“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
Psalm 50:14-15
“Prayer”
Father God, give me the wisdom You have promised to those who seek You. I thank You and Praise You in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

Isaiah was a Hebrew prophet who was believed to have lived about 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Born in Jerusalem, Israel, he was said to have found his calling as a prophet when he saw a vision in the year of King Uzziah’s death. Isaiah prophesized the coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ. The first thirty-nine chapters (like the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament) are filled with judgment upon immoral and idolatrous men. Judah has sinned; the surrounding nations have sinned; the whole Earth has sinned. Judgment must come, for God cannot allow such blatant sin to go unpunished forever. But the final twenty-seven chapters (like the twenty-seven books of the New Testament) declare a message of hope. The Messiah is coming as a Savior and a Sovereign to bear a cross and to wear a crown.
Isaiah 9:6 says teaches us that Jesus is coming and that the will “be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah told of Jesus’ coming many years before Jesus’ birth and God’s people looked for Jesus for many years. Our kids will learn that Jesus is a very good gift from God.
So, Mary God picked to be Jesus’s mother which was God coming as baby Jesus, she was a young Jewish girl that lived in the town of Nazareth. She was engaged to Joseph, who was a carpenter. One day the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary. The angel said, “Mary, you will give birth to a son. Give Him the name Jesus, who is the Son of God.” Mary conceived the child by the Holy Spirit. Mary visited Elizabeth who was expecting a baby “John the Baptist”. About three months later, Mary returned to her home. Then the angel appeared to Joseph, telling him to marry Mary. Joseph obeyed. The king demanded the Jewish people to go to their hometown and register. Joseph took Mary with him and went to Bethlehem. When they finally arrived, the city was full of people. Where would they sleep? There was no room at the inn. Finally, Joseph found a humble place, a stable. During the night, baby Jesus was born. Mary placed baby Jesus in a manger. That same night some shepherds were watching their sheep in a nearby field. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared. He said, “Today in the city of David, a Savior was born.” Then a multitude of angels appeared, saying, “Glory to God in heaven.” The shepherds quickly went and found baby Jesus lying in a manger. They worshiped Jesus, the Savior. Some wise men from the east saw a special star in the sky. They followed the star, looking for the newborn king of the Jews. When they finally arrived in Bethlehem, they saw the shiny bright star above a house. Entering, they saw the child Jesus with His mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped Jesus, giving Him precious gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. Then the wise men returned to their home. Being warned by an angel, Joseph took Mary and baby Jesus to Egypt. Later when it was safe, they returned and lived in the town of Nazareth. Nazareth was an uncelebrated, forgotten town, off the beaten path, even for Galilee. Here in this sleepy town, Jesus’s father and mother story began, and returned. They were Nazarenes. And it was only a matter of time before it would be the moniker that his enemies, and the demons besides, would use to throw shade on his credibility. “Jesus of Nazareth.”
“Jesus grew in strength, Birth of Jesus Foretold
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Mary Visits Elizabeth) At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth and wisdom. God blessed Jesus.

Luke 1:26-40;
“The Birth of Jesus”
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Luke 2:1-21,
“Jesus Presented in the Temple”
When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Luke 2:22-40
“The Boy Jesus at the Temple”
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Luke 2:41-52
“Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son”
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph’s son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25

The Lord watches over you, the Lord is your shade at your right hand: the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm, he will watch over your life.
Psalm 121:5-7
“Prayer”
Dear Lord, how precious is the assurance of Your presence!I thank You and praise You that You are forever protecting me from harm. I love You, and I entrust my whole life into Your hands in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest;
God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.
Psalm 67:5-7
“Prayer”
Loving Father, thank You for Your blessings, because they demonstrate to the world Your love for me. I thank You and praise You in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”. Psalm 29:11
“Prayer”
Abba Father, help me to follow Your will with eagerness, knowing that doing so is the surest path to peace in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Matthew 7:7-9
“Prayer”
Heavenly Father, Thou hast prepared things for us that we can have if only we believe. May we come to You in our weakness and ask in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. To show partiality is not good, yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread. The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.
Proverbs 28:20-22
“Prayer”
Abba Father, help me to remember that there are many ways to worship and rejoice in any kind of day You make for us. Let me be a giving person in Your Precious Name Jesus Amen.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.

James 4:10

“Prayer”
Lord, help me to be honest and humble enough to acknowledge my need of moral and spiritual help from others as well as Your divine help in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

“A faithful man shall abound with blessings.

Proverbs 28:20

“Prayer”
Lord, help me to remember that there are many ways to rejoice in any kind of day You make for us in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

As far as healing, Jesus also knew everyone’s thoughts and hearts. But the disciples and everyone Jesus came in contact with were unaware. Through this Christmas season it is about Jesus everyday of life. So, as we reach Jesus’s Birthday, we can look at the memories as Jesus as teacher. The questions He asked and the truth He taught, and Jesus did not pat sin on the back. Jesus was not afraid to let anyone know when they were being a hypocrite.
Jesus said, why do you harbor evil thoughts? This really made me do a mind check.
Matthew 9:4 NIV
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?
Jesus even knows unexpressed thoughts. In Jesus omniscience as God in the flesh, he knew the condition of the human heart, the evil thoughts that soar our consciences and cause so much trouble in our relationships with one another.
This alone should have been enough for Jesus to prove His deity, demonstrating that He knows evil hearts. He knows the good and the bad thoughts. Because God gave us our powerful minds as a gift not to use as a weapon. The mind can heal the body, but the body cannot heal the mind. Jesus offers a greater proof of His deity. Healing and forgiveness are impossible with man. Only the promise of healing could be immediately proven, because though you can’t see someone’s sin being forgiven, you can see that they are healed.
I like this verse from Psalm 139:2, NIV: You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. since God deals with people individually, don’t be discouraged if even your family is without understanding as to what He is telling you, nor be deterred by what they think or say.
Having the grace of God is a wonderful gift, but if we neglect such a gift by turning away from God and His way of life, we would fall from it (It reads in Hebrews 6:4-6 NIV It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance.). But here is the encouraging thing to know: God wants us to continue in His grace, and He will help us to do that by guiding us in His righteousness. Our choice is what makes us. We do right, Hey! We do wrong we will fallout of grace into hell. Sin makes a person feel like they have been through Hell until they turn themselves down the right path. Unfortunately, not everyone who has been the recipient of that grace truly appreciates the magnitude of that grace. We all have known someone who has had “backslid.” I know a guy who was solid as a rock for Christ the vast majority of his life. He mentored me as a new believer, taught me about prayer, made sure I and my siblings were in church drove us almost every week, took my sister and myself to choir, events, etc. He was very active in evangelism in the city and fearlessly declared the Gospel of Jesus Christ, both to those who hated and scorned him, as well as those who listened respectfully. I miss Mr. Sargent but God put him in our life for a reason. As well as all other mentors and kind people all my life. They showed and walked the testimony of Jesus Christ and grace. Thank you, Paul gets me, to thinking of how grateful to God I am on His journey.
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
Acts 5:42
Jesus was all of it! If we are to experience what they enjoyed, the emphasis must again be placed upon Jesus. “Neither is their salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. So, through this Christmas season think back on Jesus and why this season is the season of giving.
I think on this question Jesus says you blind fools! Teaching them the difference between what is rooted and what is not rooted. Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? They sinned even against common sense; according to the judgment of which that thing, on account of which another thing is of a certain character, must be much more so, than that which merely derives its character.
Matthew 23:17
Layers of condemnation, from Jesus, towards the religious leaders of His era. Pronouncing God’s judgment on these men, Jesus repeatedly describes them as “blind” and “hypocrites.” Convincing others of their views only adds victims to hell.
You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? ( That argue after so ridiculous a manner, that make use of such thin dishonesty, that everybody may see through it; who must be stupid and drunk to the last degree, and their minds foolishly blinded with greed; as to please and satisfy themselves: with so poor a distinction; that would by no means serve them, but make against them:) You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ You blind men!
Matthew 23:17-19
God’s sacred temple, to be sure: for that was the seat of the divine majesty; built for Jesus to dwell in, and in which he took up his residence; and was dedicated to his service, and in it was divine worship performed unto him. The temple was sanctified by the presence of God in it; and the gold sanctified by the temple, being devoted to the service of it: whatever holiness it had, it had it from the temple, and therefore the temple must be greater than that; and consequently it must be most extravagantly ridiculous and foolish in them, to make oaths by the gold of the temple, and gifts dedicated to its service, and on that score sanctified by it, more binding and sacred than such as were by the temple itself.
“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”

Matthew 17:17 NIV

Unbelieving and perverse generation. The failure to cure, the catechizing of the scribes, and the effect produced on the people, proved that all presents were unbelieving and liable to be led astray. But the term ‘generation’ requires a still wider reference to the race and generation, whom this company represented.
It reads in Matthew 17:14-21: Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy: they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him. ” You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
So we are unable to do anything for Jesus apart from an utterly dependent faith in Jesus.
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now, is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Romans 13:11-13 KJV
The person who has the light ought to be shining. Let your light so shine that men may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in Heaven.

Here is another question Jesus asks:
Jesus said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?

Matthew 12:11

So, if someone A man with a withered, shriveled hand stands before a crowd at the synagogue. Jesus and the disciples are there, along with a group of Pharisees who hope to catch Jesus breaking a command of the law of Moses. Violates the Pharisees’ traditional rules about what counts as “work” on a Sabbath day. Jesus said unto them, well knowing their intentions, and also their usages and customs, which he was able to produce and object to them; in which, through covetousness, they showed more regard to their beasts, than they did humanity to their fellow creatures: But certain types of healing activities were also prohibited, because they involved grinding herbs or other “work” activities not allowed on the Sabbath. Many people had long-term illnesses and simply lived with them through the Sabbath. It appears that even Jesus did not generally heal on the Sabbath. Another reason Jesus healed on the Sabbath was to remind people of why God instituted the Sabbath day of rest. The Sabbath was meant to benefit people as much as to glorify God: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27, ~ Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath day was made for man. Man was not made for the Sabbath day.). The Sabbath helped people recuperate (mentally and physically) after a week of work and redirect their focus from the daily routine to God. Christ poses a series of questions. These show that the Pharisees’ manmade standard for “working” on the Sabbath is faulty. Therefore, their accusation is empty. God’s laws are meant to be followed, but they are also meant to be understood. Just as God’s laws mean more than avoiding only physical sins, they are also not meant to prevent men from doing good when the situation requires it. Going even further, Jesus declares Himself Lord of the Sabbath. (Matthew 5:27–28, ~ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.) There is good wisdom in every commandment learned and obeyed.
It reads in Matthew 12:1-14 “At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So, he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
Here is another question Jesus asks: Do you believe I can do this?
{Jesus Heals the Blind and the Mute}
It reads in Matthew 9:27-34, ~ As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region. While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

Sometimes it means trusting even when it feels like God is silent. Sometimes it means walking behind Jesus without being sure of where he is going or when things are going to turn around for us. Where others see darkness or fear, the way of grace sees God at work. A clear memory of God’s past blessings will keep us from panic at the thought of present-day problems. He is still the same and is up to any emergency that may come upon you.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV”

Father God, search me and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. I do not want to live my life as the hypocritical Pharisees did, appearing righteous and good on the outside, but on the inside, full of greed, self-indulgence, jealousy and wickedness. Lord Jesus, I confess any hidden sins to You today, knowing that You know them already. I believe that I would live every day in sincerity and truth, lifting up Your Holy Name I thank You and praise You that You are in control of all that is happening in my life and throughout the world, and beyond. I believe that while I am here, You will take my life and use me in whatever way You choose, that I may be a faithful witness and bring glory to Your Name, in my small corner of this world. I believe for the leaders and government of this nation and believe that You would expose and punish the evildoers and being men and women of integrity to lead our country. I thank You that Jesus came to earth to become my Savior. I thank You and praise You that He did not come to please Himself but was prepared to say: Thy will be done, even when He faced the cross, knowing that it was only by His death that we can have life. I am believing Your mercy on those that have been blinded to the truth by the enemy of our soul and believe that even today, many would come to faith in Jesus Christ and discover that in Him is life and light for evermore in Your Holy Name Amen.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV