Tag: The Gospel Medley

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Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts

Gospel Medley Writer's Block: My Experience

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts to Christmas. Merry Christmas, you’ll enjoy this Christmasy excerpt from my non-fiction book, The Gospel Medley.

What happened between the visit of the shepherds to the manger and the visit of the wise men to the house? In this two-part series, you’ll find out! Both parts are coming out today, as my final two gifts to you!

That’s not all–my other twenty-three gifts are below for your reading pleasure, not just my twenty-fourth literary gift! You don’t have to unwrap them–just click on them.

Let me know what you think by clicking here or emailing me at [email protected]. As always, everyone who responds with a comment or email will get a free book from me.

My past gifts to you are here:

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift: From The Gospel Medley

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
The Gospel Medley back cover

 (Where the shepherds left us.)

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, His name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him up to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord 

23 (as it is written in the law of  the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be holy to the Lord”),[1] 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”[2]

25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning Him according to the custom of the law, 28 then he received Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Simeon’s Proclamation

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
The four icons of the four gospels

“Now You are releasing Your servant, Master, according to Your word, in peace; 30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 which You have prepared before the face of all peoples; 32 a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of Your people Israel.”[3]

33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning Him, 34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, His mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

[1]Exodus 13:2, 12, 15 –”Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine.” 12 that you shall set apart to Yahweh all that opens the womb, and every firstborn which you have that comes from an animal. The males shall be Yahweh’s. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, Yahweh killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of animal. Therefore I sacrifice to Yahweh all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’

More Footnotes from This Section

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
Back cover detail

[2] Leviticus 12:2-4, 8 – 12 Say to the Israelites, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, she shall be unclean seven days, unclean as during her monthly discomfort. 3 And on the eighth day the child shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall remain [separated] thirty-three days to be purified [from her loss] of blood; she shall touch no hallowed thing nor come into the [court of the] sanctuary until the days of her purifying are over. 8 If she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.’”

[3] Isaiah 42:6-7 –“I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and make you a covenant for the people, as a light for the nations; 7 to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison. Jeremiah 2:11 – Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Zechariah 2:5 – “For I,” says Yahweh, “will be to her a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory in the middle of her.”

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift Concludes

Gospel Medley cover spread

What do you think of your Twenty-Fourth Literary gift? Let me know right here. Don’t forget I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

If you like The Gospel Medley you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

Psst! Audible lets you listen free to my books. Click here right now to find out how.

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Your Twentieth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts

Gospel Medley Writer's Block: My Experience

Your Twentieth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts to Christmas. Just in time for Christmas, I have a Christmas story! This excerpt is from my non-fiction work, The Gospel Medley. In it, I’ve placed every word of the four gospels in chronological order. That includes this story.

Let me know what you think by clicking here or emailing me at [email protected]. As always, everyone who responds with a comment or email will get a free book from me.

My past gifts to you are here:

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

Your Twentieth Literary Gift: From The Gospel Medley

 

The Visit of the Wise Men

Your Twentieth Literary Gift Gospel Medley Writer's Block: My Experience
The Gospel Medley cover. Click to get


Matthew 2:1–12
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who is born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.”

3 When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.

5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,


6 ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the
princes of Judah: for out of you shall come a governor, who shall
shepherd My people, Israel.’”

From Micah 5:2

King Herod’s Order to the Wise Men

Your Twentieth Literary Gift


7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found Him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship Him.”


9 They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, His mother and they fell down and worshiped Him. Opening their treasures, they offered to Him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Being warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.

Your Twentieth Literary Gift Concludes

Your Twentieth Literary Gift

What do you think of your latest gift? Let me know right here. Don’t forget I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

If you like The Gospel Medley you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

Psst! Audible lets you listen free to my books. Click here right now to find out how.

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Your Eleventh Literary Gift – My Non-fiction Book

Gospel Medley Writer's Block: My Experience
Your Eleventh Literary Gift Gospel Medley Writer's Block: My Experience
The Gospel Medley cover. Click to get

Enjoy Your Eleventh Literary Gift – My Other Book Published this year! I am author Andy Zach and I earlier this year I self-published The Gospel Medley, my first non-fiction book.

You can get an autographed copy directly from me with free shipping. You can also buy it and the ebook on Amazon by clicking here.

What’s it all about?

Are you curious about Jesus Christ? Do you struggle to understand the Bible? The Gospel Medley includes the four Gospels in a single narrative, faithfully pulling the text from the World English Bible. You are now able to read all the gospel as a single, easy-to-read story.

Each Gospel describes Jesus’s life from a different point of view with different details and insights. The Gospel Medley combines every word into a single perspective with all details and events arranged chronologically.

Unlike other harmonies, The Gospel Medley doesn’t put the four gospels in columns or rows. Instead, the text is integrated word by word into a smoothly flowing narrative. Further, each paragraph references the four gospels so you can read the original citations. You also get footnotes of all the quotes from the Old Testament, giving you the context of Jesus’s words.

For a unique perspective of the four gospels, read ‘The Gospel Medley’ today.

From the Gospel Medley

If you want a free ebook to review, click here.

Let me know what you think by clicking here or emailing me at [email protected]. As always, everyone who responds with a comment or email will get a free book from me.

My past gifts to you are here:

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

I’ll give you Jesus’s nativity from my book, which merges Luke 2 and Matthew 1.

Your Eleventh Literary Gift: Jesus’s Nativity

If you think it will be hard to understand, compare this famous Christmas cartoon quoting from Luke with my book.

The Conception of Jesus

What Chrismas is all about


Luke 1:26–56; John 1:14

26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married
to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”


29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and
considered what kind of salutation this might be. 30 The angel said to
her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31
Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and
will call his name ‘Jesus.’ 32 He will be great, and will be called the
Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His
father, David, 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.
There will be no end to His Kingdom.”

34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and
the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the
holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. 36
Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old
age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37
For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”


38 Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me
according to your word.”

14 The Word became flesh . . .

After Jesus’s Conception

Your Eleventh Literary Gift

38 The angel departed from her. 39 Mary arose in those days and went
into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, 40 and entered
into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her
womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 She called
out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and
blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 Why am I so favored, that the
mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice
of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”


“My soul magnifies the Lord. 47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my
Savior, 48 for He has looked at the humble state of His servant. For
behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. 49 For
He who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is His
name. 50 His mercy is for generations and generations on those who
fear him. 51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the
proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down princes
from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the
hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has
given help to Israel, His servant, that He might remember
mercy, 55 as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his
offspring forever.”


56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her
house.

Joseph Finds Out – Your Eleventh Literary Gift

Gospel Medley cover spread

Matthew 1:18–25


18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother,
Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.


20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the
Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t
be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is
conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She shall give birth to a son.
You shall call his name Jesus, for it is He who shall save His people
from their sins.”


22 Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to
a son. They shall call his name Immanuel8 which is, being
interpreted, ‘God with us.’”

24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord
commanded him, and took his wife to himself; 25 and didn’t know her
sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him
Jesus.

The Birth of Jesus – Your Eleventh Literary Gift

Your Eleventh Literary Gift


Luke 2:1–39; Matthew 1:25


1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all
the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment made
when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to enroll
themselves, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from
Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which
is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him
as wife, being pregnant.


6 While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. 7 She
gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and
laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in
the guest room.

25 He [Joseph] named him Jesus.

A Heavenly Host of Angels

8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and
keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 Behold, an angel of the
Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and
they were terrified.

10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you
good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11 For there is
born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of
cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”

13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
army praising God, and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth peace, among men of good will.”

15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds
said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing
that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the
baby was lying in the feeding trough.

17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was
spoken to them about this child. 18 All who heard it wondered at the
things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept
all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had
heard and seen, just as it was told them.

Here Ends Your Eleventh Literary Gift

What do you think of your eleventh gift? Let me know right here. Don’t forget I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

If you like Gospel Medley, you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.