Subscription Lists

Everlasting

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.” Luke 1:31-33 (ESV)

God sent the angel Gabriel to give Mary the news of the impending birth of her baby, the Holy One.

Gabriel tells us that 1.) Her baby would be great. 2.) He would be called the Son of the Most High. 3.) He would reign over the house of Jacob forever. 4.) His kingdom would never end.

In our world, all things come to an end. Cars wear out, clothes also wear out, Flora and fauna don’t last forever. Friendships can end. Houses sometimes have to be demolished.

The things that last are God and His Word.

Savior

My soul magnifies the LORD,

and my soul rejoices in God my Savior.

For he has looked on the humble estate/of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

Luke 1:46-48 (ESV)

Mary rejoices that God chose her for the task of bearing His son. She calls God her Savior. He kept her from being stoned. The Hebrew Law had strict words concerning adultery and those caught in the act. Joseph, her fiancé could have divorced her but the angel of God told him to stay with Mary.

God through Jesus Christ saves us from our sins. He takes our hard stone-like and replaces it with a tender heart “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV)

God also saves us from personal danger as we go through life. I once heard the story of a man who overslept and went in late to his factory job a bit late one day. When he arrived on the assembly line, he learned that a baking furnace that sat next to where he worked had exploded before he arrived. God watched over him and saved him from severe injury.

Provider

Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”

Genesis 22:8,14 (ESV)

We all have heard the story of Abraham and Isaac and Abraham’s discussion as they journeyed to the mount of God to offer a sacrifice. Isaac noticed they had all the supplies they needed except the animal for the offering. Abraham responded that the LORD would provide.

In each of our lives, the LORD has provided for us. Employment, shelter, food, and friendships. He even provides guidance when we are uncertain of how we should respond to circumstances in our lives.

Hope

For God alone, O my soul, wait in

silence.

For my hope is from him.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

Psalm 65:5-6 (ESV)

David writes this thought twice in this Psalm. When a writer in the Old Testament does this, He chooses to place emphasis on the thought.

What does David say? He reminds himself to wait in silence for God because David trusts him implicitly. David does not waiver from his devotion to God. He praises God for being His protector and his strength.

As we face stressful times, we can call upon the Lord to give us the strength to carry on and know that He will be faithful and true and lead us through the murkiness we face.

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

Experience and Understand the Significance of Pentecost