THREE KINGS

Today’s Scripture “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him gifts…”   Matt. 2:11 Choose The Right Gifts Can you imagine how the wise men felt as they first looked upon our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? As part of their worship, they gave Him gifts. They gave valuable presents to symbolize the love, honor and appreciation in their hearts. In the same way, you show your love and appreciation to God with gifts of worship, and you can show your love and appreciate to others by the gifts you bring. As you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ during this holiday season, don’t just focus on the gifts you bring in the natural; focus on gifts of love, kindness and encouragement. Go out of your way to show honor to others just as the wise men went out of their way to show honor to Jesus. When you walk in love and peace, that is the place of blessing. A Prayer for Today “Father, today I set my mind and heart on You. Help me to choose the right gifts this holiday season—gifts of love, kindness and peace. Have Your way in my heart and let Your goodness shine through me in Jesus’ name! Amen.”

My Thoughts:
Seems one of my favorite Christmas Carols that I remember well has always been “We Three Kings of Orient Are.”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOsnNr1-smA
So as you listen, please think about the words,  they have some profoundly deep meaning concerning seeking HIS light.  First off the gifts were basically indicative of the HIS basic needs.   The three gifts had a spiritual meaning: gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death.  The gold also needed for the family support in Egypt.  As to the use of the frankincense and myrrh,  Mary may have used them in the Lord’s death but there is no mention of it in the New Testament.  But the key to the value of the song is the word light.  GOD is light and in HIM is no darkness at all and if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  1 John1:5-7

A long time ago I had a vision or dream of walking in a soft grassy meadow going east towards a rising sun and thought it was a beautiful experience.  As I was walking I felt the presence of another person joining me on my right side in robes so immediately realized it must be Jesus.  I did not look as I did not want to disturb what was happening.  And as we walked together towards the light I found it was not the sun at all but a giant yellow intense fire without heat  and as we walked it filled the whole sky.  We came to the edge of the grass which was still lovely even right up next to the fire.  Jesus stepped across into the fire and I felt I was to follow.  There was no fear but an awesome sense of respect.  As we walked into the fire I quickly realized there was a flow of liquid LOVE flowing in all directions.   And I became acutely aware that if there was anything in me that did not match that LOVE that it would be cremated instantly and then I awoke from the vision or dream.  I quickly realized there was a lot more to do in my life before I was ready to go.  The thought that I came away with was that in that day when I come face to face with my creator I need to have traded my Adamic nature in for the nature of Christ Jesus.  And that the Holy Spirit would help me if I was sincere about the exchinge of my darkness for HIS LIGHT.  So that song encourages me to keep heading in that direction regardless of how many times I stumble and fall.  That actually, walking in the light as HE is in the LIGHT has always been HIS divine purpose for us all on planet earth.  But our creation also does include a free will where we can say no,  I like Adam’s way better. But if we do not go for HIS light in Christ Jesus, there is nothing left but the blackness of darkness for ever,  Jude 13.  May you choose rightly.   Yours, in HIS great love,   Ken<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org

Christian News
Christian families in India deprived of drinking water, afraid to celebrate Christmas in hometown
A Christian community in Karnataka state, India was prevented from building a church on December 4 and later deprived of drinking water when they went to police, with members now fearing to celebrate Christmas in their town.
Family finds imprisoned Chinese pastor in deep distress, ‘brainwashed’ by unknown medication regimen and parroting communist propaganda
A once-loving Chinese pastor and family man imprisoned 6 years ago by the Chinese Communist Party was found under severe psychological duress by his family members on their last visit to him December 13, and his daughter is seeking to expose the brutal methods by which the regime quells dissidence.
Pakistani Christian refugees punished in Thailand, separated at Christmas
Twenty-eight Pakistani Christian asylum-seekers were detained in Thailand on December 19, and are facing longer-term detention and separation one from another due to ongoing repairs at the main detention facility in Bangkok.
Protestants face persecution in Mexico as government denies they are being singled out by communities for their faith
Eight Protestant families were denied access to drinking water by community leaders in Mexico in January for not signing a document renouncing their faith, and 4 more Protestants expelled from their village for refusing to participate in local Roman Catholic festivals in July, as the government denies that any religious persecution is taking place.  
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