Obviously it's been a while since I was able to make it to the library to get online and post a new journal entry. Through November I had hoped to maintain at least one entry a week, but if I get thrown off schedule just a bit, everything seems to get out of whack. So it was this month. I was able to get to the library since my last entry on Dec. 7, but because of other personal matters I hadn't had the time nor opportunity to compose an entry. But here we are again.

It is frustrating at times not having an every day access to the web. There were certain things I had gotten used to being able to do online, but the more time passes between then [June] and now, the longer ago that time seems to be. I try to remember to be thankful I can still be online, and I try to make the most of that online time.

So it IS a blessing to be able to be online, and this is a good time of the year to reflect on all the blessings life has provided.

We don't have health insurance right now, but I am blessed with a doctor who has been our family physician for about 20 years now, and who is willing to try and help us out. Mostly that means scripts for cheap meds at Wal-Mart, and his prayers for God's blessings on us as well. It's a blessing to have a doctor who is truly born again.

We don't have a wealth of resources right now, and much of that is our own doing, as well as some bad planning on our part. So be it. It certainly looked like we wouldn't be able to put any presents under the tree this year. My wife and I didn't mind for ourselves, but it sure did bother me that this might impact my children so bad. But God moved on the heart of someone to bless us with a financial gift, and were able to provide some "Christmas" [ie: gifts] with that. And then someone we don't even know adopted our family, so that now there are a plethora of gifts under the tree. What a blessing to have a God who cares about such matters.

We really don't have room for a tree in our flat, and that was a disappointment for my children, but my wife's mom has one, so that is a blessing as well.

I haven't been able to find a new job yet, but I am working, and we have sufficient funds to pay our bills, keep food on the table and the house heated. Sufficient usually means "some meat and no gravy," but we certainly aren't lacking. What a blessing to have the Lord our Shepherd who ensures we do not lack what we need, and sometimes what we want, too.

My hours at work are such that I miss out on more than I would like to at church. I was scheduled to work noon-9 this past Sunday, which meant not only would I have to miss church in the morning but that I wouldn't be able to attend church Sunday night. And this past Sunday night was when the children's play was scheduled. But God sent a snowstorm and church was canceled for Sunday night, and the play rescheduled for this coming Sunday night. And I already had this coming Sunday night off. What a blessed gift from God!

It's also hard when you ask for time off, and they say yes and then ignore it when making out the schedule. I had been given Christmas Eve day off -- the whole day -- and then scheduled to work it. But since I am opening, and can still go to Christmas Eve services, and have the next day off of course, I'm simply going to thank the Lord for that blessing also.

Even though I not serving as a pastor anymore, I'm thankful I still have opportunities to serve the Lord, even with my crazy schedule. I have been able to teach most mid-week Wednesday Bible studies at church, and this week I was asked if I could be available for Junior Church on Sunday. What a great blessing for God to make opportunities for me to serve Him!

Of course there are the "mundane" blessings of having a loving wife, good kids [mostly!], relative health, peace and safety, and so forth, and I do want to be mindful to be thankful for all of that also. However, and I hope truthfully, even if I had none of those blessings in my life, but still had Jesus, I would be richly blessed indeed.

I recall to mind the old woman, who was so rich in faith, and so poor in the ways of the world, so that her meal was often some stale bread and cold water, in a run down home on the wrong side of the tracks, yet she could still say, "All this, AND Jesus too! My Lord and my God! How rich I am!" And she meant it. Lord, help me and allow me to grow in that kind of grace and knowledge of my Lord Jesus!

We ought to all give such thoughts serious credence and place in our life! Especially at such a time of the year as this. I am truly thankful that all the world makes much of the Christmas holiday. True, they might give only scant attention to the Christ of Christmas, and many might be only concerned with what they can gain from others, with little to no concern over keeping it a holy-day. Still, so many dress up their corner of the world, and many secular stations play a constant stream of Christmas music. Yes, much of it is secular, but there are many traditional hymns included, too. Such blessings! "All this, and Jesus too!" My Lord and my God, how rich we are!

It would be a greater blessing if the world with give greater care and thought to things of the Christ of Christmas, but then again, some of God's own saints struggle and fail at this. What a blessing to know the great care and forethought our Heavenly Father gave with respect to His Only Begotten Son, Jesus. We could consider all the fulfilled prophecies, or God's choice of parents for His Son, or so many other elements of the Christmas story. But for a few moments now, may we consider the blessing of God's concern with respect to naming His only begotten?

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Now Christians believe this is a prophecy of God's Messiah, and since Christians believe Jesus was and is that Messiah, we believe it bears full meaning in Him. Notice God's great care and forethought with respect to Messiah's name in this verse.

"...and his name shall be called Wonderful..." So Messiah will have a wonderful name. And truly the Scriptural picture is that His name was and is wonderful:

Matthew 1:20-21  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. ~ Wonderful as Jesus, Joshua, "Saviour!"

Luke 1:31-33  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. ~ Wonderful in being the Son of God and God the son!

Philippians 2:9-11  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~ Wonderful that we have the grand opportunity to bow down to Him here and now and receive His mercies and blessings!

Revelation 19:16  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. ~ Wonderful that one day all will know without any shadow of doubt Who and "What" He is. Yes, His name shall be called Wonderful

"...and his name shall be called...Counsellor..." Isaiah prophecies of this also:

Isaiah 11:2-4  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. ~ When we consider the type of person, the characteristics God's Messiah would have, and how wise He will be, and is!, why do we ever consider going any where else, or to any one else, first or last, for the wisdom we need in this life. And how much wisdom we need!

Christ can fulfill that need. He demonstrated that during His life on earth:

Luke 2:40  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Matthew 7:28-29  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Matthew 13:54  And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

Through the Holy Spirit, He continues to demonstrate that today:

1 Corinthians 1:23-24  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

In fact, in Colossians 2:3, we are told "In (Christ) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," but they are not buried treasures. The can be borrowed treasure, borrowed from Him and graced on us. As Dr. Henry Morris reminds us, "The testimony, even of His enemies, was that "never man spake like this man" (John 7:46)."

Yes, His name was Wonderful, and wonderful Counselor was He.

"...and his name shall be called...The mighty God..." This is a startling claim, yet perhaps we fail to be startled because we are too familiar with it. In the Old Testament, God has many names, such as:
- Jehovah Elohim, Lord God
- El Shaddai, Almighty God
- El Elyon, Most High God
- El Olam, Everlasting God

How interesting then when God speaks of Messiah's name we calls Him "the Mighty God," or El Gibbor. This is the strongest of all the titles for God in the Old Testament. Now when Isaiah used the divine prefix /el/, it always and only refered to the Lord God of Heaven. And /gibbor/ was a word which essentially meant, "hero." And this meant that Messiah would be that kind of a Saviour, the kind of God which humanity desperately needs. One Who is strong enough to rescue and save them, as a true hero, but also to keep them for ever. What a blessed name! Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God!

Yet that is not all! "...and his name shall be called...The everlasting Father..." This Messiah Who God says will be "the Mighty God" will also be "the everlasting Father." Literally, this term means "the Father of Eternity." But how can Messiah be the same as "the Father of Eternity?"

Well, isn't that the miracle we celebrate at Christmas? ~ Matthew 1:23 [quoting Is. 7.14] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

And that is precisely what the Biblical record claims:

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

More than just the Biblical record making that claim, Jesus Himself made the claim:

John 8:58  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

John 10:30  I and my Father are one.

John 12:45  And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

John 14:8-9  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

And the Father proclaimed it to be true:

Romans 1:1-4  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; AND DECLARED [TO BE] THE SON OF GOD WITH POWER, ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS, BY THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD: [emphasis mine]

The word "declared" there literally means "determined." It was the resurrection from the dead which forever fixed the truth of Christ's own claims: that He was and Is and forever shall be very God of very God, thus Messiah and "the Father of Eternity."

What rich blessings! And still, "...and his name shall be called...The Prince of Peace." This is perhaps the most important aspect of His name of all of them here. The reason He has a wonderful name, being full of wisdom, the reason He is both the Mighty God and the Everlasting Father, God-come-down-in-the-flesh Immanuel, is to prepare our hearts and minds to understand that one day in the future He will come back to reign. He will truly be the very first world-wide leader, One Who will bring a true and lasting peace to all people everywhere at the same time, through the establishment of His Kingdom and His wonderful, wise, strong and loving rule.

And yet that rule of peace and the rule of His Kingdom can begin in your heart and life now, today:

Colossians 1:19-23  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

And it is all a very simple yet blessed truth. It all begins with the understanding that you are a sinner. You were born that way. It's much the same as a man who is born deaf. He didn't do anything to cause that problem, but he certainly must deal with the consequences of it. You and I didn't do anything to become a sinner, we were simply born that way. But the consequences are eternal in their impact, and hellish if we do not deal with them now, while God is gracious to give us time and space to repent and believe.

We must accept that fact that we are a sinner who need a Saviour, which is precisely why God sent Jesus on that first Christmas so long ago. And He can be your Saviour now, if you simply acknowledge your sin, repent and believe the Gospel.

You know, being in a garage doesn't make you a car, and being in a church doesn't make you a Christian. Believing the Gospel does.

Curious? Want to learn more about how to be saved? Here's a couple of web sites you can visit which I believe will help you understand:

http://www.chick.com/information/general/salvation.asp
http://www.gotquestions.org/way-of-salvation.html
http://members.tripod.com/militarygetsaved/heaven.htm
http://www.bbfi.org/discover/index.htm

Of course, perhaps you'd simply like to get in touch with me directly. I would be happy to have you send me an email, and I would be happy to show you from God's word, or answer your questions, and such like. Just remember, though, that I'm only online once or at the most twice a week. And as we are not guaranteed tomorrow, I would urge you to simply contact one of those other web sites now.

Of course, if you have a relationship with a Gospel preaching church, why not give that pastor a call? I'm sure it would be a great blessing to him if you did.

Need a church? Try visiting this web site to find one:

http://members.tripod.com/militarygetsaved/id23.htm
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/churchdir/churches.htm
http://baptistinfo.com/directory.shtml
http://www.bbfi.net/c-city.asp

[Obviously, for all those web sites above, they are sites I trust to give you the truth and to be good, Bible-believing churches.]

And for all the Christians visiting with me now, I hope and pray you truly appreciate the gift of God -- that "unspeakable gift" -- Jesus! And show Him that appreciation by trying to give that gift away during this Christmas season, and then on a regular basis all through out the new year.

Well, it's been a blessing to be able to visit with you again today. I hope you were blessed to. I probably won't be in contact with you again until after Christmas, so allow me to wish you a very merry Christmas now. May you discover many rich blessings this season, too.

Thanks again for stopping in, and for giving me a few moments of your time and attention. Until next time, my blessings to you,
Timotheous, a brother in Christ

I know that you'll not get this till after Christmas but my pc has been acting up lately and I have'nt been able to get online too much either. I see you are having a blessed Christmas and I'm very happy for you and yours. We too,had to cancel our cantata last Sunday. I don't know if they're going to include it this Sunday or not. But, if the weather is good I'm attending Christmas Eve candlelight service. Thank you for your Christmas commentary entry(this entry), it has picked up my Christmas spirit and added knowledge to my understanding of just who Jesus is in my life. I would have sent you a Chistmas ecard if I could have gotten on before now,sorry. I wish you this now and a happy,healthy New Year.

FROM BRO. TIM -- BECKY! Always a blessing to hear from you! I trust you also had a blessed Christmas season!