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So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 
(1 Corinthians 10:31 -- ESV)

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Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

(Hebrews 12:1-2 -- ESV) 

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What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!  What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!  Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!

(by Joseph M. Scriven)

    

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 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."  (Matthew 7:7 -- ESV)

 

 

 

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For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

(Psalm 91:11 -- ESV) 

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For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

(Psalm 139:13 -- ESV) 

For every beast of the forest is mine,
    the cattle on a thousand hills.
¹¹ I know all the birds of the hills,
    and all that moves in the field is mine.
(Psalm 50:10-11 -- ESV)

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

(Matthew 19:26 -- ESV)

Collect for Peace: 

O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed, give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments, and also that we, being defended by You from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in peace and quietness;  through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

(Revelation 21:4 -- ESV) 

“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you."

(Matthew 7:6 -- ESV)

Are you ready? 
Do you have your ticket? 

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Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

(John 6:35 -- ESV) 

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“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
(Matthew 7:24-27 -- ESV) 

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?

(Matthew 6:26 -- ESV)

1. Jesus, lead Thou on
Till our rest is won;
And although the way be cheerless,
We will follow calm and fearless.
Guide us by Thy hand
To our fatherland.
2. If the way be drear,
If the foe be near,
Let not faithless fears o'ertake us;
Let not faith and hope forsake us;
For through many a woe
To our home we go.
3. When we seek relief
From a long-felt grief;
When temptations come alluring,
Make us patient and enduring;
Show us that bright shore
Where we weep no more.
4. Jesus, lead Thou on
Till our rest is won.
Heavenly Leader, still direct us,
Still support, control, protect us,
Till we safely stand
In our fatherland.

Cento by Christian Gregor, 1723-1801
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897

Happy Epiphany!

"We three kings of Orient are . . . "

(there weren't necessarily three, they likely weren't kings, and they were probably not from the Orient)

 

Mary wrapped the first Christmas present
(in swaddling clothes).

The wise men were not at the manger.  They came later. 

1) In Luke 2:21, Jesus was circumcised at 8 days old. 

2) In Luke 2:22-24, Jesus was presented at the temple after Mary’s 40 days of “uncleanness” had passed.

3) In Matthew 2:2, the wise men said they came after they saw the star (“from the east” isn’t a short journey to Bethlehem).

4) In Matthew 2:11, the wise men visited the HOUSE where Jesus was. 

5) In Matthew 2:14, Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt (had to be at least 41 days after he was born). 

6) In Matthew 2:16, Herod killed all the babies under 2, (“according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men”). 

 

 

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

(Proverbs 3:5-6 -- KJV)