This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred
fifty-sixth inspirational message dated Thursday, December 12th, 2019. The
title of this message is “Fighting for Me – Psalm 20:7 – Overcoming Fear”.
The first three words of the title are also the
name of the above inspirational song/video, “Fighting for Me” (with lyrics) as
sung by Riley Clemmons. The below passage of scripture (that accompanies
this message) is from the Old Testament book of Psalms - the seventh verse of
the twentieth chapter:
Psalm 20:7
New International Version (NIV)
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but
we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
For many years, I have enjoyed reading the
daily inspirational messages as provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries in their
publications of "OUR DAILY BREAD".
I recently read the
message for the day (for December 12th, 2019) and found it to be so inspiring,
memorable and “thought-provoking”.
I wanted to share this message with you (see the below message). Our
Daily Bread Ministries has the website of:
www.odb.org so that you can read and enjoy life-changing wisdom of
daily inspirational messages based on scripture from
the Bible. Please read and enjoy:
Overcoming Fear
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we
trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Psalm 20:7
Today's Scripture & Insight:
1 Samuel
17:4–7, 45–50
Fear ruled
a man’s life for thirty-two years. Afraid of being caught for his crimes,
he hid at his sister’s farmhouse, going nowhere and visiting no one, even
missing his mother’s funeral. When he was sixty-four, he learned that no
charges had ever been filed against him. The man was free to resume a normal
life. Yes, the threat of punishment was real, but he allowed the fear of it to
control him. Likewise, fear ruled the Israelites when the
Philistines challenged them at the Valley of Elah. The threat was real. Their
enemy Goliath was 9 feet 9 inches tall and his body armor alone weighed 125
pounds (1 Samuel 17:4–5). For forty days, every morning and evening, Goliath
challenged the Israelite army to fight him. But no one dared come forward. No
one until David visited the battle lines. He heard and saw the taunting, and
volunteered to fight Goliath. While everyone in the Israelite army thought
Goliath was too big to fight, David the shepherd boy knew he wasn’t too big for
God. He said, “The Lord saves; for the
battle is the Lord’s” (v. 47). When we’re gripped by fear, let’s follow
David’s example and fix our eyes on God to gain a right perspective of the
problem. The threat may be real, but the One who is with us and for us is
bigger than that which is against us.
This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred
fifty-fifth inspirational message dated Sunday, December 8th, 2019. The title
of this message is “Little Drummer Boy – Matt. 2:11 – Give God Your Best”.
The first three words of the title are also
the name of the above high-energy and powerfully performed song/video, “Little
Drummer Boy” as performed by the Australian Christian duo “for KING &
COUNTRY”. “For KING & COUNTRY” are two brothers named Joel and Luke Smallbone
– who make up the duo. On December 3rd, 2019, “for KING & COUNTRY”
performed on television for ABC’s CMA
Country Christmas and they “rocked the house”! I recently saw the YouTube
video and I wanted to share it with you – with a message about “The Little
Drummer Boy”.
The below passage of scripture (that
accompanies this message) is from the New Testament book of Matthew - the eleventh
verse of the second chapter:
Matthew 2:11
New King James Version (NKJV)
11 And when they had come into the
house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and
worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts
to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
In this message, I would like to share how
there is a similar “theme” in the “popular Christmas animated TV special, “The
Little Drummer Boy” and of “us giving God our BEST!”
The above Bible
verse is surrounded by supporting scriptures from Matthew 2:1-12 – which tell
of the story of the “Magi” (or “The Three Wiseman” aka “The Three Kings”.) Below
is the biblical text:
Matthew 2:1-12:
Wise Men from the East
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem
of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to
Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who
has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have
come to worship Him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this,
he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when he had gathered all the chief priests
and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to
be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of
Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘Butyou, Bethlehem,inthe land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men,
determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and
search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring
back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
9 When they heard the king, they
departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before
them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with
exceedingly great joy. 11 And
when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His
mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their
treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being divinely warned in a
dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country
another way.
“The Little
Drummer Boy” is an animated television special shown on TV annually around
Christmas-time. (It was first televised on December 19th, 1968). I remember
being a little girl, enjoying “The Little Drummer Boy” each time it came on –
it was one of my favorite Christmas shows. It tells of a little Jewish boy
named Aaron who finds enjoyment in only playing his drum. (His drum was a gift
given to him by his parents for his birthday). Unfortunately, one night, desert
bandits break into his home, steal all the livestock, kill his parents and burn
down his house. Aaron is left alone – except for his animal friends: a donkey
(named “Samson”), a camel (named “Joshua”) and a lamb (named “Baba”). Because
of this tragedy, Aaron hates all
humanity and he has to become a part of a traveling caravan – who force him
to “play” his drum while his pet animals “dance” to his playing. As they are
traveling – they are approached by the “Magi” – (The Three Kings) who state that
they are searching for the bright star to lead them to the New Born King (Baby
Jesus). The Three Kings are bearing gifts to present to Him: gold, frankincense,
and myrrh. Soon after, Aaron’s lamb, “Baba” – gets hit by a Roman chariot and lies
dying. Aaron asks the “Magi” to help. The Three Kings suggest that maybe the New
Born King (Baby Jesus) could heal the lamb. Miraculously, after Aaron plays for
Baby Jesus – his lamb, “Baba” is healed and Aaron feelskindness again
towards humanity.
The following lyrics of “The Little Drummer
Boy” tell the story (and of what Aaron says) – when Aaron finds himself before
Baby Jesus:
Come
they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A
new born King to see
Pa rum pum pum pum
Our
finest gifts we bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
To
lay before the King
Pa rum pum pum pum,
Rum pum pum pum,
So
to honor Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
When we come Little
baby
Pa rum pum pum pum
I
am a poor boy too
Pa rum pum pum pum
I
have no gift to bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
That's
fit to give the King
Pa rum pum pum pum,
Rum pum pum pum,
Rum pum pum pum
Shall
I play for You?
Pa rum pum pum pum On my drum?
Mary
nodded
Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him Pa rum pum pum pum Rum pum pum pum, Rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me Pa rum pum pum pum Me and my drum Me and my drum
I always loved
the “message” of the “The Little Drummer Boy” because it shows us how (like
Aaron) – WE SHOULD ALWAYS GIVE JESUS OUR
BEST!
The story also
tells of how we may not have a lot of material possessions (like Aaron didn’t
have) – but WE CAN USE OUR GIFTS (and TALENTS) TO HONOR JESUS!
The below
scriptures support these truths:
Matthew 5:14-16
New King James Version (NKJV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A
city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Nor do theylight a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a
lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men,that they may see your good works andglorify your Father in heaven.
1 Corinthians 10:31
New King James Version (NKJV)
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink,
or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
In summary, God
gave us His BEST – in giving us Jesus – our Lord and Savior. See John 3:16
below –
John 3:16
New King James Version (NKJV)
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life.
Let us use our
lives to GIVE OUR BEST in our love, honor and service to JESUS for His Glory!
MERRY
CHRISTMAS!
Please enjoy
the above inspirational song/video “The Little Drummer Boy” as performed by “for KING & COUNTRY”, with power and
anointing.
This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred
fifty-fourth inspirational message dated Monday, December 2nd, 2019. The title
of this message is “Born on That Day – Matt. 1:23 – God With Us”.
The first four words of the title are also the
name of the above inspirational song/video, “Born on That Day” (with lyrics) as
sung by Matt Maher. The below passage of scripture (that accompanies this
message) is from the New Testament book of Matthew - the twenty-third verse of
the first chapter:
Matthew 1:23
New King James Version (NKJV)
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with
child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
On the early morning of December 2nd,
around 2:00 am in the morning, I woke up and I couldn’t go back to sleep. I
felt compelled to write this message. Recently, on my Christian radio station
Star 99.1FM, I heard the above song of Matt Maher’s, “Born on That Day”. I
thought it beautifully told of the Christmas story. In this message, I just want
to share with others what Christmas and Jesus’ birth, means to me.
Jesus is Love. Jesus' coming into this
world is God’s ultimate expression of love towards us (Jesus' sacrificial love for our salvation) – as John 3:16 states
below –
John 3:16
New King James Version (NKJV)
16 For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begottenSon, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
When I think of Christmas – I always
“think of love”. Ever since I was a child, when I think of Christmas, I think
of “love”. Yes, as children, our parents provided gifts under the Christmas tree (each
Christmas morning), which my brother, sister and I joyfully opened on Christmas
morning. (Our parents also ensured that we also thought of others and they took us shopping to buy gifts for others.) As I got older - my Christmas memories became “much more than just gift exchanges” - It was the feeling
and the presence of love. It was the joy of family members and loved ones “being
together” – despite whether we had gifts to exchange or not. Even more than "being together" - it was the sense
that I felt loved, safe and secure. It’s the same kind of feeling that I feel
when I think of “God’s Love” for me “all-year round”. I feel “loved, safe and secure” in God’s love
for me. The BEST part is that God loves ALL His children and He wants ALL of His
children to feel “loved, safe and secure” – because HE LOVES US, WANTS WHAT IS BEST FOR US and HE IS WITH
US! What God has done for all who believe in His Son, Jesus - is so much MORE than just a "feeling"! Believing in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, means - that you have a "personal relationship" with Him. He is our Protector, Miracle-worker, Healer, Provider, Redeemer and Savior. Jesus will be ALL that you need Him to be in your life. Jesus is The One in whom you can believe in, trust, love, praise, thank, serve and LIVE for - "and live with" for all eternity! God’s very name – Emmanuel – means “God with us”. What great love! God
allowed His Son, Jesus, to be born of a virgin, to live a
sinless life, to go to Calvary’s cross (for our sins), and then be resurrected to
redeem us of our sins. How can we not celebrate this GREAT LOVE! We have Jesus –
the Savior of the world in our hearts – through the Holy Spirit! GOD IS WITH
US! No matter what challenges, circumstances, disappointments, difficulties or trials come our way – WE ARE NOT ALONE! Hebrews 13:5 reminds us what Jesus said –
Hebrews 13:5
New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Let your conduct be without
covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself
has said, “I
will never leave you nor forsake you.”
May this message and the below song be reminders for ALL of us – that God has already provided the GREATEST GIFT we
will ever receive - in His giving us HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST!
Please enjoy the above inspirational
song/video “Born on That Day” (with lyrics) as performed by Matt Maher, sung
with power and anointing.
