Posted in theology

Angels in the nativity, and elsewhere!

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

It is the season of advent, when we anticipate the commemoration of the baby Jesus’ birth into the world. His appearing was miraculous, humble, and the start of a new covenant. It’s the holiday we call Christmas!

The advent story is filled with amazing happenings and interesting characters. Looming large is Mary, of course, John the Baptist, Joseph, Herod, the Wise Men (Magi), and more. We have Simeon, Zecharias, Anna, and the Shepherds. But we also have angels.

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Posted in advent, theology

Advent: Thirty Days of Jesus, Day 10- the Boy Jesus at the Temple

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

thirty days of Jesus day 10

With Him are wisdom and might; To Him belong counsel and understanding (Job 12:13).

Further Reading:

The Day Jesus Went AWOL

Twelve-year-old Jesus goes to the Temple

The Son of God at twelve years old
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Thirty Days of Jesus Series-

Introduction/Background
Day 1: The Virgin shall conceive
Day 2: A shoot from Jesse
Day 3: God sent His Son in the fullness of time
Day 4:  Marry her, she will bear a Son
Day 5: The Babe has arrived!
Day 6: The Glory of Jesus
Day 7: Magi seek the Child
Day 8: The Magi offer gifts & worship
Day 9: The Child Grew

Posted in theology, thirty Days of Jesus

Advent- Thirty Days of Jesus: Day 9, The Child Grew

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

thirty days of jesus day 9
Photo by Samuel Zeller on Unsplash

Further Reading

What happened during Jesus’ childhood?

Why doesn’t the Bible say much about Jesus childhood?

The boyhood of Jesus

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Thirty Days of Jesus Series-

Introduction/Background
Day 1: The Virgin shall conceive
Day 2: A shoot from Jesse
Day 3: God sent His Son in the fullness of time
Day 4:  Marry her, she will bear a Son
Day 5: The Babe has arrived!
Day 6: The Glory of Jesus
Day 7: Magi seek the Child
Day 8: The Magi offer gifts & worship

Posted in theology

“The Christ Child: A Nativity Story,” Review

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

screenshot from the Mormon short film, “The Christ Child: A Nativity Story”

The Church of the Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons, produced a Nativity short film called “The Christ Child: A Nativity Story”. It’s 18 minutes long, and it is live action. It has few words, but what words are spoken are in Aramaic. The film is scrupulous in its biblical-historical accuracy, for example, showing Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem in a caravan instead of alone.

Lone travel was dangerous in those days and since all Jews had to return to their town of origin as per census rules, it is more than likely the pair traveled with others who were doing the same thing.

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Posted in theology

Is a COVID-19 vaccination the mark of the beast? (Answer – No)

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Revelation. The poor, neglected, misunderstood book of Revelation.

Overlooked, rarely preached on, even the mention of it incites arguments (Symbolic! Actual! Amillennial! Pre-millenial!) and so, the blessing promised twice in the book is not received by many believers, due to forsaking it for calmer scriptural pastures. (Ahhh, the book of John…Colossians…)

The Apokalupsis/Revelation word used in Revelation 1:1 means “revelation, unveiling”. The Book reveals the Lord’s plans for the end of time. “See? I have told you ahead of time,” Jesus said to the disciples in Mathew 24:25. He declares the end from the beginning. (Isaiah 46:10).

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Posted in theology

What does “Dayspring” mean?

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

During this Christmas season you might sing the old hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” The hymn is thought to have originated in the 1100s! The 1861 translation of this ancient hymn from the Latin contains the verse about a Dayspring.

O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

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Posted in advent, theology

Advent- Thirty Days of Jesus: Day 7. The Magi Seek the Child

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

The flow of the series is a presentation of an initial section of 11 verses on photos depicting the life of Jesus from prophecy to birth and boyhood.

The next section (#12-16) will feature verses about the Son.

From #17-26 we will survey the Preeminence of the Son, His attributes, and His ministry.

From #27-36 we’ll look at His Resurrection, Ascension, & Return.

Yes there are more than 30 verses. I just couldn’t pare it down! There’s a postlude.

All photos are by EPrata unless otherwise noted.

There is no better refreshment for the soul than to meditate on Him. Enjoy!

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. (Psalm 119:15)

thirty days of jesus day 7.jpg

Thirty Days of Jesus Series-

Introduction/Background
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6

Further Reading

Art & The Bible: Adoration of the Magi

GotQuestions: What Does the Bible say about the Three Wise Men (Magi)?

Answers in Genesis: We Three Kings

Grace To You: Who Were the Wise Men?

Posted in theology

Living a life of death

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

“Behold, all is vanity.”—Ecclesiastes 1:14.

Charles Spurgeon wrote in his Evening Devotional for this date, “NOTHING can satisfy the entire man but the Lord’s love and the Lord’s own self. Saints have tried to anchor in other roadsteads, but they have been driven out of such fatal refuges. Solomon, the wisest of men, was permitted to make experiments for us all, and to do for us what we must not dare to do for ourselves.”

Spurgeon continues -“What! the whole of it vanity? O favoured monarch, is there nothing in all thy wealth? Nothing in that wide dominion reaching from the river even to the sea? Nothing in Palmyra’s glorious palaces? Nothing in the house of the forest of Lebanon? In all thy music and dancing, and wine and luxury, is there nothing? “Nothing,” he says, “but weariness of spirit.”

The Book of Ecclesiastes speaks to me. I sometimes mourn the lost decades of my life before salvation, still knowing

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