Dec 24, 2008

Merry CHRISTmas!!


Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD
and delight in his salvation.
Psalm 35:9


Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
Psalm 63:3


The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26


You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand
Psalm 16:11



Dec 23, 2008

For my eyes have seen...


*Simeon's Moment by Ron DiCianni

Luke 2:22-32:

22When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"),
24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
(*Note: only the poor brought doves or pigeons, if they could not present a lamb as a sacrafice*) 25Now 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 upon him.
26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27Moved 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,
28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.

What I love so much about this story is that Mary & Joseph brought the poor man's offering to sacrafice, yet they had the Lamb, the greatest sacrafice of all.
And I can just picture Simeon, as he held Jesus in his arms to dedicate him.
'For my eyes have seen your Salvation!' WOW! I cry everytime I read that line. God had promised him that he would see the Saviour before he died, and in that moment, God fulfilled his promise. I LOVE IT!!!!!!