All Hail King Jesus
All Hail ' Emmanuel ' King of Kings
Our Savior and Lord of Lords
" 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." ~ Matthew 1:23
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" When Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" they replied, " Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." But Peter answered, " You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
~ Matthew 16:13-16
Many people will deny Christ's deity, calling Him simply a "prophet" or "good teacher." But Jesus was never merely human. As complex as it is for us to comprehend, He was fully God and fully man. This is the unique way in which our Heavenly Father chose to demonstrate His eternal love for us.
Do you know Him? " Emmanuel " ~ King of Kings ~ Lord of Lords ~ The Great I AM ~ He who Is with Us!
Please join me in prayer:
Dear God of every nation and all Your people,
From the beginning of Creation You have made known Your love through the gift of Your Son who bears the name Emmanuel, " God with Us." In the fullness of time the Christ child came to be the Good News to all mankind.
Emmanuel, God lives with us as one of us; Christ, the Word made flesh has come to us as a vulnerable, weak and dependent babe; a God who hungered and thirsted, and longed for human touch and affection; a God who chose to be born in obscurity and shame, to a virgin, an unwed maiden, with a dirty stable as a home and a borrowed manger as a bed, in a tiny, insignificant town called Bethlehem.
Oh, Mighty God, of humble origins, Christ, the Messiah, whom the prophets foretold, You were born at a time, and in a place where few welcomed You or even recognized You.
Have we, too, lost a sense of joy and anticipation in what the Christ-child may bring? Have we been preoccupied with endless activities, distracted by the tinsel, decorations, and gifts— busy preparing for the birthday of Christ; so busy that there's no room in our cluttered lives to welcome Him when He comes?
God, grant us the grace to be patient and vigilant in watching, waiting, and listening attentively so that we won't miss Christ this Christmas when He comes knocking at our door. Remove all that hinders us from receiving the gifts which the Savior brings ~ Joy, Peace, Hope, Mercy, and Love. These are the gifts we are to share with the downtrodden, the oppressed, the outcasts, the weak, and the defenseless.
Christ, You are the Hope of all peoples, the wisdom who teaches and guides us, the wonderful Counselor who encourages and consoles, The Prince of Peace who calms our troubled minds and restless spirits ~ granting us true inner peace.
Christ, You who are the radiant dawn. Shine on those who live in darkness and in shadows, dispel fears, anxieties, and insecurities. Restore hearts that have grown cold and distant, enlighten minds which have become darkened through greed, anger, hatred and bitterness.
We remember those who are living in shadows of a marginal existence. We pray for the homeless, jobless and retrenched, those struggling to keep their lives together, We lift up families, especially the children who may not experience the joy of Christmas celebrations this season.
We pray for those living alone, the widowed, the orphans, the elderly, the sick and bedridden, and the migrant workers for whom the Christ-event may hold no special significance. As happens with most festive seasons, may it not deepen their sense of abandonment and alienation.
Lord Jesus, You who are the Light of the World, please help us to radiate the warmth of Your presence. Enable us to give of ourselves generously and compassionately in bringing Your Joy, Peace, and Hope to others.
As we wait for the dawn of the coming of the Christ-child, we do so with anticipation of new and unexpected challenges. Like Mary, we sense the birth pangs of a new era, a new kingdom waiting to be born.
May we, like Mary, be filled with courage, openness, and receptivity to be the bearers of the Christ-child in receiving and bringing forth the Good News as we continue to be witnesses of God's truth and justice, as we walk along the path of peace, as we are strengthened in our love for Christ and for each other...
In the words of Isaiah:
"Arise, shine, for your light has come. The glory of the LORD has risen upon you. Even though darkness shall cover the earth. And over its people, Yet the LORD will be your everlasting light."
Amen!
God Bless Us Everyone!
your brother and friend in Christ,
Hiker Dan
