Throughout history we are reminded that the Messiah didn't get born in a vaccuum. He didn't drop out of heaven in a space ship and say I come in peace. No. He was the Branch from a long family tree. And that tree began with Abraham. He is our father. He is the first root. And this part of his family tree is a tree of faith. His son Isaac was the product of a miraculous conception. And this theme of miraculous births would continue all through the Bible. God uses people and God uses families. And families are living things.

Christ (rhymes with "wrist") John Otto leads a community of artists and creative people called Belonging House. Each week we gather as a community for Beth Charashim: the House of Artisans. For more information about Belonging House Media, go to our website, https://Belonging.house. Christ John Otto writes on Substack. Get his Friday email here: https://christjohnotto.substack.com Our community connects on MightyNetworks here: https://belonging-house.mn.co If this teaching is helpful, please help keep it going by buying a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #Christmas #pruning #promises #2024 #newyear #prophetic

Jim Leach has a conversation with Christ John Otto about tithing and living a life of generosity. Jim Leach, with his wife Lisa, directs the Spirit Wind Center in Stonington, Connecticut. Check them out at spiritwindcenter.org. Christ (rhymes with "wrist") John Otto leads a community of artists and creative people called Belonging House. Each week we gather as a community for Beth Charashim: the House of Artisans. For more information about Belonging House Media, go to our website, https://Belonging.house. Christ John Otto writes on Substack. Get his Friday email here: https://christjohnotto.substack.com Our community connects on MightyNetworks here: https://belonging-house.mn.co If this teaching is helpful, please help keep it going by buying a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #tithing #spiritualgrowth #community #communion #celebration #melchizedek

When ever you sit with God and

the Lord begins to talk to you

about you

the Lord is going to say things that will trouble you.

The Lord sees you very differently

than you do.

God sees all that is in you,

all the good things in your genetic line,

all the promises

and potentials.

Our job is to come into alignment with the reality.

And every thing rises up to keep you from that.

Christ (rhymes with "wrist") John Otto leads a community of artists and creative people called Belonging House. Each week we gather as a community for Beth Charashim: the House of Artisans. For more information about Belonging House Media, go to our website, https://Belonging.house. Christ John Otto writes on Substack. Get his Friday email here: https://christjohnotto.substack.com Our community connects on MightyNetworks here: https://belonging-house.mn.co If this teaching is helpful, please help keep it going by buying a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto

O Root of Jesse,

Standing as a sign to the nations,

before whom Kings will shut their mouths,

and whom all nations shall seek.

Come and deliver us and do not delay.

Isaiah 10:33-11:10

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Christ (rhymes with "wrist") John Otto leads a community of artists and creative people called Belonging House. Each week we gather as a community for Beth Charashim: the House of Artisans. For more information about Belonging House Media, go to our website, https://Belonging.house. Christ John Otto writes on Substack. Get his Friday email here: https://christjohnotto.substack.com Our community connects on MightyNetworks here: https://belonging-house.mn.co If this teaching is helpful, please help keep it going by buying a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #Advent #David #spiritualgrowth

Christ (rhymes with "wrist") John Otto leads a community of artists and creative people called Belonging House. Each week we gather as a community for Beth Charashim: the House of Artisans.

For more information about Belonging House Media, go to our website, https://Belonging.house.

Christ John Otto writes on Substack. Get his Friday email here: https://christjohnotto.substack.com

Our community connects on MightyNetworks here: https://belonging-house.mn.co

If this teaching is helpful, please help keep it going by buying a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto

This is a special one hour online Zoom session for healing the trauma from the holiday season.

I will be using a prayer that is adapted from the model developed by Dr. Mike Hutchings at Global Awakening. The prayer for breaking curses is based on Derek Prince.

Christ (rhymes with "wrist") John Otto leads a community of artists and creative people called Belonging House. Each week we gather as a community for Beth Charashim: the House of Artisans.

For more information about Belonging House Media, go to our website, https://Belonging.house.

Christ John Otto writes on Substack. Get his Friday email here: https://christjohnotto.substack.com

Our community connects on MightyNetworks here: https://belonging-house.mn.co

If this teaching is helpful, please help keep it going by buying a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto

#christmas #trauma #healingprayer #testimony

Matthew 23:1-15

When God repeats something pay attention.

Christ (rhymes with "wrist") John Otto leads a community of artists and creative people called Belonging House. Each week we gather as a community for Beth Charashim: the House of Artisans. For more information about Belonging House Media, go to our website, https://Belonging.house. Christ John Otto writes on Substack. Get his Friday email here: christjohnotto.substack.com Our community connects on MightyNetworks here: https://belonging-house.mn.co If this teaching is helpful, please help keep it going by buying a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #secondcoming #wisdom #phronesis

Human beings are not a means to an end.

Every human life is precious in the sight of God. And God said, be fruitful and multiply. This isn't just about having babies. This is about fullness of living, and prospering. It's about being faithful to God, and it's about the beauty of work. It's about seeing that this world is made by God, is a revelation of God, and our job is to restore rebuild, and repair this earth, so that it becomes a reflection of heaven.

Christ (rhymes with "wrist") John Otto leads a community of artists and creative people called Belonging House. Each week we gather as a community for Beth Charashim: the House of Artisans. For more information about Belonging House Media, go to our website, https://Belonging.house. Christ John Otto writes on Substack. Get his Friday email here: christjohnotto.substack.com Our community connects on MightyNetworks here: https://belonging-house.mn.co If this teaching is helpful, please help keep it going by buying a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto

When Jesus is called into question, he doesn't choose one of the ten commandments as the first and greatest. Instead, he chooses a phrase from the Shema, found in Deuteronomy 6. Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul, with all your mind, and will all your strength. All the law all the commandments are summed up in the foundational truth, Our God is the most relational being the universe, and you cannot do anything apart from a love relationship with him. If you aren't in love with God then as Paul says in I Corinthians 13: If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing. Often people talk about love in vaguaries, but Jesus makes it clear here. Love is directional and personal. You need to be in love with God first. And then Jesus pulls a verse out of Leviticus 19, from what is known as the Holiness code. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Remember, the theme of Matthew is found in Matthew 5:19 "I came not to abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfill them." Matthew is writing to a Jewish audience, and his version says all the things other writers say, but in a distinctly Jewish way. Matthew is saying what John says in John 13. A new commandment I give you: love one another. Jesus says it several ways in Matthew: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments: Loving God and loving others hangs all the law and the prophets.

Christ (rhymes with "wrist") John Otto leads a community of artists and creative people called Belonging House. Each week we gather as a community for Beth Charashim: the House of Artisans. For more information about Belonging House Media, go to our website, https://Belonging.house. Christ John Otto writes on Substack. Get his Friday email here: christjohnotto.substack.com Our community connects on MightyNetworks here: https://belonging-house.mn.co If this teaching is helpful, please help keep it going by buying a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto