December 4, 2025

24 Days of Christmas

Today’s reading is from Jeremiah, aka The Weeping Prophet.

A prophet’s life is never easy, but Jeremiah had an especially rough time.

Known as the Weeping Prophet, Jeremiah was a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah in the Old Testament, right before Judah ultimately fell to Babylon and was led away into captivity. God sent Jeremiah to a crumbling nation to warn of their impending demise – a warning they didn’t heed.

However, Jeremiah’s most lasting legacy may in fact be one of hope. One of the most oft-quoted verses in the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11, has offered hope to believers for centuries. 

Jeremiah 33:14-16

¹⁴ ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah:

¹⁵ ‘In those days and at that time
I will cause to grow up to David
A Branch of righteousness;
He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
¹⁶ In those days Judah will be saved,
And Jerusalem will dwell safely.
And this is the name by which she will be called:

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’

Promise of the Messiah

The prophecy of Jeremiah 33:14-26 summarizes the same points of Isaiah 11:1-10 and Ezekiel 34:23-31, but then explains why the fulfillment is certain. Verse 14 announces that the prophecy will be fulfilled in the future when it says, “days are coming.”

 “‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” Jeremiah 33:14 (NASB)

The good word refers to the promise made to David, called the Davidic Covenant, that was given in 2 Samuel 7:16. That is, King David’s throne will someday be established forever.

KING JESUS IS COMING!

A day late to the party, truth be known I'm probably a dollar short too!! :-)

1. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'? On a scale of 1-10 how is yours this year? (10=off the charts, 1=still looking for it)

I always have a 10 this time of year.  Such a precious time when we celebrate the birth of our Savior. The warm glow of Christmas lights, music being played and little children wondering about Santa, always touches my heart. Our grands know about the Christ Child first and foremost, and the beauty of Christmas is in their hearts, and in mine too♥

 

2. What's your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why. 

So many old movies to enjoy, my favorite has to be A Charlie Brown Christmas. Why, because I love Charlie♥

3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition? 

I love gingerbread and plan to make gingerbread cookies this year. They're not a tradition, I just want some gingerbread.:-)

4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-

sprinkles or jimmies? lightning bugs or fireflies? soda or pop? sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes? sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero? freeway, highway, or motorway? We have freeways and highways, frosting or icing? sauce or gravy?

5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood.

Waking up and running to the tree to see what Santa brought. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

The Gentle Glow of Christmas

There’s a certain hush that settles in the house at Christmastime when the children are grown and the bustle of toys and stockings has given way to softer rhythms. The tree still sparkles, but now it’s more a companion than a centerpiece—its lights twinkling like old friends who’ve come to sit with us awhile.

Christmas, in this season of life, feels less like a whirlwind and more like a gentle embrace. We savor the warmth of a mug of coffee by the fire - served in our favorite holiday mugs, the joy of remembering holidays past, and the peace of knowing that love doesn’t fade—it simply deepens. The carols sound sweeter, the scriptures ring truer, and even the silence feels holy.

It’s a loveliness found not in noise or presents, but in presence—the presence of faith, of memories, and of each other. And perhaps that is the greatest gift of all: to sit in the glow of Christmas and know that we are held by grace, wrapped in peace, and surrounded by love.

 And that says it all.♥

Blessings

Until Next Time

 

 ♥

December 3, 2025

24 Days of Christmas

Isaiah 11:1-10

The Reign of Jesse’s Offspring

 

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,

And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

2

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.

3

His delight is in the fear of the Lord,

And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,

Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;

4

But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,

And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,

And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.

5

Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,

And faithfulness the belt of His waist.

6

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,

The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;

And a little child shall lead them.

7

The cow and the bear shall graze;

Their young ones shall lie down together;

And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8

The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole,

And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.

9

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,

For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord

As the waters cover the sea.

10

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,

Who shall stand as a banner to the people;

For the Gentiles shall seek Him,

And His resting place shall be glorious.”

 

IN THE FUTURE MESSIANIC KINGDOM THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD INCARNATE IN THE PERSON OF THE MESSIAH WILL ESTABLISH JUSTICE, PEACE AND UNITY

 

Believers can look towards the promise given in Isaiah to receive hope and a reassurance of peace amidst the harsh realities of life and be motivated to continue in the work of Jesus to usher in the era of peace Isaiah promises in the here and now. The promise Isaiah gave to Judah was first fulfilled in Christ, and expanded as He actively brought the kingdom of God. Yet, there is still restoration to come. Therefore, it is imperative that believers look to the prophetic words of Isaiah not only for personal encouragement but strive to reflect the ministry and life of Jesus as he fulfilled the prophetic words. - Kaeley Sells

More Christmas Past:

       My two oldest, Tracey and Tammy, long ago and far                     away♥                                

 

That’s Merica’s mom, Maegan, sitting in her Mom’s (Tammy) lap.

 

My oldest two grands, Maegan & Matt.

Matt is Hazel and Henry's dad.

This is all the grands last Christmas.

These young people are such a delight to be around.

Blessings to All

Until Next Time