It was not until I encountered the word "incarnate," regarding Jesus, that I realized the Baby Jesus emphasis this time of year crowds out for the children the fact He was already God before the beginning, when He was incarnate, "born" in a manger. 

I remembered then, as a youngster, adults who often said that Jesus was not always a Baby, reflecting this view that Jesus did not begin as a Baby. 

I wonder how many young people endure this same mistaken impression, as I did when growing up looking for Santa Claus, only to discover he did not exist. Another case of the story is not true, only the meaning is true. It was all for the sake of the children. When I found this out, I felt that I had grown up and adopted the same adult pretensions.

God is Existence

I trust what Jesus' spirit within me moves me to do.

I was walking home from summer Bible School as a child (I can see the entire scene, every detail, totally vividly even now.) My thoughts were not dwelling on anything at all. I suddenly heard within me, as if with ears of my heart, the words ""God is Existence." 

I had no idea then what it meant, and years later it seems now, I unexpectedly stumbled upon a verse in the Old Testament, Exodus 3. It all came back to me, and more time passed in which events occurred, all intermittently, when I had the strong sense God was showing me something and I wondered why. 

After all this time the only thing I know now what to do is to witness. Those who confess God before men, he it is who Jesus said He would confess them before His Holy Father. 

Jesus said,

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.

The world is about suffering. Did man not give the world to a prince who now has power over the very air? Knowledge works against us. What Jesus has told us is, even though we die in this seen physically changing world, we will live forever in the unseen world fashioned by the spirit I adopt. This is why I am working out my salvation. I want to be where Jesus is. His spirit is the only one I trust.

"Incarnate" restored the real "beginning"

  It was not until I encountered the word "incarnate," regarding Jesus, that I realized the Baby Jesus emphasis this time of year crowds out for the children the fact He was already God before the beginning, when He was incarnate, "born" in a manger. 

I remembered then, as a youngster, adults who often said that Jesus was not always a Baby, reflecting this view that Jesus did not begin as a Baby. 

I wonder how many young people endure this same mistaken impression, as I did when growing up looking for Santa Claus, only to discover he did not exist. Another case of the story is not true, only the meaning is true. It was all for the sake of the children. When I found this out, I felt that I had grown up and adopted the same adult pretensions.

Working out salvation

 Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight.

Unknown secrets and known secrets

Getting to Know Oneself

 But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Luke 12:2

What would be covered up that one would not put under a candle? Why would anyone hide anything, for what purpose could that be?

In the Old Testament, God forgave David when he sinned grievously, because David was honest with God. Looks like I will be pondering this verse a lot longer.

Speaking into existence

 "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

This was said by God, told to Isaiah the prophet. God placed it there in Isaiah's heart. The tree is known by is fruit. And it was said by Jesus. And it was said to us. What we say we will get, or perhaps got already. 

Jesus said we would be accountable 

for every idle word we speak.

Indeed, we are accountable for every word. We speak the Word in faith. We project what is in our hearts. From out of the heart the mouth speaks. We are getting what we say. We may speak about another person but we are revealing more about ourselves than many are aware. We are speaking into existence the same way God speaks into Existence. The spirit, like the tree, is known by its fruit.

It is said we gain faith by reading the Word. When we speak, we speak into existence, for ourselves, even while it may be about someone else. This is my view. I gained it by reading. Some by  listening. Some by watching. Some by example. Some by epiphany,