And suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.”
DEUTERONOMY 31-32
7Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”(31:7-8)
45When Moses had finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46he said to them, “Take to heart all these words I testify among you today, so that you may command your children to carefully follow all the words of this law. 47For they are not idle words to you, because they are your life, and by them you will live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” (32:45-47)
LUKE 1:1-23
11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
LUKE 1:1-23
11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
JOURNAL
The great thing about reading the New Testament through is that Jesus life ends and starts over 4 times through the 4 Gospels. It's really interesting reading the mission for John and what is said about him. Fascinating that God's spirit is with him even before birth. His mission is to "turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous-to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Of all the things...turn the hearts of the parents to their children. Well doing research this comes from Malachi and the last words of the old testament...5“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”So how does John the Baptist do this? Baptism...Wow...people become new. Not physically but spiritually and are then adopted into the Kingdom.
As I read the Bible it's clear that uncertainty and difficulty are just simply part of life. It is easy in our culture to get sucked into the false belief that we know how life "should" go. Reality is none of us know what will happen tomorrow and that's the way God designed it. The more I accept this reality the closer I am to truly trusting God. I am realizing more and more the gift of this time. If there was ever a time when God can "turn the hearts of the parents to their children" it is now. All life is a gift, it was then and it is now.
Every single morning I get the same gift...it's a new day, new opportunities, new circumstances in which to serve God and tackle adversity. New opportunities that God's light and love can shine within me, it is truly a cause for celebration. Should I trust God enough to live this way then what a wonderful day and ultimately wonderful life this will be.
The great thing about reading the New Testament through is that Jesus life ends and starts over 4 times through the 4 Gospels. It's really interesting reading the mission for John and what is said about him. Fascinating that God's spirit is with him even before birth. His mission is to "turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous-to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Of all the things...turn the hearts of the parents to their children. Well doing research this comes from Malachi and the last words of the old testament...5“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”So how does John the Baptist do this? Baptism...Wow...people become new. Not physically but spiritually and are then adopted into the Kingdom.
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