TRUE MEANING OF GIVING OF LIFE THROUGH SWADDLING CLOTHES:
Have you ever wondered about Swaddling Clothes:
Everyone knows that Jesus was born in a manger, and the 2nd Chapter of Luke is written that Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. In fact, even hospitals today use a cloth called 'swaddling cloth' . Unfortunately it is a misnomer that will be over 2000 years old, because swaddling clothes as NOTHING to do with a child being born.
In the Middle East, a man traveling long distances were often met with many hardships and trials on their journeys. In the event of a death in travel , the body could not continue to be transported for many days. For that reason, travelers wrapped a thin, gauze like cloth around their waist many times. If someone died on the journey, the others would use this cloth, referred to as 'swaddling clothes' to wrap the corpse in before burying them.
When Jesus was born, there was no room in the Inn, and so Mary and Joseph used a nearby stable for Jesus birth. With no other cloth to use, Jesus was wrapped in Joseph's 'swaddling clothes' - the cloth normally reserved for a person's death.
The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords came into this world, in a lowly manager and was wrapped with burial clothes - In truth, He was born to die. To die for the sins of all mankind.
When you celebrate Christ's birth this Christmas Season, Keep in mind that even in birth, He was preparing for death - His ultimate reason for coming to earth.
To save us from our sins...
JESUS - WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHES (CLOTHES OF DEATH)
JESUS - DESTINED TO DIE ON THE CROSS BEFORE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THIS WORLD
1 PETER 1:20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
JESUS - RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD
JESUS - IS ALIVE TODAY - SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD / ABBA FATHER
JESUS BORN TO DIE
Remember if you have money - and you bless others - you are giving out of your heart and what you have... but the person that JESUS recognized as giving the most was the WIDOW WOMAN that gave all she had to God...
This is so rewarding to give out of your own needs...
God is so good.
Give a true GIFT at Christmas
Give something that is of great value for you
Give your heart to JESUS
for you at this Christmas
I have written the History of Rescue Mission Ministry and how it started as a Christian outreach to the Homeless and poor on the streets. Today their are 100's of Rescue Missions through out the world, including one in Israel (which I am proud.)
This is also a story of man whose name was Michael.
A tribute to him as my friend.
Michael was a homeless man that lived on the streets of Albuquerque New Mexico. A brother in our Lord whom I will never forget. Michael, a man that grew up never having a real home or never really belonging in life. Tossed from foster home after foster home... Never truly belonging to anyone. So the streets became his family and his home. He did not know a real home that truly embraced him as a person. But the streets embraced him.
Please click on this video and see the actual faces of Homeless in America... ordinary people, but people who have names and people that Jesus invites to His wedding...
People of my own heart.
Come into my world and who I love the most and where I belong in serving JESUS from my life.
Then let me introduce you to Michael.
A homeless man and his name is Michael...
He belongs to my heart and I shall NEVER FORGET Michael....
GIVE TO THE LEAST OF THESE
My hub, Mark, and I have been called of God into Rescue Mission Ministry. Today Mark is the Chaplain at Peoria Rescue Mission. Mark had formerly been the Executive Director at Albuquerque Rescue Mission in New Mexico. Mark and I have been in this work for our Lord for 31 years of our 35 years in marriage.
We would not want to do anything else in life... for this is where God has called us to do in our life.
The original Albuquerque Rescue Mission
(still used today)
Albuquerque Rescue Mission video
This video shows the Albuquerque Rescue Mission
Mark and I served over 600 people a day
This video shows the Albuquerque Rescue Mission
Mark and I served over 600 people a day
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| Albuquerque Rescue Mission Building Expansion |
The Lord chose for us to leave Albuquerque in January 2005 - so we set out sail once again to follow where God wanted to place us.
In Albuquerque we served over 600 meals daily to the homeless. There is about 3,500 homeless a day in Albuquerque New Mexico (From 2004 records)
Rescue Mission Ministry started originally in 1826 in Scotland, then it began in ministry in the nation of Australia when the UK had Australia as a prison. This ministry then went over to New York City America and began its work in 1872 at Bowery Street Rescue Mission in downtown NYC today it is New York Rescue Mission.The Founders in America were Jerry and Maria McAuley.
Jerry had been a criminal and was part of the original Gangs of New York City. Maria had been a prostitute and operated a brothel house of prostitution in NYC. Maria came to know Jesus as her Lord. Jerry followed. They then married and made things right before God. Jerry and Maria saw the great need for the prostitutes because these girls / broken women would attend various local churches but they often were shunned, mocked, and even asked to leave - so the girls would cry and plead with Jerry and Maria that they wanted a 'church' to go to so that they too heard the GOOD NEWS of what JESUS can do... So Jerry and Maria heard and saw this great need so every Sunday morning Jerry and Maria with other volunteers brought 'CHURCH' to them inside these brothel houses ... and they had CHURCH in these brothel houses of prostitution on Sunday mornings...
The girls / women would repent and embrace JESUS into their lives but they said 'where can we got for shelter outside these brothel houses, as we have no where else to go'... So once again Jerry and Maria saw this great need and they went out and purchased an old warehouse building in NYC and set it up to provide food, shelter, clothing, and the GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST. So the women then would come there to live and to be built up in Christ. This Rescue Mission was originally named McAuley Rescue Mission but today it is named New York Rescue Mission. A well known Rescue Mission is Pacific Gardens of Chicago Illinois that includes their program of "Unshaclked Chains"
See Pacific Gardens Rescue Mission link at: http://www.pgm.org/
See Pacific Garden Rescue Mission video
Today there are 100's of Rescue Missions throughout the world, including in India, Canada, and Israel, and many other nations.
Michael, a man in his 30's homeless and living on the streets of Albuquerque New Mexico.
Never belonging to family... Never knowing security of a home.
But Michael became my friend and my brother and I loved Michael and I, Jane, will never FORGET my friend Michael. He had a name... His name was Michael. He had a heart and wanted to be loved. He belonged to my heart for he, Michael, became part of my family within my own heart and my own life.
Let me introduce you to a friend, named Michael.
That day I got to know Michael, I went out to the large man's store... purchased two jogging outfits (Pants and Tops (2 sets), one in black, one in navy size 10X), Got him white tennis shoes in Size 12; Purchased him a new winter coat, hat, gloves, new underwear.
I placed these gifts in a large fancy gift bag with even ribbons..I then searched for Michael and when I found him I gave him the new bag of new clothes. Michael started to cry and said 'I do not remember receiving a gift like this.' The next day I saw Michael in our food line for receiving his dinner, he had on his new shoes, sock, coat, gloves, hat, and one of the new jogging outfits and he was carrying the other items in his bag. I came up to Michael and said 'boy you look good in your new duds'... He again started crying and said 'Jane, they fit me perfectly, how did you know my size'... I did not know his size - but God knew his size and God spoke to my heart on what to purchase for him.
Sadly, Michael being homeless, would often sleep in a homeless area near the river in the woods... Some gang kids were initiating a gang member with a baseball bat and was looking for someone to beat to death. This gang found Michael sleeping in his sleeping bag and with this baseball bat they beat Michael to death.. My husband did Michael's funeral for we had become his 'family' and HE belonged within our hearts for our love for him
I will never forget Michael for he was my brother in the Lord. The only difference was he lived on the streets as this had become his home in life... I will always remember Michael and I miss his hugs that he would always give to me when I would see him on the streets...
This is only one story of what I did for someone on the streets of many stories within my own life...
For the people on the streets are someone's child... They came from somewhere and they belong to the heart of GOD...
JESUS was moved with compassion for people who were broken.
Remember to bless someone that has less than yourself at Christmas as the benefits of doing this are great unto God.
Lending to the Poor then God can lend to you too.NO ONE WANTS TO BE HOMELESS - NO ONE...
Except for the GRACE OF GOD - there go I... None of us are exempt from possibly going homeless someday... especially if we lose our employment and we lose our home because of not being able to pay the mortgage payment any longer...
The person that says that the 'homeless' get what they deserve, or that they want to be homeless - has been a person that has never been without... Maybe that person someday will be homeless and then see what they say... It can happen to anyone.
My husband and I have worked with the homeless on the streets for 31 years. I can tell you from experience... that yes, there are some (a minority) who are homeless because they want to be because of drugs and alcohol abuse and not wanting RULES... But the people we have helped these years most of them do not want to be there...
A young man came to our doors at the Rescue Mission. He was a run away at the age of 17 years old. He ran away from home because his father never had time for him and he felt his father did not want him because of his father's demands of his working career. So he ran away to search for love..
When he came through our doors we helped him. He came from a good family. We convinced this young man to go back home and we contacted his mother. The next day his mother arrives at the front door of the Rescue Mission to pick up her son. His mother arrived in a personal Chauffeur driven Limo and they had driven all night to come and pick up her son. You see this young man that came through our doors at the Rescue Mission, His father was the top CEO Executive of Master Card from California headquarters. His father's career demands gave no room to get to know his own son... His mother shared with us that things were going to change in their home... so their son felt that he belonged...
We have even helped people who had doctorate degrees but ended up losing everything in their lives so they gave up inside.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We helped restore one man who had a masters degree and worked at Sandia Labs for his career. But his beloved wife was killed as she ran across a street and got hit by a passing car and he saw the whole thing happen before his eyes. He then took to drinking to numb the pictures of his wife being killed and he gave up. His drinking increased to the point that he lost his career. Since he no longer was making money - he no longer could pay for his rent and ended up on the streets.
He came to our doors at the Rescue Mission with not even shoes on his feet = for you see he had sold his shoes off his own feet or a few bucks to get another drink...
We helped him to become restored. He got help from drinking, became sober, once again Mark and I went and purchased him out of our own income new clothes, shoes, and everything he needed to help restore him.
Note: My husband Mark has 3 college degrees, his MA is in Communications. Mark never sought this education for his own satisfaction but the Lord chose for him to get this education.
Mark and I have always given 20% of our gross income to the Lord. 10% goes to tithe for our local church, and 10% is our "Sowing seed for the Harvest" checking account. This account is only to bless missionaries, and others.
We also took in a young man, who legally immigrated from Egypt. He was only 19 years old when he left Egypt and he left all his family. When he came to America he only understood and knew the Arabic language. I met this young man on facebook. He was a complete stranger. We became acquainted over Skype by talking back and forth. Through prayer Mark and I decided to include him in our lives and make him family.
He now has been living with us permanently. We have helped him in the English language (and he speaks English better than myself as I use too much slang). I helped him to gain employment and now we are going toward him attending Community College. We know that God placed him in our lives as he now has become our true son. God has blessed him in purchasing in 'cash' a brand new car - the first thing he has ever owned in his life. He also paid off his sister's education in Egypt.
Our tax accountant, Dean, who did our taxes for us in Albuquerque. He came to know Jesus as his Lord simply by doing our taxes. Why? He would be doing our taxes and then see that we were giving more to people then taking in but yet we paid off our house mortgage and we owned everything and we had no debt at all on Mark's salary. He started asking questions 'why'... and our answer was simple 'You cannot out give God'... as there will always be enough in our house as we serve a great God. We had Dean over for dinner one night (imagine that - a tax collector in your home for dinner)... and as we shared of GOD's constant faithfulness in our lives and His constant generosity in providing our needs - Dean received JESUS that night into his life. We are still friends today and talk on the phone.
This giving started at the very beginning of our marriage. At our wedding - we gave everyone a gift.
When we first were married, we got our year taxes back and was able to purchase a little old Toy\ota beat up car to drive (as we had been walking everywhere. There is nothing worse to have to walk in pouring down rain to the laundry mat - I hate this.) But we finally was able to purchase an old car. The car ran good but it was very beat up. The passenger side floor was rotted out so we put a piece of plywood across it and a piece of old carpet. It was great. We finally had a car.
One week after purchasing this small car, Mark came home from the Rescue Mission and said 'Jane, I met this couple. Avery just got out of Pontiac Prison and he and his wife had nothing. His wife, Patty, had severe Polio and when it was winter she often would fall. Mark asked me if it would be okay if we gave this couple our car so that they were blessed and could prosper in their lives. We did just that with no hesitation. But we gave this gift to them with them NEVER KNOWING who gave them the car. We transferred the car license into their names. Transferred the license plates into their names. And transferred the insurance that we purchased or 6 months into their names. We then wrote a letter as if the letter was actually sent to them from Jesus. And we shared HIS LOVE for them. In the letter we wrote 'I even want to bless you with this car for you parked out in front and here are the keys'... But remember this came from a heart that loves you greatly. Signed 'JESUS'...
Mark and I of course had to go back to walking... but we rejoiced knowing that God blessed someone through our hands of what we had to give to them.
A couple of weeks later I saw them driving this car down Main Street with smiles on their faces... This gave back all I needed in knowing that they were provided for because of JESUS.
Mark and I make a purpose to not only give 10% of our gross income before taxes as this is our first fruits before God, but we also maintain a budget to give out another 10% to help people.
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| Pastor Jack church |
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| Pastor Jack Church Congregation |
Such as this summer, 2012, when Pastor Jack came to visit us from Uganda Africa... he came to visit without notice (He came by surprise, but what are you going to do and say to a Pastor that has come from Uganda to visit - sorry but I am too busy and I am not prepared - as this is NOT what the Lord would want from any of us.) Mark and I were so excited to have him in our home. It was a great honor to have him share our home with us.He had not had a new suit for years, and the computer he once had had been broken for 3 years and he had no money at all to purchase these things. So from our OFFERING ACCOUNT set aside to bless others - we went to Kohl's and fitted Pastor Jack to a new suit and then went and purchased him a new computer and two new cameras. We also blessed him with some things to take back home to his wife and 3 children to bless them too... God is so GOOD. This is the kind of GIVING that Mark and I enjoy doing (not for ourselves but for OTHERS to enjoy).
Mark and I do not ever exchange Christmas gifts because we honestly do not have the money... But we always purchase Christmas gifts for our beloved son and elderly mother (never missing those we love... also I bake 13 bread loafs of various breads such as pumpkin bread, etc., and 26 dozen cookies every year and give to 13 neighbors in our neighborhood and I call it 'Loving my neighbor Cookies'... This year I am giving everyone a small Christmas ornament and including a small letter about JESUS and his great love for them. This makes a GREAT CHRISTMAS for my heart and puts a big smile on my face...
This is Christ mas to Mark and me.... sharing Christ with strangers and with those in our lives, including even at WalMart. Yes, I said WalMart - as I know the cashiers by name and I even know the main Manager by name at our local WalMart - for people find respect when you know their names. They all know that I love them as I hug them every time I see them and I thank them for being a wonderful cashier for me. If you see someone praying for someone in the middle of a WalMart aisle of food ask them 'Are you Jane'... Chances are it will be me... (One time I saw the eyes of a young man and they looked so very sad in a WalMart aisle. I asked this young man if I could pray for him. He started to cry. He had just got out of the doctors office and was told that he had cancer. He was only 17 years old and his life has not even started yet. Yes, he was a stranger. Yes, I stopped everything, placed my hand on him and prayed for him - out loud (can you believe this - in a middle of a huge Grocery Store) It was WONDERFUL and this young man was so thankful that I cared enough to talk to him. (I challenge any of you - Take the chance - Step out to a STRANGER and be a blessing to them today.)
My greatest happiness has been to know Jesus as my Lord and reading HIS WORD DAILY for HIS WORD is Manna / Bread of Heaven, my family... For we are family. My husband, our son from Egypt, and me and our two dogs... I have all that I need in life. If the world collapsed and everything was taken that we have in this life - It would be okay for I have everything.
But the majority of people do not want to be there, homeless on the streets. TRUST ME.
Except for the GRACE OF GOD - there go I...
None of us are exempt from possibly going homeless someday... especially if we lose our employment and we lose our home because of not being able to pay the mortgage payment any longer...
The person that says that the 'homeless' get what they deserve, or that they want to be homeless - has been a person that has never been without... Maybe that person someday will be homeless and then see what they say... It can happen to anyone.
At this CHRISTMAS SEASON, think about even STRANGERS... and help a STRANGER in life as the Good Samaritan as God will bless you even more... perhaps someone needs a bill paid off (such as the Stranger with the Good Samaritan and his hospital bill)... Perhaps someone would be blessed to be able to go out to eat and have something special. Perhaps someone would be able to purchase some food and put in their cupboards. You will NEVER be able to out give GOD... for GOD will always bless you back. Trust me... I know from experience...
MEANING OF SWADDLING CLOTHES:
Have you ever wondered about Swaddling Clothes:
Everyone knows that Jesus was born in a manger, and the 2nd Chapter of Luke is written that Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. In fact, even hospitals today use a cloth called 'swaddling cloth' . Unfortunately it is a misnomer that will be over 2000 years old, because swaddling clothes as NOTHING to do with a child being born. |
| Lazarus in swaddling clothes buried |
In the Middle East, a man traveling long distances were often met with many hardships and trials on their journeys. In the event of a death in travel , the body could not continue to be transported for many days. For that reason, travelers wrapped a thin, gauze like cloth around their waist many times. If someone died on the journey, the others would use this cloth, referred to as 'swaddling clothes' to wrap the corpse in before burying them.
When Jesus was born, there was no room in the Inn, and so Mary and Joseph used a nearby stable for Jesus birth. With no other cloth to use, Jesus was wrapped in Joseph's 'swaddling clothes' - the cloth normally reserved for a person's death.
When Jesus was born, there was no room in the Inn, and so Mary and Joseph used a nearby stable for Jesus birth. With no other cloth to use, Jesus was wrapped in Joseph's 'swaddling clothes' - the cloth normally reserved for a person's death.
The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords came into this world, in a lowly manager and was wrapped with burial clothes - In truth, He was born to die. To die for the sins of all mankind.
When you celebrate Christ's birth this Christmas Season, Keep in mind that even in birth, He was preparing for death - His ultimate reason for coming to earth.
To save us from our sins...
I heard the Bells on Christmas Day by Casting Crowns
Remember if you have money - and you bless others - you are giving out of your heart and what you have... but the person that JESUS recognized as giving the most was the WIDOW WOMAN that gave all she had to God...
This is so rewarding to give out of your own needs...
God is so good.
Give a true GIFT at Christmas
Give something that is of great value for you
Give your heart to JESUS
Prayer of Salvation to embrace Jesus
Prayer of Salvation to embrace Jesus
CHRISTMAS - A time of year where people want to GIVE. If you want to give to the homeless that you see on the streets - here are a few suggestions for you (As Mark and I have worked with the Homeless in Rescue Mission Ministries for 31 years)... (press 'see more' to continue reading) NEVER GIVE the homeless person cash / money as this is NOT HELPING THEM AT ALL but only adding to what is making them homeless in the first place and CASH will on only continue helping them with ...
WHAT GIFT THAT HAS COST YOU SOMETHING,
WILL YOU BE WILLING TO GIVE THIS CHRISTMAS
TO A STRANGER
OR EVEN TO JESUS
OR EVEN TO JESUS
A gift of your time, a gift of your friendship, a gift of something of value of yours and give it to someone that would bless them, and a gift of your life and heart to JESUS...
A real GIFT costs something of value
I see Love - Passion of Christ
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