🌐🌏💛💁🏿‍♀️*{IN TIMES OF GREAT LOSS*& STRUGGLING!*& FEELING LOST!*READ!*& PRAY FOR A PURPOSE TO LIVE!*& CARRY ON NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THE FOLLOWING VERSES!}👉
(Philipians 3: 13-14)*AMEN!🤗👉

#IN #GREAT #TIMES #OF #LOSS #I #AM
#Straining #Toward #the #Goal
#Amazing #grace #Miracle #Epiphany #Thursday #Devotional #GOD #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #World #People #Remember #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Caring #Hospitality #Love

Alt...

A modern bright colorful painting of a family with two children

To 'see the face' of an authority figure or ruler is a turn of phrase, or idiom. It is not necessarily literal. In the ancient near east, Orient, and Mesopotamia, 'the face' of a ruler meant his representative or authorized agent. If you see the king's ambassador, you are seeing the king's 'face'. Jesus even said,

"He that hath seen me hath seen the Father."

Jesus was not claiming to be the Father. He was claiming to be his 'face' or representative.

'Jacob' means 'supplanter'. He supplanted Esau in the birthright of the older brother, in the same way that Christ and the Apostles supplanted Judea with the new body of Christ. Paul the Apostle explains this:

"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all."

The story of Jacob versus Esau and Isaac and Ishmael are prophecy of the struggle between fleshly Israel and Christ, who supplants the kingdom of Judea with the new body of Christ, the people of the new covenant. Thus Paul said:

"Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. [note: The Jews who persecuted the Nazarenes are Ishmael.] Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."

Judea was cast out and supplanted by the new covenant believers. This is Jacob, or Israel, taking Esau's birthright, as prophesied in Genesis. The New Covenant people supplanted the Old Covenant people. This is Jacob supplanting Esau and becoming Israel. Paul directly identifies the ancient Judeans as the Hagar or Ishmael of the Old Testament, contiguous to the Esau of Genesis:

"For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children."

Thus the ancient Jews were not Israel:

"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."

In this same vein Paul elaborates that the Jews of his day are actually Esau rather than Jacob:

"It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."

The flesh is Esau. The spirit is Israel. The spiritual are counted for the seed, while the flesh is counted for the elder who is rejected and supplanted by the younger Jacob / supplanter.

'Israel' means he that rules with God or as God, and means that Israel is God's new 'face'.

Jesus is the head of Israel. The believers are the body of Christ or Israel.

Anyone who sees a true Nazarene minister who knows and speaks the truth of Christ's gospel without lies or hypocrisy, is 'seeing the face of Christ.'

#Bible #Christ #Christian #Israel #Church #Theology #Gospel

Been pretty busy these last few days in the lead-up to Christmas but I hope everyone has a great day tomorrow (or today, if you're overseas)!

Remember the true meaning of Christmas: faith, family, joy, gratitude. Everything else is secondary, don't take those things for granted!

#Christmas #ChristmasEve #xmas #holiday #Christ #Christian

"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:"

God is orders of magnitude beyond genius. But sadly Christians don't seem to think God can save on account of man's "omnipotent" free will thwarting God's plan.

The problem with the Christian religion is that their religious leaders think God needs their help to 'spread the gospel' and 'save souls'. In truth, God has been spreading the gospel in spite of the Christian religion perverting it for sixteen plus centuries.

#Bible #Christ #Christian #Jesus #Church #Universalism #Hellfire #Religion #Gospel

*~*By Faith We Are Divinely Sure!*The Word of God can never fail!*It is the rock of ages!*When Satan doth my faith assail!*Or doubt its battle wages!*No more shall fear my soul enfold!*Since I by faith God’s grace behold!*Which every fear doth banish!*~*

#Thursday #Devotional #GOD #Love #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Caring #Hospitality #Helping #Others #Gentleness #Lord

Alt...

A gorgeous bright colorful picture of hands making a heart of gratitude and love!

🤗🟠🍄🏵️❇️💮🌿🍃🍂🟠🍄🏵️❇️💮🌿🍃🍂🤍🩶🤎🧡🩷💗💛💚💜🟠🍄🏵️❇️💮🌿🍃🍂🟠🍄🏵️❇️💮🌿🍃🍂🤗*By Faith We Are Divinely Sure!*The Word of God can never fail!*It is the rock of ages!*When Satan doth my faith assail!*Or doubt its battle wages!*No more shall fear my soul enfold!*Since I by faith God’s grace behold!*Which every fear doth banish!🤗🟠🍄🏵️🏵️💮🌿🍃🍂🟠🍄🏵️❇️💮🌿🍃🍂🤍🩶🤎🧡🩷💗💛💚💜🟠🍄🏵️❇️💮🌿🍃🍂🟠🍄🏵️❇️💮🌿🍃🍂🤗

#Thursday #Devotional #GOD #Love #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Lord

🤗🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃❤️💙🩵🤍🩶🤎🧡🩷💗💛💚💜🌐🌏✝️💦❤️‍🔥🕊️👑☁️🌈☁️💒🛐🫂🏩❤️💙🩵🤍🩶🤎🧡🩷💗💛💚💜🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🤗*By Faith We Are Divinely Sure!*The Word of God can never fail!*It is the rock of ages!*When Satan doth my faith assail!*Or doubt its battle wages!*No more shall fear my soul enfold!*Since I by faith God’s grace behold!*Which every fear doth banish!🤗🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃❤️💙🩵🤍🩶🤎🧡🩷💗💛💚💜🌐🌏☁️🌈☁️💒🏩🛐🫂✝️💦❤️‍🔥🕊️👑❤️💙🩵🤍🩶🤎🧡🩷💗💛💚💜🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🤗

#Thursday #Devotional #GOD #Love #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Lord

*~*Just as I am!*though tossed about!*With many a conflict!*many a doubt!*Fightings!*& fears within!*without!*O Lamb of God!*I come!*I come!*~*

#Wednesday #Devotional #GOD #Love #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #People #Remember #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Caring #Hospitality #Helping #Others #Gentleness #Understanding #Everyone #Saints #Glory #Lord #Discernment

Alt...

A beautiful blue house with white trim and a roofed curved drive thru held up by pillars attached to the house

🤗💮💠🏵️🌼🌺🌸❇️🪻💚🧡💗🩶💛🩷🩵💙🤍❤️💮💠🏵️🌼🌺🌸❇️🪻🤗*Just as I am!*though tossed about!*With many a conflict!*many a doubt!*Fightings!*& fears within!*without!*O Lamb of God!*I come!*I come!🤗💮💠🏵️🌼🌺🌸❇️🪻💚🧡💗🩶💛🩷🩵💙🤍❤️💮💠🏵️🌼🌺🌸❇️🪻🤗

#Wednesday #Devotional #GOD #Love #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #People #Remember #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Caring #Hospitality #Helping #Others #Gentleness #Understanding #Everyone #Saints #Glory #Lord #Discernment

🤗❇️❇️❇️🕊️🦜🐦🐦‍⬛🩵💙🖤💚💗🩶💛🤎🌐🌏🛐🫂☁️🌈☁️💒🏩✝️👑💦❤️‍🔥🩵💙🖤💚💗🩶💛🤎🦜🐦🐦‍⬛🕊️❇️❇️❇️🤗*Just as I am!*though tossed about!*With many a conflict!*many a doubt!*Fightings!*& fears within!*without!*O Lamb of God!*I come!*I come!🤗❇️❇️❇️🦜🐦🐦‍⬛🕊️🩵💙🖤💚💗🩶💛🤎🌐🌏🛐🫂☁️🌈☁️💒🏩✝️✝️💦❤️‍🔥🕊️🩵💙🖤💚💗🩶💛🤎🕊️🦜🐦🐦‍⬛❇️❇️❇️🤗

#Wednesday #Devotional #GOD #Love #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #People #Remember #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Caring #Hospitality #Helping #Others #Gentleness #Understanding #Everyone

#Christ riding a #devil (Luke 4:5, Matthew 4:8). Carrow Psalter, England ca. 1250. Baltimore, Walters Manuscript W.34, fol. 26v.
#medieval #MedievalArt

Alt...

#Christ riding a #devil (Luke 4:5, Matthew 4:8). Carrow Psalter, England ca. 1250. Baltimore, Walters Manuscript W.34, fol. 26v. #medieval #MedievalArt

🤗🕊️🐥🐦‍⬛🦜🕊️🐥🐦‍⬛🦜🌽🌽🌽🌽🌽🌽🌽🟤🟣🟢🟡🟠⚪🔴💛🧡💚💗🩶🤎❤️🩵💒🏩🛐🫂👑💦❤️‍🔥✝️🕊️☁️🌈☁️🌐🌏💛🧡💚💗🩶🤎❤️🩵🟣🟢🟡🟠⚪🔴🟤🌽🌽🌽🌽🌽🌽🐥🐦‍⬛🦜🐥🐦‍⬛🦜🤗*By Grace I’m Saved!*By grace!*This ground of faith is certain!*So long as God is true!*it stands!*What saints have penned by inspiration!*What in His Word our God commands!*What our whole faith must rest upon!*Is grace alone!*grace in His Son!🤗🐥🐦‍⬛🦜🌽🌽🌽🟣🟢🟡🟠⚪🔴🟤💛🧡💚💗🩶🤎❤️🩵🌐🌏☁️🌈☁️💒🏩🛐🫂👑💦❤️‍🔥✝️🕊️💛🧡💚🤎🩵🟣🟢🟡🟠⚪🔴🟤🌽🌽🌽🐥🐦‍⬛🦜🕊️🤗

#Wednesday #Grace #Devotional #GOD #Love #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth

Like food for thought, the Word of God in the #Bible transforms our spirits into God's likeness. "Taste and see that the Lord is good!" Psalm 34:8

Praise brings our prayers into God's presence. "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name." Psalm 100:4

The faith of a mustard seed, is knowing you're already equipped with everything needed to become like the One who made you. "“If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you." Luke 17:6

When we truly believe we're in God's will, we can reach out our hands to help others, knowing we're heirs to His promise to never forsake us. "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. John 14:15-18

When we're faithful to God, we're equipped to have faith in Him.
"Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.'" Mark 11:22-24

#Christian #Messiah #Faith #Jesus #JesusChrist #Christ

Alt...

An artistic rendition of an illuminated silhouette of Jesus' bowed head. He is fitted with a thorny crown. The image is reminiscent of a total eclipse of the sun. Within the image of Christ's head is a Cross formed by white light. A masculine hand, raised in praise toward the Cross, is faintly outlined by the light beams emanating from the Messiah's mind.

I am doing some research on the nativity of Jesus of Nazareth. I am looking into the many sectarian traditions and scholarly opinions on this subject.

I would like to get hermeneutic opinions and off the cuff opinions on some groundwork questions.

1. What actual year do you think Jesus was born?

2. How old was Mary when she was married?

3. How did Mary conceive?

4. What is the significance of his birthplace?

5. What is the significance of the Magi who sought him after his birth?

6. Why was it necessary or significant for an angel to tell Mary she was going to conceive?

Where possible, links or citations would be useful for particular opinions or traditional explanations.

#bible #jesus #theology #mary #miriam #virginbirth #nativity #incarnation #christ #christianity

@theology@a.gup.pe @christianity@a.gup.pe @religion@a.gup.pe @academicchatter@a.gup.pe @infostorm@a.gup.pe

He said, "Of course I may be wrong,
But I wouldn’t be surprised
If this were the greatest Christian church
That ever man devised.

Our organ is the very best
Our choir stays on key.
Our stained glass windows — priceless
Our pulpit — the best you’ll see."

But only the wealthy were welcome there,
I heard slanderous gossip galore,
And from that pulpit so highly prized
The preacher glorified war.

"Is there anything more you could want in a church?"
In pride, he said to me.
"Just one thing," I made reply —

"Christianity!"

-- Peace Pilgrim --

#christian #church #religion #christianity #bible #christ #faith #prayer

@religion@a.gup.pe @infostorm@a.gup.pe @bible@a.gup.pe @poetry@a.gup.pe

Alt...

A black and white photo of a woman known by the moniker, "Peace Pilgrim" with the words, "Peace Pilgrim" printed on her shirt.