On The Sixth Day Of Christmas
by Mark Tross We are presently smack dab in the middle of these twelve days of Christmas, with six geese laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree (now that is a mother load). I’m beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel here, but still finding it to be quite a stretch! Geese themselves are not mentioned in Holy Script specifically, but we do know that God created the fowls of the air on the fifth day of creation, as Genesis 1:20b says, “and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” Plus 21b, “and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Verse 22b says, “and let birds multiply on the earth.” I have not personally ever seen a bird do mathematics of any kind, but I do know that they have a keen sense of direction, especially in wintertime. Gold, golden, goldsmith, goldsmith’s and goldsmiths do show up in both Old & New Covenants, with everything from chains, jewels, gods, crowns, rings, overlays, candlesticks, bars (non-alcoholic of course), the ephod, wreathen works, bells, plates, taches, boards, hooks, chapiters and their fillets, the mercy seat, , cherubims, snuffdishes, reeds, cups, vials, girdles, censers, pipes, vessels, earrings, the altar, spoons, emerods, mice, calves, basins, images, the sceptre, bowls, the wedge of Ophir, gifts, idols, merchandise, streets, spoil, the head, masts, decks, ornaments, sockets, ouches, shekels, shields, oracles, lamps, tongs, talents, fleshhooks, of Parvaim, doors, nails, chambers, basons, a footstool, beaten, ivory, treasuries, chargers, drams, beds, dust, clothing, feathers, of Sheba, the furnace, apples, borders, a house full and a city, just to name a few. God says, “The Silver And The Gold Are Mine.” Perhaps we should take Him at His Word and not so much worry about whether our dollar is backed by the gold standard. You don’t see too many people today worried about their asphalt investments, but The City Of God, The New Jerusalem, which is coming down from God out of Heaven, is made of pure gold and that’s what the streets are paved with. The Bible tells us that your faith is more precious than gold and without faith, it is impossible to please God! Where your heart is, there your treasure will be, not in the balance of your savings account, the value of your car, home or whatever it is that you deem of any worth. There is no golden goose and the six geese in this song laying five golden rings will not buy you a stairway to Heaven, but repenting of your sins, turning away from them and towards The One Who paid the price for you, will bring eternally good consequences. Today if you hear His Voice, harden not your heart, so you can walk on those very real streets of gold and live forever in God’s golden City! Mark Tross http://crossculturenm.weebly.com Subscribe to ‘crossculturenm’ on YouTube Like & Share Our Facebook Pages Join Our Worldwide Yahoo Group Today! On The Third Day Of Christmas
by Mark Tross I think we can honestly say that the writer of this song had a thing about birds, not just ones mentioned in the scriptures, just birds in general, at least in the beginning parts of the lyrics, because on the third day of Christmas the gift given was three French hens. Some of you might ask, What’s a hen weigh? The Urban Dictionary states it this way: henway "Hey dude! Do you know where I can get a henway?" "what's a henway?" "Oh about two and a half pounds." Some attribute this joke to the Marx Brothers, be that as it may, we do have precedent to speak about three hens at least, because hen is in the bible exactly three times, just not French ones. God would say, “Moses, Moses” and Jesus would say, “Verily, Verily” (KJV) or “Truly, Truly,” so when The Holy Spirit repeats Himself we pay attention! Hen is spoken of in Zechariah (his name means God Remembers) 6:14, as the son of Zephaniah, whose name means in Hebrew: grace, graciousness, kindness, favor, beauty, gracious, pleasant, well-favored, from the root word meaning; to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior, bestow, to implore by petition, beseech, find, favorable, give, grant, graciously, intreat, be merciful, have mercy, shew mercy on, upon, pray, and make supplication. Do these meanings sound like the attributes of God toward humankind, actually all of His creation, because The Word tells us that all of creation groans for the fullness of redemption and the only way to be redeemed is by The Blood (Life Is In The Blood) Of The Lamb Of God, Jesus, our Redeemer! Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34 both speak of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem and crying out about how He longed to gather all who were scattered (like sheep without a shepherd) under His Wings, like a mother hen, but they would not. Thank God for Romans 9-11, because like Joseph revealing himself to his brothers in Egypt (representative of the world system), Jesus is going to remove the veil from Israel’s eyes, when He returns for the second time and they will come to see and experientially know Him for Who He truly is, Messiah, Christ, The Anointed One! In the Greek language, hen means: a bird (as rising in the air), “rear,” a mountain (as lifting itself above the plain) hill or mount. Let us face it, one would not normally think of a hen rising in the air, because we are so attuned to the biblical phrase, mounting up with wings, as eagles, but it was Jesus Who said He desired to gather them up, as a mother hen. When He returns the mountains will be laid low, the valleys will rise up and all the earth will be filled with His Glory! http://crossculturenm.weebly.com Subscribe to ‘crossculturenm’ on YouTube Follow us on Twitter Like & Share Our Facebook Pages Join Our Worldwide Yahoo Group Today! On The Second Day Of Christmas
by Mark Tross We start off the second day of Christmas on the right foot or I should say, with both feet on the ground, the solid rock, with two turtledoves, which yes, are at least biblical, found in Leviticus and the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to be circumcised on the eighth day after His birth, within The Temple, in Jerusalem, along with Simeon and the prophetess, Anna. Turtledoves or pigeons where used as a sin offering, according to The Law of God, which was given to Moses on Mount Sinai, for Israel and all nations, peoples, tribes and tongues (The Law is there to lead us to Christ)! I once had the privilege of hearing Author R. T. Kendall in Albuquerque, New Mexico and he writes, in one of his over forty books, about the difference between, what he calls, ‘pigeon religion’ or true and biblical Christianity, where The Holy Spirit Of God is seen descending upon Jesus (and resting on Him), as a dove. This is The Same Spirit we read about, hovering or brooding over the waters at creation, according to Genesis, which is The Same Spirit that is in every born-again believer on the planet today! The Holy Spirit is The Spirit Of God, Who is Spirit, The Spirit Of Grace. Jesus told His followers, “I will send My Spirit” and the book of Hebrews tells us that He is The Same, Yesterday, Today and Forever. He is The Same Spirit in the book of Revelation, along with The Bride Of Christ, Who says, “Come!” To follow up on yesterdays ramblings (which you can read anytime on our websites/blogs), partridges are mentioned in 1 Samuel 26 and Jeremiah 17, but neither pears nor pear trees are, although that does not discount them or anything else seen, unseen, known or unknown, as part of God’s creation, which the book of Galatians tells us is being all held together today by Him, Jesus, not by might or by power, but by His Spirit, says The Lord. Fig, figs, fig-leaves and the fig tree are mentioned throughout the bible from Genesis to Revelation. The first and possibly most famous mention is when Eve and Adam sinned against (disobeyed) God in the garden of Eden, perceived they were naked and sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. The second I would say is when Jesus cursed the fig tree, for having leaves, but no fruit and the disciples noticed it withered and dried up, according to the Matthew 21:19-21; 24:32 and Mark 11:13-21; 13:28. In both Gospels we are admonished to learn the parable of the fig tree, because there is no parable of the pear or pear tree, as mentioned in the twelve days of Christmas song. Our sin does not only need to be covered, but taken away, because it separates us from a right relationship with God, Our Heavenly Father. Jesus says, “I did not come to condemn you, but you are condemned already.” He became a curse for us, in our stead, so that we could be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. If you believe in, cling to, trust in and rely on Him, as your sin offering to God and accept Him (The Lamb Of God, Who takes away the sins of the world), as your Lord and Savior, your sins are forgiven, they are cast into the sea of forgetfulness, dispersed as far as the east is from the west, never to be brought up again and The Spirit Of God will lead and guide you into all Truth and understanding. Now That Is Good News! http://crossculturenm.weebly.com Subscribe to ‘crossculturenm’ on YouTube Like & Share Our Facebook Pages Join Our Worldwide Yahoo Group Today! On The First Day Of Christmas
by Mark Tross If you are old enough to remember the Partridge Family, you might at least make somewhat of a connection with this one liner or I should say, the first stanza of this Christmas classic, but what does a pear tree really have to do with Christmas? I suppose my first question should have been, who started this twelve days of Christmas thing anyway? For the past twelve years (no kidding) I have been getting together with family and friends here in New Mexico for a Christmas party, including food, games, gift exchanges and always a 'white elephant’ or 'gag gift’ included, but this year I received the mother of all gifts and it literally made me want to gag! It was not the chocolate covered cherries in the box, which is a Christmas staple, but the little box in the Star Wars bag, which could be a collectors item someday. On the label it says, 'predictable’ and even knowing who it came from (a Weird Al fan), I never saw this coming. If I gave you twelve days to figure it out on your own, the odds are against you, so let me give you a couple of hints, such as Gentle and Easy-to-Insert. Gentle may conjure up some warm thoughts of The One born in a manger, Who grew into The Man Christ Jesus, that was Meek and Lowly, but no, it was not a Christian Action Figure. Perhaps Easy-to-Insert would make you think of taking Jesus ‘into’ your heart or that this mystery gift needed batteries. On the bright side it is a #1 Recommended Brand* (*Among Stimulant Laxatives). Perhaps I have said too much already and let the cat out of the bag? You guessed it, Dulcolax! Now EVERYBODY Sing, “On the first day of Christmas, someone gave to me, ‘Comfort Shaped SUPPOSITORIES’!” It was a good thing that I read the ‘DO NOT SWALLOW’ on the lower right hand corner of the box and the Warnings (on the back of the package): for rectal use only & If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use, because I had not yet had the orange/coconut cake for dessert and would not have wanted to leave the party early for an emergency visit to UNM hospital, especially on Christmas Day! Well, enough said, as I sit here typing away on the first day of Kwanzaa, it is twenty-seven degrees outside and snowing in Rio Rancho, where we’re going through a winter storm warning throughout New Mexico until Sunday. Hopefully you had a wonderful Christmas Day and as you look towards 2016, maybe you will keep this story in remembrance for your Christmas shopping in the future and may God continue to bless us, EVERYONE! P.S. It’s the fig tree we should be keeping our eyes on anyway, regarding Israel or at the very least, talking about the olive tree. Shalom! http://crossculturenm.weebly.com Subscribe to ‘crossculturenm’ on YouTube Like & Share Our Facebook Pages Follow us on Twitter Join Our WORLDWIDE Yahoo Group Today! When God Says, “Ho, Ho, Ho!”
by Mark Tross WAIT and listen (ho - KJV), everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing]. [Revelation 21:6, 7; 22:17.] - Isaiah 55:1 - AMP While you’re waiting for Christmas Day to come, during this holiday (holy-day) season, listening for the jingle bells, reindeer hoofs on your roof, while landing the sleigh of jolly old ‘Saint Nicholas,’ let’s not forget the true (Truth) meaning of this worldwide celebration. Many will lay out cookies and a glass of milk for the ‘big guy,’ because it’s only right to be hospitable, but even the best of confessing believers seem to forget the real reason for the season and that’s Jesus! He’s inviting all to come and drink of His living water, as the bread of Life, rich, poor, old, young, Jew, gentile, male, female, slave and free, because God wishes that none would perish and all would come to eternal, everlasting, abundant, resurrection Life, in Christ/Messiah, Who already paid for the fullness of redemption, so that we could each personally experience the blessing of a right relationship with God, our heavenly Father, by simply surrendering to Him, desiring the sincere milk of the word, under the new and better covenant, which He purchased with the wine of His blood. Ho! ho! [Hear and] flee from the land of the north, says the Lord, and from the four winds of the heavens, for to them have I scattered you, says the Lord. Ho! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon! - Zechariah 2:6, 7 - AMP Hear, oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One! He has promised to gather all who are scattered from the four corners of the earth, unto Himself and all of God’s promises are yes and amen in Christ Jesus! This is the great escape, as He cries out in the wilderness, “Come out, come out of her my people!” And He [further] said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I [Myself] will give water without price from the fountain (springs) of the water of Life. [Isaiah 55:1.] He who is victorious shall inherit all these things, and I will be God to him and he shall be My son. - Revelation 21:6, 7 AMP Upon the cross, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “It is finished!” He is the A and Z, the first and last, the cornerstone & the capstone. In ‘the Beginning’ God created the heavens and the earth, all things are held together by Him. He’s the One giving this water to all who are thirsty, Who paid the price, the ransom, as the fountain, the well-spring of Life! We only have true victory in Jesus, our Immanuel (God with us), Christ in you, the Hope of Glory, by becoming joint-heirs with Him and receiving our inheritance through spiritual adoption, by being born-again, we become sons of the Most High God! The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost. [Isaiah 55:1.] - Revelation 22:17 AMP The Ekklesia (the church) is powerfully reaching out and the Holy Spirit is calling all people everywhere into the Holy of Holies, intimacy with our heavenly Father! Have you been listening? Are you (painfully) conscious of this need? Does your soul wait only upon God? Times of refreshing are available, He’s our firm foundation, the Rock and the joy of the Lord is our strength, when we are weak, He is strong! God so loved this world and everyone in it, past, present and future (until Jesus comes again) that He gave His One and only begotten Son, so whoever earnestly desires Him shall not perish, but come to repentance. Come unto Him, all who are weary and heavy laden (burdened) and He will give you rest, shalom, peace, health, healing, wholeness, fullness and blessing! Take and eat, taste and see that the Lord is good, He’s the living water and bread of Life. Salvation is a free gift, without cost to you, Jesus paid it all. The Truth shall set you free and He who the Son sets free is free indeed! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ/Messiah and you shall be saved. It’s not about the presents, it’s all about His Presence, where there’s fullness of joy! Receive the greatest gift of all this Christmas, without cost and then give the good news to others, because He’s the desire of nations, they just don’t know it yet. Merry Christmas/Messiahmas & Happy New Year 2016! Mark Tross http://crossculturenm.weebly.com http://nmprayerconnect.org Footnotes: In Hebrew, the word ‘ho’ means woe, behave (self), come, depart, enter, exercise (self), follow, forth, forward, go, lead, march, move (self), run (along), still, surely, crying out after, (greatly) desire, be desirous, long, to walk, come (away), one’s way, grow, prosper, pursue, cause to run, journey. In Greek, the word ‘ho’ means come hither, accompany, bring, enter, light, pass, be set. Subscribe to ‘crossculturenm’ on YouTube Follow us on Twitter, StumbleUpon, Reddit, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumbler, Digg, Delicious, Google+ Connect with us on MySpace, LinkedIn Like & Share our Facebook Pages Join our Worldwide Yahoo Group Today! |
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