Tag Archive: Mary


DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

In the Beginning:

woman handsWsnakeAdam said, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me of the forbidden tree, and I did eat.” Then the LORD God said unto the woman, “What have you done?” And Eve said, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” The LORD God said unto the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above all cattle, and every beast of the field; upon your belly you’ll go, and dust you’ll eat all your life:

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:12-15

Seed of the Woman:

The angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary as your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.”

All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, “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.”

Then Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had said, and made Mary his wife: but, knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called His name JESUS.  Matthew 1:20-25

Bruising the Heel:

The chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death. When they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate, the governor. When He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He said nothing.

Pilate went out unto the Jews, and said unto them, “I find in Him no fault at all.” John 18:38.

At this time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore, when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, “Whom do you want me to release unto you; Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ? They said, “Barabbas” Then Pilate asked, “What shall I do then with Jesus who is called Christ? They all said, “Let Him be crucified.” And the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified.” Then Pilate took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person…

They crucified Him, and set up over His head His accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

From the 6th hour there was darkness over all the land unto the 9th hour. And about the 9th hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me? Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. That very evening, a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple, went to Pilate, and begged for the body of Jesus. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, hewed out of the rock: and he rolled a great stone over the door of the sepulcher, and left. Matthew 27:1-61

Bruising the Head:

The next day, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember that deceiver, while He was yet alive said, “After 3 days I will rise again.” Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the 3rd day, lest His disciples come by night, and steal Him away, and say unto the people, “He is risen from the dead…” So they went and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting guards. Matthew 27: 62-66

At the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the 1st day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. And the angel said unto the women, “Fear not: for I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come; see the place where the Lord was laid.” And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goes before you into Galilee; there shall you see Him…” The women departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples the news. As they went to tell His disciples, Jesus met them. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshiped Him. Then said Jesus unto them, “Be not afraid: go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.” The 11 disciples went into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth… lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:1-20

The End?

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Hebrews 9:28

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:17-18

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1Corinthians 15:55

That’s Today’s Single Focus…

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

by DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

“…Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” LUKE 2:11 (KJV)

LUKE 2:1-20

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first
made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)Angels Announcing the Birth of Christ to the S...

And all went to be taxed every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she
should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born 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!”

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the
shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

For unto us a child is born, 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 Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. ISAIAH 9:6

I pray that Christ is indeed born in your heart and is your Lord and Savior.

Celebrate His birth like the Shepherds did: spread the Good News, glorifying and praising God, for Christ the Savior is born!

 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” JOHN 3:16

That’s Today’s Single Focus…

Photo Credit

Angels Announcing the Birth of Christ to the Shepherds (Wikipedia)

GOOD NEWS!

DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

Good News AngelIn a time when the ungodly, claiming to be deity, was in power and ruled and demanded that all the people leave their jobs and travel to their homeland by foot or donkey or wagon or camel to pay unjust taxes (Luke 2:1); Mary and Joseph arrived in the city of David, Bethlehem, which was so overflowed with people that they could not find a place to stay. All the inns (hotels/motels) were full.  Mary, being pregnant, was ready to deliver and they had to find some place. They had to stay in the stables or barn. So here they were in a smelly barn with hay as the pillow and having to deliver the baby where the animals were kept.  Joseph was a small business owner who worked as a carpenter.  Mary took care of the house.  But because of the tax law, they had to lay her new-born baby in a manger (Luke 2:7); from which the animals ate their food. There was no time to get to a hospital or a midwife. It was just Joseph and Mary, then the baby which they wrapped in swaddling clothes.  In the same city, but in the fields, were poor shepherds watching their flock. These were men of meager means, who had to work nights and a stone or a sheep or the ground was their pillow. They kept warm by a fire in the field; night watchmen if you will. A pregnant woman who has to deliver her child in a stable in an overcrowded city; a hardworking man has to use his earnings to travel from his home to pay the Roman Government part of his wages as an unjust tax; poor shepherds in a field who have to sleep on the ground; and as they are there in the field, the sky breaks and the shepherds see angels filling the sky making a joyful noise saying to them; “Good News…!” “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings (news) of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11 (KJV).”

Truly these were people who needed Good News, and so do we.  Thank God for ‘Christmas Celebration’ for it is a reminder that in spite of the difficulties in our lives, Immanuel: God is with us! A Savior was born and is and will always be.

We in the twenty-first century live in a nation where obviously the ungodly rule (champions of infanticide; burdensome and unjust taxes; champions of perversion; etc.).  Streets are littered with homeless people, joblessness is skyrocketing; government powers and judges are trampling on Christian religious Freedoms; adultery and divorce is epidemic; diseases from promiscuity and drug abuse is epidemic among the young; Corporations are closing and/or fleeing from a nation with unjust regulations and the highest corporate tax rate in the world; parents are burying their children; poverty is growing so that even the food banks are hungry. Unusual disaster has people still trying to find a place to stay. It’s hard to be in a celebratory mood these days. For some, it is a time of mourning and memories of grief gone by.  For many, it’s a time of uncertainty: bills are due and the company you worked over twenty years for has just announced Bankruptcy and closing of its doors.  It has not been good times for the majority of us. It seems like an odd time to announce Good News, but actually it is the best time!  We need some Good News!  Christ our Savior is born!  Though oppressed, He can make you free even when you work for a hard taskmaster…; even when your government oppresses you with unrighteous laws and regulations. Though depressed, Christ can give you joy in the midst of sorrow. Though weak, Christ can give you victory when everyone around you is defeated. Though broken-hearted, He can mend your broken heart. Trust Him! Though hungry, He will not forsake the hungry nor will His seed beg for bread. Christ will provide!  Though unemployed, Christ will open doors so that you can start your own business. Listen, I’ve been hungry, without a place to stay and jobless and couldn’t pay my bills. But in the midst of those times, ‘Good News’ was always in the mix. He was always providing when it looked like there was no provision. Christ, the Savior, always saw that I had food to eat and a place to sleep. He provided transportation and gave me favor and provided a job.  Even in the bad times, watch Christ work in your life. He is providing ‘Good News’ every day in every situation.

I know that for the majority of us, there doesn’t seem to be much to celebrate, but let’s celebrate anticipation of ‘Good News’! Christ the Savior was Born and He sits on the right hand of God making petition to God, our Father, on our behalf. Start looking for His hand of grace and mercy. You will start seeing how He’s providing and comforting. You will see Him use the unlikely to take care of you. Notice that the angels did not announce His birth to the rich and famous. The kings and the rulers didn’t know He was born until He had long left Bethlehem.  It was the poor and oppressed, it was the lowly that needed ‘Good News’!

Christmas is about the physical birth of Jesus Christ. It’s also about the spiritual birth of our Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts. Christmas is also about “Good News” to those who need a Savior, a provider, a friend, a healer, a deliverer, hope and peace giver, a mender of broken hearts, protector, etc. Christ is all that you need!

“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 recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”       Luke 4:18-19

Good News! Christ the Savior is born and will ever reign!

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us).     Isaiah 7:14

That’s Todays’ Single Focus…

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