Joanne B. Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Master of Science degree in Psychology/Christian Counseling with honors from Liberty University. She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. She is a leading authority on the history of development of the Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults.
I love the celebration of the birth of our Savior. It is like a new beginning, a new hope. I love the anticipation that floats through the air like a fluttering of snowflakes.
I grew up in a gentler, more innocent time. Christmas was an exciting time of year for the whole family. Shop windows were filled with snowy scenes of families and Christmas.
Florence Nightingale left us an example to live our lives in love for mankind, the peace of the LORD, respecting our neighbors as ourselves. “In the Eyes of the LORD God” also is a sign to give direction, gives enormous knowledge and care.
We are living in a time of fear, uncertainty, confusion, many are living in bondage, and misgiving of the world around us.Not all fear is bad. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Harriet Tubman successfully aided many slaves to escape during the Civil War. She was a God fearing woman who devoted her life to fight against slavery, and a champion of women rights.
The church in Philadelphians were actively teaching and preaching Christ’s gospel. Jesus Rebuke and admonished the church of Philadelphia. The message to the church in Philadelphia again speaks of a synagogue of Satan who claim to be Jews but are not, whose members will in the end bow down before John’s listeners
The church in Sardis has a reputation that they are alive but they are dead. Those that overcometh, shall be clothed in white raiment; and not blot his name out of the book of life, but Jesus will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Jesus says that he knows the deeds of those in the church in Thyatira. Jesus is aware of the labors of love the believers in Thyatira have shown to God and to their neighbors. Their works included love and faith and service as well as endurance. The last works were greater than their first works.