Hi Brian!

The word for this week MUST go along with Christmas, so we will be looking at the Greek word for "manger"! We find it in Luke 2:

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. KJV

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. KJV

Luke 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. KJV

These are all the Greek word "phatne". Strong's Concordance says: to eat, a crib (for fodder). Thayer's Greek Lexicon says the same. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: denotes a stall. The Theological Dictionary says: feeding trough. Having grown up on a sheep farm, my picture of a feeding trough is slightly different from the pictures we usually see. It would not have been this neat, cozy little baby sized bed! It would have been big enough for a few to several animals to feed at. It could have been made of wood or may have been carved out of stone. The biggest contrast was that the sitting 'king' of Israel, Herod, would have been sleeping in luxury while the REAL KING of kings slept in a feeding trough, but was welcomed by angels singing and lowly shepherds overjoyed! And now HE is ruling at the right hand of the Father and waiting patiently to come and get US! His Bride! In spite of all that has gone on this year, WE have been MOST BLESSED! But this is nothing compared to what HE has prepared for us then! I believe that our near future is going to be wonderful, but THAT future will be beyond compare! We are SO BLESSED to be HIS! Here is Hillsong with one of my favorite Christmas songs! "Born Is The King":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!