"A VOM international staff member recently shared that Iraqi Christians are already aware of this effort and are very encouraged to know that Christians in the United States are standing with them in their trials."
"The front of the T-shirt displays an image of a spray-painted Arabic “N,” similar to those being painted on the homes of our brothers and sisters. For every T-shirt ordered, VOM uses $10 to directly support Christians facing Islamic extremists.
"A VOM international staff member recently shared that Iraqi Christians are already aware of this effort and are very encouraged to know that Christians in the United States are standing with them in their trials."
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Dangerous Miles Persecution (dot) Org The world was shocked on February 15, 2015, when ISIS released a video showing the brutal execution of 21 Christians on a beach in Libya. Even under the blade, some were making their last prayers and cried out in unison, “Ya Rabbi Yasou’” (O My Lord Jesus). The caption by ISIS stated, “These insisted to remain in unbelief”. Christians in the Middle East have been driven out of their ancestral lands to live in extreme poverty as refugees in their own land. In Africa, Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen they have armed are butchering Christians on an enormous scale. Christians in Pakistan are given the dirtiest, lowliest jobs and lose their lands to false blasphemy accusations by Islamic extremists. The persecuted Church is like a mirror for the Western Church. Their lives make us wonder, "Could I be courageous and bold like our persecuted brethren and stand for Christ amidst persecution? Am I willing to lay down my life for Christ my Savior?" We have teamed up with artist Benjamin Ballah to create a powerful spoken word piece titled, "Dangerous Miles," that speaks to the heart of every Christian wanting to live passionately and all-in for Christ. We pray that this video will be a blessing to you and that you will share it with your friends and family. Watch and see the price of remaining faithful in Christ: What is the purpose behind the celebration of Christmas? For those who are in Christ, its meaning rests solely on the birth of Jesus. Based on his own careful investigation, Luke’s account of the birth of Christ is more than a heartwarming story – it is true, and it is life-changing. It is good news, and it brings great joy to a world darkened by sin.
In these sermons Alistair Begg draws our attention to the truth of the nativity story. This story, in some ways simple and in others so profound, is at the heart of understanding who God is and what He has done. This is the story of God’s willingness to come and meet us where we are, to use unlikely people for His glory, and to supernaturally intervene on our behalf. A Child is born! Christmas is cause for celebration because God Himself has come. ...It was during this time of waiting that I had the strangest visit. An angel who called himself Gabriel suddenly appeared to me. “Greetings, you who are highly favored,” he said, “The Lord is with you.” To say I was greatly troubled at his words would be a huge understatement, and I wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to me, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” I asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” I said. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left me... Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. Isaiah 40:1-5 KJV Wikipedia: ICH RUF ZU DIR, HERR JESU CHRIST, BWV 177 I call to You, Lord Jesus Christ Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ (I call to You, Lord Jesus Christ), BWV 177, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed the chorale cantata in Leipzig for the fourth Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 6 July 1732. The cantata text is formed by the unchanged five stanzas of Johann Agricola's hymn. Bach composed the cantata in Leipzig as late as 1732 in order to complete his second annual cycle of chorale cantatas of 1724/25, which lacked a cantata for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity because that Sunday had been the Feast of Visitation in 1725, celebrated then by Meine Seel erhebt den Herren, BWV 10. THE VISITATION The Visitation is the visit of Mary with Elizabeth as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, Luke 1:39–56. It is also the name of a Christian feast day commemorating this visit, celebrated on 31 May in the West (2 July in calendars of the 1263–1969 period, and in the modern regional calendar of Germany as well as the Anglican Communion) and 30 March among Eastern Christians. Mary visits her relative Elizabeth; they are both pregnant. Mary is pregnant with Jesus and Elizabeth is pregnant with John the Baptist. Mary left Nazareth immediately after the Annunciation and went "into the hill country...into a city of Judah" (Luke 1:39) to attend her cousin Elizabeth. There are several possibilities as to exactly which city this was, including Hebron, south of Jerusalem, and Ein Karem. The journey was about 100 miles and Elizabeth was in the sixth month before Mary came (Luke 1:36). Mary stayed three months, and most scholars hold she stayed for the birth of John. Joseph probably accompanied Mary to Judah then returned to Nazareth, and came again after three months to take his wife home. The apparition of the angel, mentioned in Matthew 1:19-25, may have taken place then to end the tormenting doubts of Joseph regarding Mary's maternity. In Catholicism, it is held that the purpose of this visit was to bring divine grace to both Elizabeth and her unborn child. Even though he was still in his mother's womb, John became aware of the presence of Christ, and leapt for joy as he was cleansed from original sin and filled with divine grace. Elizabeth also responded and recognised the presence of Jesus, thus Mary exercised her function as mediatrix between God and man for the first time. “And she [Elizabeth] spoke out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb. And whence [is] this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed [is] she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. (Luke 1:42–45)” It is also at this point, in response to Elizabeth's remark, that Mary proclaims the Magnificat (My soul doth magnify the Lord), Luke 1:46–55, for which reason this canticle had traditionally been reserved for this feast day. In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, the Visitation is the second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. ~~~~~~~~~~ Luke 1:39-45 Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” And Mary said: Luke 1:46-56 “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name. “And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him. “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble. “He has filled the hungry with good things; and sent away the rich empty-handed. “He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. When I am laid, am laid in earth, may my wrongs create No trouble, no trouble in, in thy breast. When I am laid, am laid in earth, may my wrongs create No trouble, no trouble in, in thy breast. Remember me, remember me, but ah! Forget my fate. Remember me, but ah! Forget my fate. Remember me, remember me, but ah! Forget my fate. Remember me, but ah! Forget my fate. |
Annie's Blog
God to enfold me,
God to surround me, God in my speaking, God in my thinking. God in my sleeping, God in my waking, God in my watching, God in my hoping. God in my life, God in my lips, God in my soul, God in my heart. God in my sufficing, God in my slumber, God in mine ever-living soul, God in mine eternity. All Scripture at Annie's Blog
Utilizes: New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Archives
November 2017
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