Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) by Nikhil Devasar
Luke 2:21-24 KJV
(21) And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
(22) And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
(23) (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
(24) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
Ruddy Pigeon (Patagionenas subvinacea) by Kent Nickell
It’s December and time to celebrate Christmas again. Many will be busy getting wrapped up in the excitement of the “Holiday Season” while those of us here at our blog will be celebrating the real meaning of Christmas. We hope to have some articles that present “Christmas” as it should be, the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke Chapter 2 has one of the most known passages about the birth of Jesus Christ. I will post a part of it in different posts. Also other passages will be given this month that tell of His Birth.
Luke 2:1-14 KJV
(1) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(2) (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
(3) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
(4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
(5) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
(6) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
(7) And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
(8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
(9) And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
(10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
(11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
(12) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
(13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
(14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
These are a review of post done in previous years and are worth re-reading.
Please watch the video of my pastor, Nathan Osborne, III, as he gave an excellent illustration about birds out in the cold and snow. It helps to explain the true meaning of Christmas. (Part of our Christmas cantata, “From the Manger to the Cross”)
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:17-18 KJV)
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (1 Corinthians 15:12-14 KJV)
For more about Christ’s Resurrection – Please See:
Last Saturday, at Faith Baptist Church, we had a Free Shopping Day for about 400 less fortunate ones in our community. It was a great day and you can see some of the photos taken by either Pam or Dan and I. Check out the links below to see all the activity. .
Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King!
Cardinal by Aestheticphotos
As the great Christmas hymn reminds us, God so loved the world that He gave. Christmas is truly a time when even non-Christians in non-Christian cultures are reminded about the great joys of giving and receiving special gifts, and about doing good to others.
Yet the ACLU, other secular humanists and multiculturalists continue to wage war on Christmas – to try to ban even the mention of the word. Now even “Holiday Tree” is touted instead of “Christmas Tree.” Give me a break! It’s amazing how the worldly spirit of anti-CHRIST affects even the frequency of His respectful mention in our language. There is an attitude that squirms at the mere mention of God.
Where does this attitude come from? Answer: the sinful heart of mankind. And what is used as intellectual justification (subconsciously in many cases) for such an attitude? Answer: the doctrines of evolutionism.
We see in the whole irrational war on Christmas where the bias toward evolution and against creation comes from. Evolution is not propped up by science at all but by the depraved will of mankind to rid himself of accountability to his Maker.” To read the rest – CLICK HERE
The Gospel Message is that Jesus Christ, the Creator, came to earth and died for us. It is up to us to accept, by faith, what He has done for us. He loves us, and wants to be our Savior, Lord, and King.
Please read the basic message of the whole gospel below and seriously consider that your eternal soul is very important to God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit.
A. God
He exists (Hebrews 11:6)
He is holy (1 Peter 1:15)
Man must be perfect to reach God ( Matthew 5:48)
The measure of God’s holiness is the law ( Romans 2:12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
He has judged sin (Romans 6:23)
B. Man
He is a sinner (Romans 3:23)
He cannot save himself (Ephesians 2:8,9)
C. Jesus Christ
He died because of our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3)
He rose again (1 Corinthians 15:14)
He is the only Messiah (Savior) (John 14:6), (1 Timothy 2:5)
He paid the price for our sins (1 Corinthians 6:19 – 20), (Hebrews 7:27)
That He is Lord, that is the right ruler of all, including us (Romans 10:9, 10)
D. Grace
Salvation is a free gift. (Ephesians 2:8,9)
We can’t earn it (Ephesians 2:8,9)
E. Faith
We must totally yield ourselves to Christ (Acts 16:31)
We accept what God has done (John 13:20)
We trust in Christ alone for salvation (John 14:6), (Ephesians 2:8,9, 10)
Repentance is inherent in Biblical Faith (Acts 2:36)
F. Commitment
We must be willing to turn from our sins and follow Christ (2 Corinthians 5:15)
(The verses will pop up when mouse is placed over them)
If you have any further questions or would like assistance accepting Christ as your personal Savior, please contact me at Lee@Leesbird.com or contact my pastor, Rev. Nathan Osborne III.
(Pastor Osborne provided the above outline)
As much as we enjoy bird watching and enjoy seeing how many we can see or how many we can count on a list, remember the following verses:
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36-37)
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 