#12025

In Albania, some women swear an oath to become "sworn virgins" in order to live life as a man, get the rights and privileges of a man and are, for the rest of their lives, never addressed as female again. – WTF Fun Facts

JANUARY 20, 2025 MONDAY ENTRY: 10:21AM NUEVA ECIJA

VERSE OF THE DAY: ROMANS 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

DAILY BIBLE READING: GENESIS 49-50 MATTHEW 13:31-58 JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS THE DEATH OF JACOB JOSEPH REASSURES HIS BROTHER his brothers were worried that joseph might avenge against them so they lied and told joseph that Jacob left a command to him to forgive them. Joseph wept. His brothers bowed down and said "We are your slaves" Joseph replied: "Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. THE DEATH OF JOSEPH Joseph stayed in Egypt and saw the 3rd generation of Ephraim's children. “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt. THE PARABLES OF THE MUSTARD SEED AND THE YEAST Mustard seed - smallest yet grows as the largest so birds come and perch in its branches. yeast-mixed with 60lbs of dough and worked its way through. "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world" (psalm 78:2) prophecy fulfilled THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS EXPLAINED they went in the house and Jesus explained the meaning of the parable privately Sower of Good seed = Son of Man Field = world Good Seed = kingdom people Weeds = evil people enemy = devil The harvest is the end of age harvesters = angels weeds are pulled and burned in the fire Jesus will send angels and will weed out all sinners and doers of evil the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears let them hear THE PARABLES OF HIDDEN TREASURE AND THE PEARL treasure hidden in a field, found and hidden again. out of joy, was bought out of the entire life's savings. fine pearls, found and was bought out of the entire life's savings. THE PARABLE OF THE NET collect the good fish and throw away the bad fish. wicked and righteous separated. He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” A PROPHET WITHOUT HONOR the people in Jesus' hometown took offense with His great teachings Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

EXODUS 3:1-10 Moses’ burning bush experience (Exodus 3) involves what’s known as a theophany, “a theological term to refer to either a visible or auditory manifestation of God” (Evangelical Dictionary of Theology). The sight or sound grabs one’s attention, but the message is what’s paramount. God assured Moses: “I have indeed seen the misery of my people . . . . I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers and I am concerned about their suffering” (v. 7). Another example of a theophany is when God appeared in fire and smoke at Mount Sinai (19:16-20).

By: Arthur Jackson

EXODUS 3:7 The Lord said. "I have indeed seen the mystery of my people in Egypt"

LET MY PEOPLE GO The acclaimed painting Let My People Go by Aaron Douglas uses vibrant colors of lavender, green, and gold, along with traditional African imagery, to tell the biblical story of Moses and connect it with black Americans’ struggle for freedom and justice.

The painting portrays God’s appearance to Moses in a burning bush when He revealed that He’d seen the plight of the Israelites in Egypt. The artist uses a beam of light to symbolize God and His message, “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10).

In Let My People Go, Moses kneels in obedient submission to God’s instructions, but the eye is drawn to the dark waves and horses trained for war surrounding him—reminding viewers of the struggles the Israelites would face as they left Egypt. But the beam of light shines brightly as a reminder that God would be with the Israelites.

The emotions evoked by the painting resonate because the struggle against injustice continues; many use their power to oppress men, women, and children around the world. As those who are suffering cry out for God to be “a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9), we can plead with God to respond to their cries for help. And, like Moses, we can be willing to act on behalf of the oppressed.

By: Lisa M. Samra

Reflect & Pray

How might you pray for oppressed people?

How might you learn more about caring for those suffering from injustice?

Heavenly Father, please make Your presence known to all those who suffer unjustly.

NAMES OF JESUS FOR ADVENT: SON OF GOD

For those of us who have been Christians for a long time, the effect of the name of Jesus as the Son of God has probably been taken for granted. So what does it mean? In Philippians 2:6 we read that Jesus, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.” In Hebrews 1:8-9 we read that “But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever.” When Paul said that Jesus is the Son of God, we know this to mean that He is fully man but fully God. Being the Son of God, we know this to mean that Jesus is in the nature of God. And so we can have confidence that to know the Son is to know the Father! What a wonderful comfort for us as God’s children that we too share this sonship. Praise God for Jesus!

LUKE 1:34-35 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

PHILIPPIANS 2:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage

MMTS special train Lingampalli-Secunderabad-Lingampalli

Train No. 12025/12026 Pune-Secunderabad-Pune Shatabdi Express SCR is running two MMTS special trains between Lingampalli-Secunderabad-Lingampalli o­n Saturdays. The Shatabdi Express will terminate/originate from Lingampalli o­n Saturdays (i.e., o­n 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th of February and 7th, 14th, 21st of March, 2015) due to  Metro Rail…

Due to Metro Work this Train services to be affected

Due to Metro Work this Train services to be affected

Metro Rail crossing works over the SCR Rail track network between Bharatnagar and Sanathnagar Stations in twin cities, a block will be imposed o­n train movements in this section from 12:15 pm to 03:15 pm o­n 07th February, 2015 leading to cancellation/ partial cancellation and re-scheduling of several train services including MMTS services.…