to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit,

to another, faith by the same Spirit,
to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

to another, the performing of miracles,
to another, prophecy,
to another, distinguishing between spirits,
to another, different kinds of languages,
to another, interpretation of languages.

But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each one as He wills.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. And God has placed these in the church:
first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next, miracles,
then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages.

Are all apostles? Are all prophets?
Are all teachers? Do all do miracles?

Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in languages?
Do all interpret?

But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

Six Days of Creation

The Sixth Day Of Christmas

• Six geese a-laying-Six days of creation

The Creation In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and He called the darkness "night." Evening came, and then morning: the first day.

Then God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water." So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. God called the expanse "sky." Evening came, and then morning: the second day

Chris Dobrowolski - Wonders of Creation

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Then God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. God called the dry land "earth," and He called the gathering of the water "seas." And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds." And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Evening came, and then morning: the third day.

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for festivals and for days and years. They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth." And it was so. God made the two great lights—the greater light to have dominion over the day and the lesser light to have dominion over the night—as well as the stars. God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, to dominate the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. Evening came, and then morning: the fourth day.

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Creation
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Then God said, "Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also createdevery winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So God blessed them, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth." Evening came, and then morning: the fifth day.

Wonders of Creation - Whales Series III

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Then God said, "Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds." And it was so. So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth."

So God created man in His own image;

He created him in the image of God;

He created them male and female.

God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth." God also said, "Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This food will be for you, for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it. I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Evening came, and then morning: the sixth day.

Wonders of Creation - Seal Series I

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Genesis 1

So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. By the seventh day, God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.

Genesis 2:1-3

The Five Books of Moses

The Fifth Day Of Christmas

• Five golden rings-Five books of Moses

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The five books of Moses are the first books of the Old Testament. In the Hebrew Bible they are the books called the Torah.

The Five Books Moses

Genesis - Bereshit

• Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah and the Flood, the Patriarchs and the Matriarchs, and ends with the descent of Jacob and his family to Egypt.
• The commandment of circumcision, the promise to Abraham that he would receive the Land of Israel and that his descendants would be a blessing to the rest of the world.

Exodus - Shmot

• The Hebrew title of this Book refers to the names of the Jews who entered Egypt.
• The exile, the gradual enslavement and suffering. The birth of Moses and his initial prophecies, the ten plagues and the Exodus from Egypt.
• The Revelation at Mt.Sinai, where the Jewish people received the Written and the Oral Torah.
• The building of the Mishkan, a portable Temple which housed the two tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed.

Leviticus - Vayikra

• God calls to Moses and teaches him the laws of the Priests, the Temple, the sacrifices and the Festivals.
• Much of the Jewish code of morality and ethics, including the famous statement "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Numbers - Bamidbar

• The travels, battles and struggles of the Jewish People during their 40 year sojourn in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt.
• Begins with a census of the 12 tribes and describes the formation of their camp.
• The rebellion of Korah, his demise, and the sending of 12 spies into Israel.
• The capture of the East Bank of the Jordan river and the subsequent settlement there of the Tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh.

Deuteronomy - Devarim

• Final address of Moses to the Jewish People before his death. This prophetic farewell includes rebuke, encouragement and warnings for their future.
• Commandments that apply only in Israel.
• Commandments that govern the interaction with other nations.
• Moses writes 13 copies of the complete Torah, giving one to each tribe and placing one in the Holy Ark.
• The Five Books of Moses close with the death of "the greatest of all prophets" and "the most humble of all men," Moses.

-http://ohr.edu

Four Gospels

The Fourth Day Of Christmas

• Four calling birds-Four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)

The word 'gospel' means good news.

There are four gospel accounts in the New Testament:Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The first three gospels are sometimes called the 'synoptic' (same view) gospels. This is because they each cover teaching and miracles by Jesus that are also covered in another account. John, writing later, recounts Jesus' other words and miracles that have a particular spiritual meaning.

All four gospels present Jesus as both the Son of God and son of man. They all record His baptism, the feeding of the 5,000 from five loaves and two fishes, Mary's anointing of the Lord Jesus, His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, His betrayal, trial, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection. However, each writer does so in a slightly different way, recording additional details or emphasizing one aspect more than the others.

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Matthew was one of the first twelve disciples of Jesus (Matthew 9:1; 10:1-4) and therefore an eye-witness; he records more of Jesus' teaching concerning God's heavenly kingdom than the other writers, for example the entire Sermon on the Mount.


Mark was Peter's son (I Peter 5:13, possibly spiritual son), who wrote down what Peter said about who Jesus was, what He did, where He went and what happened; Mark's gospel is therefore Peter's account, an eye-witness account, written down by Mark.


Luke was a doctor and a co-worker with Paul (Colossians 4:14; Philemon v24). Because some spurious stories about Jesus were circulating, Luke decided to interview local eye-witnesses and people who had followed Jesus closely. Luke collated all the interviews into a single account, recording details not mentioned elsewhere, for example regarding the conception and birth of Jesus and Mary's extended family, as you might expect of a doctor.


John was one of the first twelve disciples of Jesus and therefore an eye-witness (John 19:35); John brings out the spiritual significance as well as recording the practical aspects of Jesus' works and words. John lived to be older than any of the other writers. It is therefore likely that he was familiar with their accounts and wanted to supplement theirs with additional teaching and miracles by Jesus which had a bearing on the situation towards the end of the first century AD.

- www.domini.org

Three Gifts

The Third Day Of Christmas

• Three French hens-Three gifts of the wise men, three Christian virtues (Faith, Hope, and Charity), or 3 persons of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)

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The three gifts of the wise men

Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. They opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11

The three Christian Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity (Love)

Now these three remains: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

Faith

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law. Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith. But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.
^{Galations 3:10-12}

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galations 5:22-23

Faith and Works

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his faith save him?

If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself.

But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder.

Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected. So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness , and he was called God's friend. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way, wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by a different route? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

James 2:14-26

Hope

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.

2Thesalonians2:16-17

In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.

1Timothy 4:10

Love

Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy;

is not boastful; is not conceited;

does not act improperly; is not selfish;

is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs;

finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

details

Spice Blocks, Faith Hope Love
Maria Girardi
9 x 9 inches

Fine Art Print
$9.99

The Trinity: God the Father, God the Son - Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit

"In a little while the world will see Me no longer, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live too. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you. The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him."

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it You're going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?"

Jesus answered, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. The one who doesn't love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me.

"I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit ;the Father will send Him in My name;will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

John 14:19-26

Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20

The Bible

The Second Day of Christmas

• Two turtle doves-The two testaments (Old Testament and New Testament)

The Old Testament is the first half of the Bible. The Bible has two sections; the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The Old Testament was composed and compiled between the 12th and the 2nd century BC. The books of the Old Testament were therefore completed before birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus and his disciples based their teachings on them, referring to them as "the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms etc; the scriptures".

Judaism commonly uses the term Tanakh to refer to the old testament, which corresponds to the Protestant Old Testament.The Tanakh is commonly referred to as the Hebrew Bible.

Old Testament

Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua
Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings
1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job
Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Isaiah Jeremiah
Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos
Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah
Haggai Zechariah Malachi

details

6 x 6 inches

2008 Calendar
$11.99

The New Testament is the name given to the final portion of the Christian Bible, written after the Old Testament. It is sometimes called the Greek Testament or Greek Scriptures, or the New Covenant – which is the literal translation of the original Greek.

New Testament

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1Thessalonians, 2Thessalonians, 1Timothy, 2Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3John, Jude, Revelation