JEWISHcolorado JCRC’s Post

#BrainTeaserChallenge do you like um or leave um? When this was first posted, had any of you thought to count the candles shown in this picture, and noticed how this picture might be related to the other 8 light candelabra that was posted with it? The updated Introduction to "The Advent Emmanuel: For Delight in the Night" has some extensive notes on this topic. I imagine there are some of you who will appreciate the insightfulness that led me to select these two specific lights from amongst the many pictures I have (of the California Missions) to be a #advent #christmascarddesign. If you're interested in learning more about how this corresponds to #scriptures found in the #Tanakh and the #holybible -- be sure to review the notes found here ... The thirty-two candles of Christmas isn't a tune you've likely heard before, or have you, and not realized you had? Rather than posting the updated 5th devotion for "The Advent Emmanuel: For Delight in the Night," I set to another task I've been putting off for some time: fixing the order of this devotion. And yet, I am thankful I hadn't done so until now, for it appears that everything came together -- in the most unlikely of ways, after one mishap after another kept getting in the way of this and another project I had set my heart on completing, that I didn't get to until THIS YEAR. In the update to "The Advent Emmanuel: For Delight in the Night," you will see some notes that were posted yesterday, that are now included where I originally intended for them to go (in the introduction), and how the 32 candles of Christmas may be biblical indeed. The updated introduction also will reveal how and why the format is being changed. For those from other faiths, (and even those who consider themselves and unbeliever) the introduction also includes notes on how the devotion may be pertinent to you, even if you don't celebrate #Christmas, #Hanukkah #Epiphany #holydays #Holidays #celebrating #light #peopleofallages #faith #belief https://lnkd.in/gp5rhe6i

Pic: Budapest Kindness Kindness is part of love, “Love endures long and is patient and kind” (1 Cor 13:4; AMPC). It is also a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). God is love (1 John 4:16) and He is kind. The Psalms talk a great deal about the lovingkindness of God. “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever” (Ps 136:1; AMPC). The second half of that sentence is repeated in every verse of all 26 verses in that Psalm! In the Old Testament we read about the kindness of Boaz to Ruth (Ruth 2:5-23). In the New Testament Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37. I’m sure we are all familiar with that story, the point being that the Samaritan, from a race hated by the Jews, was the only one who “did the kindness with him” (Luke 10:37; YLT). Jesus followed those words with these, “Go and do likewise.” In Acts 9:36 we read about Dorcas, who was, “always doing kind things for others and helping the poor” (NLT). Eph 4:32 tells us to “be kind to one another” and Col 3:12 tells us to clothe ourselves with a number of things, one of which is kindness. Did you know there is a week in the year called Random Acts of Kindness week? Next year it is the week from February 14-20, 2025. What a great idea! I don’t know about you but my goal is to make every week a Random Act of Kindness week! In our new book: "The life changing light of God's word a 366 day devotional" you can read a collection of our devotions that are all different from the ones we post here. Learn more about our book at our website: www.onthewayinlove.com

The thing about Jesus' love that makes it so great and so exemplary is that Jesus died not only for his friends, but also for his bitterest of enemies. I find it difficult to pray for my enemies, but much more so to bless them and speak well of them. But to die for them? That is a tremendous challenge. This week's blog post. https://lnkd.in/g8xEB6i2

What Does God Desire from You This Christmas Season? By Pastor Avinash Singh, New Delhi, India As we celebrate the birth of Christ, the question arises: What does God truly desire from us this Christmas? Beyond the festive lights and gifts, God calls us to reflect His love, kindness, and grace in our lives. --- Famous Quotes to Reflect On 1. "The giving of gifts is not what Christmas is all about; it’s about the gift of God’s love to the world." – Unknown 2. "God never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving. If He gives us the gift of Christmas, it is because we all have the ability to understand and receive it." – Pope Francis 3. "Christmas is God’s way of saying He loves us and desires to dwell among us." – Max Lucado --- Survey Highlights A recent Christian survey revealed: 70% believe Christmas is about renewing faith and relationships. 65% feel called to acts of generosity during the season. 50% commit to attending church and deepening their spiritual walk. This shows how Christmas inspires a renewed focus on what truly matters—faith and service. --- Biblical References 1. A Heart of Worship: "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth." (John 4:23) God desires heartfelt worship, not just rituals. 2. Obedience and Love: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (John 14:15) Love for God is expressed in obedience to His Word. 3. Compassion for Others: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me." (Matthew 25:40) Serving others reflects God’s heart. --- Key Highlights Offer Your Heart: God desires a personal relationship with you. Spend time in prayer and reflection. Extend Grace and Forgiveness: Heal broken relationships by extending the same grace God offers to you. Be Generous: Share your blessings, whether through acts of kindness, resources, or time. Seek God’s Will: Align your plans with His purpose, trusting in His guidance. --- Conclusion: This Christmas, let’s focus on what truly pleases God: a life of worship, love, and service. Remember, the greatest gift we can offer is our wholehearted devotion and willingness to reflect His light in the world.

🎷Welcome to 34 day Of our 40-days Business prayer challenge.💪 We will live to impact everyone we rub shoulders with, whether they are customers, employees, suppliers, vendors, etc. We will treat everyone as we would treat Christ Jesus. ‭Matthew 25:45 NIV‬ [45] “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’' #34DayChallenge #impactfulbusinesses #welivetoimpactlives #christconsciousness #Jesusinthemarketplace #marketplacerevival #contendingforourprofessionals #contendingforourpersonallives #contendingforourbusinesses

Scriptural thought for today The Truth About Halloween… Is Halloween celebrated where you live? In the United States and Canada, Halloween is widely known and celebrated every year on October 31. Halloween customs though, can be found in many other parts of the globe. In some places holidays are celebrated that, although named differently, share similar themes: contact with the spirit world involving the spirits of the dead, fairies, witches, and even the devil and demon angel, so if this is the case, for you as a Christian would it not be wise to find out more?   *Many celebrations like Halloween have pagan origins and are deeply rooted in ancestor worship so many newcomers to the celebration are unaware of the pagan origins of Halloween symbols, decorations and customs, most of which are related to supernatural beings and occult forces. “Christians don’t realize it but they’re celebrating our holiday with us… We like it” - The newspaper USA Today, quoting a professed witch.   *Celebrations like Halloween are in conflict with Bible teachings. The Bible warns: “There must never be anyone among you who… practices divination, who is soothsayer, augur or sorcerer, who uses charms, consults ghosts or spirits or calls up the dead.” You might not personally be doing these things but you are supporting and condoning it (De 18:10, 11 – Ga 5:19-21)   *Commercial interest in Halloween has grown into a worldwide multi billion dollar industry and is now one of the main drivers of it. For the truth and your spiritual safety read the full article here - https://lnkd.in/dYmw9wPE

Macedonia Christmas. Happy Christmas Macedonia! The only one real Macedonia! Orthodox Christmas in Macedonia is celebrated according to the Julian calendar, meaning that Christmas Eve takes place on January 6 and Christmas Day is celebrated on January 7. This holiday is one of the most important for the Macedonian Orthodox Church and is marked by religious, cultural and family traditions. Highlighted traditions: 1. Post (Fasting): In the weeks leading up to Christmas, many people observe a period of fasting in which they abstain from meat, dairy products and eggs. This fasting culminates with the special Christmas Eve meal. 2. Badnik (Christmas Eve): The evening of January 6 is celebrated with a traditional dinner called Badnik večera. It is a meatless meal that includes dishes such as: • Badnik bread (pogacha) with a coin hidden inside. Whoever finds the coin is considered to have luck in the coming year. • Beans, nuts, dried fruit, fish and other simple foods. In addition, an oak branch (badnik) is placed in the home as a symbol of blessing. 3. Badnik processions and bonfires: In some regions, processions are organized and large bonfires are lit to commemorate Christmas Eve. This symbolizes the light of Christ. 4. Christmas Liturgy: On January 7, families attend the Divine Liturgy in Orthodox churches. It is a time of prayer and communion. 5. Traditional greeting: During Christmas, Orthodox Macedonians greet each other with the phrase “Hristos se rodi!” (Christ is born!) and the response is “Vaistina se rodi!” (He is truly born!). 6. Family gathering and festive meals: After the liturgy, families gather to share a feast that includes meat, homemade bread, and other traditional dishes, marking the end of the fasting period. These celebrations are deeply rooted in the country's cultural and spiritual identity, and are an occasion to strengthen family and community ties.

The Origins Of Halloween In Canada And How It Is Celebrated Today? The origins of Halloween in Canada date back to the 1800s, when Irish and Scottish immigrants arrived in large numbers and brought this tradition with them. However, the first recorded event in which children were dressed up for Halloween was recorded in Vancouver, BC, in 1898 – this was also the first such event in all of North America. Today, Halloween is more of a secular event, but it has Christian as well as pre-Christin pagan religious roots in its history. Although it is debatable, many argue that Halloween originated partly in Christianity through All Saints’ Day, a feast day that honours all the saints or hallows of the church. This tradition was established in May 609 - 610 AD by Boniface IV, when he declared the Roman Pantheon (in Rome Italy) as sacred and associated it with the Virgin Mary and all martyrs. Over the next few centuries, this day was fixed for November 1st and continued to be celebrated in most Catholic churches in different countries. However, the origins of Halloween are likely derived from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was observed in Britain and Ireland on November 1st to mark the end of harvest and the beginning of the winter. Early Celts believed that October 31st divides the light and the dark halves of the year, and thus this was the time when the forces of good and evil come very close to each other. They believed bad spirits and the souls of the dead visited the living at this time, and to ward them off, they used to sacrifice, cook meals, and disguise themselves. Some argue that early Christians appropriated these pagan traditions to convert them to Christianity. How Popular Is Halloween In Canada? Halloween is celebrated on October 31st every year, and its commercial success in Canada can be gauged with the fact that it is the second most commercially successful tradition after Christmas. Last year, Canadians spent over $1.8 billion just on the retail purchases of candy, snacks, and other such items related to Halloween, according to Statistics Canada. This year, Canadians are expected to spend more on Halloween compared to last year, despite facing tough economic challenges. This year, 53% of Canadians reported that they are planning to celebrate Halloween, while 83% of them said that they will spend the same or more than last year, according to a survey by the Retail Council of Canada. The survey noted that although the economic conditions are tough, there has been a ‘steady enthusiasm for Halloween’. Up to 60% of respondents were expected to spend on food, alcohol, and candy, while 30% were expected to spend on clothing and 26% on home decoration. Data shows that Canadians start preparing and purchasing items for Halloween more than four weeks before; this shows that people who celebrate Halloween take it very seriously. #Halloween #Canada #history #candy

CHRISTMAS: Why Christmas is celebrated on December 25th? Traditions, History This article explains the religious significance of Christmas for Christians, including the belief that Jesus' birth brought happiness to the world. Essay on Christmas in English for Students This article discusses the many traditions and customs associated with Christmas, including decorating homes, attending church, and sharing meals. History of Christmas ‑ Origins, Traditions & Facts This article covers the origins of Christmas, including the traditions and practices that have been observed for two millennia. Christmas Essay for Students and Children This article discusses the importance of giving and sharing with family and friends during Christmas, and how it's a time to think about nature and the reason for existence. Beyond Santas and holly: how Christmas is celebrated in homes This article discusses how Christmas is celebrated in different parts of India, including the foods eaten and the regional variations in Christmas cake. History of Christmas Trees ‑ Symbolism, Traditions & Trivia This article discusses the history of Christmas trees, including the use of evergreens in ancient Egypt and Rome, and the German traditions of candlelit trees. Christmas - National Geographic Kids This article discusses how Christmas is celebrated in different countries, including the United States, Argentina, and Newfoundland.

Reflections: LOVE IS TOLERANCE Today, as we celebrate Easter and the resurrection of Christ, let us reflect on the true meaning of love. In a conversation with my late Mum about her secret to a successful life and marriage, she shared that love is tolerance. At the time, I didn't fully understand the depth of her statement, but as I've navigated through life, it has become clearer. My parents wedded on Easter Sunday in 1960 and were married for 45 years before my dad passed away. My mum lived another 16 years before joining him on the day we did my father's service of songs. Looking at the life of Christ, it's evident that my mum understood love like He did. Christ came not because He wanted to, but because He was sent. He loved us not because we were good, but because He tolerated anything we did. He died for us to wash away our sins, not because we were religious, but because He had the patience to tolerate us and love us irrespective of our shortcomings. As we face the difficulties of the harsh Nigerian economic realities, let us remember to tolerate one another, regardless of our differences. Instead of focusing on personal gain, let us contribute to the collective good of society and sustainability. Let us remember the summary of the 10 commandments - love God with everything and love thy neighbor as yourself. It's a difficult task, but one that, if we truly embrace, can make us better people. Realizing that love is tolerance has made me a better person, improving my choices and reminding me that my choices are based on three things - my decisions, my actions, and my consequences. If you can't live with the consequences, then never make those choices. #Easter #CelebrationsofChrist #BetterMe #LoveIsTolerance #MyChoices #MyDecisions #MyActions #MyConsequences