Believers -- Slaves to JESUS - not slaves to sin.

             Galatians 3:23-28 .........
Galatians 4:1-7  I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything,
2  but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.
3  In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.
4  But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
5  to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
6  And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
7  So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Remember the REASON FOR the SEASON

                                                 MERRY CHRISTMAS

                     REMEMBER the LIGHT, the WORD and REASON for the SEASON                   
John 1:1-18  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2  He was in the beginning with God.
3  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
8  He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9  The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10  He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
11  He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15  (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)
16  For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
17  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18  No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

The LIGHT of the world

John 8:12  Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  

John 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 

Are YOU the One?

Matthew 11:2-11  Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples
Mat 11:3  and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
4  And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 
5  the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 
6  And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 
7  As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 
8  What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 
9  What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 
10  This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 
11  Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

Jesus is the Hope of All

                                                                JESUS is the HOPE of ALL

Romans 15:5-13 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
6  that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7  Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
8  For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
9  and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”
10  And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11  And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”
12  And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Look HE is coming

                                                             The Triumphal Entry

Matthew 21:1-9  Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2  saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 
3  If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 
4  This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5  “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
6  The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.
7  They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.
8  Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9  And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Watch, Be Prepared -- HE IS COMING

                                                             The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:1-13  “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
2  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 
3  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 
4  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 
5  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 
6  But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
7  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 
8  And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 
9  But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 
10  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 
11  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 
12  But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 
13  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. 

                                  FILL our FLASKS with THE WORD of GOD

HAVE A HAPPY and BLESSED THANKSGIVING and remember to give THANKS to the LORD in ALL things

Colossians 3:17  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1Thessalonians  5:18  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Ephesians 5:20  giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

THANKS to YOU LORD for -- Cold weather and the snows that keeps insects (such as mosquitoes) under control --

Let it be known -- The LORD is coming

                                                      THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM

Luke 17:20-30  Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them,“The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 
21  nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” 
22  And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 
23  And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 
24  For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 
25  But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 
26  Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 
27  They w n Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 
28  Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 
29  but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 
30  so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 

Trust in the Lord

Psalm 18:2  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my  stronghold. 

Isaiah 26:4  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
 
Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
7  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

Sing Praises to the LORD

                                                          ALL SAINT'S DAY
                                                              Nov. 4, 2018

Psalm 30:4  Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.

And the TRUTH is........

                                                                    The Truth Will Set You Free

John 8:31-36  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 
32  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 
33  They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34  Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 
35  The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
36  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 

JESUS IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS

                                                     For God So Loved the World

John 3:16 - 21 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 
17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
19  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 
20  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 
21  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” 

It would be wise to bear good fruit

                                               THE PARABLE OF THE TENANTS

Matthew 21:33-44 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. 
34  When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 
35  And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 
36  Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 
37  Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 
38  But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 
39  And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 
40  When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 
41  They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
42  Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 
43  Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 
44  And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” 

AUTHORITY & JUDGEMENT

                                                 JESUS HEALS A PARALYTIC

Matthew 9:1-8  And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.
2  And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 
3  And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
4  But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 
5  For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 
6  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
7  And he rose and went home.
8  When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

The Great Commandment

                                               THE GREAT COMMANDMENT

Mat 22:34 - 46  But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.
35  And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.
36  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
37  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 
38  This is the great and first commandment. 
39  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 
40  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” 
                                                     Whose Son Is the Christ?
41  Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,
42  saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.”
43  He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 
44  “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? 
45  If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 
46  And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Humble yourself to be exalted

                                                              The Parable of the Wedding Feast
Luke 14:7-11 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,
8  “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 
9  and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 
10  But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 
11  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

Be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit

                                                         Prayer for Spiritual Strength
Ephesians 3:13-21 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15  from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
21  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Do Not be anxious

                                                DO NOT BE ANXIOUS

Matthew 6:25-34  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 
26  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
27  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 
28  And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 
29  yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these
30  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 
31  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 
32  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 
33  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 
34  “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 

Don't forget to be THANKFUL

     
                                             Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers

Luke 17:11-19  On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.
12  And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance
13  and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
14  When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
15  Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;
16  and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
17  Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 
18  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 
19  And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” 

Know your neighbor -- Go and do likewise

Luke 10:28-37 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29  But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30  Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 
31  Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
32  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 
33  But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 
34  He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 
35  And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 
36  Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 
37  He said, “The one who showed him mercy.”  And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” 

Hear the Word - Believe the Message

                                             The SIMPLICITY of being SAVED

ROMANS 10:9-17  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
11  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
12  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
13  For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
15  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
17  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Be Humble - Let God do the exalting

                     The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
LUKE 18:9-14  He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
10  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 
11  The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 
12  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
13  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 
14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

God's Gifts by the Spirit

                                                   GIFTS from GOD

1 Corinthians  12:1-11  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
2  You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.
3  Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
4  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5  and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8  For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
9  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Fear Not

Matthew 10:28-33  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
29  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
30  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
31  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32  So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
33  but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Judge ....But do NOT be deceived

                             

                              DO  NOT   BE   DECEIVED

Matthew 7:15--20  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 
16  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? 
17  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 
18  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
19  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 
20  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

                                         DEAD to SIN, ALIVE to GOD
Romans 6:1-11  What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
2  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live
3  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
6  We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
7  For one who has died has been set free from sin.
8  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
9  We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
10  For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
11  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Jesus tells His disciples they will be fishers of men

Luke 5:1-11 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,
2  and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
3  Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4  And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 
5  And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”
6  And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.
7  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
8  But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
9  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,
10  and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 
11  And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Judge Not, Lest .......

Luke 6:36–38
36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;  
38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Romans 12:14–21 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited.
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him 6 something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Nativity of John the Baptist

                                    LUKE 1-57-80 The Birth of John the Baptist
Luke 1:57  Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
58  And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59  And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,
60  but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” ..............
62  And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.
63  And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. ...............
Luke 1:67  And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68  “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people ......
Luke 1:76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77  to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,  .......
79  to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80  And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

When the lost are found - REJOICE!

                               PARABLE of the lost sheep and the lost coin

Luke 15:1-10  Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. ...
3  So he told them this parable:
4  “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 
5  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 
6  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 
7  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 

8  “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 
9  And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 
10  Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 

Do not make excuses, COME

Luke14:15-24 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
16  But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.
17  And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
18  But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 
19  And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’
20  And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’
21  So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’
22  And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’
23  And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.
Luke 14:24  For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

Now is the time to repent ....NOW ....before it is too late

Luke 16:19-31 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20  And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21  who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22  The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,
23  and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
24  And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
25  But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
26  And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
27  And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—
28  for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
29  But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
30 And he said "No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31  He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

The Trinity and Jesus' command

Mat 28:19-20  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 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

Pentecost - tongues as of fire

                                                                  PENTECOST
ACTS 2:1-21
1  When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
2  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
4  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. ................... Acts 2:21  And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

The end of all things is coming - Rejoice!

                                                       As a Christian REJOICE
1Peter 4:7-14
7  The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
8  Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
9  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
11  whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
                                                        Suffering as a Christian
12  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
13  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
14  If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Pray for ALL people

1Timothy 2:1-6
 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
2  for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
3  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
4  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6  who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Sorrow will turn to Joy and no one can take it from you

John 16:16-22  “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 
17  So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?”
18  So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.”
19  Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 
20  Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 
21  When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 
22  So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 

JESUS - Everyone's Good Shepherd

John 10:11-16  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed

^{John 20:19-29}  On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

²⁴ Now Thomas,....... one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

He is Risen !!

   Mark 16:1-8 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³ and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
⁴ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
⁸ Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

The Name that is above every name....

                                Philippians 2:5-11
                          
⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Believe and Live - Deny and Die

  ^{John 8:42-59 42} Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. ⁴³ Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.
⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵ But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. ⁴⁶ Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? ⁴⁷ Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”  Before Abraham Was, I Am
⁴⁸ The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” ⁴⁹ Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰ Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹ Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” ⁵² The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” ⁵⁴ Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ ⁵⁵ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” ⁵⁷ So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”^{[b] 58} Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” ⁵⁹ So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.