The Gift That Cannot Be Stolen!

I was struck by a local news flash the other day about a thief, called the Grinch, who broke into a local church and stole all the Christmas presents intended for the needy children in the area. It was all caught on the surveillance camera. The people at the church were devastated and discouraged. When the community heard about it in the news the next few days, people came and donated so many gifts to the church that they ended up with more gifts then they had before! One lady donated her entire collection of Vermont teddy bears! It reminded me of the movie, “It’s a wonderful Life”. I saw this movie afresh the other day and I have to say that it is a “must see” for Christmas time.

The spirit of giving is a wonderful thing, for both the recipient and the giver.

Devotionally, In Genesis 3 the story of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, the Grinch (Satan) stole the wonderful gift of life. The close relationship that Adam and Eve had with God was lost. They were devastated and discouraged, until… the first glimmer of hope was spoken… God will give…

God told them that He would be sending a special person (Messiah Jesus) through the seed of the woman, who would bruise his (Satan’s) head – a serious blow and Satan would merely bruise this person’s heel – a minor thing. (Genesis 3:15)

Another prophetic word of hope was spoken in Isaiah 9:6

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a SON is GIVEN:…and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

A Son will be Given?

“…Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” Isaiah 7:14

Immanuel means God with us.

Matthew 1-2 and Luke 2 give the narrative of Jesus birth. It’s a “must read” for Christmas time. It was foretold that this baby, would be born, but also be given by God specifically to restore sinful man back to God and give him eternal life! All we need do is accept this incredible gift, so freely given.

“For God so loved the World (you and me) that HE GAVE his only begotten Son, That whosoever (that’s you and me) believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

This is why there is a spirit of giving, especially at this time of year- because God gave to us the most precious gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes, laying the Manger – Immanuel -And no Grinch can take it away.

Note: Picture is my granddaughter a couple weeks old under the Christmas tree. - 2009

The Hats That Jesus Wore

Fedoras! My husband’s hat of choice. He’s got them in different colors, both in straw and high quality felt. He was wearing them, even before the Indiana Jones movies came out! I do have to admit… I love the way he looks in them! And, he always gets positive comments from people everywhere he goes. You know, you can tell a lot about a person by the kind of hat they wear.

I took the liberty to imagine, devotionally, what hats Jesus would have worn by his titles, his work and whom he is.

Prophet’s Hat

The woman at the well knew Jesus was a prophet when he told her all about her life, even though he had just met her.

“The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.“ John 4:19

He prophesied about many things, about people, the future even of his death.

Priest’s Hat

He was the great high priest, holy and undefiled, who did God’s work on behalf of Israel and the world. Since He was taken up into heaven, His work continues by making intercessions between man and God.

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." Hebrews 4:14

“ But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25

Hat of Thorns

Not only did he do the work of the High Priest, but he was also the perfect sacrifice- offered once for all.

“who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. Hebrews 7:27

King’s Hat

Jesus, a descendant of King David, answered Pilate’s question plainly.


”Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king….” John 18:37

He is now sitting on the right hand of the Father, and will come again to set up His kingdom.

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Shepherd’s Hat

Jesus is the good shepherd. He leads and takes care of us, his sheep.

“
I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” John 10:14

I do hope that you:

Recognize His Titles.

Believe the work he did for you.

Know and follow Him daily, because of who He is.

Though he has many hats, and many more, only he was able to fulfill and accomplish the work that all the hats represent.

Day of Atonement- Yesterday and Today

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. Leviticus 17:11
We have been dealing with blood issues since 2006 when my husband was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (Cancer in the Bone Marrow). We have learned a lot since then. Just recently, he has had his stem cells harvested and is getting ready for a second round since they didn’t get enough the first time. It is an eerie feeling to have your life blood go through a machine, be filtered and then returned back into your body. It certainly does drain a person of energy for a few days…but we all know what would have happened if the blood wasn’t returned back!

During the time of Moses, God instituted a solemn ceremony called the Day of Atonement to reconcile the people back to Himself. Just this one time every year, the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies with the shed blood to make atonement for sin. Basically, it was a day of Substitution, Sacrifice and Scapegoat, described in Leviticus 16.

Substitution – Perfect animals (bullocks and goats) were selected to die in place of the individual and the nation (verse 3-5).

Sacrifice – The animal was slain at the great altar and its blood was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies for Atonement (Covering of Sin), (verses 6-15). Leviticus 17:11 (quoted above) states the purpose and the principle for animal sacrifice.

Scapegoat –A goat was sent away from the camp into the wilderness, symbolizing the people’s sins being taken away (verse 21-22).

Messianic Fulfillment

This ceremony was a vivid picture of what Jesus came to do in His First Coming.

He became our Substitute, just like the perfect animals, He died in our place.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

He became our Sacrifice, just like the shed blood of the animal; He shed His blood on the Cross for our sins, not just as atonement, but for eternal redemption!
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:14

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12
He became our Scapegoat, just like the goat that took the sins away, Jesus, who had no sin, came specifically to take our sins away.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 1 John 3:5 (See Psalm 103:12)

Today, our dear Jewish friends have a Day of Atonement, but with no Atonement! Why? It is because in place of blood sacrifices there are good intentions and religious deeds which do not meet God’s requirements. But, in Messiah Jesus, Leviticus 16 has been fulfilled. Consider… would you want an atonement which cannot be obtained today and even if it was, only provided a mire covering or would you want redemption, which is obtainable now by faith to anyone and is eternal.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Have you received this special gift for yourself?

For an exciting re-enactment and explanation of this observance, consider purchasing the DVD, “Messiah in the Day of Atonement”, produced by The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, in which Peter portrays the High Priest. The photo, above, is a scene from this DVD.

A Set of Strong Waves

“…Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:26

When we learned of my husband’s diagnosis of Cancer – Multiple Myeloma. It was the first mayor wave of distress that came over us some 4 years ago. Peter was engrossed in producing a gospel movie called, “Rossvally: From the Synagogue to the Saviour”. He had spent most of the previous months filming at various Civil War sites and re-enactments. When the doctor saw his blood results, he said, “You should have been an actual casualty! Not an act!” We were shocked. Why would God allow this to happen now?

A month later, the second wave of distress hit. My right arm and leg began to go limp. Two bone spurs in my neck were pinching my spinal cord so much that the doctor expected to see me in a wheelchair. Five days later, I was on the operating table.

All along, a third wave had been mounting. It spiked 9 months later, during Peter’s stem cell transplant. Alzheimer’s had overcome my dear, sweet mother. Her personality had completely changed to a negative one. It was unbearable. I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown.

But…like waves, these distressing circumstances began to subside and the Lord helped us through. He was in the “boat” with us. The many prayers of faithful people gave us the added strength to stay a float!

He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Psalm 107:29

A Few Thoughts on Shavuot -Feast of Pentecost

"And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:" Deuteronomy 26:10
Growing up, I really never heard that much about this feast. Most of the time, the emphisis was just on the fact that the Church started and the Holy Spirit was given during this celebration after Jesus death, burial and resurrection in Acts 2:1-5.
Deuteronomy 26 gives us the background to the Feast of Pentecost. It was a harvest feast. The first fruits were to be brought in a basket and given in worship to God at the Temple in Jerusalem. I love celebrations where food is involved!
We can find in the old Jewish sources that there are 3 unique aspects about Shavuot from which we can taste nuggets of devotional applications.
1. The first fruits of the land may not be brought to the temple before the feast day began. And the feast was celebrated 50 days AFTER Passover.
We must first have a Passover before we can have a feast of Pentecost. We must first be saved, or redeemed with the blood of the lamb. Jesus was our sacrifice, whose blood was shed for our salvation. (1 Cor. 5:7)

2. The fruits must come from one’s own land. The people could not bring someone else’s produce that they didn’t work on.
Jesus provided the power for us to produce special fruit in our lives through the Holy Spirit. We cannot worship the Lord with someone else’s “fruit”; it must be produced from our own life.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:22-23

3. The fruits can be brought to the temple continually from the beginning of the feast throughout the summer and fall all the way up to the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles and Hanukkah.
We can keep producing and giving our fruits to the Lord until He comes again!

We just came back from a ministry trip to Honduras. Peter taught at a Pastor’s conference series on all the Feasts of Israel. It was well received. We saw how the Holy Spirit has produced much fruit in the lives of those who attended. We are excited to know that even more fruit will be produced in many more lives until He comes again!
I was glad also for the opportunity to take some unique pictures. Here are some of my favorites.

A Special Hem

"Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well." Mark 6:56

Hems, I’ve sewn many. Usually they are the last thing that needs to be finished for a garment. The hem line in my life time has gone from the very top of the leg to the ankles and everywhere in-between.

During the Lord’s ministry here, I have no doubt that the hem of his garment was near his ankles. It gets cold in Israel, believe it our not! I got to visit there one summer and was surprised that I had to wear a warm jacket in the evenings and early mornings.

The Lord’s hem was probably very dirty and frayed from all the rugged roads and miles that he walked. It might have been wet and probably smelled a little like fish, since he was in and out of fishing boats at times.

There was something special about this hem. It was accessible to all; close to the ground. Many dirty hands were grabbing his hem when he walked by. No one noticed. But, Jesus did. These needy people with faith reached at the very edge, the farthest border. Behind him, low. Yet, even at this very insignificant, lowly place of Jesus’ being, there was cleansing and healing to all of them.

Do you need healing? Feel the filth of sin on your heart, mind and soul? It doesn’t take much faith, a little will do. Just reach out and touch his lowly “hem”. If your hands and heart are dirty, He knows and wants you to come to Him just as you are. Let Him cleanse and heal to your soul.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37

” The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Note: The garment pictured is Peter's first century garment that he uses in his special presentations. It was hand made in Israel. The Close Line is one of my watercolor paintings.

Resurrection Morning

Morning is my favorite time of the day. It’s so peaceful, quiet; the birds wake and start singing. I especially love the beautiful golden glow of the sunrise on the trees, ocean, lakes, grass and flowers, dispelling the darkness of the night. I imagine it was such a morning in Jerusalem long ago. As dawn was breaking and the morning sun was ready to cast its golden rays to light up the city, Mary Magdalene and the other faithful women, who followed Jesus from Galilee, were making their way up to the place where they laid him, after his death. They were lovingly carrying a mixture of special spices, such as spikenard, myrrh, aloes and fragrant oils (John 12:3-7, 19:39, Luke 23:56), they had quickly prepared just before the Sabbath started, a couple days before. They had seen how Jesus’ body was hurriedly wrapped up and laid in the tomb, for lack of time. They wanted to honor him by preparing his body for burial in the proper way. Understandably, they were worried that they wouldn’t be able to roll the stone away. I’ve seen the grave stones in Israel. I know I wouldn’t be able to move it without some help. They were startled and frightened by a sudden rumbling noise. They stumbled to the ground by the shaking earth beneath them. It was a great earthquake. After regaining their balance, they were glad that their jars of ointment were still in tact. So, they drew near. A strange brilliant light was shining. It was brighter than the rising sun. The stone was rolled away! The guards were stunned! Their fear grew. As their eyes adjusted to the brilliant light, they saw the Angel. He gently said to them, as he held out his hand, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.” Instantly, great joy rushed in their hearts, dispelling their fear and sadness. Then they saw Him! He has risen! He has risen, indeed!

May you, also, experience great joy in knowing the living Risen Savior this Resurrection Sunday, as well. (My thoughts were taken from Matthew 28:1-8. 1 Corinthians 15 is also a great chapter to read on this subject.)

A couple weeks ago, Peter and I were up in North Florida for a week long Bible conference. We got up to catch the sunrise one morning with camera in hand. These are some of my favorites from that beautiful morning.

Purim

At the end of this month, the Jewish people will celebrate a fun festival called Purim. The word Purim means “lots”. Haman, the bad guy, casted lots to determine the day in which all the Jews of the land would be destroyed. This happened centuries before Christ in the Persian period. The story is found in the book of Esther. I encourage you to read it. Talk about a great story! As you read through, take note that there are 3 certainties found in the story that are standard characteristics of the Jewish people in their history. These certainties are also present day realities to all of us, who love and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. The first certainty is Persecution. Haman wanted to destroy the Jews. Many bad guys throughout history have tried…Pharaoh of Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar, and Hitler, to name a few… But, it is impossible. Read Jeremiah 31:35-37.

Our present reality, as believers, is that we will also suffer persecution and the world will hate us (II Timothy 3:12 and I John 3:13).

2. Providence is the second certainty. Esther, a Jewish girl, became Queen of Persia, “For such a time as this”. She was chosen to be in a unique position to help save her people and enable her uncle, Mordecai, to be placed in high position so that he can help care for his people. Providence is “the Hand of God in the Glove of history”. He was in control all along.

Our present reality, as believers, is that God is still in control. “All things work together for good to them that love God…” Romans 8:28
You are where you are, “For such a time as this”. He can use you for His glory in whatever situation he has put you in.
3. Preservation (Protection) is the third certainty. To His people, Israel, God is faithful to His promise that they will never be extinct from the earth.
“ blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; Genesis 22:17. God cares about His people and He protects them. “Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:4

Our present reality, as believers, is that we are protected in Christ Jesus as found in Romans 8:35-39
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Gospel can be illustrated by Esther’s actions.
Esther was under the decree of death. – We are all under the decree of death because of sin, Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23.
Esther feared the king because he had the power of life and death. – We are to fear God who has power to destroy both soul and body in hell, Matthew 10:28.
Esther approached the king and was received. – We can come freely to the Lord Jesus and he will never cast us out, but will raise us at the last day, John 6:37, 40.

We can all be encouraged by Esther’s example. She was a beautiful woman, who had the courage, with God’s help, to do what needed to be done, for such a time as this!

The main points in this post were taken from a sermon given by my husband, Peter Colon.

Orchids and Announcement!

“Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:” Isaiah 42:5
I had the privilege to participate in an art show with Women in the Visual Arts at the American Orchid Society in Delray Beach, FL this month. I took advantage of the time to walk around the facilities when I dropped off my 2 photographs to show. They have a beautiful place there. If you are ever in the area, do stop by. Glad I had my camera with me! These are some of my favorites.

The last one looks like dancing fairies!

Announcement:
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:14
A little miracle has happen since my last post. I am now a Grandma! My daughter, Sarah, gave birth to a beautiful little girl, Juliet Christine, December 17th. She weighed 6 lbs, 11 oz. Peter and I had the privilege, along with our Son-in-Law, to be present when she was born. She is truly a little angel sent from God, so small, helpless and fragile.
Thank you, Lord, for this precious gift!