IN THE MIDST OF WINTER, I MUSE ON CHANUKKAH

IN THE MIDST OF WINTER

I MUSE ON CHANUKKAH  

(THE FEAST OF LIGHTS) 

                 CHANNUKAH (Hanukkah)  or the Feast of Lights
 is observed in December.    Let us consider the history of this
feast.        
             168 B.C.  Antiochus, the Syrian King, tried to force 
the Jews to leave the worship of Jehovah.   He filled Jerusalem 
with desolation and the Temple with Greek idols.    He burned the Scriptures and killed those who tried to save them. 
               A man named Mattathias lived in Modin with his five
sons.  He defied the orders of the King and called upon the Jews 
to follow him.    For years they battled and vexed the Syrian army 
by guerrilla tactics.     Each time a Syrian host was sent to destroy
the Maccabeans, they were routed and defeated.  
                  At last Judah and his band made their way to Jerusalem,
determined to rededicate the Temple.   They cleansed and prepared the Temple and all the altars.    When it was time to LIGHT THE TEMPLE CANDLEABRA  (The Menorah)   they found only one small cruse of sanctified oil to use, enough to last only one day.
Preparing more would take a week.   However, they lit the lamp 
in order to dedicated the Temple, and according to what is told us, 
by those who were there, the small supply of oil lasted for the ENTIRE EIGHT DAYS.  
            Accordingly,  HANUKKAH (Chanukkah)  is celebrated 
for eight days to commemorate the "miracle"  of God's provision
at that time.     
            They were looking to that wonderful DAY when
Nahum chapter 2. 7 - 9 would be fulfilled.
           "And I will shake all nations, and the desire of nations 
shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD
of Hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD 
of Hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of 
Hosts."  
              The DREIDL is a part of Chanukkah.   It is a small
square top with the Hebrew letters N,   G,    H,  and  S  on 
the sides.    These letters, I understand,  stand for 
                        GADOL   HAYAH    SHAM   
                A GREAT MIRACLE HAPPENED HERE

          In the Jewish home, the symbolism is found in 
           the lighting of the candles of the special 
            HANUKKAH  menorah with nine branches, 
          instead of the traditional SEVEN of the Temple.
           Either the parents or the children, toward evening
          will light one candle the first night; two candles the 
          second night; three candles on the third night; on
         the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, each
         succeeding night adding another candle to light.
          In doing so, the CENTER light of the Hanukkah 
          menorah is used to light the other eight.    The 
        center candle is called the SHAMMAH  = servant 
          as it is served to light the others.    This shows a 
         REAL HELPFUL MEANING in that it symbolized
           that man may give of his love to others without 
          losing anything of himself.   

                      Traditional songs and hymns are sung, 
         one of which is   THE ROCK OF AGES 

ROCK OF AGES - MAOZ TSUR - Hanukkah Song

IN JOHN CHAPTER 10.22

JESUS WAS PRESENT AT THIS FEAST OF LIGHTS 

Let us now look at the "context" 

for "context" can tell 

us a lot 

if 

we just look at it.

In my previous post, I talked about

Jesus as he spoke out

at the FEAST OF TABERNACLES 

Now I wish to talk about 

Jesus as he was there at 

the FEAST OF LIGHTS.

AS A LIGHTHOUSE GIVING LIGHT 

TO SEA GOING VESSELS 

I  AM WRITING YOU 

FROM MY LIFE TO YOURS 

THAT THE LIGHT I HAVE 

MAY BE SHARED WITH YOU 

THAT IN TURN

YOU 

MAY SHARE THE LIGHT

WITH OTHERS.

John chapter 8. verse 1 - 12 KJV

                       
                                 Jesus had earlier that week dealt with 
                 the matter of a woman caught in "adultery" - 
                 They brought the woman to Him, but where 
                was the man? also caught in the act?  He 
                quietly wrote in the sand, and then, told
                the scribes and Pharisees,  "He that is without
              sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." 
               John 8.7.   Then he quietly wrote in the sand
              again.   Looking up, there is none but she and 
              he said to her, "Woman, where are thy accusers?
               hath no man condemned thee?"  And she said,
             "No man, Lord."   Then Jesus said, "Neither 
              do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more."  
                    It is THEN THAT JESUS DECLARES,
                 (verse 12 of John chapter 8)  I AM THE 
                   LIGHT OF THE WORLD, HE THAT 
                  FOLLOWETH ME SHALL NOT WALK
                     IN DARKNESS, BUT SHALL HAVE 
                    THE LIGHT OF LIFE." 

                   

THE LIGHT HAS TO BE PLUGGED IN 

BEFORE IT CAN GIVE LIGHT.

In the context I want you to notice

what happens next is that he 

heals a man born blind

JOHN - CHAPTER 9 - KJV HOLY BIBLE 

1. And as Jesus passed by, he saw a 
man which was blind from birth.

So he is asked by his disciples, 
Is it because of this man's sin 
he is blind? or did his
parents sin?

He says 
"No.  Neither hath this man sinned,
nor his parents,
but that the works of God
might be manifest in him.

He then says "AS LONG AS I AM
IN THE WORLD, I AM THE LIGHT
OF THE WORLD."
Chapter 9. verse 5

Then he spat on the ground, and made
clay of the spittle, and he anointed 
the eyes of the blind man with the clay.

How is that for a POULTICE?
He has declared before He did it,
"that I must work the works 
of him the sent me." (v. 4)

And now he tells the man
to "GO, WASH IN THE POOL OF
SILOAM.

In my last post about the Feast of 
Tabernacles you saw that it was 
from the POOL OF SILOAM
that the priests took water
from it 
to DO THEIR CELEBRATION
OF LIGHT AND WATER
PROVIDED FOR ISRAEL
IN THE WILDERNESS.

Here Jesus is declaring
that He was sent by the Father
to do HIS WORKS 
not to destroy
GOD'S WORD 
but 
TO FULFILL IT.  

the man does just that.

He cannot see - but

I can imagine he asks 

everyone as he goes

"show me how to get to 

the Pool of Siloam"

And when he gets there

he washes the clay off

and 

he can see.

NOW, as he goes on his way,

everybody

I mean 

EVERYONE

knew 

WHO  HE WAS

and 

that 

THOUGH HE WAS 

BLIND

NOW

HE CAN SEE.

Here it happens that the man

is questioned, and the authorities

question him again,

and 

the man insists 

I was blind, but now I can see.

What did he do?

He put clay upon mine eyes,

and I washed,

and do see.

John ch 9.verse 15 

When Jesus finds the man later, after

he has been cast out of the synagogue, 

He asks the man, "Dost thou believe

on the Son of God?" 

The man responds, 

"Who is he, Lord, that I might believe 

in him?"

verse 37 "And Jesus said unto him,

Thou hast both seen him, and it is he

that talketh with thee."

verse 38

And he said, Lord, I believe. And

he worshipped him.

verse 39

And Jesus said, For judgment I am

come into this world, that they

which see not might see;

and that they

which

see  might be 

made blind.

We do not know what this blind man

looked like 

but we know 

he was now happy

He had found not

only SIGHT

BUT

the SON OF GOD - THE MESSIAH.

LOOKING AT ALL THIS NOW 

LET US LOOK AT THE CONTEXT

AGAIN 

The Pharisees were there when Jesus

found the blind man who could now see 

at least some of them were there.  And

they ask, hearing what Jesus said, 

ARE WE BLIND ALSO?

ooooh.

Here is God manifested in the flesh

and DECLARING 

GOD IS LIGHT

AND THAT

HE, JESUS, IS THE LIGHT

AND 

THAT 

HE HAS COME TO 

MAKE THE BLIND SEE

AND 

THE SEEING

TO 

BECOME 

BLIND.

MY NEXT POST WILL BE ON HOW

HE DEALS WITH THOSE THAT 

ARE BLIND AND THOSE THAT CAN SEE.

Hanukkah - (Channukah) is next

It all is connected.   All one has to do 

is READ AND BELIEVE AND KNOW

THE ONE WHO CAME TO GIVE US LIGHT.

The Lord Jesus came as a Jew.

His Promise to ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB

STILL STANDS.

Moses declared:  

MOSES - DEUTERONOMY 18.15 - 22 

The LORD Thy God shall raise

up unto thee a Prophet from the midst

of thee, of thy brethren, 

like unto me,

unto him ye shall hearken.

Notice in this passage from

Deuteronomy 18 

that THE RULE OF KNOWING

THAT A PROPHET WAS FALSE

WAS IF ANYTHING HE DID 

FAILED TO HAPPEN,

OR SOMETHING HE SAID

DID NOT OCCUR.

Check it out.

SEE FOR YOURSELF.

READ GOD'S WORD

AND DISCOVER

WHAT HE SAYS

JESUS - ON DOCTRINE - JOHN 7.17 

ASK YOURSELF - HOW IS MY SPIRITUAL EYESIGHT? 

AHAVATH MESSIAH 

I RECOMMEND THIS SITE TO YOU

ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE JEWISH. THIS WEBSITE

IS OPEN TO SEEKERS OF THE HEBREW FAITH

TO FIND OUT FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES

WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT Y'SHUA  MESCHIACH ADONAI.

CHECK OUT THE FACTS.

This was a photo of my mother Vida May

 she married Harry Hunter Donato

when they were just 17.  

Here is a photo of my Dad and Mother 

holding me. He had just graduated

High School, on the day I was born - 

and then went to be with Mother

I was born in 1933 

I EXTEND MY HAND AND HEART TO THOSE 

OF YOU WHO SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST

FOR I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY DIED IF

I HAD LIVED ANYWHERE ELSE BUT

IN AMERICA

My father on construction work

with me and my little brother

watching.    Worcester MA 

in 1938    I was 5 years old.

GOD'S PROMISE TO ISRAEL - ISAIAH 54 

My next post will be

on GOD'S SHEEP 

AND HIS FOLD  

Spoken by Jesus just before he

went to the Feast of Lights.

WHAT MY BIBLE (K J V) MEANS TO ME

                                       

                   From the desk of June Estelle Cash  

                WHAT MY BIBLE - KJV - MEANS TO ME 

                                                            

           WHAT MY BIBLE - THE K J V - MEANS TO ME

     PSALM 138. 1,2   I will praise thee with my whole  

        heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

        I will worship toward thy holy temple and praise 

         thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth:

        thou has magnified thy word above all thy name.

       Jesus said as he prayed to the Father 

               John 17.1 These words spake Jesus, and 

               lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, 

               Father, the hour is come: glorify thy Son, 

               that thy Son also may glorify thee. 

               John 17.2  As thou hast given him power 

                over all flesh, that he should give eternal

               life to as many as thou hast given him.

                John 17.3  And this is life eternal, that 

                 they might know thee the only true God

                and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

                John 17.4  I have glorified thee on the 

                  earth, I have finished the work which 

                 thou gavest me to do.

                 John 17.5  And now, O Father, glorify thou

                 me with thine own self with the glory 

                   which I had with thee before the world.

                  In Jesus prayer to the Father, he 

                      continues:

                  John 17.6 I have manifested thy name unto

                    the men which thou gavest me out of the 

                   world: thine they were, and thou gavest 

                  them me: and they have kept thy word.

                  John 17.7  Now they have know that all 

                    things whatsoever thou hast given me

                    are of thee.   

                  John 17.8  FOR I HAVE GIVEN UNTO THEM

                    THE WORDS WHICH THOU GAVEST ME;

                    AND THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEM, 

                          AND HAVE KNOWN SURELY

                                    THAT 

                                   I  CAME OUT FROM THEE

                         AND THEY HAVE 

                                          BELIEVED

                       THAT THOU 

                                        DIDST SEND ME.

                           John 17.14  I  have given them thy word: 

                             and the world hath hated them, because

                             they are ot of the world, even as I am

                                   not of the world.

                          John 17.15  I pray not that thou shouldst 

                           take them out of the world, but that 

                            thou shouldst keep them from the evil.

                          John 17.18  As thou hast sent me into 

                            the world, even so have I also sent them

                             into the world.

                          John 17.19   Neither pray I for these alone

                              but for them also which shall believe 

                                on me through their word.

                         

                   

                                              HERE JESUS WOULD BE GOING TO THE CROSS

                                                             YET HERE HE WAS ASKING GOD HIS 

                                                                  FATHER TO DO JUST WHAT HE 

                                                                  KNEW GOD SENT HIM FOR

                                         THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -  THAT GOD'S WORD

                                         IS COMPLETE - IT IS FINISHED - AND IT IS ALL 

                                          WE NEED IN THIS LIFE TO KNOW GOD AND 

                                        TO WALK WITH HIM.

                                THE APOSTLES SPREAD OUT OVER THE WHOLE WORLD

                                 AFTER JESUS ROSE FROM THE GRAVE.     

                                  HIS LAST COMMAND WAS:   

                                  "ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN 

                                EARTH,  GO YE THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, 

                                 BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND 

                               OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST: TEACHING 

                                 THEM TO OBSERVE WHATSOEVER THINGS I HAVE 

                                 COMMANDED YOU, AND, LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAY

                                  EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. AMEN. 

                                               MATTHEW 28.18 - 20  

                                    

                                  

                       1.  MY BIBLE UPHOLDS ME. 
                                    Psalm 119.116   Uphold me according
                                   to thy word, that I may live: and let me
                                    not be ashamed of my hope.

                                    Psalm 56.3    What time I am afraid,
                                          I will trust in thee.

                        2.  IT ORDERS MY STEPS 
                                  Psalm 119.133  Order my steps in thy 
                                   word: and let not any iniquity have 
                                  dominion over me.

                                  John 15.7   If ye abide in me, and
                                     my words abide in you, ye shall
                                   ask what ye will, and it shall be 
                                     done unto you.

                         3.  IT PRODUCES JOY       
                                    Psalm 119.162  I rejoice at thy word,
                                    as one that findeth great spoil.  

                                         John 16.33   These things have I 
                                   spoken unto you that in me ye might
                                  have peace, in the world ye shall have
                                   tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have
                                 overcome the world.  

                        4.    IT STRENGTHENS ME.  
                               Psalm 119.28

                               I John 2.14  
                               Phil.4.13

                       5.   IT GIVES HOPE.      
                             Psalm 119. 74  They that fear thee will be
                              glad when they see me; because I have hoped
                               in thy word. 
                            Romans 5.1,2  Therefore being justified by 
                            faith, we have peace with God through our 
                          Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have 
                            access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,
                            and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

                        6.   IT GIVES LIGHT  
                                    Ps.119.105   Thy word is a lamp unto my 
                             feet and a light unto my path.  
                                      John 8.12   Then said Jesus again, I am
                            the light of the world: he that followeth me 
                             shall not walk in darkness , but shall have the 
                           light of life. 
                                    Psalm 27.1 The LORD is my light and 
                               my salvation: Whom shall I fear? The LORD 
                           is the strength of my life,  Of whom shall I be 
                            afraid?     

                       7. IT GIVES UNDERSTANDING.
                                Psalm 119.169   Let my cry come near
                              before thee, O LORD: Give me understanding
                                according to thy word.  
                               Proverbs 1.7  The fear of the LORD is the 
                               beginning of knowledge: but fools despise
                                wisdom and instruction. 

                               Proverbs 2.1 - 6
                                2.1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words,
                              and hide my commandments with thee,
                               2.2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom
                                  and apply thine heart to understanding, 
                                 2.3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge , and 
                                    liftest up thy voice for understanding, 
                                 2.4   If thou seekest her as silver and searchest
                                      for her as for hid treasures: 
                                2.5  Then shalt thou understand the fear of 
                                the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
                                 2.6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his
                                mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 

                       8. IT SHOWS GOD'S WILL
                                Isaiah 55.11    So shall my word be that 
                         goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return
                           unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which
                           I please, and it shall prospoer in the thing whereto
                           I sent it. 
                              Matthew 4.4  And he answered and said, It is 
                           written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but 
                          by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth 
                            of God.  (Jesus responding to the devil)

                            
                        9. IT BUILDS UP 
                             Acts 20.32   And now, brethren, I commend
                         you to God, and to the word of his grace, which 
                       is able to build you up and to give you an 
                        inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

                               2 Timothy 3.16 and 17  
                        All scripture is given by inspiration of God, 
                           and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
                          correction, for instruction in righteousness
                         that the man of God may be perfect, throughly
                           furnished unto all good works.  

                       10. IT PRODUCES FRUIT 
                               John 15.5   I am the vine, ye are the branches,
                            He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same 
                            bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye 
                           can do nothing.
                               John 6.63   It is the spirit that quickeneth; the
                            flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak 
                              unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
                                Psalm 1. 1 -3 
                               1. Blessed is the man that walketh 
                                not in the counsel of the ungodly,
                               nor standeth in the way of sinners,
                               nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
                                2. But his delight is in the law of the 
                                 LORD, and in his law doth he meditate
                                  day and night.
                               3. And he shall be like a tree planted
                                  by the rivers of water, that bringeth
                                   forth his fruit in his season; his leaf
                                   also shall not wither; and whatsoever
                                    he doeth shall prosper

            11. IT CONVICTS OF SIN 
                      Hebrews 4.12   For the word of God is quick,
                     and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 
                    sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of
                    soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and
                      is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
                     heart.    
                                  to be quick  =  to be alive
                                 God's Word is not a dead book
                                         but is  A L I V E  
                     Psalm 119.89   FOREVER, O LORD, THY
                           WORD IS SETTLED IN HEAVEN.  

                         12.  IT CONVERTS THE SOUL
                               James 1.18  Of his own will he begat us
                                 with the word of truth...
                                I Peter 1.25  the word of the Lord endureth
                                  forever. And this is the word which by the
                                    gospel is preached unto you.  
                              
                        13. IT CLEANSES THE CONSCIENCE.
                               John 15.3   Now ye are clean through the 
                               word which I have spoken unto you...Jesus
                               speaking to the disciples.
                               Psalm 12.6The words of the LORD are 
                                    pure words: as silver tried in a furnace
                                  of earth, purified seven times.  
                         14. IT SETS US APART IN OUR LIFE.
                                John 17.17    Sanctify them through thy
                                      truth;  thy word is truth.    
                          15. IT CORRECTS THE WRONG.
                                  Proverbs 1.23 Turn ye at my reproof; behold
                                   I will pour out my spirit unto you; I will
                                    make my words known unto you.   
    
                           16. IT CONFIRMS THE RIGHT.
                                    John 8.31  Then said Jesus to those Jews 
                                  which believed on him, If ye continue in my 
                                    word, then are ye my disciples indeed.  
                                      John 8.32  And ye shall know the truth, and
                                           the truth shall make you free.   
                           17. IT COMFORTS THE HEART 
                                    Psalm 119, 50   This is my comfort
                                      in my affliction: for thy word hath 
                                      quickened me.  
                                    Psalm 119.54    Thy statutes have been
                                    my comfort in the house of my pilgrimage.
                                  

                 
                           My Bible is to me the dearest ever possession I have.
                              It is more to me than anything.

                           The early Christians spread the Word over 
                          the entire globe in just three centuries.  The
                           evidence ?  That 3 million people were 
                         killed, tortured, crucified, burned for those 
                          first three centuries, the FAITH THAT JESUS
                               CHRIST WAS THE MESSIAH, THE 
                              SON OF THE LIVING GOD  was hated,
                               despised, feared.    However, in the lives
                              of those that died, scripture was copied
                             and copied and copied no matter how many
                            times they were burned and destroyed.
                              Today our KING JAMES VERSION of the 
                             BIBLE IS STILL THE LIVING WORD 
                             IT IS COMPLETE,   NO MORE TO BE 
                              ADDED, AND NOTHING TO BE 
                           SUBTRACTED.   IT IS COMPLETE.
      
                             Reading God's Word brings Light
                              Believing It brings Light into my Walk
                              Displaying God's Light you can be 
                                   one of the Children of Light. 
                              


                       The  B I B L E    YES ! THAT'S THE BOOK 
                                       FOR ME ! 
                           I STAND ALONE ON THE WORD OF GOD!
                                     THE B I B L E !