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ALL THINGS DUNG...

Philippians 3:8
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"

This is the second week of Advent, the time of year we celebrate Jesus becoming incarnate. Last week we marveled that Jesus came to us as a baby who cried. That baby grows up to become the person who is sacrificed on the cross and cried there.
AND, it's a cry that SAVES All others!
The reason for The Season!!
Praise the Lord!!!

This week we are going to study; A Baby Needs A Change. While this is self evident to everyone who has cared for a baby; it's not something we normally think about. Jesus needing His diaper changed! But, He did. While Jesus is 100% God He is also 100% human. We love this GREAT event and love to think about the Angels visiting the shepherds in the field. Or, the wise men following the star. There is so many GLORIOUS aspects to the event. We love to get caught up in the excitement of it all. 

Perhaps it would be good for us to remember this moment was also very earthy.  It was "natural" child birth in a barn, where cows, sheep, camels and more were living. There would have been many barnyard smells and animal sounds. Something that looks good on the screen or in a painting but being immersed in this setting is another experience. 

For some perspective on this subject we turn to the Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians. Here Paul surveys his life and accomplishments and counts them VERY LOW next to his FAITH in Jesus and the Salvation given by God's Grace! "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of ALL THINGS, and do count them but DUNG, that I may win Christ,"

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