Who is this Child?

This Christmas take time to discover exactly who Jesus is.

Who is this Child?

Predicted to be:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Is not “will be:”

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

The Word:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

The Father:

Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. John 12:44-45

Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? John 14:9

God:

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthian 4:4

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:5-7

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Colossians 1:15

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:3

Christmas isn’t the Only Reason I Love December

Although I do indeed love Christmas – the shopping for the perfect gift, the baking and the decorations all can set my heart aglow – my fondness for December goes beyond this. In my family we celebrate three birthdays in the month, mine is among them – but still that’s not why I love December.

I love December because it was the month in which, for the first time, I realized the full extent of God’s love for me. It was in December while I was contemplating suicide that I decided that turning my life over to God might be a good alternative. I’d heard the Gospel story that Jesus had died to pay for my sin and I could no longer pretend I wasn’t a sinner. I knew the depths of my depravity yet still I clung to my way of life. I didn’t want to change yet I did want to change. I wanted to be the girl I once was, full of laughter and fun. So in my bedroom on South Magnolia Drive in Mentor, Ohio I told God that if He could do anything with my life He was welcome to it. 

I know lots of people feel an instantaneous relief when they do this – I did not. There were no fireworks going off, no sense of something different at all yet slowly I began to change. I developed an insatiable desire to read the Bible. I scoured the New Testament to learn about who Jesus really was and what He expected of me. What I saw there disheartened my because I knew that I couldn’t live up to God’s standards – I mean it said that I should be holy and perfect like God. Who can do that? So I went to Rev. Bill Worman and he slapped his knee and said, “Praise God, you’ve got it!” I just looked at him with my jaw open until he explained. He said, “Jill, if you could be good enough for God, Jesus would not have had to die for you.” 

Then the weight fell off my shoulders, then I understood – there isn’t anything any human being can do to meet God’s expectations. Billy Graham, the Pope, Mother Teresa and I all had to come to God humbly and accept the sacrifice freely offered by him.

This started my adventure into a life lived for the one who died for me. I still live a rather common life but in service to an uncommon Savior it takes on so many new dimensions. He created me to do good works before the creation of the world. I don’t do these works to gain heaven – heaven is the gift he gave me long ago. But I live my life to please Him and He prompts me to do AWESOME things that reflect who He is. This brings an unbelievable satisfaction to me.

It amuses me greatly that those who know me now won’t believe me when I tell them the type of person I was before coming to Christ. He has transformed me beyond my wildest dreams and chooses to use me for His Glory. 

If you need transformation, if you hate what you’ve become, reach out to Him. He’s waiting for you just like the father of the prodigal son in Luke 15. He looks at you with love in His eyes and longs to have you in his household.  And if you choose to come there will be rejoicing in heaven.

Merry Christmas!

Jill

EVIL

Max Lucado posted this prayer in response to the Sandy Hook masacre:

Dear Jesus,
It's a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.
These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.
The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?
Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.
Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.
Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.
This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.
Hopefully,
Your Children

This got me thinking about what Jesus said about evil. Here is what I found:

Matthew 5:43-48

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 6:13

¹³ And lead us not into temptation,^[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]’

Matthew 7:11

¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Mt. 7:21-23, Luke 13:27

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Matthew 12:34-35

³⁴ You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ³⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21, Luke 6:45

¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Luke 11:13

¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 18:9-14

⁹ To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

John 3:19-20

¹⁹ This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

John 17:15

¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

 
Today  I plan of spending some time meditating on these Scriptures, I challenge you to do the same.

The Me You Meant Me to Be

Many years ago I submitted this psalm to a national contest and found out on Thanksgiving that I won. They called me at my mother-in-law's and read it to the audience. It was a bright spot in a difficult time and therefore a very pleasant memory.

The Me You Meant Me to Be

By Jill Krueger Wagner

I glorify your name, Yahweh

I praise You for Your goodness and wisdom

Since my conception You’ve been shaping me into Your image

But, fool that I am, I fought You for many years.

Blind to Your purposes, I resisted Your Ways

How ignorant for the clay to tell the potter how to do His work!

But, praise to Your name,

You showed me the way to true happiness.

Why did I cling to my sin?

Why?

I hated the person I’d become,

Yet I tenaciously clung to what I knew,

Miserable as I was.

Oh my God, how can I ever thank You for the work You’ve done in my life

Bitterness and anger were the gifts I brought.

You gave me love and peace in exchange.

Then I brought a proud look and self-righteousness

And You gave me Your own humility and sinlessness

Every dirty gift I’ve given You,

You’ve dipped in Your blood and declared it clean.

I’m not worthy of the love You’ve poured out upon me,

But still You declare I am because of Your own loving kindness.

There has been no end to the gifts You’ve bestowed upon me,

But the one I cherish the most is the growing respect that has developed towards

The person I am becoming.

You have shown me that I am Your unique creation.

You are making me into a vessel that is fit for the Master’s use.

I’m not complete, yet, but it’s exciting to see Your work,

To be able to look forward to what I shall become,

Instead of backward at what I wish I was.

My heart fills with love for You, Lord.

Make me, mold me

Into the me You meant me to be.

An exercise in fixing my eyes on the author and perfecter of my faith

By Jill Krueger Wagner 

Isaiah 26:3  - Keeping my mind stayed on God

What better way to keep my mind stayed on God then to remember songs that speak of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

Love:

I'm forgiven, because you were forsaken
I'm accepted, you were condemned
I'm alive and well, you're spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again

I'm forgiven, because you were forsaken
I'm accepted, you were condemned
I'm alive and well, you're spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be
That you my king would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true
It's my joy to honor you
Amazing love, how can it be
That you My king would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true
It's my joy to honor you
In all I do I honor you

I'm forgiven, because you were forsaken
I'm accepted, you were condemned
I'm alive and well, you're spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again

Joy:

http://www.squidoo.com/joy-to-the-world   (Nat King Cole singing!)

Lyrics to Joy To The World By: Isaac Watts

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n, and heav'n, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Peace:

Sweet Peace, The Gift of God's Love

There comes to my heart one sweet strain,

A glad and a joyous refrain,

I sing it again and again,

Sweet peace, the gift of God's love.

Through Christ on the cross peace was made,

My debt by His death was all paid,

No other foundation is laid.

For peace, the gift of God's love.

When Jesus as Lord I had crowned,

My heart with this peace did abound,

In Him the rich blessing I found,

Sweet peace, the gift of God's love.

In Jesus for peace I abide,

And as I keep close to His side,

There's nothing but peace doth betide.

Sweet peace, the gift of God's love.

Chorus:

Peace, peace, sweet peace,

Wonderful gift from above,

Oh, wonderful, wonderful peace,

Sweet peace, the gift of God's love.

Patience:

http://instalyrics.com/artists/11379130-the-arrows/lyrics/11297997-ode-to-a-patient-god

You sit and watch

The cars and planes hurry by

You wonder when they'll arrive

Sometimes You try to catch their eyes

They turn to hide, and You turn to sigh

And don't You go insane?

All 6, 000 years of us treating you this way

All this time Well, does it make you tired?

I can't believe You waited for me

Like it was worth Your while

We see the church and the lost

You see Your bride and Your sons And full of hope,

You carry on Making us one, just on and on And patiently,

You wait Never wanting us to die

If we could still be saved Oh, is it so?

Having all control And that controlling nothing at all Of what

You're hoping for and

I Surround my gate tonight Searching to and fro to find

Someone who will fight

And I Oh, I wonder what You see I can't believe You waited for me

And so If there's anything

You need Anything at all, you just call

I made a promise I'll keep So 'till we meet

Kindness

Chris Tomlin

Open up the skies of mercy
And rain down the cleansing flood
Healing waters rise around us
Hear our cries Lord let 'em rise
Open up the skies of mercy
And rain down the cleansing flood
Healing waters rise around us
Hear our cries Lord let 'em rise

It's Your kindness Lord
That leads us to repentance
Your favor Lord, is our desire
It's Your beauty Lord
That makes us stand in silence
Your love
Your love
Is better than life

We can feel
Your mercy falling
You are turning our hearts back again
Hear our praises rise to heaven
Draw us near Lord
Meet us here

It's Your kindness Lord
That leads us to repentance
Your favor Lord, is our desire
It's Your beauty Lord
That makes us stand in silence
Your love
Your love

It's Your kindness Lord
That leads us to repentance
Your favor Lord, is our desire
It's Your beauty Lord
That makes us stand in silence
Your love
Your love
Is better than life
Is better than life

Your love

Open up the skies of mercy
And rain down the cleansing flood
Healing waters rise around us
Hear our cries Lord let 'em rise

[Prayer]
Lord,
We stand here,
As the desperate people
Hungry for the things of You
Come quiet the storms,
That rage all around us
So that we hear
The passion that
Beats through your heart
Spirit put healing in our hands
Put life in our words
And drive a passion
For the lost deep
In the hearts of your people
Inhabit the praises of us
Through children
And father send us out

With a reckless passion
Deliver us from evil
And set a standard of unity
To break down laws
And to heal Your people
Unity is the cry of your church, Lord
Reconcile the children to the fathers
And with forgiveness and mercy
Rush through the hearts of our land
We cry out our deep need for You, Jesus
Oh God come in power
And bring glory to Your name

Goodness

God's Goodness lyrics by Willie Banks
Lord I know you've been so good
Lord I know you've been so good
You watched over me, all night long
Lord I know you been so good

Verse One
Jesus I've done wrong in my life
And sometimes I've even sinned
But Lord I thank you for waking me this morning
And letting me kneel down and pray again
I could have been dead, sleeping in my grave
But you spoke one word this morning, and made death behave
You been good, oh yes you have
I know you've been so good to me
Lord I know you spared my life
 
Lord I know you spared my life
I could have been dead, sleeping in my grave
Lord I know you spared my life
 
Lord you've been with me through the storm and rain every time I needed you I called on your name
Thank you (thank Jesus, you've been good to me)
I know you been so good to me

Faithfulness

Lyrics to Great Is Thy Faithfulness :

Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God, my Father,
there is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,
as Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Summer and winter, springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,
join with all nature in manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness,
great is Thy faithfulness,
morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided;
great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide.
Your strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine with ten thousand aside.

(Oh great) great is Thy faithfulness,
(oh great) great is Thy faithfulness,
morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided;
great is Thy faithfulness,
great is Thy faithfulness,
great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Great is Thy faithfulness,
Lord to me Your faithfulness.
Great is Thy faithfulness.

Gentleness

From “The Music Machine – I used to sing this along with “Jesus Loves Me” to my Meredith every evening as her nightly ritual before she went to sleep

Gentle breeze, gentle breeze
Blowing through the trees
And the meadow filled with flowers
Showing me Your gentleness
How I love You
Showing me Your gentleness
How I love You

In the still of the night
When you draw me near
Just to whisper how you care
Showing me Your gentleness
How I love You
Showing me Your gentleness
How I love You

Your dear Soon walked the earth
He was full of love
Now He lives within my heart
Showing me Your gentleness
How I love You
Showing me Your gentleness
How I love You

Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

Text: Henry F. Lyte, 1793-1847
Music: John Goss
Tune: LAUDA ANIMA, Meter: 87.87.87

---

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven, 

to the throne thy tribute bring; 

ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, 

evermore God's praises sing.

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  

Praise the everlasting King.

Praise the Lord for grace and favor 

to all people in distress; 

praise God, still the same as ever, 

slow to chide, and swift to bless.  

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  

Glorious now God's faithfulness.

Fatherlike, God tends and spares us; 

well our feeble frame God knows; 

motherlike, God gently bears us, 

rescues us from all our foes.  

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  

Widely yet God's mercy flows.  

Angels in the heights, adoring, 

you behold God face to face; 

saints triumphant, now adoring, 

gathered in from every race.  

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  

Praise with us the God of grace.

WHAT FUN THIS HAS BEEN – an awesome way to spend the Lord’s Day

If you have other songs you’d like to add to the list, add away!!