Merry Christ ✝️ mas! 2025

Merry Christmas, beloved friend! G-d’s eternal peace – so much greater than temporary emotions or feelings or even surroundings – to you and your family and to all your readers this day!

Yochanan (Jhn) 1:1-5 CJB[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with G-d, and the Word was G-d. [2] He was with G-d in the beginning. [3] All things came to be through him, and without him nothing made had being. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not suppressed it.

https://bible.com/bible/1275/jhn.1.1-5.CJB


Yesha ‘yahu (Isa) 9:5-6 CJB [5] For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; dominion will rest on his shoulders, and he will be given the name Pele-Yo‘etz El Gibbor Avi-‘Ad Sar-Shalom [Wonder of a Counselor, Mighty G-d, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace], [6] in order to extend the dominion and perpetuate the peace of the throne and kingdom of David, to secure it and sustain it through justice and righteousness henceforth and forever. The zeal of Adonai-Tzva’ot will accomplish this.

https://bible.com/bible/1275/isa.9.5-6.CJB

I confess, in the midst of the dark reports of this age, I have to smile. I will take truthful pessimism over false optimism any day….😳😊

Strangely neither Word (pessimism or optimism) is found in the Torah, nor the Christian Bible, for G-d does not base His commands, His love, nor His eternal call on the temporary feelings, opinions and fluctuations of fallen mankind, but rather on His eternal unchangeable nature.

The Christmas message of the birth of Messiah was first given by the holy messengers to shepherds, Jewish believers under Roman rule that lived in terrible times when crucifixions on the side of the road was the norm. The god Zeus and many other gods were worshipped across the great Roman empire, even as many gods were worshipped by the Egyptians during the time of Israel’s slavery when Moses was born, G-d allowing over 400 years of faithful witness to the Egyptians in that time, so in the time of Babylonian captivity, in the time of Esther and Persian rule, many gods were served and worshipped.

I wonder, do we of the 21st century know their names? Are their temples around us today? The gods of this world, whether human or spirit, did not create this amazing beautiful world and universe, nor the people in it — and hear this, neither do they have the best interest of mankind at heart, for they can not rescue nor save, nor feed, nor fill the hungry soul with the eternal joy, peace and life that comes only from walking with and relationship with the Eternal Father, who desires not just Israel, but all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of His truth, justice, mercy and love.

Yesha ‘yahu (Isa) 45:22-25 CJB [22] Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am G-d; there is no other. [23] In the name of myself I have sworn, from my mouth has rightly gone out, a word that will not return — that to me every knee will bow and every tongue will swear [24] about me that only in Adonai are justice and strength.” All who rage against him will come to him ashamed, [25] but all the descendants of Isra’el will find justice and glory in Adonai.  https://bible.com/bible/1275/isa.45.22-25.CJB

If people do not comprehend his powerful mercy, humility and love, His great power and desire to fully save, they will not desire His justice, which judges greed as idolatry and complacency, lack of love for G-d and neighbor along with murder and other sins. For humans will do and believe just about anything to protect themselves from feeling worthless and if we refuse His truth, justice and mercy for ourselves, not crying over our own evil hearts that refuse to come to Him for the love He has for all mankind, or if we turn to other gods of humanity or money or anything else for our protection and safety, then simply, we will not find the rescue and safety we desire, but it is not so much the Earthly rescue, but the eternal with which God is concerned.

Surely many of the prophets of Israel were killed for the messages they brought of God’s truth, justice and love. There are not many gods. There is one God. He alone can rescue and save. Where are the gods of the Egyptians of Moses’ time? Where are the Gods of the Babylonians? The Roman gods? The Greek gods? Do we worship them today? How is it possible that this tiny little nation of Israel still exists and how is it possible that the worship of the god of Abraham Isaac and Jacob has expanded through the teaching of Messiah Yeshua, now all over the world? Very simply, because God is. He is the Eternal God and he desires for all to be saved.

But He will force no one to believe Him or to Love Him, for that would never be Love. We have a choice. He sets before us life and death, then urges us to choose Life. To come with our hearts, minds and strength to Him for rescue, turning all our time, energy, money and resources (TEMR) over to Him for His use, His kingdom.

If we wish to combat the evil and darkness, then we must come to Him and receive His love, for only He can Save. Lies must be combatted with truth, but if we refuse to admit our own sins and the sins of our circle of friends, then we perpetuate lies and the truth is not in us. G-d calls pride and lies an abomination. Can we cry to Him and admit we are guilty and come to Him for refuge? Not minimizing our guilt and exalting the sins of others but admitting with the prophet,

Tehillim (Psa) 14:2-3 CJB [2] From heaven Adonai observes humankind to see if anyone has understanding, if anyone seeks God. [3] But all turn aside, all alike are corrupt; no one does what is right, not a single one.

https://bible.com/bible/1275/psa.14.2-3.CJB

And into a Roman world the angel came to do a Shepherds and spoke these words: “Fear not.”

For it was not ungodly Rome that was causing fear in the hearts of the shepherds, but heaven. For when the glory and Holiness of God comes down, it strikes Terror in the hearts of Fallen man that must then realize how bad we are and how desperately we need a Savior. From not just the evil around, but the evil within.

Fear not.

Luke (Luk) 2:10-11 CJB [10] but the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, because I am here announcing to you Good News that will bring great joy to all the people. [11] This very day, in the town of David, there was born for you a Deliverer who is the Messiah, the Lord.

https://bible.com/bible/1275/luk.2.10-11.CJB

It is good to be prepared. And it is heartbreaking for the season humanity is living through now and it is written that if God does not bring an end to it there will be a day where it will be so bad that no one would be saved if God did not bring it to an end, so we must find joy and peace and Hope and something larger than the temporary trappings of this world. And we must stand and speak of this eternal Justice and love to all whom we come in contact with.

I wonder, if the day we have the love of God for those that persecute us, even as God has loved us when we have persecuted him, I wonder if that will not be the day where see the victory we desire and where we learn what it means, coming to Him with our TEMR, clinging to Him for rescue, spending more time with Him and His eternal words than the temporary tinsel treasures of this world, if then we would grasp the joy of HIS salvation.

If for just one year every Christian would choose to set aside lights and trees and temporary presents and put money and time into the poor and oppressed of the world, reaching out in love to even our enemies, not in some legalistic bah humbug fashion, but in the powerful love and joy and passion of the One who came down into an evil, messed up broken world, and was born in a barn, raised in a ghetto, (like me!) and suffered and died (and was resurrected!) to bring salvation to self-centered, greedy, idolatrous, murderous people so that as Moses lifted the pole in the desert, so all who simply believe might be saved.

One choice, one tree in the garden. One choice, one tree at the cross.

His continues call to the sons of men to turn from lies, hate, greed and darkness to the Divine Protection of His Justice, Truth, Grace and Love continues through the ages when many, many gods have fallen and are forever gone. And His justice, truth and grace will continue eternally long after the gods of our age are fallen and gone.

Yochanan (Jhn) 3:16-17 CJB[16] “For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. [17] For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through him, the world might be saved.

https://bible.com/bible/1275/jhn.3.16-17.CJB

Merry Christ mas!