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Advent: Thirty Days of Jesus, Day 2; He will come!

By Elizabeth Prata

Thirty days of exalting Jesus through selected verses with pictures representing the prophecy, life, death, resurrection, and Second Coming of our Savior.

We are in the flow of verses that prophesied his coming.

thirty days of jesus verse 2

Day 1: The Virgin Shall Conceive

Ligonier: A Shoot from Jesse’s Stump: Devotional explains-

History tells us this is exactly what happened, with David’s royal dynasty all but dying out as a result of God’s judgment of His people through Assyria and Babylon. Nevertheless, Isaiah also saw that while the Davidic line would seem to be dead, life would remain within the stump. A shoot—life barely detectable at first—would emerge. But once this shoot went forth, it would become a mighty tree.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Isaiah 11:1 says-

 He comes forth out of the stem, or stump, of Jesse. When the royal family, that had been as a cedar, was cut down, and only the stump of it left, almost levelled with the ground and lost in the grass of the field (Dan. 4:15), yet it shall sprout again (Job 14:7); nay, it shall grow out of his roots, which are quite buried in the earth, and, like the roots of flowers in the winter, have no stem appearing above ground. The house of David was reduced and brought very low at the time of Christ’s birth, witness the obscurity and poverty of Joseph and Mary. The Messiah was thus to begin his estate of humiliation.

In Lockyer’s book All the Named Men of the Bible: Jesse, it says,

Jesse —jehovah exists or firm. The son of Obed and father of David, and grandson of Boaz and Ruth, and an ancestor of Christ (Ruth 4:17, 22). Jesse had eight sons and two daughters by different wives (1 Sam. 17:12-14, 25). Isaiah speaks of “the stock of Jesse,” a phrase indicating that it was from Jesse the Messiah would come. The humble descent of the Messiah is contrasted with the glorious kingdom He is to have (Isa 11:1).

Further Resources

Ligonier: A Shoot from Jesse’s Stump

“This is the famous text that foresees a shoot coming forth from “the stump of Jesse,” a shoot whose reign would destroy all evil and bring peace to the earth (Isa. 11:1–11).”

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In Him There Is No Darkness: A Meditation on Divine Light

By Elizabeth Prata

SYNOPSIS

This reflective essay explores the biblical truth that “God is light,” examining its spiritual meaning and divine implications. Drawing from Scripture, Greek definitions, and commentaries, it reveals how God’s light signifies purity, holiness, and life itself—illuminating believers, exposing darkness, and promising eternal brilliance in His presence.

Continue reading “In Him There Is No Darkness: A Meditation on Divine Light”
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The True ‘Wondrous Strange’

By Elizabeth Prata

SYNOPSIS

In 1998, I drove to Maine’s Farnsworth Art Museum to see Wondrous Strange: The Wyeth Tradition, an eerie exhibition exploring dreamlike and unsettling imagery. Reflecting later, I contrast the human imagination of the Wyeths with the true “wondrous strange” mystery of the Gospel—God’s unimaginable incarnation and redemption.

Continue reading “The True ‘Wondrous Strange’”
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Kay Cude poetry: When We Remember

Kay Cude poetry. Used with permission. Artist’s statement below.

As I continue to go through them my perspective is reinforced with the fundamental truth: it is necessary that we learn and grow through “issues” and situations we’d rather avoid. They will either drive us deeper into Scripture and prayer, or we will allow them to drive us into despondency, confusion and sorrow. When we experience breath-knocking blows, above all else it is necessary that we “remember” Who our first love is and that He, Christ is our ever-present secure help. He is our All-in-All, our sufficiency, protection, strength and giver of wisdom. We must remember that issues and circumstance have eternal purpose for His beloved redeemed.

text is below the picture

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Polenov_MechtySAR.jpg

WHEN WE REMEMBER

The love of Christ
is a constant Guardian over His redeemed. With never wavering eyes is His sight steadily upon us. Selah

O Lord God our Saviour,
You are our ever-present Vigilance; in You our salvation remains inscribed. You are our Strong Tower; in You we live and exist and have our being. You are the Watchman over our spirit; in You is the permanence of our eternal forgiveness. You are the Appointed Hope and Source of our resurrection; You are the Propitiation through Whom we are reconciled to God the Father.

The Gate of our heart

is Yours, and with the jealousy of a husband do You stand in its entryway. Against the adversary is Your Word positioned as our Shield and Defender. Nothing prevails against You, our Bulwark.

These things we know–these things we believe, O God our Saviour! In our weakness Lord, we may forget; yet You lift us up from the depths of our weakness, and we remember! O Lord, with thanksgiving our hearts are prone before You – we remember!

Redeemed of GOD, with rejoicing, recount the patience and lovingkindness GOD THE I AM proffers through the Finished Work of

MESSIAH CHRIST, GOD THE SON! Selah

Kay Cude, September 08, 2017©

CHRIST OVERLOOKING JERUSALEM (c. 1885), Vasily Polenov. The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Polenov_MechtySAR.jpg

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Kay Cude poetry: Our Fortress Prevails

Poetry by Kay Cude. Used with permission.  Right click on image to open larger in new tab. Artist’s statement below.

I keep returning to our (me!!) needing to “remember” God’s promises and provision. GOD THE I AM is the only fortress in Whom we find a righteous protector, defender and provider. He is the only place of eternal refuge from the world’s continuing tragedies and chaos. He is the stronghold Who is and Who will provide peace, wisdom, understanding, instruction and endurance.

OUR FORTRESS PREVAILS

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Kay Cude poetry: Are you known? Evangelism: Are you ready?

Are you known?

Are you ready?

A clear, simple, and wonderful explanation of the Gospel. Eternity can come for you at any moment. Are you ready? Poetry by Kay Cude

The Night of Golgotha, 1869, Vasily Vereshchagin

Are You Known?
Did Christ see your face from the Cross at Golgotha? There your sin was laid upon Him and remains your effective condemnation if you have rejected Him. Me la The Son of God. He is Messiah. He is The Only Acceptable Sacrifice, blameless and without sin. He is the The Ransom of The Lord God Almighty provided for the forgiveness of your sin.

Understand, there is nothing unfamiliar to Him about your face. He has known your name from before eternity past. Before He created all living things before He laid the foundatione of the heavens and the earth, before the birth, life and death of centuries of your parental ancestors; before kings and kingdoms rose and fell, HE determined to die in your appointed place of condemnation to reconcile you to God

He knew every life choice you would make, every word you would speak, and every heart-decision you would put into physical action.
This All-Knowing Christ Jesus, this Saviour-Redeemer, is God The Son, and He has forever known who you are. But, are you one who has never known Him?

I AM The Resurrection and The Life, he who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. DO YOU! believe this?” John 11:25-26

What will YOU do with Jesus?

Therefore I say unto you that you will die in your sins, unless you believe that I AM HE you will die in your sins.” John 8:24

“For there is One God, and One Mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. who gave Himself as a Ransom for all, The Testimony given at the Proper Time.”
1 Timothy 2:5-6

ART- THE NIGHT OF GOLGOTHA Vailly Vosbchagin, 2000. Original in Trstyskor Gallery, Mincow, Rassis: http://www.styskorgallery.ru/) -Text addition by author Kay Cude

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The truth about grace

By Elizabeth Prata

Grace is a concept. But it’s not just a concept. Grace is a gift, but it’s not just a gift. Grace is a force. Think about how powerful grace is. Think about its power as it exists in Jesus, as it is delivered to the saints, its common state as it covers the world, and its special state as it enlivens the saints to do our work.

Here is an excerpt about grace from a sermon from John MacArthur called, Strength Perfected in Weakness, looking at this verse: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

In speaking of the linchpin part of the passage, ‘my grace is sufficient for you’, MacArthur said,

But grace is not just an inert sort of concept; it is a force, it is a power. It is a power that transforms us. It is a power that awakens us from sleep. It is a power that gives us life in the midst of death. It is a power that is dynamic enough to transform us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God’s dear Son. It is the power that saves us. It is the power that keeps us, the power that enables us, the power that sanctifies us, and the power that one day will glorify us. You have to look at grace as a force, a divine force that God pours out into the lives of His people at all points to grant them all that they need to be all that He desires.

Grace is a gift.
Grace is a state.
and…
Grace is a POWER.

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The Majesty of KJV: Reflecting on John 1:1-5

By Elizabeth Prata

SYNOPSIS

I share my admiration for John 1:1-5 from the KJV, I love the majestic language and profound meaning of the verses. I highlight the significance of Christ as the source of life and light, underscoring the importance of Jesus and His Gospel as the ultimate Good News and our reliance on Him for salvation.

Continue reading “The Majesty of KJV: Reflecting on John 1:1-5”
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Waiting for the Groom: The Church’s Radiance in the World

By Elizabeth Prata

SYNOPSIS

The post reminds believers of the beauty and purity of the Church as the Bride of Christ, contrasting it with the sinful world. It highlights believers’ anticipation for our union with Jesus, celebrating our forgiveness and holiness through His sacrifice. The message encourages faithfulness during this betrothal period as we prepare for the wedding day. The Bride is always beautiful.

Continue reading “Waiting for the Groom: The Church’s Radiance in the World”