Killing of Infants

Born of a Virgin!

I have to give photo credit to Hannah as she has taken all these beautiful pictures that I'm using!  Such a talented and beautiful young lady! <3 p="p">

Day 2!

Prophecy Advent Calendar

I just can't believe we are in December already and the count down to Christmas is on!  25 days to go!  One of the things I love thinking about over this season are all the prophecies about Jesus, it always amazes me. There is a statistic that says the chances are of one man fulfilling 8 of the prophecies is 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000!!!  I won't even hazard a guess at the 25 that I am going to post!  Today will be Day 1 of my Advent Calendar with the prophecy about Jesus from the Old Testament and the New Testament revelation of how Jesus fulfilled that prophecy.  I hope they bless you as much as they bless me!

Don't you just love the last part of this scripture - "whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."  Such a beautiful reference to the trinity - Jesus came from ancient times!

This is my favourite scripture of all time!  Just the thought of the Father rejoicing over me is so amazing. I know that the Father loves me, that He cares about my well-being and forgives me again and again and again (actually AND AGAIN!), but the thought that He rejoices over me with gladness!  What really puts the icing on the cupcake is the meaning of the word rejoice!  I looked in my dictionary and rejoice is "to be glad or to take delight".  The Father takes delight in me! But... in Hebrew the word for rejoice is guwl - "to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion)"!  This is no small emotion, no quiet delight or gentle feeling but a dancing, spinning, rejoicing, delighting, laughing, singing delight!!!  Absolute delight!!!  That's how much He loves me - with an ALL consuming love!  Singing a never ending song of rejoicing over my life!  Wow, I have to say that it surprises me that He would love me that much.  Does it surprise you that He loves you that much?  Because He does!

(I had to mention that this is one of Hannah's photographs taken this summer of a Pride of India tree (or Crepe Myrtle) and was just so beautiful that I had to use it for this scripture!)

Gentleness

Gentleness is something I have been working on for the last 6 months, in fact gentleness is really not one of my more dominant characteristics!  I have been told I am a little like "a bull in a china shop", that "I go where angels fear to tread" and let's not even mention the word "stubborn"!  Even though my middle name is Ann which means grace, I still lack grace, mercy and gentleness.

Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit - one of the ones towards the end that we easily forget!  Love, joy, peace, those ones roll off my tongue very quickly but gentleness....... self-control......  I tend to forget those ones!  Gentleness is something that comes from abiding in Christ, letting the Holy Spirit have control.  It is something that only the Holy Spirit can produce - for that I am so thankful, for if I tried to attain it by my own efforts my sarcasm and irritation would rise to the surface.  My desire for my own way would always win!!!

Phil 4:5 says "Let your gentleness be evident to all, the Lord is near."  I have always wanted to be classified as a 'strong, independent woman' and in many ways I am.  I never considered the fact that a strong woman can also be gentle.  She can choose to deal with her family, her friends, people that she encounters, gently - simply because she can!  Not letting anger, harsh words and discontent rise up but having control over her emotions as THAT is what makes her strong!  It's so easy to lash out, pout, tell that person off - after all "they deserve it....."   Self-control - that requires strength.  Gentleness - that requires strength.  I found it so interesting to consider all those gentle, loving women in my life and realised that they are the strong ones!