What Will Jesus Be?

The question that was asked this week to me was "Ms D, how will Jesus come back, will He be the same as the first time - as a baby?" When I answered, "No, this time He is going to return as a conqueror and king," the student did not understand and I think did not believe. This led to the question, "how do you know?"


I know because Jesus is alive! He did not stay on the cross or in the tomb. He rose from the died, ascended into Heaven and one day He will return. I know because God tells me through His inspired word in Revelation 19:11-20. He gives an awe inspiring picture of the return of our King.

I saw heaven open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

This is not the picture of a child or a baby. This is the picture of someone who is in charge, in control and someone who is here on a mission. Jesus' purpose has changed with His second coming. His purpose the first time was to bring forgiveness. When He comes again His purpose is to bring judgement and victory! Are you ready?

You Are My Shield...

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)


But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. (Psalm 3:3)


The words in these two verses I want to focus on are safe and shield.  Recently God kept me safe. He was my shield, literally.


My mom and I had to drive 30 miles to Tacoma to pick up transcripts for work. It wasn't a trip I wanted to make. It was a waste of a day to make the drive up and back. It was a waste of money for gas and a waste of money for the transcripts. But I did it.


So, we head up I-5 and when we got to Tacoma there is an area of the freeway where there are multiple on-ramps and exits. There are a lot of changing lanes and slowing down and speeding up. It is usually bumper to bumper. A year or so ago the traffic flow was changed and redirected. We got off the exit for the City Center which is now about a quarter - half a mile from the actual exit. I exited and I thought where am I going there's only one other car here? Did I make a wrong turn? This are is usually packed. People are fighting to get over onto the freeway. The freeway is full but no one's on the exit.


This is when God's hand, God's shield was seen. As we were going down the road at 60mph, a truck and trailer flew pass us. Both were full and overflowing with construction materials. The truck was about 30-40 feet in front of us when a 10 foot and 4 foot board about 10 inches wide slid of the truck. We saw the longer board hit the road and splinter into pieces. The shorter board came at us. But instead of going through the front of our car, the board hit the ground in front of the bumper and bounced under my car. It hit the bottom and as far as we could tell everything was fine.


God was there that day. He shielded us from that accident. He kept people off that ramp so no one was injured or killed. He kept us safe. That board could have very easily have gone through the windshield, I could have slammed on my brakes and been rear-ended, or I could have swerved and rolled my car. But I did not have to because God kept me safe.

Legend of the Christmas Rose

During this time of year, we are bombarded with advertisement, commercials, and a frenzy of holiday shopping and the desire to purchase the right gift. I have begun to ask this year if we have truly lost the meaning of the Christmas season in the pursuit of the perfect gift to give. We will never find that gift online or at the mall. It cannot be bought for any price. The perfect gift is priceless and has already been given to us 2,000 years ago when Christ was born. All we have to do is accept what has already been given. 

While searching this week for items to put in our church's bulletin, I came across this legend. It spoke to my heart about what gift giving is all about, so I wanted to share it.

The Legend of the Christmas Rose
On a cold December night, everybody was coming to see their new Savior and brought Him all kinds of gifts and presents. The three Wise Men came in with their valuable gifts of myrrh, frankincense and gold and offered them to Baby Jesus. At that point, a shepherdess, Madelon, who had seen the wise men passing through, reached the door of the stable, to see the Child. However, being very poor and having brought nothing to offer to the child, she felt helpless and started weeping quietly at the sight of all the wonderful gifts that the Three Wise Men had got for the child. Earlier, she had searched, in vain, for flowers all over the countryside but there was not even a single bloom to be found in the bitter winter.

An angel outside the door was watching over her and knew about her fruitless search. He took pity on her and, when he saw her head drooped down in sorrow, decided to help her with a little miracle. He gently brushed aside the snow at her feet and where her tears had fallen, sprang a beautiful cluster of waxen white winter roses with pink tipped petals. Then he softly whispered into the shepherdess's ear that these Christmas roses are far more valuable than any myrrh, frankincense or gold, for they are pure and made of love. The maiden was pleasantly surprised when she heard those words and joyfully gathered the flowers and offered them to the Holy Infant, who, seeing that the gift was reared with tears of love, smiled at her with gratitude and satisfaction. Thus, the Christmas rose came to symbolize hope, love and all that is wonderful in this season.

(http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-stories/legend-of-christmas-rose.html)