#comfort – I and Thou Reflections

The Gift of Comfort

The Season of Gift-Giving: Gifts That Nourish

Gift Idea #7: Tea Basket

Let’s bring comfort to this holiday season.
Let’s offer warmth with a simple tea kit—each item a reminder to pause. To slow down. To smell the fragrance. To appreciate the season.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.— Matthew 11:28

Comfort is sacred. It is God’s work in us and through us. A cup of herbal tea reminds us that comfort often begins in simple ways. Like putting the kettle on. Waiting to hear the kettle whistle.
Pouring the water into the cup.
Steeping the tea.
It’s a simple way to slow down. It provides time to pray or hear God tug on your heart. To appreciate the simple things in life. Like a hot cup of tea.

God doesn’t send us anxiety or loneliness. He meets us in those moments and guides us toward peace.

A cup of tea becomes more than a drink—it becomes a reminder that we matter. Take time to rest and recharge. And when you feel energized, give that same gift to someone else.

Comfort whispers:

We all need rest.
We matter, no matter what others think.
We can find peace in the fragrant beverage.
We can be refreshed.

Materials

Herbal tea bags (chamomile, peppermint, lavender for calming aroma)
Honey stick or sugar packet
Small mug or teacup
Napkin or tissue
Small pouch, box, or basket
Optional: scripture card, candle, cinnamon stick, or dried herbs for fragrance

Instructions:

Gather a few tea items and place them neatly in a pouch, box, or basket.
Add a note: “This kit is a reminder to pause and rest. May God’s peace warm your soul.” (See more below)
Seal with care and, if desired, decorate with ribbon, dried flowers, cinnamon stick, or a sprig of lavender for aroma.

Sample Notes

May this tea’s aroma remind you of God’s calming presence.
Pause, sip, and breathe—God is near.
Comfort is sacred. Rest is holy. Enjoy your cup of tea.

Let this gift be a blessing. A sacred whisper that says, “All is well with your soul.”

Let’s Offer the Gift of Comfort
to Ourselves & to Others.

*Image Credit: “Spot Of Tea Gift Set” by*
*Kristin Roach is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.*

#Comfort #GiftsThatNourish #Faith #SacredGifts #GiftsThatMatter #GiftsOfHope #PresenceInThePresents #MeaningfulGifts #SoulGifts #Holidays

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 7 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 7~ Isaiah 40:15-17

In Matthew Henry’s Commentary, he writes that all creation “shrinks to nothing” in comparison to the Creator. He says that God’s love for the world led God to send Baby Jesus to earth. To be the lamb. To redeem us. So we can spend eternity in paradise.

Here is my take on this. Is there a God? Well, look around. How did everything get to where it is? Look up. What is beyond the heavens? No one knows. Yet, if we have the faith of just a tiny mustard seed, we can hold on to the promises of eternal life because we have faith. Faith in the beyond. Faith in the creation. Faith in the past, present, and future.

Now, we turn to Isaiah 40:15-17.

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible.

Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

Specks of Dust

Isaiah 40:15-17 NIV

¹⁵Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
    they are regarded as dust on the scales;
    he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
¹⁶Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
    nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
¹⁷Before him all the nations are as nothing;
    they are regarded by him as worthless
    and less than nothing.

Isaiah 40:15-17 CJB

¹⁵The nations are like a drop in a bucket,
they count like a grain of dust on the scales.
The islands weigh as little as specks of dust.
¹⁶The L’vanon would not suffice for fuel
or its animals be enough for burnt offerings.
¹⁷Before him all the nations are like nothing.
He regards them as less than nothing.

*5,000+ tons of extraterrestrial dust fall to earth each year…Image Source: livescience dot com*

#Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #LiftUpYourVoice #SpriritoftheLord #SpecksodDust #IandThouReflections

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 6 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 6~ Isaiah 40:12-14

Different versions deliver different perspectives. Not right. Not wrong. Just different.

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible.

Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

The Spirit of the Lord

Isaiah 40:12-14 NIV

¹²Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?
¹³Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord,
    or instruct the Lord as his counselor?
¹⁴Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
    or showed him the path of understanding?

Isaiah 40:12-14 CJB

¹²Who has counted the handfuls of water in the sea,
measured off the sky with a ruler,
gauged how much dust there is on the earth,
weighed the mountains on scales, or the hills in a balance?
¹³Who has measured the Spirit of Adonai?
Who has been his counselor, instructing him?
¹⁴Whom did he consult, to gain understanding?
Who taught him how to judge,
taught him what he needed to know,
showed him how to discern?

*Psalms Painting Series Lucy Adams Art Langley, Bc – Praise Painting* *Source: Paintingvalley.com*

#Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #LiftUpYourVoice #SpriritoftheLord #IandThouReflections

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 5 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 5~ Isaiah 40:10-11

Let’s take a peek at these two versions:

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible.

Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

Gather the Lambs

Isaiah 40:10-11 NIV

¹⁰See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
    and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
¹¹He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.

Isaiah 40:10-11 CJB

¹⁰Here comes Adonai Elohim with power,
and his arm will rule for him.
Look! His reward is with him,
and his recompense is before him.
¹¹He is like a shepherd feeding his flock,
gathering his lambs with his arm,
carrying them against his chest,
gently leading the mother sheep.”

#Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #LiftUpYourVoice #IandThouReflections

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 4 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 4~ Isaiah 40:9

Let’s take a peek at these two versions:

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible.

Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

Lift Up Your Voice

Isaiah 40:9 NIV

⁹You who bring good news to Zion,
    go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,^[c]
    lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
    say to the towns of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”

Isaiah 40:9 CJB

⁹You who bring good news to Tziyon,
get yourself up on a high mountain;
you who bring good news to Yerushalayim,
cry out at the top of your voice!
Don’t be afraid to shout out loud!
Say to the cities of Y’hudah,
“Here is your God!

*Lift Up Your Voice Diverse Choir*
*Source: clker.com*

#Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #LiftUpYourVoice #IandThouReflections

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 3 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 3~ Isaiah 40:6-8

Let’s take a peek at these two versions:

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible.

Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

God Will Stand Forever

Isaiah 40:6-8 NIV

⁶A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
⁷The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
⁸The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever.”

Isaiah 40:6-8 CJB

⁶A voice says, “Proclaim!”
And I answer, “What should I proclaim?”
“All humanity is merely grass,
all its kindness like wildflowers:
⁷the grass dries up, the flower fades,
when a wind from Adonai blows on it.
Surely the people are grass!
⁸The grass dries up, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.”

*Artist Credit: Valerie Sjodin* | *Source: Pinterest*
*Can you feel Him? I can!*

#Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #IandThouReflections

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 2 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 2: Isaiah 40:3-5

We continue to look at 2 versions of Isaiah 40:

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible

Let’s see them side-by-side. Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

Prepare Ye The Way

Isaiah 40:3-5 NIV

³A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
    a highway for our God.
⁴Every valley shall be raised up,
    every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
    the rugged places a plain.
⁵And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Isaiah 40:3-5 CJB

³A voice cries out:
“Clear a road through the desert for Adonai!
Level a highway in the ‘Aravah for our God!
⁴Let every valley be filled in,
every mountain and hill lowered,
the bumpy places made level
and the crags become a plain.
⁵Then the glory of Adonai will be revealed;
all humankind together will see it,
for the mouth of Adonai has spoken.”

#Hope&Redemption: 12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #PrepareYeTheWay #IandThouReflections

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 1 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 1~ Isaiah 40:1-2

Over the next twelve days, we will look at 2 versions of Isaiah 40:

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible.

Let’s see them side-by-side. Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

Comfort One Another

Isaiah 40:1-2 NIV

¹Comfort, comfort my people,
    says your God.
²Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
    that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins.

Isaiah 40:1-2 CJB

¹“Comfort and keep comforting my people,” says your God.
²“Tell Yerushalayim to take heart; proclaim to her
that she has completed her time of service,
that her guilt has been paid off,
that she has received at the hand of Adonai
double for all her sins.”

Image Source: Pinterest
Comfort – Bressi Collection | Minimal Art

#Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #IandThouReflections

The Miraculous Prophecy Behind Jesus’ Birth Unveiled

Prepare Ye The Way

Let’s prepare our hearts for Christmas over the next two weeks. Shall we?

Our journey will take us to Christmas, where we will find hope and redemption to renew our faith, whatever that faith may be.

We will be looking at Isaiah 40. But first, we start with Isaiah 7.

Ever wonder where the prophetic birth of Jesus comes from?

Immanuel

Prediction from the Old Testament
to Recorded Event in the New Testament

Isaiah 7:14 NIV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23 NIV

²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Isaiah 7:14 CJB

Therefore Adonai himself
will give you people a sign:
the young woman* will become pregnant,
bear a son and name him ‘Immanu El [God is with us].

Matthew 1:23 CJB

²⁰But while he was thinking about this, an angel of Adonai appeared to him in a dream and said, “Yosef, son of David, do not be afraid to take Miryam home with you as your wife; for what has been conceived in her is from the Ruach HaKodesh. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, [which means ‘Adonai saves,’] because he will save his people from their sins.” ²²All this happened in order to fulfill what Adonai had said through the prophet, ²³“The virgin will conceive and bear a son,
and they will call him ‘Immanuel.” The name means, “God is with us.”)

Isaiah foretells the birth of Jesus.

It seems clear as a bell to me. Or is it?

We know two things:
A woman will give birth.
The baby will be named Immanuel.

In the NIV, the woman is a virgin and will conceive, and in the CJB, the woman is young and will become pregnant.

Now, this is where it gets fuzzy. As we know it, the Bible is not in chronological order, so it muddles our perception a bit.

To keep it simple, remember:
Isaiah was written after Hosea and Amos. Thereby making it the third oldest sacred text.
The Gospel of Mark was written before the Gospel of Matthew. Even though Matthew is listed as the first book in the New Testament.

In Matthew, the author records the birth as a fulfillment of the prophecy from Isaiah. We see an 8th-century writing predicting an event recorded in 80 AD.

Fascinating, isn’t it?

Bible in Chronological Order (Every Book Ordered by Date Written)

#Jesus #Isaiah #Prophecy #Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #IandThouReflections

The Miraculous Transformation from Saturnalia to Christmas

Prepare Ye The Way

Let’s continue to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Shall we?

Our journey will take us to Christmas, where we will find hope and redemption to renew our faith, whatever that faith may be.

In the previous post, we knawed on the prophetic words that predicted Jesus’ birth.

Today, we will reveal…

How Christmas Really Began

The Roots of Christmas

Remember that Christianity didn’t really spread until the 300-400s when Constantine declared Christianity as Rome’s religion. Before that time, there were other religions involving many gods and goddesses.

The Roman Catholic Church is believed to have chosen December 25 to celebrate Christ’s birth due to its ties with the winter solstice and the festival of Saturnalia, a time of feasting and gift-giving. Adapting these existing celebrations facilitated the transition to Christianity.

*https://www.sott.net/article/309632-Io-Saturnalia-The-Roman-roots-of-Christmas*

Ever wonder why December 25th is Christmas?

The winter solstice symbolized the sun’s “rebirth,” which aligns directly with the theme of Jesus, the “Light of the World.” Doesn’t it?

This strategy helped convert pagans by integrating already established traditions into Christian practices. Pretty straightforward.

Does It Really Matter?

Ultimately, the significance of Jesus’ birth is to celebrate the Son of God taking on human form. This miraculous event is one of the cornerstones of Christianity. And giving gifts honors the age-old story of the wise men bringing gifts to baby Jesus. So, does it really matter that it is December 25?

No, it doesn’t matter at all. What matters is that a Savior was born, and He is Christ the King.

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, remember we are on a transformative journey from darkness into light, from prophecy to fulfillment.

In our next post, we will dig deeper into the gifts the wise men presented to baby Jesus.

#Jesus #Isaiah #Prophecy #Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #IandThouReflections