Tag: Jesus

Handel’s Messiah-Announcing good news

An angel announced the birth of the Savior in Luke 2, bringing joy and a sign of hope. The text from Isaiah 9:6, referenced in Handel’s Messiah, highlights the significance of this birth, which inspired Handel’s composition in 1741. The piece, however, was originally intended for Easter, not Christmas.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

 But the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2, NIV

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

"For unto us a son is given"
graphic from Lightstock.com, an affiliate link 

This Bible verse, Isaish 9:6 is used in Handel’s Messiah.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”

The Origins of Handel’s Messiah

(from Smithsonian Magazine)

Handel composed Messiah in an astounding interlude, somewhere between three and four weeks in August and September 1741.

“He would literally write from morning to night,” says Sarah Bardwell of the Handel House Museum in London.

The text was prepared in July by the prominent librettist, Charles Jennens, and was intended for an Easter performance the following year.

“I hope [Handel] will lay out his whole Genius & Skill upon it, that the Composition may excel all his former Compositions, as the Subject excels every other Subject,” Jennens wrote to a friend.

sharing the HEART of Christmas  

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Messiah isn’t just about Christ’s birth and wasn’t written for Christmas. Learn more in this post.

Called to be hands and feet

helping others should not be an option #Mark5,#Matthew8#NewLivingTranslation#myreaderrewards

Weekend Words from

nurse, vietnam, patient

Mark, chapter 5, NLT

Then a leader whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet,  pleading fervently with him.

“My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.”

 Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him.

When they came to the home  Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying.

Dr. Aletha examining an infant on a volunteer trip

Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,”which means “Little girl, get up!” And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed.

A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”  Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

doctor holding a patient's hand

Excerpt from NLT WOMEN’S DEVOTIONAL  from Tyndale House publishers

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION WOMEN'S DEVOTIONAL

“We live in a culture that idolizes health, independence, and strength while it shuns illness and weakness. Yet at some time in our lives we all find ourselves in real need of someone’s help. In some cases, we must swallow our pride and humbly reach out to receive the help offered, because we find ourselves in an extremely desperate situation. That’s when all pretenses of self-sufficiency have to be discarded.

But what about accepting help from others? This step can still be very difficult. As believers in Jesus, we are called to be his hands and feet here on earth. Sometimes we will be the one bringing aid and comfort to others; sometimes we will be the ones on the receiving end. The amazing thing about God’s family is that we share his healing touch as we share our stories of his love in our lives and help each other through difficult times.”

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