Bring the Children To Me

By Mary Vee
Mark 9, Matthew 18, Luke 17

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee,
Jerusalem, Israel

I am a disciple of Jesus.

The other disciples and I had been listening to Jesus teach. There were some children who edged close to where we stood. We told them to go away. Our reasoning was we didn't want them to bother Jesus.

Apparently, we were wrong.






Jesus invited the children to come closer. He turned to us and said, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. When you welcome me you are welcoming the one who sent me. Do you understand?"

I guess we did.

Photo by Mary Vee
Olive wood carving at a Palestinian Christian
Woodshop, Jerusalem

Jesus then said, "If anyone causes these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea."

Jesus looked at the children standing by him and continued speaking to us, "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. Their angels who are in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."

Jesus must have seen the confusion on our face because he then said, "If a man owns a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, wouldn't you agree he would be happier about having the one sheep back than about the ninety-nine safe in the fold?

He smiled at the children, "In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any one of these little ones should be lost.

 Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

We Searched for The Baby in the Manger

By Mary Vee
Luke 2

From Luke's Notes of the Shepherds

Photo courtesy

The most amazing visitor came to our camp a short time ago. I am a shepherd and several other men work with me.

Not far from Bethlehem, we finished our day's work. We corralled the sheep and sat around talking. Sometimes we sang. We didn't carry a tune well, but the sheep liked it.

The stars were really bright and the sky black. Once the night fire blazed an amazing visitor arrived. It was an angel!

I told the story of what the angel said to us last time, you can scroll down and read what happened. I will never forget this visitor.

Anyway, I am walking, a bit out of breath while telling you this story. The other shepherds and I are walking down a hill. No I'm not out of shape. I'm out of breath because of my excitement. The angel told us to visit a very special person.

The angel said a baby had been born tonight. There might have been more than one baby born this evening but not many in Bethlehem. That will narrow the search. The angel also said the baby had been wrapped in swaddling clothes and was laying in a manger. 

Any baby born tonight will be in swaddling clothes. That is a cloth wrapped around the baby to make if feel secure and keep it warm. 

The big clue will be the manger. Babies are usually born at home, in a house. The only way this baby was in a manger would be if the mother was not at home. So she is one of the travelers for the census.

Second this traveling mother would have had her baby in an inn had they arrived in time to get a room. So the next clue is she is someone who arrived this evening. Now we should be able to find this very special baby.

You might wonder, why would a group of shepherds leave the comforts of the open air, on a hill, and walk into the craziness that goes on in the city? All my life I'd heard about the Messiah that would come some day. I and my brothers have looked forward to that day. The the angel said this newborn baby was not just any baby. This baby is the Messiah, Christ, the Lord.

Once the angels left us, the other shepherds and I said to each other, "Let's go down to Bethlehem and see the baby which the Lord told us about."

We hurried through the streets, knocking on every inn along the way asking, "Was a baby born here tonight?" The innkeepers thought we were crazy and they wrinkled up their noses saying we smelled. Okay, so we were shepherds, we couldn't help it.

Finally, one innkeeper answered, "A man and wife arrived a little bit ago. The woman was in labor. I sent them to the stables. You can find them there."

We hurried around the back to a cave-like stable. Hardly a place to give birth. There in the trough, where the animals eat, was a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. The mother and father looked at us. "An angel came appeared a little while ago and told us a baby had been born in the city of David. The baby is the Savior. He is Christ the Lord. The angel said we could find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger." 

We knelt at the manger and praised God. The mother said her name was Mary and the father said his name was Joseph. To think, I was looking at the Messiah. We spoke softly like we do to our sheep, so not to wake the little one.

After our visit we hurried through the streets telling everyone what we had seen and heard that night. The angel who visited us on the hill. The angel's message. The thousands of angels who came and sang praises to God. The baby who is Christ the Lord.

I and the other shepherds returned to the sheep singing, laughing, and praising God for all the things we had heard and seen. 

The sheep were safe and all there.

Everything was just as the angel said it would be. 

And my heart is racing for joy.

The Messiah is here.

Come back for the next story.

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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary

* Jewish History.org
*Jewish Virtual Library.org

It Was A Dark and Clear Night. One We'd Never Forget

By Mary Vee
Luke 2

From Luke's Notes

Photo Courtesy

Not far from Bethlehem, I and my shepherd friends finished our day's work. We corralled the sheep and sat around talking. Sometimes we sang. We didn't carry a tune well, but the sheep like it.

The stars were really bright that night. I remember noticing one in particular. 

We built a fire to keep warm and to keep the wild animals away from the sheep. Usually we took turns keeping watch at night, but it wasn't late enough to go to sleep. 

I took a few steps away from the fire and looked at the city below. It was Bethlehem. I didn't understand how people could live in cities when they could sleep under the stars.

I walked back to the fire and sat with the other shepherds. 

Suddenly a bright light appeared in the sky. It was a bright glowing light. I didn't know what it was. My friends and I stumbled back in fright. We fell over each other not knowing what to do. It took me a moment to realize this glow I saw was the figure of an angel. "Don't be afraid," the angel said. "I have good news that will bring great joy for all people."

None of us had ever seen an angel before. We huddled together, trying to understand what was happening. 

The angel said, "Today in the city of David, a Savior has been born. He is the Christ, the Lord. This is the sign you will need to look for: There is a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

We had barely handled the one angel talking to us when the whole sky lit up. Thousands of angels appeared in the sky singing. I listened closer. They were singing praises to God. 

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth, peace to men in whom he is well pleased."

My breath caught in my chest. This was a night I would never, ever, ever forget. The singing was like a perfect choir. Harmony. Melody. Masterful singing. The voices rang, echoing on the hillside. 

Never, in all my life did I imagine I would see an angel much less hear thousands singing praises to God.

Well, I won't be sleeping tonight. We have a special baby to visit.

Come back for the next story.

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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary

* Jewish History.org
*Jewish Virtual Library.org

Daniel- North and South

By Mary Vee
Daniel 11

From Daniel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Daniel. I am still living in Babylon and in service to Cyrus king of Persia.

Many of my Hebrew brothers and their families traveled back to Jerusalem a short time ago. King Cyrus gave them permission. Ezra led the people. 

An angel came to speak to me after I'd seen a vision. I don't know if I had such a difficult time because I am older or because of the vision that scared me, or maybe both.

I said to the angel, "How can I speak with you? My strength is gone. I can hardly breathe."

The angel touched me again and gave me strength. "Don't be afraid Daniel for you are highly esteemed. Peace to you. Have peace and be strong."

Just like that my strength returned. I was able to focus on his words. "Speak, my lord."

"Do you know why I came to you?" He looked up and away for a brief moment. "Soon I will go back to fight the evil prince of Persia. When I go, the prince of Greece will come. Before I leave, I will tell you what is written in The Book of Truth. No one is helping me in this battle except Michael, your prince. Years ago I took my stand to protect him.

"I tell you the truth. Three more kings will appear in Persia. The one who comes after will be far richer than all the others. He will use his wealth to gain power and stir everyone up against the kingdom of Greece. At that time, a mighty king will appear. He will rule with great power and do as he pleases. Once he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and sent in all directions. His descendants will not take his thrown. His kingdom will not have the power he had. His kingdom will be given to others.

"The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will overtake his thrown and have great power. Some years later these two men will work together. The daughter of the king of the South will marry the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will lose her power.

"A man from her family line will rise up to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his kingdom. His armies will take the gold and valuables to Egypt. The two countries will stop fighting for a time.

"But that is not the end. The king of the North will rise up. He and his sons will march like a roaring flood to the kingdom of the South. The northern army will fail and the kingdom of the South will become full of pride and go about killing thousands.

"Again this is not the end. After several years pass, the army of the North will be so angry they will raise up an even bigger army.

"At that time many will rise up against the kingdom of the South. The armies of the South will be powerless to resist the kingdom of the North. The king of the North will attempt to take over every country but fail. He will return to the north and not be heard from again.

There is more. Rest. Then I will tell you more.

This story continues next time.
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1.  Who is speaking to Daniel?
2.  Where is the information taken from?
3.  What kingdoms will battle?
4.  How will this affect the world?
5.  Why do you think the angel told Daniel something that would happen in the future?

Daniel- 21-day Battle of the Angels

By Mary Vee
Daniel 10

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy. The Angel Michael takes over the battle

My name is Daniel. I am still living in Babylon and in service to Cyrus king of Persia.

Many of my Hebrew brothers and their families traveled back to Jerusalem a short time ago. King Cyrus gave them permission. Ezra led the people. 

I suppose they have settled into their homes and gathered the materials to rebuild the temple. 

The Lord sent me a message in a vision. The message was so terrifying I ate no choice food, meat, or drank wine. I didn't use any lotions at all until three weeks went by. 

It was the twenty-fourth day of the first month when I stood on the bank of the great river, Tigris. A man stood next to me. He wore linen with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a huge crowd.

Other men were with me when I received the vision, but they did not see it. Even still, terror overwhelmed them and they ran away. 

I was left alone to watch this great vision. I had no strength. My legs hardly held me. I fell to the ground in fear. I heard the man speaking, and as I listened to him I fell into a deep sleep.

A hand touched me. He helped me up to my hands and knees. I couldn't stop shaking. 

The man said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, think about the words I am about to tell you. Stand up."

I stood but didn't stop trembling.

"Don't be afraid Daniel. Since the first day you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard and I have come in response to them. 

"You were heard this time, too. I would have come sooner, but the evil of the Persian kingdom fought me for twenty-one days. Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help me get free. I have finally come to explain what will happen to your people in the future. This vision concerns a time yet to come.

This story continues next time.
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1.  Who stood by Daniel.
2.  Where was Daniel.
3.  Who was king?
4.  Why did Daniel fall to the ground?
5.  Why did the angel Michael have to take over the battle.

Job-The Accuser Attacks Again

By Mary Vee
From Job 2

From the Notes of an Angel

Photo Courtesy

Here I am again, a second visit with you. I am an angel, a servant of the Almighty God. Praise His Holy Name.

I hope you've heard about our last meeting. It was terrible. Feel free to scroll down two posts to see what happened.

Anyway, the other angels and I have a meeting with the Lord today. I sure hope he doesn't come again. You know who I mean, right? The Accuser? Satan?

Come on, I'll let you listen in on today's meeting. 

As angels we come to present ourselves before the Lord. We dress appropriately, sing praises, and present our very best. After all, God deserves it! 

Look! He is here! I can't believe it. All he wants to do is ruin someone's life. At the last meeting, the Lord told the Accuser that 'there was no one on earth like Job. Job is blameless and upright. A man who fears God and hates evil.' Satan received permission to test Job, but he was not allowed to hurt him.

The problem is, he came back again.

Shh, the Lord is speaking.

"Satan, where have you come from and what have you been doing?"


"I've been roaming through the earth, going back and forth, looking at all the people you have made."

Not again. He has already destroyed all of Job's sheep, oxen, donkeys, many of his servants, and he killed all of Job's children. I was very please with Job's response, though. He could have yelled at God like most people do. But he praised God saying, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away." What a man of God. 

The Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him. He is blameless and upright, a man who fears me and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you took so much away from him AND without any reason. 

A terrible grin appeared on Satan's face. It didn't take him long to come up with something nasty to say. "Skin for skin!" A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."

The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands. But you must spare his life."

I shook my head. Job's faith was more than on the outside. In his heart lays a true love for God. He would stand strong in his faith no matter what happens.

Satan rubbed his hands together and left. He didn't waste any time. He sent painful sores from the soles of Job's feet to the top of his head.

I looked down on Job. The poor man sat in ashes. He took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it.

Photo Courtesy

Job's wife cried, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? What is the matter with you? Curse God and die!"

Then Job said words that caused me to smile. He said to her, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Do you think we should accept good from God and not trouble? Why?"

I do feel sorry for Job. But I also am proud of him. I've heard it said, in all that happened, Job did not sin in what he said.

I sure hope Satan is satisfied and leaves Job alone.

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1. Why did Satan do horrible things to Job?
2. Do bad things happen to good people?
3. Do all bad things happen because we are bad?
4. Why do you think God lets bad things happen?
5. What did Satan do to Job?
6. What did Job hold on to?
7. What did Job's wife say?

Job-The Day the Angels Met With God and The Accuser Tagged Along

By Mary Vee
From Job 1

From the Notes of an Angel

Photo Courtesy

I am an angel, a servant of the Almighty God. Praise His Holy Name.

Every so often we angels come before the Lord to present ourselves. Even the Almighty God knows the importance of good communication. Quite truthfully I enjoy coming before the Lord. I just love to praise His name!

This time, though, The Accuser came to the meeting. I don't know why, but I didn't like him there.

The Lord said to The Accuser, "Where have you come from?"

The Accuser, whom we also call Satan, answered, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it. I have been looking at all the people you have made."

Great, I wondered who he was about to stir up trouble. 

The Lord said to Satan, "Have you thought about my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him. He is blameless and upright. He is a man who fears me and shuns evil."

I had noticed Job's faithfulness to the Almighty. Not only does he worship the Lord everyday, but he also offers sacrifices for the sins of his children for the times they may forget to offer sacrifices on their own. Yes, Job is a man who worships God faithfully.

Satan tipped his head. It didn't take him long to come up with something nasty to say. "So Job is faithful, is he? Haven't you put a strong protection around him, his household, and everything he owns? You've bless the work of his hands! Of course he is going to worship you. His flocks and herds are spread throughout the land because they are so great. I wonder, though, if you stretched out your hand and struck everything he has, if you will see that Job will surely curse you to your face."

I shook my head. Even I could see that Job's faith was more than on the outside. In his heart lays a true love for God. He would stand strong in his faith no matter what happens.

The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands to do as you wish to test him. But, you are not to lay a finger on Job."

"No problem," Satan said as he left.

From where I stood, Satan looked a little bit too happy. I wonder what all he will do.


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1. Where did this meeting take place?
2. Who all came to the meeting?
3. What human person did they talk about?
4. What did The Accuser ask of God?
5. What did God say?
6. What do you think will happen?