The Bulletin Board:(Please SCROLL DOWN this page to find the article titled on this post in LARGE CAPITAL LETTERS. Thank you.)
U.S. Supreme Court has Reconvened: Let's be praying WHENEVER the Court is in session as their decisions can have impact on GENERATIONS to come. The fact that they may have an opportunity this session to actually vote on same-sex "marriage" where it has the same impact on this country that Roe v. Wade did should be motivating enough!
Of course, let's CONTINUE PRAYING FOR AN END TO THE EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA AND THE HEALING OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
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"Remembering the Holy Innocents - DRAWING NEAR TO CHRIST" - By: Eric Metaxas| Breakpoint.org: December 26, 2014 ; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/12/26599?spMailingID=10253231&spUserID=MTMyMjM2ODE5OQS2&spJobID=442139875&spReportId=NDQyMTM5ODc1S0
The gifts are packed away; the kitchen’s finally cleaned up. Maybe you’re relieved Christmas is over. But is it?
We Americans really outdo ourselves celebrating Christmas, often starting the day after Thanksgiving and sometimes before. We not only “out do,” we often overdo, glutting ourselves to the point where getting past Christmas becomes a relief.
With all the hubbub and celebrating, one aspect of this holiday that often gets lost is the season of Christmas, which begins (not ends) on Christmas Day and runs for twelve days until January 5. This season is usually only observed among liturgical churches, but it contains some powerful spiritual reminders that the rest of us might want to recover.
One of these is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, traditionally celebrated on December 28. Starting in the fifth century, the church set aside this day to remember the babes of Bethlehem slaughtered by King Herod.
As you recall, Herod was jealous of the newborn King and asked the traveling Magi to report back when they found him. When he finally realized that the Wise Men were not returning, Herod flew into a rage and had all the boys two years and under in Bethlehem killed, fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Loud weeping and lamentation over the murder of innocent children doesn’t exactly fit the “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” narrative we prefer to highlight. But like it or not, it’s as much a part of Christmas as singing angels, wondering shepherds and a rough manger filled with hay.
Perhaps we can be forgiven, given what’s going on in our own world today. Haven’t we had enough of this lately, with students being gunned down in Sandy Hook and children beheaded by ISIS terrorists? We also struggle with the knowledge that millions of young souls are trafficked for sex and labor each year, and we must face the fact that more than 50 million babies have been killed in the womb in America since 1973.
Yet these tragedies are precisely why it’s worth remembering those martyred children in Bethlehem so long ago. The message of Christmas rings true each year precisely because of all the sin, death and darkness we see around us. Christ came into a world beset by sin and enslaved to death. On the cross, he became intimately sensitized to each bloody, brutal sin we ever committed and will commit. The innocent blood shed at Christmas prefigured Jesus’ innocent blood shed on the cross as the fulfillment of His rescue mission on earth.
There’s another reason for us to remember the Holy Innocents. In a beautiful collection of devotions entitled God With Us, Emilie Griffin reminds us that Herod’s violent action was motivated by his fear of losing control, a fear we all know well.
Griffin writes, “In our weakness and fragility we are tempted to believe that we can be in control of our lives. But Christ disrupts our lives by coming into the world, challenging our sense of self-reliance. Can any of us say that there isn’t a faint shadow of Herod within us, fearful of this threat to our ego?”
This may explain why so much of the world prefers to celebrate snowmen, reindeer and Santa Claus rather than the Word of God who dwelt among us.
But Santa can never offer lasting hope for the “weeping and loud lamentation” heard all over the earth today. As we remember the Holy Innocents this Christmas season, may we all draw closer to Him who will wipe away every tear, Jesus the Christ.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
FURTHER READING AND INFORMATION
Remembering the Holy Innocents: Drawing Near to Christ - And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4
"The Feast of the Holy Innocents - The 4th day of Christmas, old calendar" - http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2012-12-28
PRAY FOR AMERICA: THANK GOD for His many blessings on America throughout it's history. May we then ask that AMERICA once again be a blessing TO GOD, by once again submitting to HIS will in our affairs - both personal and national - that He may truly "heal our land." (2 Chron. 7:14)
12/26 - URGENT PRAYER: The other day a Jordanian pilot's plan was shot down over Syria by ISIS terrorist fighters. They've shown pictures of the pilot obviously being beaten. (Remember, these are the savage Islamists who've already beheaded and otherwise executed countless people.) PRAY with me that the pilot (probably Muslim) will somehow receive dreams and visions from God that will lead him to turn from Islam and possibly turn to Christ. PRAY also for his tormentors to have dreams and visions from God to convict them of their evil and to turn from their violence.
Two New York City Officers Murdered. Here is an example of how a 13-year old can say things much more eloquently than too many adults. In the midst of all the protests over recent decisions regarding officer actions, people are forgetting the daily sacrifices SO MANY make. Especially during this season of the year, you would think people would pause to remember our PEACE officers. [Let's all be in prayer for this teen and the other members of the families grieving as we prepare for Christmas.]
NOW THAT THE ELECTION IS OVER:1) Let's be praying that God showed us grace in giving us representatives who will sincerely work to DO NO HARM to us and future generations. Let's also be praying that should He have chosen to give us those who WILL do us harm, that He extends mercy to us now and for the years ahead. His will is now done as far as the results we have. Now it's up to us to be diligent to hold those elected accountable!, and 2) Let's be praying that the present lame-duck session in Congress will not be allowed to pass legislation that will do harm to our country as they can easily do. (See post #1051 - 'Return of the Zombie).
12/26 - URGENT PRAYER: The other day a Jordanian pilot's plan was shot down over Syria by ISIS terrorist fighters. They've shown pictures of the pilot obviously being beaten. (Remember, these are the savage Islamists who've already beheaded and otherwise executed countless people.) PRAY with me that the pilot (probably Muslim) will somehow receive dreams and visions from God that will lead him to turn from Islam and possibly turn to Christ. PRAY also for his tormentors to have dreams and visions from God to convict them of their evil and to turn from their violence.
Two New York City Officers Murdered. Here is an example of how a 13-year old can say things much more eloquently than too many adults. In the midst of all the protests over recent decisions regarding officer actions, people are forgetting the daily sacrifices SO MANY make. Especially during this season of the year, you would think people would pause to remember our PEACE officers. [Let's all be in prayer for this teen and the other members of the families grieving as we prepare for Christmas.]
NOW THAT THE ELECTION IS OVER:1) Let's be praying that God showed us grace in giving us representatives who will sincerely work to DO NO HARM to us and future generations. Let's also be praying that should He have chosen to give us those who WILL do us harm, that He extends mercy to us now and for the years ahead. His will is now done as far as the results we have. Now it's up to us to be diligent to hold those elected accountable!, and 2) Let's be praying that the present lame-duck session in Congress will not be allowed to pass legislation that will do harm to our country as they can easily do. (See post #1051 - 'Return of the Zombie).
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST: Save Christian Mom Asia Bibi from Execution - A Christian mom has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for her faith. Asia Bibi was falsely accused of “blasphemy” – speaking against the prophet Muhammad. Now this wife and mother of five will hang for her Christian faith.She would be the first woman executed under Pakistan’s Shariah blasphemy law.This is the ultimate human rights violation. We’re mobilizing our international affiliate – the European Centre for Law and Justice – and its partner in Pakistan to stop this atrocity. Add your name to our letter to the government of Pakistan demanding Asia Bibi’s freedom.Go to http://aclj.org/persecuted-church/save-christian-mom-asia-bibi-from-execution; please add your signature to mine and over 35,000 others AND pray for Asia Bibi.
U.S. Supreme Court has Reconvened: Let's be praying WHENEVER the Court is in session as their decisions can have impact on GENERATIONS to come. The fact that they may have an opportunity this session to actually vote on same-sex "marriage" where it has the same impact on this country that Roe v. Wade did should be motivating enough!
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
Friday, Sept. 26th - Two Year Anniversary of Pastor Saeed Abedini's Imprisonment in Iran! - [NOTE TODAY'S POST!]
We need to continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign] For comfort and .\
"Not Everyone Happy with Religious Ambassador Pick," Caitlin Burke,July 29, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Obama-Taps-Rabbi-for-Religious-Freedom-Ambassador/ "..An estimated 76 percent of the world's population live in countries where religious freedom is restricted. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States must take a strong stand against those violations. "Around the world repressive governments and extremists groups have been crystal clear about what they stand against, so we have to be equally clear about what we must stand for," Kerry said. "We stand for greater freedom, for greater tolerance, greater respect, for rights of freedom of expression and freedom of conscience," he said A key development in the 2013 report is the large number of displaced members of religious communities, including entire Christian communities in Syria and Iraq that have been forced to flee their homes because of persecution."
SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
Of course, let's CONTINUE PRAYING FOR AN END TO THE EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA AND THE HEALING OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907) Pray that allied forces will be able to drive the group ISIS back (see post #964)
/PRAYER ALERT- UKRAINE: As the Lord leads, please pray:
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukrainen [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
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"Remembering the Holy Innocents - DRAWING NEAR TO CHRIST" - By: Eric Metaxas| Breakpoint.org: December 26, 2014 ; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/12/26599?spMailingID=10253231&spUserID=MTMyMjM2ODE5OQS2&spJobID=442139875&spReportId=NDQyMTM5ODc1S0
The gifts are packed away; the kitchen’s finally cleaned up. Maybe you’re relieved Christmas is over. But is it?
We Americans really outdo ourselves celebrating Christmas, often starting the day after Thanksgiving and sometimes before. We not only “out do,” we often overdo, glutting ourselves to the point where getting past Christmas becomes a relief.
With all the hubbub and celebrating, one aspect of this holiday that often gets lost is the season of Christmas, which begins (not ends) on Christmas Day and runs for twelve days until January 5. This season is usually only observed among liturgical churches, but it contains some powerful spiritual reminders that the rest of us might want to recover.
One of these is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, traditionally celebrated on December 28. Starting in the fifth century, the church set aside this day to remember the babes of Bethlehem slaughtered by King Herod.
As you recall, Herod was jealous of the newborn King and asked the traveling Magi to report back when they found him. When he finally realized that the Wise Men were not returning, Herod flew into a rage and had all the boys two years and under in Bethlehem killed, fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Loud weeping and lamentation over the murder of innocent children doesn’t exactly fit the “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” narrative we prefer to highlight. But like it or not, it’s as much a part of Christmas as singing angels, wondering shepherds and a rough manger filled with hay.
Perhaps we can be forgiven, given what’s going on in our own world today. Haven’t we had enough of this lately, with students being gunned down in Sandy Hook and children beheaded by ISIS terrorists? We also struggle with the knowledge that millions of young souls are trafficked for sex and labor each year, and we must face the fact that more than 50 million babies have been killed in the womb in America since 1973.
Yet these tragedies are precisely why it’s worth remembering those martyred children in Bethlehem so long ago. The message of Christmas rings true each year precisely because of all the sin, death and darkness we see around us. Christ came into a world beset by sin and enslaved to death. On the cross, he became intimately sensitized to each bloody, brutal sin we ever committed and will commit. The innocent blood shed at Christmas prefigured Jesus’ innocent blood shed on the cross as the fulfillment of His rescue mission on earth.
There’s another reason for us to remember the Holy Innocents. In a beautiful collection of devotions entitled God With Us, Emilie Griffin reminds us that Herod’s violent action was motivated by his fear of losing control, a fear we all know well.
Griffin writes, “In our weakness and fragility we are tempted to believe that we can be in control of our lives. But Christ disrupts our lives by coming into the world, challenging our sense of self-reliance. Can any of us say that there isn’t a faint shadow of Herod within us, fearful of this threat to our ego?”
This may explain why so much of the world prefers to celebrate snowmen, reindeer and Santa Claus rather than the Word of God who dwelt among us.
But Santa can never offer lasting hope for the “weeping and loud lamentation” heard all over the earth today. As we remember the Holy Innocents this Christmas season, may we all draw closer to Him who will wipe away every tear, Jesus the Christ.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
FURTHER READING AND INFORMATION
Remembering the Holy Innocents: Drawing Near to Christ - And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4
"The Feast of the Holy Innocents - The 4th day of Christmas, old calendar" - http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2012-12-28
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