[continued from previous message]   
      
   12 (Rev 4:11; Zec 13:7) saying with a loud voice:   
   "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,   
   to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength   
   and honor and glory and blessing!"   
   13 (Php 2:10; Rev 5:3) Then I heard every creature which is in heaven   
   and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea,   
   and all that are in them, saying:   
   "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb   
   be blessing and honor and glory and power,   
   forever and ever!"   
   14 (Rev 19:4; 5:8) The four living creatures said, "Amen."   
   And the 24 elders fell down and worshipped Him who lives forever and ever.   
      
   [1] And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written   
   within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.   
   [2] And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to   
   open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?   
   [3] And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to   
   open the book, neither to look thereon.   
   [4] And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the   
   book, neither to look thereon.   
   [5] And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the   
   tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to   
   loose the seven seals thereof.   
   [6] And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four   
   beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,   
   having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent   
   forth into all the earth.   
   [7] And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon   
   the throne.   
   [8] And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty   
   elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden   
   vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.   
   [9] And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and   
   to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God   
   by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;   
   [10] And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on   
   the earth.   
   [11] And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the   
   throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten   
   thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;   
   [12] Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive   
   power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and   
   blessing.   
   [13] And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the   
   earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,   
   Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon   
   the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.   
   [14] And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell   
   down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.   
      
   2) Our Daily Bread for 20 December 2025 Titled   
      
   The Truth Never Changes    
      
   Matthew 1:18-25   
      
   The Birth of Jesus Christ   
      
   Lk 2:1-7   
      
   18 (Ge 3:15) Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way:   
   After His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they came together,   
   she was found with child by the Holy Spirit.   
   19 (Dt 22:21-24; 24:1-4 )Then Joseph her husband, being a just man   
   and not willing to make her a public example, had in mind to divorce   
   her privately.   
   20 (Mt 1:18; 2:13) But while he thought on these things, the angel   
   of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying,   
   "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,   
   for He who is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.   
   21 (Lk 1:31; Ac 4:12) She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS,   
   for He will save His people from their sins."   
   22 (Mt 2:15; 2:23) Now all this occurred to fulfill what the Lord   
   had spoken through the prophet, saying,   
   23 (Isa 7:14; 9:6-7; Mt 28:20) "A virgin shall be with child,   
   and will bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,"   
   [Isa 7:14.] which is interpreted, "God with us."   
   24 Then Joseph, being awakened from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord   
   had commanded him, and remained with his wife,   
   25 (Mt 1:21; Lk 2:7) and did not know her until she had given birth   
   to her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.   
      
   [18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary   
   was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child   
   of the Holy Ghost.   
   [19] Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her   
   a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.   
   [20] But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord   
   appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to   
   take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the   
   Holy Ghost.   
   [21] And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:   
   for he shall save his people from their sins.   
   [22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of   
   the Lord by the prophet, saying,   
   [23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and   
   they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.   
   [24] Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had   
   bidden him, and took unto him his wife:   
   [25] And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he   
   called his name JESUS.   
      
   Hebrews 13:5   
      
   5 (Jos 1:5; Dt 31:6) Let your lives be without love of money,   
   and be content with the things you have. For He has said:   
   "I will never leave you,   
   nor forsake you."(Dt 31:6, 8; Jos 1:5.)   
      
   [5] Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such   
   things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake   
   thee.   
      
   Henry David Thoreau described a city as a place where many people are   
   "lonesome together." Those words have the ring of truth. In my youth, songs   
   like "Mr. Lonely," "Only the Lonely," and "Eleanor Rigby" focused on isolation   
   and loneliness. In recent years, the pandemic was one of the most isolating   
   seasons the world has known. And social media can feed that loneliness, giving   
   us connection without relationship. Perhaps loneliness is the new pandemic.   
      
   As Matthew shared the story of the birth of Jesus (1:18-25), he told us,   
   "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet   
   [Isaiah]: 'The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will   
   call him Immanuel' (which means 'God with us') " (vv. 22-23).   
   Ponder that for a moment. God with us!   
      
   As believers in Jesus, we're never alone. We've been born again   
   into the family of Christ, a family that spans the globe and the ages.   
   The apostle Paul said, "You are no longer foreigners and strangers,   
   but fellow citizens with God's people and also members   
   of his household" (Ephesians 2:19). We're loved by the ever-present God, who   
   said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).   
      
   Whatever you're facing today, your heavenly Father is present with you. Allow   
   Him to help you as you step into life’s uncertainties and challenges. He's   
   with you.   
      
   Reflect & Pray   
      
   When have you felt lonely? When experiencing this sense of isolation,   
   how do you respond to it?   
      
   Thank You, Father, that because of Your abiding presence, I'm never alone.   
      
      
   Discover more about being lonely by reading Alone   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)