December 3, 2022 by Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“STAR”

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

That wondrous star that led the kings to the Messiah. Think how many times they were probably discouraged by those around them as they sought out the most ancient of signs from the most ancient of prophecies.

But they were being drawn by the divinely magnetic force of the universe, the same divine force that placed that heavenly light in the sky for all to see, but only these three understood the significance of it all, but the “pay off” for them, in the form of all the hopes, dreams, and diligence being rewarded as they were among the first allowed to worship the King.

How could they help but rejoice? And they rejoice they did, and that joy would have truly been beyond comprehension. I am sure many go through that process of seeking, as Abram sought for a city whose builder and maker is God, many others sought out the path predestined and purposed deep inside their hearts long before birth, even placed there BEFORE the foundations of the world. The longing of their souls driving them to seek deeper and deeper into the knowledge and treasures of God as the world around breathes “delusional” and “brainwashed by religion.”

And as the “Christ” in Christmas grows harder to recognize in this world, even in churches with many now no longer holding “traditional” services, but these days were always honored for very good reason. They are referred to as THE HOLIDAYS in reference to celebrating the HOLY DAYS. With all that goes on around us and all who try their best to discourage us that we are seeking pipe dreams and fairy tales, it is ever pressing to remember what the wise men sought.

I know it can be argued and argued as to the origins of the holiday season, but a couple of things remain true, the day was adopted as the celebration of the birth of Christ, the greatest event spanning time, universe, and all that is or ever will be.

When God overshadowed Mary with His glory, majesty, and everything that He is and placed in her the seed of Himself because humans had been tainted at the fall of Adam and even though we had been created in His image. The health, longevity, peace that God had intended they enjoy would now through two people, at the badgering, beguiling voice of the serpent had now become tainted and polluted with sickness, sin, and death and the beautiful mercy and grace that should have been in us turned to wickedness and violence as the seed of the enemy was introduced into the human equation.

So on this beautiful, blessed night that heaven would kiss the earth and angels would proclaim the lullaby to end all lullabies mingled with humans HEARING the songs of heaven itself as they sang “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST”, the breach was repaired by the same means by which it had been destroyed when the absolute Holy of Holiest came through a vessel of purity and would allow the spiritual birth of a new kind, first fruits of the Father and of the Son, and those to be of the Kingdom yet to come.

Secular shows with their ideal of “comedic” nods to the nativity that actually are blasphemous, songs written in churches long ago as praise and glory now have parodied lyrics and among the parties, gifts, and feasting of our present day, the shepherds who stood in awe, the angels whose heavenly appearance and song would have melted even the hardest heart, the obedient but ever rewarded wise men, and the glorious star who shone with incredible splendor are being quickly forgotten and are no longer welcomed in our popular society.

So as Christmas approaches think about that star, think about what has been seeded inside of YOU as a believer, think about what YOU can bring to the King in adoration and worship to Him when He has opened YOUR treasures, (secret there, HE IS the one who has given you the gifts that you give back to the Kingdom) His Royal gold, pure, tried and true word of God. His Myrrh, purification for our souls and His dying that IN HIM we live. His frankincense in intercession for all the world and all those created by Him and for Him.

And that glorious star that burns ever so brightly STILL today if you will only choose to see it. His glory that still visits earth, His glory that will ONE day be revealed to all. “ARISE, shine; for thy light IS come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” ISAIAH 60:1

Let HIS light SHINE on you and through you this season and all year. Remember it is about LOVE, COMPASSION, MERCY, and CHARITY to our fellow-man, not necessarily fellow family members.

“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more (brighter and brighter) unto the perfect day.” PROVERBS 4:18

As we KNOW HE IS that light that leads us as it led the others over two thousand years ago. And it will lead us into the ways of the Lord and it will lead us into that truly perfect day.

REVELATION 21:22-25: “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb ARE the temple of it. And the city had NO NEED of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: FOR THE GLORY OF GOD DID LIGHTEN IT, and THE LAMB IS THE LIGHT THEREOF.

And the nations of them which are saved SHALL WALK IN THE LIGHT OF IT; and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: For there shall be NO NIGHT THERE.”

Don’t let the world steal your Christmas cheer with all the materialism that Christmas should cost a fortune, and if you can not afford the latest this or that, your family will be disappointed. Remember gifts are from the heart and the true price for Christmas was not paid for until Calvary and that was a gift none of us could have afforded to purchase.

Reports show that depression is at its height and the greatest numbers of suicides occur during the holidays, why? Because we have bought the lies of a Norman Rockwell family Christmas and lost sight of the TRUE meaning, we have made it a celebration for US and completely forgot about HIM. And I am not talking about people who have recently lost loved ones or been through some other horrific event, this is in reference to seasonal depression because we allow commercials and story books to convince us of the illusion of a holiday that nothing could ever measure up to.

No celebration in this world will ever live up to the true JOY and the true MEANING of REJOICING EXCEEDING, they were REJOICING in finding HIM! Shouldn’t we also? Once you have experienced the glory of the Lord in person and beheld the King in all HIS Majesty, and stood in His presence, (well, for the period that you are ABLE to stand) there WILL NEVER BE any event or reason to seek anything other than HIM.

So keep your head up, your ears deaf to the whispers of the merchants, your eyes turned away from all the “must have” gifts of the season and please, by all means FOLLOW THAT STAR!

May the Lord Bless you with a wonderful Christmas season filled with His love, mercy, grace and that His peace will be with you and yours!

Φλογιζω NBJ original post date 2016, revisited 12/01/2019, & 12/13/20 “HOLIDAY RERUN 12/03/22

November 25, 2022 by Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“Abiding In The Field….”

Beautiful fields, prairie fields at the peak of the season flowing with wildflowers and butterflies.

Mown fields, lush green pastures as far as the eye can see just begging to be used as the ultimate reunion of love as two run toward each other to embrace.

Peaceful fields bordered by crystal clear flowing streams as sheep happily graze without a care in the world as their shepherd watches over them.

But there are other fields…. Fields of dry, brown grass withered by the scorch of the sun, patches of soil left exposed and cracked lacking the relief of gentle expected rains that did not come.

Fallow field that require the tedious backbreaking work of removing all the stone and working that ground until it can produce once again.

With the changing seasons of this life WE ARE THOSE SHEEP and those laborers. And we find ourselves in many different fields. The Prophet Jeremiah bought a filed for an inheritance, even though EVERYTHING was going to fall apart, this was the purchase of the FUTURE.

Jeremiah 32:14 : “Thus SAITH the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Take the evidences (deeds), this evidence (deed) of the purchase, BOTH WHICH IS SEALED, and THIS EVIDENCE WHICH IS OPEN; and put them in an EARTHEN VESSEL, that they may continue (last) many days. For thus SAITH the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; HOUSES AND VINEYARDS SHALL BE POSSESSED AGAIN IN THIS LAND.”

And we’ll go to another Bible account and visit Ruth, a lady who found herself in a “foreign” field and how that field held blessing beyond anything she could have imagined for her life at that time.

As she gleaned that field, working to take what had been left to feed those who were hungry, she unknowingly caught the eye of the one who owned the field!

Ruth 2:8,9: ” Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? GO NOT to glean in another field, NEITHER go from hence ( do not leave from here) BUT ABIDE HERE fast (close) by my maidens: LET THINE EYES BE ON THE FIELD THAT THEY DO REAP and go thou after them (follow them) : and have I not charged the young me that THEY SHOULD NOT TOUCH THEE? (they had been told to leave her alone and let her work ) and when thou art athirst (thirsty) GO UNTO THE VESSELS, and DRINK THAT WHICH THE YOUNG MEN HAVE DRAWN ( they were SUPPOSED to SHARE with her their water and allow her access to THEIR water jugs).

We’ll keep the advise Ruth had heeded in mind and we will journey on through the Bible and pay a visit to those who were also were also diligently minding the tasks of their field.

Luke 2:8-20 ” And there were in the same country SHEPHERDS ABIDING IN THE FIELD, KEEPING WATCH OVER THEIR FLOCKS 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 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, GOD 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 IT KNOWN abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

BUT Mary kept all these things, and PONDERED THEM IN HER HEART.

And the SHEPHERDS RETURNED, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

So that promised redemption, those open deeds, the things made known and crystal clear and those deeds that had been sealed, the birth of a King coming in a way no one could see, born in poverty to parents whose offering would be two turtle doves, the offering given by the poorest of the poor, those deeds to the inheritance of all of eternity had been kept in that earthen vessel which would be born of a virgin and in the lineage of another who obeyed the field command.

As God allowed love to blossom in that field between Ruth and Boaz, a love whose embrace led to the birth of their great-grandson who would be King David whose bloodline would be honored in the ultimate fulfillment of those deeds, those promises of OWNERSHIP of a nation and the world that would come in that earthen vessel born in that humble manger in the body of Jesus Christ.

The shepherds who were doing their job watching over their sheep AT NIGHT (I’m not even getting it to that YET, oh, but it is coming) were rewarded by the proclamation of the news to ends all news given straight BY THE VOICES OUT OF HEAVEN ITSELF!

So about those fields, had Jeremiah took it upon himself to ignore the voice of the Lord and think well, why buy a place that will be destroyed?

What if Ruth had decided that another field with kinder maidens would be more enjoyable?

What if the young men tried to run Ruth away and hoarded all the water that she was dependent on to strengthen her during gleaning?

What if the shepherds had not abided by their flock? They would have NEVER heard from heaven!

Mary kept it and pondered it, she knew who her baby was and that was enough for her.

Whatever field you find yourself in today, please stay there, if it is beautiful and fertile, let the Lord lead you and bless that beautiful place and season in your life, don’t doubt it, run through that field and embrace!

If you find yourself being urged to “purchase” what appears dead or hopeless, heed the voice of the Lord, only He knows His plans and He alone will bring life back to what APPEARS hopeless.

If your field is stone and you have worked until your back breaks and your hands bleed and you have cried so many tears that you can’t even remember the last time you smiled, DON’T GIVE UP!

I promise when that last stone is ripped from the ground and that soil is soft and

God sends those refreshing rains of spring, what you have sown also watered by all those tears is going to spring up into a harvest so plentiful and beautiful that you will rejoice and thank Him for giving you the strength to not give up.

Shepherds take heed that stay by your sheep DURING THIS NIGHT, and don’t let the water boys hoard that which is meant to be shared with those God has sent to glean the leftovers FROM YOUR FIELD and never cease to hear the voice of that heavenly host praising God, they beheld His glory but I promise you, we who are faithful will also behold Him and it will be a glory unlike any that has been as of yet but we have to be listening in our field.

HE IS THE I AM THAT IS and me and my little fire baby Φλογιζω will stay in our field and you stay in yours, you will never regret it!

Φλογίζω / NBJ 2015 Original post date: 12/12/2015 *Revisited 12/07/2019 & * 12/04/2020 & Revisited 12/17/2021 & 11/25/22

December 26, 2021 by Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“The spirit of king Herod…Alive and Well Governing California.”

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east and are to come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard theses things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet.

AND THOU BETHLEHEM, IN THE LAND OF JUDA, ART NOT THE LEAST AMONG THE PRINCES OF JUDA; FOR OUT OF THEE SHALL COME A GOVERNOR (ruler), THAT SHALL RULE (shepherd) MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.

Then Herod, when he had privily (secretly) called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with his Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh,.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, OUT OF EGYPT HAVE I CALLED MY SON.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked (deceived), of the wise men, was exceeding wroth (angry), and sent forth, and slew (murdered) all the children (male babies) that were in Bethlehem, and in the coasts (districts) thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy (Jeremiah) the prophet, saying,

IN RAMA WAS THERE A VOICE HEARD, LAMENTATION (sorrowful wailing), AND WEEPING, AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHAEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN, AND WOULD NOT BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT (all have been slaughtered).” Matthew 2:1-18

Now that was a seriously evil, power hungry person, I really don’t know that by that point Herod was still even a person, I truly believe that they chose to cross so many lines that they willingly allow their bodies to be a dwelling for the demonic.

For the record the capitalization is not mine, the Bible capitalizes when it refers back to prophesies that are being fulfilled at the time of that writing. It is heartbreaking even reading that passage, that he sent forth, sent forth to slaughter all the baby boys that he thought was a threat to his power.

A supposed power that drives humans mad once they really believe that with a stroke of their pen they have supreme power over life and death.

Bad, bad idea, no one other that God has that authority but like Herod, politicians today, in a blood thirsty attempt to hold onto their perceived power and prestige will and have sold their souls to the devil himself and will slaughter anything and anyone to please the crowd that holds their political purse strings.

And just when you think they have already crossed every conceivable line in human decency, they adopt a new law, a new cry, a new death warrant to be served on the unborn.

And again, and I am going to keep saying this, because it boggles my mind, sex is not a requirement, such as breathing, there are countless, free, birth control methods available to everyone and there is always the just say NO option.

Is is really easier to slaughter a baby than to use contraception or hold off that fling until you can go purchase contraception?

And all of those screaming, protesting in their rage demanding these rights, so full of hatred never even realize that any institution that will have no regard for life will also not have any regard for their lives when they are no longer necessary for their agenda.

If they will allow the killing of babies, why would anyone else have a right to live? The sanctity of life is in the fact that all life is precious.

Once a civilization becomes completely uncivilized and starts killing its own members, that cavillation has crossed the line and there is no coming back from that.

Every species on earth reproduces for the sole purpose of ensuring the continuation of that species, and humans have proven themselves to be the most unintelligent beings in existence simply by killing off their own kind.

Even if one chooses not to believe in the truth of God the Creator, common sense should kick in with the realization that if you kill off your offspring, soon there will be no one left.

Right now, seniors are expected to outnumber children by 2035, and as they are passing more and more laws on the right to end life, euthanizing the elderly and all who in their opinion will no have “quality of life”, my guess is they will be speeding up that process also.

HOW can people not understand that they are literally killing themselves.

Are these babies, if allowed to be born going to take a bite of food from their mouths? Are these babies going to suck up all the oxygen and leave them all breathless?

Are these babies going to use fossil fuel and cause a climate change catastrophe?

Well, there is the movement all up in arms about earth’s supposed overpopulation, Sounds like a line out of Charles Dickens, “A Christmas Carol” to me, everyone concerned about overpopulation, when oddly enough, they are part of that population overage.

But what it really comes down to is this, good old fashioned geocide, but these guys are so slick that they have convinced some to demand the right to be exterminated, no fighting it, no seeing it for what it is, it is extermination of their own species.

And instead of fearing that, they have convinced the angry mob to go out and demand it!

So now Newsome has decided that it is not enough to allow the murder of the unborn in his state, not enough to pay for those murders, but now, now he himself, has sent forth, he has sent forth to all of America, that if needs be, he will offer up his state and the finances of his state to ensure their right to self-extermination.

Herod didn’t have a thing on California, he would have congratulated the leaders, he would have reveled with them because it is that same spirit.

He was not going to allow any child to replace him as king, and these leaders will not allow the unwanted birth of a child to potentially oust them from their political thrones.

Truly mind numbing, casting that net as wide as all states in America, with travel provided, all abortion costs completely paid, with a reported thirty one billion possible in play.

Normally one would say, Pray for them that they would see the truth and repent.

But remember when the angry crowd called for the crucifixion of Jesus, they were so consumed with blood thirst that they called for the responsibility for the death of Jesus to be on them and their families.

And I tell ya, that is an awful lot of blood, as if the blood of the Californian aborted babies were not enough to be held in accountability to God for, now to willingly make themselves accountable for the blood of babies that they do not even govern.

But in this case, pray that people will take responsibility for their sexual behaviors, abstinence truly exists.

Pray they will become responsible for the fact that by engaging in intercourse that they could parent a child, a child who did not ask to be conceived and that they will take responsibility for that conception and raise and love that child, not exterminate it as if it were a common pest.

Pray for the unborn babies, pray that the mothers will chose adoption rather than extermination.

There is no difference in the geocidal exterminations of entire groups of people and the deliberate extermination of our own people.

We are given some very pivotal verses,

Galatians 6:5:“For every man shall bear his own burden.”

This correlates with Romans 2:2-6: “But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to the truth against them which commit such things.

And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance, and longsuffering; not knowing the goodness of God leadeth to repentance?

But after (because of) thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

WHO WILL RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS;”

The wickedness of their hearts so great that they have fallen past normal emotions, in so much that have no shame or remorse for any action taken or allowed.

Galatians 6:7: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

James 2:13: “For he shall have judgement without mercy, that hath shewed (shown) no mercy.”

Φλογιζω NBJ 12/14/ 2021/ Reverend Nina Brown Johnson

December 24, 2021 by Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“To be delivered”

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

And all went to be taxed (registered), every one onto his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, unto Judea, 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 (completed) that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger (feed trough), 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 (stood before 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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and 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: 1-14

I so started to drop that off at my title verse, “to be delivered”, but who could possibly drop off the Christmas story, no matter how many times you may have heard it or read it, so beautiful, the GREATEST event in human history, the GREATEST gift ever to be given, the story of the heralding of the angels to proclaim to the humblest of men, to go forth to welcome their true King.

No greater moment, even in the resurrection, as I had often felt was the greatest, but no, had we not been blessed with his miraculous birth, born to a young virgin peasant girl there would NEVER have been a resurrection lest he be born, as we do, coming into this earth as a precious infant.

The account of his birth is the very crux of our belief.

And I suppose that many would probably wonder why, why did God want to have His Son, His only Son born into this world to die?

And being God why could he have just not saved us all some other way, well, man fell, when Adam and Eve disobeyed in the garden and sin was unleashed, all of mankind fell, we then were born into sin, actually brought into the world, a world of sin, and of course babies and children ARE pure, they are perfectly pure and absolutely blameless before God.

But as we grow and mature and are surrounded by the influences of this world of sin, we, just by nature, fall to that sin.

Sin had to be accounted for, to be atoned, as blood for blood, but even with the sacrifices of the Old Testament and all the laws, people never could quite “get God”, they could never wrap their heads around what exactly is was that he desired, so they often let that same old human nature dictate how they should interpret what was expected of them, often resulting in harshness and attitudes that were nothing at all that he desired for us or nothing at all as he expected us to treat one another.

“Listen” what God said concerning our “confusion” at what he desired for his people:

Hosea 6:6: “For I have desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

And now, “listen” as He expounds on this while He was on earth:

Matthew 9: 10-13: “And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat (the table) in the house, behold, many publicans (tax collectors) and sinners CAME AND SAT DOWN WITH HIM and his disciples.

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with Publicans and sinners (How can your teacher eat with these undesirables?)

BUT when Jesus heard THAT, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

But go ye and LEARN what that meaneth, I WILL HAVE MERCY, AND NOT SACRIFICE: For I am NOT come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

He came out of sheer love and mercy, and SO many other reasons, He came sinless, spotless, and perfect, partly to teach us that sowing love and mercy one toward another IS his desire for us but the main objective was to save us and reconcile us to the Father by offering us through him rebirth, because by the simple, uncontrollable on our part, act of just being born, we were born into sin and the only escape, the only way to be who he created us to be, was to be born spiritually in Him and as He died on the cross, the other aspect of our human condition was overcame, he by his birth as a “human” while yet being God, he could offer us that spiritual birth and with his horrific death he gave us through him the ability to overcome death as he had and by his Holy resurrection, we were given the tremendous honor of having His Spirit actually COME AND LIVE INSIDE OF US while we one day we will also be resurrected from our deaths.

What once was only to visited by one priest, now the actual presence of God Himself would live inside mortal bodies, with the temple now, as it was declared by the Apostles.

The temple of God is inside of His believers, and we are the church, each one of us, no matter where on this earth we are, we all together His church and one day all the troubles and sorrows of this world will, just as He promised, pass away and all things will become new, and we are promised things so marvelous that as it is written.

1 Corinthians 2:7-9″: “But now we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained (predetermined)BEFORE the world unto our glory.

Which none of the princes (rulers) of this world (age) knew; for had they known it, they would NOT have crucified the Lord of glory.

But as it is written, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.”

And while we could discuss all the reasons he came, I want to give you one thought for this holiday, for this life, and for your everyday, HE CAME.

And even as Mary was to be delivered, delivered of her child, that is often so overlooked in life, we always refer it to as “delivering the baby” but the baby is not delivered, WE ARE delivered of the baby and it, like life, it is quite the same as heartaches, grief, hurt and wounds caused by family or friends, setbacks, and disappointments, so many things that, especially now, in our new upheaval of modern life of solitude and uncertainty, we NEED delivered from, we need delivered from all that pain and all that anxiety that eats away at our peace and leaves us feeling hopeless that anything will ever be the same again.

And as much as I wish, even in my own life, that I had a “reset” button and no matter how much I wish I had that same button for friends that I know are hurting so bad and so deep, that we could reset to times past that were brighter, happier, I know that we can’t.

This is the deliverance that Jesus came to give us, He wants to deliver you from all that hurts you, scares you, or causes you pain and tears and truly as it is written in the Book of Revelation, in that great day He will wipe away every tear, but I know that He also wants to wipe away those tears today.

He wants to give you peace, peace in that knowing sometimes everything will not be okay but peace in that He is with us in everything, and He can overshadow you with His Holy presence and bring calm to the most troubled heart, soul, or mind.

THIS is why He came. He came because He loves you and He loves you so much in fact that even before your born into this world.

He knew you would need Him, and He left heaven, can you imagine, leaving the most glorious existence to come to a place where the majority will hate you, trouble you, accuse you, and ultimately torture and crucify you?

Oh, how much love, we could never, ever deserve such a love, we don’t deserve it, could never be worthy of it but He does not do it because we deserve it or will ever, so why did He do it? You want the truth?

He does it simply because He loves YOU that much, whether you love Him back or not, whether you never even accept Him, He still LOVES you and He still would have come here and died for you.

And this world, this world is not the end, this world is not even worth your thoughts because the next world is where all treasures are stored and where goodness lies, and it will be forever, please don’t lose sight of that.

I have used this passage many times, but I felt impressed that it needed to be in this post today.

Please read it slowly, ponder every line, and ponder how it has applied to your life and applies to your life today and give him all of your troubles, all of your words, it doesn’t have to be a prayer read straight from the Book, nor does it need to be another’s words.

He created you, He knows your thoughts and all that your heart NEEDS to say to Him, but He is not going to make you say it, He just doesn’t force Himself on us.

Just talk to Him, just as if you could see Him right there next to you, as he promised he will be our mother, sister, brother, anything we need He is and when we can’t understand, and know that we may never, it is perfectly okay to tell him that too, but as we talk to him, one on one, we soon learn that that things will change as he delivers us from all those things and we begin to feel his peace in the midst of it all.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

A time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend (tear apart), and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace;

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the trava il (task) which God hath given the sons of men to be exercised in it (to be occupied with).

He hath made everything beautiful in HIS time…”

Let him bless you and allow His deliverance to come today!

Φλογιζω NBJ original post date: 12/20/2020

Revisited 12/21/2021, I know we have had many a reposted post this month dealing with the Christmas story, but we can study God’s word and go over the same passage countless times and he will always show us something new, and this was what was on my heart to do!

Lord’s will, new post will publish 12/26/2021

May I be the first to wish you a beautiful Christmas, in Him and a brighter year ahead!

December 21, 2021 by Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“A Heart to Hear the Hope…”

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

He shall be great, and he shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing that I know not a man (am a virgin)?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing (one) which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:31-35

Nothing, nothing like the story of the conception and birth of Jesus Christ! Nothing like reading how the angels appeared and praised God as the proclaimed the greatest message ever delivered on this earth!

Remember that message? Luke 2:8-15: ” And there were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks 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 so afraid (terrified).

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, and 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.”

I know we go over that and over that, but we should!

It is worth remembering every single day! Especially on those days when you may not feel like there is anyone who knows your heart or what you may be going through! God sent his best, his SON, Himself to this earth and he came in the sweetest, most humble way because that is who he is.

As Herod sought to have all the baby boys slaughtered in hope of destroying this one child, a child that could not be destroyed because his time “had not yet come” and hell knew, the devil knew what that child meant to this world, which is exactly why they wanted him killed.

It wasn’t Herod’s insane jealously over what he felt was a threat to his throne, that may have been the seed that satan planted in his mind to have him go to such atrocious and heart-breaking lengths, but it was the greater plan to destroy one of the greatest gifts (among the innumerable) that Christ brought to this earth.

So what was really born on that night as the world carried on, all gathered to be taxed, all having a place to stay with warmth and as Mary gave birth and laid her baby in a manger, of all places, the world did not notice and had they known who this child was there would have been those that would have gladly given her their room and their bed, bed like so many of us now no one had a clue as to what was really being born that night.

We can sometime fail to GO and to SEE what God wants us to too, once the “angels” have gone away, meaning, it can be so easy when we are new, fresh, and just washed in the blood of the Lamb, but time and life being life can make us jaded and we can quickly forget the very truths that we were once so grateful to find.

Hope, hope was born that day into this world, hope, not like the world had known but living, breathing, and crying in the still of the night.

Hope whose hand, if we will faithfully hold, and give it the proper place and respect in our lives can never be truly stolen away because the hope that came into this world with the Birth of Christ is hope, as himself, is is not of this world, as as is not subject to any thing in this world.

Not emotion, not death, not powers, politics, not anyone “hating on ya” nothing can steal that, if you don’t let it!

Christ came to save us through his teachings, his example, his miraculous, birth, his horrific death, and above all his magnificent, glorious resurrection from that death. He lived out his very teaching that we “are in the world but not of the world” and that for his believers that not a hair on our head would perish EVEN through death and that was the hope he gave us.

Hope that this life is not it, it is nothing, these mortal bodies are nothing compared to the glorious resurrection to come, a resurrection with a new body, a body that will never get tired, grow old, become sick, never to die again, resurrected into the world without end.

A world where he will be fully known as who he is and he will reign forever.

FOREVER. PERIOD.

He gives us hope in this life but the hope his birth brought was a much greater hope, it is the hope in him for eternity, this is one of the ways the Bible puts it:

1 Corinthians 15:17-22: “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is in vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they which are fallen asleep in Christ (have died believing salvation) are perished.

If in THIS life ONLY we have hope in Christ, we of all men are most miserable (pitiable).

But now Christ IS risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept (have died). For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made ALIVE.”

Is there any greater hope? I think not!

Have a blessed holiday, full of love to him, mercy and truth and the hope that he brought, and that hope is not in this world, it is not in yesterday, tomorrow, or even today, that hope is IN him and him alone and in the promise of the world after this world, the world which is yet to come and all the yesterday and tomorrows and today’s it will bring.

That is your hope, just as Paul said, if we have hope in Christ just in our present time, we are pitiful, and would be truly hopeless!

Our hope is to be in him now and for the future, so far into that future that we may be among those resurrected from the graves and that changes the perspective about the true importance of today or any day.

Don’t get me wrong with that our days are important to God and how we live is very important to him, but don’t let your hope “rest” in these temporal days, let your hope SHINE, let the hope of eternity which Jesus let your life be as that star was for us and for the wise men, shine for him, there are yet greater things to come!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Thanks for reading! Reverend Nina Brown Johnson/Φλογιζω NBJ 2019 Revisited 12/21/2021 Have a blessed Christmas and a New Year, may it be filled with hope, love, and the never-ending peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

“That men may know that thou whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.” Psalm 83:18

December 17, 2021 by Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“Abiding in the field….”