Happy New Year!
Thank you to all who follow The Kedge Anchor. In a time where things in this world seem to be upside down and chaotic we hope that you have found some encouragement here. After all we are all about anchoring in Hope.
Praying for peace, encouragement and that whatever you may be going through right now, God will use it to draw you closer to Him. Anchor in Him today.
Happy Monday! Hope these coloring pages have helped in memorizing scripture. As we embark on a new year my hope for this blog and these coloring pages is that not only will it help you to hide God’s word in your heart (Psalm 119:11) but it would bring a little curiosity to your memorizing. Is there a particular word that stands out to you in a verse? Research it. Look it up, read it in other versions, read a commentary on the verse. There are so many websites and resources to guide you deeper in God’s word. Jesus is the Light of this world and the Light of Life. He just wants you close to Him and reading scripture is just one way to do that.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
“… You stepped down into darkness … ” You may recognize the lyrics from Randy Travis’ song “Here I Am to Worship.” Typically one may not consider this a Christmas song but the lyrics kind of well, at least for me make me think Jesus’ birth. And without His birth we don’t have His death and resurrection and without either of those we don’t have His salvation.
Jesus is the life, the truth and the way. He is also the Light of this world. I find it interesting that Jesus was born during the night. Nights are, well, usually dark and I imagine that during His time when there was no moon … It. Was. Dark. Have you ever been somewhere at night where there are no street lights, there was no moon, and the stars were hidden behind clouds? Maybe you were driving in the mountains or a remote road where civilization is miles away and no headlights or flashlight was bright enough. It. Is. Dark.
The world is still dark today just as it was in Jesus’ day. He stepped down into darkness from Heaven. He left His Father and Heaven in all it’s glory and beauty to walk among His people, HIs creation in this dark world. He arrived in this world at night as a baby and as the Light.
For me the star was symbolic of Jesus’ light figuratively and spiritually. Most scholars agree that the light from the star was so bright it was almost like daylight (just a side note, I know that star has many theories as to if it was an actual star or planets aligning, that’s another post). The point is what miraculous event would it have been if Jesus was born during the day?
The angels coming down from the heavens telling the shepherds of Jesus’ birth must have shown so brightly in those dark fields that night. Like someone turning the lights on in the middle of the night, it hurts. Sometimes it hurts when God illuminates the darkness in our own hearts and sometimes we run away and don’t want to deal with it. But the shepherds ran to see Jesus and to worship Him. The wisemen saw that star the night Jesus was born and followed it for what may have been months, some say it was two years. And when they reached Jesus, they bowed down and worshiped.
Jesus the light of the world, came down in literal darkness and HIs birth lit up the sky. His coming to this world was to also light up the darkness of people’s hearts. If you are a believer allow Jesus to come into the dark corners of you heart. If you want Jesus to show you the light read the book of John and ask God to show you His Light.
Jesus stepped down into darkness so we wouldn’t have to. Let’s not wait for Christmas to worship and bow down to the One who saves us from our sin and bridges the gap to all of eternity in His eternal Light.
Light of the world You stepped down into darkness
Open my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you’re my God
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me
King of all days, oh so highly exalted
Glorious in Heaven above
Humbly You came to the earth
You created all for love’s sake became poor
I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross
I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross
Here I am to worship
– Randy Travis –
Merry Christmas! I hope this blog post finds you and yours well. It’s been a wild ride the past few years but we know God is sovereign and will reign forevermore. Take time out to relax, unwind and reflect on the birth of Jesus as you color today’s free downloadable coloring page. Grab a cup of hot cocoa or tea put on some Christmas music as you reflect on how God orchestrated everything, down to last detail. God is in the details. He loves you!
“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” – Like 2:12
The sign was a baby wrapped in cloths. King James Versions says “swaddling cloths.” By definition swaddling means wrapping. We have read that so many times it’s easy to overlook that. But these cloths have significant meaning. When the angels told the shepherds they would find Jesus in swaddling cloths they knew exactly what was being told to them. According to Levitical law the newborn lambs that were to be sacrificed for Passover, they were to be wrapped in strips of linen as soon as they were born so that they would remain blemish free and be protected from any bruising.
We know that Jesus later became crucified on the Jewish Passover as the “Lamb of God.” When Jesus was sacrificed as the Lamb of God, he was tied down and his body was wrapped in cloths at his burial. The Hebrew word for “wrapped” is “chattal, which means to wrap up or tie down. Interesting.
If you haven’t seen The Chosen Christmas Special – The Messengers, it’s a must see. There’s a touching scene between the Marys, Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ mother. I don’t want spoil it for those who haven’t seen it so you’ll just have to watch it. Hint, It has to do with cloths. You can see it on YouTube or through The Chosen app.
Merry Christmas!
Happy Memorize Monday!!! It’s almost 2022!! Where has time gone. Today’s scripture is taken from Luke 1:46-55, known as Mary’s Song, commonly know as the “Magnificat,” literally song of praise. It’s also similar to the psalm of Hannah when she gave birth to Samuel. Mary prices God for His faithfulness to keep HIs promises. Ponder the faithfulness of God today as Mary pondered and “treasured these things in her heart.” – Luke 2:19. Praise God for His faithfulness to keep His promises today and all through the year!
Has this happened to you? You have been so distraught nothing is comforting? You try everything, listening to Christian music, worship music, listening to a podcast or a sermon online and nothing seems to stick. Not even just reading scripture? It’s ok it happens. We are human.
If there was ever a person who knew anxiety it was Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane – Matthew 26:36-36 – Jesus was about to be crucified, on a cross, separated from His Father in Heaven, v.38 – “My anguish is so great that I feel as if I’m dying. Wait here, and stay awake with me.” He knows anxiety. He experienced every emotion we, His creation has felt, feels and will feel. But noticed He asked for His friends to be stay with Him. (there’s more on that).
So what is one to do? Well first, for myself, I try to realize that God sees my heart and nothing goes unnoticed by Him. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:13. Whether or not I feel this or believe it at the time, this is truth. It’s in the Bible, the Bible is infallible, it’s timeless and I know I can trust it. I can choose to believe it or not, I can have the faith of a mustard seed or not but the fact remains, God sees me, I am known by Him. “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” – Like 12:7. He created me and formed me in my mother’s womb, – Psalm 139:13. He will never leave me nor forsake me, – Deuteronomy 31:6. Truth!
It also helps me if I can count my blessings, I know that can sound so cliché. There are days I am thankful for being able to get out of bed and put my two feet on the floor. Some days I am just thankful for being able to hold a pencil. Joni Eareckson Tada, she is paralyzed from the neck down and paints with a paintbrush between her teeth. She has an incredible story and ministry that God works through. Sometimes it helps to see how God has worked in other people’s lives. Bethany Hamilton survived a shark attack when she was 13. She’s not thankful she is missing her left arm, but she is thankful for where God has brought her spiritually. And as an athlete, she still surfs and competes with one arm. God had given her an amazing ministry encouraging others who are physically disabled. That difficult time in her life, God used for His glory. If you haven’t seen Soul Surfer, I highly recommend it. Nick Vujicic is another inspiration. He was born without limbs and God has worked amazing things in his life. The Bible tells us to give thanks in all things. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “give thanks IN all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We don’t necessarily have to be thankful FOR all things but thankful IN all things
Another thing I do is reach out to others for prayer. This is very humbling for me because it makes me feel weak. Know what? I am. I need God’s help. God sometimes provides that for us through friends. Jesus had His disciples/friends with Him in the Garden and in Exodus 17:12 – God provided Aaron and Hur to stand beside him with stones to put under his arms to keep them lifted up. We weren’t meant to do life alone. God has provided community through our churches, friends, family, support groups, we just need to reach out. Jesus had community, He had His disciples, followers, and His family.
God still loves us even on the hard days when scripture doesn’t seem to be working. Remember to go with what you know, recall how God has provided in the past. Reach out to a friend for prayer. God is still in control, He sees you, He sees your heart. Be strong and courageous.
Malachi 4:2 – “The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.” Where have we heard that phrase before; “healing in his wings?” Here’s something really interesting. The Hebrew word for “wings” is “kanafim” which also means corners. Hold on to that thought.
Malachi prophesied that ” … the Sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.” Jewish believers gave the name Sun of Righteousness to the coming Messiah. Malachi was referencing Jesus’ ability to heal with the corners of his robe. Kanafim also means “corners.” Are you seeing a parallel? In the book of Mark 5:25-34, is the story about the woman who had been bleeding for over 12 years knew the scriptures. She knew all she had to do was touch the corners of Jesus’ garment and she would be healed.
25 … And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
And so we see this phrase used in a beloved Christmas song, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”
Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Wow! Kinda adds new meaning to the old Christmas carol. I bet you will be thinking corners the next time you sing Hark the Herald Angels Sing. I know I will.
Merry Christmas!
The Kedge Anchor 
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