About The Georgia post. (Knoxville, Crawford County, Ga.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 2013)
THURSDAY DECEMBER 19, 2013 THE GEORGIA POST 5 Time traveler who foresaw first Christmas Isaiah wrote his prophe cy 700 years before Jesus’ birth, yet the prophet sounded like a time traveler who actually witnessed the birth, ministry, and execu tion of Jesus. Be cause of this, many scholars call Isaiah’s prophecy “The Fifth Gospel.” Isaiah predicted Jesus’ virgin birth: “The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)... “For unto us a child is bom, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlast ing Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6-7). Isaiah foretold that Jesus would come from Galilee: “There will be a time in the future when Galilee...will be filled with glory. The people who walk in dark ness will see a great light” (Isaiah 9:1-2). Galilee, in northern Israel, was the home base for Jesus’ ministry. Isaiah even prophesied Jesus’ miracles: “When he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unblock the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy (Isaiah 35: 4-6). When Jesus began his public ministry, he spoke at the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown. When Jesus stood up to read, he select ed Isaiah 61:1: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recover ing of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” Jesus handed the scroll back to the minister and sat down. With every one’s eyes in the synagogue fixed on him, Jesus issued this staggering pronounce ment: “Today is this scrip ture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4: 21)—meaning Jesus was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Isaiah, chapter 53, pre saged the crucifixion and death of Jesus. In these passages, Jesus is described as the Suffering Servant who was “despised and rejected,” who was “wounded for our transgressions,” who was “bruised for our iniquities,” who “was led like a lamb to the slaughter” and who was “buried like a criminal” and “put in a rich man’s grave.” Isaiah’s prophecy- written 700 years before Jesus— became reality when an angel announced the Savior’s birth: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is bom this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:10-14). In summation, Isaiah described the suffering and death of Jesus with such theological and historical accuracy that his words read more like history than prophecy. Verifying the authenticity of Isaiah’s prophecy, a scroll con taining Isaiah was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947. This particular scroll (a copy of a copy) was transcribed 100 years before the time of Jesus. Wishing you and your family the Merriest Christ mas Ever and a New Year filled with happiness, pros perity, and good health! BILLY POWELL is a contributing col umnist and has authored many books. www.billypowellbooks.com At his feet With everything that’s going that are effective bring forth Weekly Devotion Angie Carr on in this world: the economy, crime, wars and so on, we need to always stay at the feet of Jesus. At His feet, we will find every thing that we need in this life. Healing and deliverance, joy and peace are also found at His feet. When we stay at His feet, we are willing to serve in any way that glorifies God. It is humbling ourselves as Jesus did with His disciples. To be good leaders, whether in a church, school or office, one must be a servant. He or she cannot lead if they cannot follow. Staying at Jesus’ feet represents that you are putting God before any position. It takes acknowledging God to rear a church, school or any office knowing that it can’t be done without Him. Leaders good results. Staying at His feet, also requires us to stay humble and know He is God. We’re not moving above Him because He knows us completely as Jesus knew His disciples. He knows the sins we have committed as well as the ones we will yet commit. Still, He loves us. This is one of my daily prayers, Lord; help me to stay at your feet. From the crown of my head to the sole of feet, all that I am belongs to you. Early in the morning will I seek your face. I lie upon my bed at night and call on your name. You are the God of my salvation. Be Blessed! ANGIE CARR is a contributing col umnist, motivational spaker and writer. Contact her acarr@windstream.net. CHURCH EVENTS Prayer Line, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Christ Abundant Life Ministries, S. Dugger Ave., Roberta. Call 478- 836-3912. Word of God Tabernacle invites you to join them for the following weekly services: Sunday Prayer at 9:00 a.m., Sunday School at 10:00 a.m., Sunday Service at 11:00 a.m.; Monday Prayer at 9:00 a.m.; Wednesday Prayer at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday Bible Study at 7:00 p.m.; Friday Prayer at 9:00 a.m. Everyone is invited. Pastor Frank Martin, Sr. Lizella Baptist Church Special Needs Ministry will have a monthly event the 2 nd Friday of every month, 7-9 p.m. They also have a Parent/ Family/Caregiver Support Group for those who love someone with special needs. It is always the 1 st Tuesday of the month, 6-8 p.m. They have guest speakers and then a time of sharing. The Zion Hill Baptist Church invites everyone to their regular services on 2nd Sundays at 11 a.m., 4th Sundays at 10 a.m. and 5th Sundays at 8 a.m. They have Bible Study every Wednesday at 7 p.m. New East Star Baptist Church Outreach Center, at the corner of Hwy. 42 and 80, Courthouse Lane, Knoxville, GA adjacent to old Knoxville Courthouse will have their services beginning every Wednesday, 7-8 p.m.; weekly prayer meeting is held 6:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.; Sunday service 10 a.m. -11 a.m.; Praise and Worship service every Sunday at 11 a.m. The Pine View Baptist Church will celebrate Rev. W.C. Graddick Pastor’s Anniversary on January 5, 2014 at 11:30 AM. The guest speaker will be Bruce McKenzie and the Spring Hill Church family. Dinner will be served. Cool Springs Baptist Church Family Christmas morning service will be held December 25,2013, 8 a.m. The Christmas morning message will be brought by Pastor Charles McDonald, of Mt. Early Mssionary Baptist Church of Albany, Ga. Join us in giving thanks to the best gift that we can give, by praising and worshiping the birth of Jesus. New East Star Baptist Church Outreach Center Christmas Day Service (2 Corinthians 4:6) God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, halth shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. You are invited to fellow ship with as they render praises and honor to our almightly God who gave mankind the greatest gift we could ever receive. Yes God sent His only begot ten Son down to this earth to save a lost and dying world. Let us not forget the reason for the season is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Come out and give thanks to God for what he has done, what He is doing and what He is going to do in the future. Location: Highway 42/80, Courthouse Lane, Knoxville, GA, adjacent to the old Knoxville Courthouse, December 25, 2013,10 -11 a.m. For more information feel free to contact Pastor Manning at 478-391-4195 or Co Pastor Hicks at 478-391-6967. Deadline for Church Happenings: Friday 5 p.m. (2 Corinthians 4:6) For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. If you like your snow, you can keep your snow. Please! Memoiy is a very wonderful thing, at times. It seems the old er I get the more I remember things that never happened. I do not know how that takes place, but I guess it is just old age creeping up on me. With me, old age has ceased creep ing and has started a fast sprint to some finish line. I just wish it would slow down just a wee bit. Christmas, however, is the time to indulge ourselves in memories. Some people can go back in time and remem ber things when they were two or three years old years old. Me, I cannot remember what I had for breakfast this morn ing. I have a strong suspicion that those remembering things back that far are remembering things that really did not take place but who in the world is going to prove them wrong. To me, one of the delightful things about Christmas is get ting to see family and friends that you have not seen all year long. I remember those old-fashioned family reunions we used to have when all of our relatives would get together. It was at those reunions that I remembered why I did not see my relatives the rest of the year. Once a year was quite enough, thank you. If insanity is hereditary, I am in deep trouble. I am only thankful my wife did not meet my relatives prior to our wed ding. Of course, after I met her relatives I began realizing that after all, families are relative, and some more relative than others. I was thinking about some Christmases in the past and the good times we had. I re membered our first Christmas as a married couple. That was probably the cheapest Christ mas we ever had. Then I got to thinking about the Christmases as the kids began drop ping into our family and taking up permanent residence. When the kids arrived, it changed Christmas forever and not just the cost. This week I got a cou ple Christmas cards from some relatives who live up north. All of them had pictures of snow. Watching the weather reports this week I knew many of them were having snowstorms and I chuckled to myself think ing about it. In one Christmas card, was the familiar title, “I’m dreaming of a white Christ mas.” Then at the bottom of the card, they scribbled, “Don’t you miss all the snow this time of the year?” Then they drew a series of smiley faces. I smiled and for a few mo ments, one brief moment, I did miss all that snow. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage saw me smiling and asked, “Who sent the Christ mas cards?” I told her who the cards were from and added, “They think we miss all that snow.” We then shared a hearty laugh together and went about our own busi ness. I just could not get it out of my mind. Did I miss all that snow? What a question. I put my thinking machine in gear - and began processing the Christmases we celebrated up north where there was plenty of snow. As I begin thinking, I did begin missing all that snow. Then it dawned on me what snow was all about. At times, we forget some de tails of our memories and only think of the positive and good aspects. Do not get me wrong. Snow looks wonderful on a Christmas car’d. I do not mind watching a TV program where plenty of snow is falling and people are singing Christmas car ols. I rather enjoy it in those venues. The question is, did I miss all that snow? My answer goes some thing like this. Yes, I do miss all that snow! Fur thermore, I plan to miss all that snow for the rest of my life. The basic reason I moved to Florida when I did was that I do not like snow. I like looking at snow on a Christmas card but I do not like looking at snow through my car window. It is not so much that I do not like driving in snow; it is the other idiots coming at me who do not know how to drive in snow and do not know how to stay in their own lane. I remember the last time I did any driving in snow I ended up almost a complete nervous wreck People drive in snow as though they do not know how to drive in snow. Yes, I do miss the snow, and the cold and being snowed in, did I mention the cold. I do miss all that and I plan to miss it the rest of my life. Period. Some things you can live without and as far as I am concerned this is one. To all those who love snow and cannot get enough of it, please enjoy it this year for me because I do not plan to. Only one Bible character seemed to enjoy snow. God said to Job, “Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail?” (Job 38:22). What God was hying to get Job to see is that no matter what your circumstances are, that is not the end. Look beyond your problems and difficulties and see the hand of God who cre ated all things and then called them “good.” In every circum stance you will find some trea sure of God’s amazing grace. REV. JAMES L. SNYDER is a pastor of Family of God Fellowship in Ocala, Florida. E-mail him at jamessnyder2@ att.net. Propane bills too high? Stop feeding the pig and get Geo. « * Bosch geothermal heating and cooling systems can save you up to 70% on your home energy bills. With an additional 30% federal tax credit, these systems are now more affordable than ever! Visit our site to find out how much you can save. BoschGeo.com/PropanePig lnV6nt6d foT I if© Out to Pastor Rev. James L. 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