Christmas Day: Savior King

 
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Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, The Lord.  

Luke 2:11

Today is it.  We celebrate Jesus, the greatest gift every given to us.  Despite all the chaos and stress, Christmas comes and goes.  Sometimes it feels like just another day but it shouldn’t.  It's a time to stop and reflect.  The way I make the most of it is where I put my focus.  It could be on hosting dinner, finding the perfect gift, attending a record number of church services, or it could be on Jesus.  I will never give or receive any better and greater gift than that baby born to a virgin in a cave stable 2000+ years ago.  He is the True Reason for our celebration.  God has out-gifted us all.  

Jesus was born to die for us.  He is the Perfect Lamb of God to pay the price—death, for all of our sins.  He is the Messiah, the long awaited one.  He fulfilled many scripture prophecies that night He was born.  All of Heaven was waiting and rejoicing.  Angels were crowding in to see their Creator born on Earth.  What a sight that would've been to be a shepherd when the heavenly hosts were praising God.  We will see that one day :)

He is also King of Kings--seated on the throne in Heaven.  Just because He is a King doesn't mean that He is not approachable.  He can be King of your heart if you let Him in!  So this year when you look at that manger scene, will you see the babe as a King?  The One who holds the power to open the scroll of God (Revelation 5:5).  The One who had all the glory in Heaven, yet left it so that He could save you. 

So today as you look at the Baby in the manager, also look at the cross because that is what He was looking forward to for you. Is Jesus the One you have been waiting for in your life?  Is He your personal Savior?  Run to Him because He is waiting with open arms in love to receive you.  What words of worship will you offer Him on this Christmas Day?

Merry Christmas and Enjoy the Day with your family celebrating our Lord!!! 

In His Love,

A

Christmas Eve: Emmanuel

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel. 

Isaiah 7:14

Today is THE day before THE BIG DAY.  Tomorrow we celebrate Jesus' birth, but today is the last day to prepare our hearts and we really should be celebrating each and every day.  The second to last name for Jesus we will study is Emmanuel or Immanuel (Greek vs. Hebrew spelling).  This name is so wonderful because it means "God with us".  

Jesus came down from Heaven to dwell among, literally the Greek word for dwelling is ἐσκήνωσεν and means tabernacled among us!  The original reason that God had the Israelites build the Tabernacle (or temple) was so He could dwell among the people in that one place.  Then Jesus comes down to dwell among the people and teaches them.

However, Jesus didn't leave us alone when He ascended to Heaven after His resurrection.  He left His Spirit (well after Pentecost, see Acts) so He is always with us.  We are never alone in any circumstance.  Sometimes I feel as if I am alone when no other humans are around or can understand my situation.  Jesus is there for me and has gone through the same feelings and temptations that we face every day.  

Jesus fulfilled the original intent of the Tabernacle.  He came and dwelled with us in human flesh and then returned to Heaven.  The Holy Spirit was sent down so that we can have God in us, not just with us.  Therefore, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, closer than any relationship with God prior to Jesus!!!!

Our relationship with God is even more intimate than Moses and God because Jesus has fully cleansed us.  With this cleansing we can now come so close to God that He can live inside of us!! 

Does this change your view on the celebration tomorrow?  Will you take some time tomorrow to give thanks and just rest in the awe of God's amazing love?

With His Love,

A

23rd Day of Advent: Alpha and Omega

 

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"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." 

Revelation 1:8

Alpha and Omega.  They are the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet, so translated to English Jesus is A and Z.  He is the Beginning and the End.  The One who was at the beginning of your life will also be at the end.  He is waiting for us there, yet simultaneously right with us today.  That's the amazing infinite and eternal nature of Jesus!!  He was in the beginning as Creator and will be at the end of times as Judge.  He is part of and in everything.  

This is one of the many attributes that allowed Him to die for the sins of everyone in the world.  Since He is eternal and infinite, He is not bound by time.  He could pay the price of our sins, the price being death, 2000 years before we were even born.  It is awesome how God reveals His plan and how intricate it really was.  

What words of praise can you offer Him for revealing such completeness about Himself?  In this scripture, He also reveals His eternal nature, which intertwines with His infinite nature of beginning and end.  Does it comfort you that He is the beginning and the end?  How has your praise for Him increased this Advent season--Christmas is almost here!! 

In His Love,

A  

4th Sunday of Advent: Bridegroom

 

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"The bride belongs to the bridegroom.  The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice.  That joy is mine, and it is now complete."

John 3:29

This year, this attribute of Jesus might be the most meaningful to me.  As I continue to watch the women around me wear those beautiful white dresses and I'm still just standing next to them on their wedding day, it's hard.  Lately though, the Holy Spirit just keeps reminding me: Jesus is better.  Not that marriage isn't important or biblical but I can't put my worth, happiness, or satisfaction in being a bride.  I want to be Jesus' bride before I can be any man's bride.  I want to see Him as the True Love of my life before anyone else.  I will worship Him only and not my spouse or the desire to be married or loved.  I'm not going to lie, I struggle hard with this.

I cannot wait for the possible day here on Earth where I will get to wear a white dress and walk down the aisle  toward a man who is ready to profess his love to me and we will be together forever.  However, that is just a shadow of the day where I will wear white robes signifying my righteousness and purity, walking towards the One who has loved me my whole life and I will spend eternity with Him.  Even if the first day never comes for me, I have the hope that the second one will come no matter what!

Each one of us is the bride of Jesus, but also collectively as a Church.  He has a personal relationship yet a communal one with believers at the same time.  Who do you worship or devote all your time to?  How can you allow the Holy Spirit guide you in worshiping the One who longs for your heart?  He is the ultimate Bridegroom, so let us wait for Him to come back and take us home with Him!! 

In His Love,

A

21st Day of Advent: Judge

"And He has given Him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man.  Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out--those how have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.  By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgement is just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me." 

John 5:27-30

We have seen the duality of Jesus.  He is the Lion and the Lamb.  He is the High Priest and the Sacrifice.  Here, He is proclaiming Himself with the authority and power to judge others.  We normally think of Jesus as Love but He is also Judge.  God gave Him this responsibility. He is also referring to the final Judgement. In the Book of Revelation, John gives a glimpse into the throne room of God, as he sees it revealed to Him by Jesus. But lastly and most importantly, He states that His judgment is just.  Why? Because He is seeking to please His Father and not Himself.  He will reward the good and punish the bad according to their deeds. (Revelation 4-5). 

In John 8, the Pharisees bring an adulterous woman to Jesus to try and trap Him in His answer to how to deal with her. He shocks them all by responding that whoever is sinless can throw the first stone at her. Everyone walks away, starting with the older Pharisees. They all knew they were not without sin and can't condemn this woman just because she was caught in the act and it was public (John 8). It's the same with us. I ask myself the question when I read this: Who am I throwing stones at when I deserve the stones to be thrown at me?

Why do we think that we can do a better job at judging than Jesus?  Why do I judge a person's character based on their appearance?  I can't answer those questions.  I do know that when I find myself judging others, gossiping about their actions in a condescending tone, or thinking harsh thoughts about them, I can turn to God.  I can pray for help to stop those actions.  I can pray for the self-control to hold my tongue and cleanse my thoughts.  I need to hand the role of Judge back over to Jesus.  Oh how I need this truth!!

In His Love,

A   

20th Day of Advent: Jehovah Jireh

"For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ."

Romans 5:17

Jehovah Jireh is one of my favorite names for the Lord because it means the Lord provides.  In so many ways these past few years, He has provided for me what I needed most just when I needed it.  If you don't know my mom had a brain aneurysm in 2013.  You can read more about it here and here.  We needed just about everything and God always provided then and over the past six years.  He has given us amazing supportive family members and friends.

God the Father always provides based off His great plan for our lives.  Jesus provides because He gave us a way to deal with our sins and for us to be able to go to heaven.  The Holy Spirit provides us with knowledge, insight, and conviction as we read scripture as well as peace and assurance.  Our Triune God perfectly provides in every way!!

He not only provides us with everything but it's everything that we need!  He knows exactly what we need at every moment of the day.  If you don't know what you may need, then ask Him!  Ask Him to reveal to you what you may need at that very moment.  Then remember He will provide in His Time and in His Way.  However, He will always be with us!

If I'm honest, I struggle most days with not trusting God in His provision.  I say and know that He provides but often I doubt.  I doubt because He doesn't meet my expectations of what I want for my life.  Although I know His plan is good and need to remind myself of this.  We see in Romans 5:17 that God provides abundantly!!!  His provision may not be material but spiritual truths.  The past few years, He has provided me abundantly with understanding and desire to read the scriptures.  What is He providing you with?  Is it material?  If not, how does this change your praise and worship of Him?

I would love to hear your provision stories :)

In His Love,
A

19th Day of Advent: Interceder

"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."

 Hebrews 7:25

Jesus died and was raised but now what does He do?  He's in Heaven interceding for us!!

Why do we need an Interceder? Well God is holy.  We can't go near Him because we are sinful.  We as humans also can never stop sinning.  We have tried.  The Old Testament is full of examples.  Even after God wiped out all the evil people with the Flood (Genesis 7-9), sin still managed to take over. We needed a way to get rid of the hold sin has on us--Jesus is that Way! 

Jesus never stops being the Way to the Father.  He in fact is the Only Way!  So that means He is constantly, going to the Father on our behalf.  He intercedes each and every day for us.  Now that Jesus is in between us and God, we can have a relationship with God.  A personal relationship.  The Holy Spirit dwells inside of you once you accept Jesus as your Savior (1 Corinthians 6:19).  That is a deeper relationship with God, then even Moses, could have!  The closest he was to God was in the Tent of the Meeting or on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-40).  We have God living INSIDE of us! How amazing is that?!

Jesus intercedes daily so that we are covered by His blood shed on the cross.  Blood needed to be shed for the forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).  Our sins are covered by Jesus' blood and sacrifice on the cross.  Therefore, God can now see us through the Perfect Lens of His Perfect Interceding Son, Jesus.  When He looks at us, we are now sinless.  If Jesus didn't intercede for us then we wouldn't be able to have a wonderful intimate relationship with Our Awesome God. 

What words can you use to express your gratitude towards Him for this role?  

With His Love,

A

18th Day of Advent: Living One

 

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"I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!"

Revelation 1:18 

Yesterday we looked at Jesus' death and what it means for us, today, let's look at His resurrection.  I already wrote a bit about the resurrection a few days ago but it is sooo pivotal that it's worth repeating!!

When Jesus died on the cross, the whole world shook (Matthew 27:54), it certainly wasn't the death of an ordinary human.  He was the only unique One that is both Human and God.  Therefore, although He died a real death and bled real blood, only His body died.  His Spirit did not die because He is also the eternal God.  Three days after His death, His body rose from the tomb, and was made new.  This is a foreshadow of what will happen to our bodies one day :) 

Anyways, Jesus is ALIVE and living in Heaven.  John saw Him there during the visions he saw that he recorded in the book of Revelation.  He is not dead.  He is working in our lives and in this world through His Spirit whom He has given us.  We do not serve and worship a dead god but A LIVING GOD!! 

How is God alive in your life?  Does the Holy Spirit inside of you make you feel more alive?  I know that when He came to live in me, I felt more alive, like my life was significant and worthy.  He can do that for you too!  All you have to do is ask :) 

In His Love,

A

17th Day of Advent: Atonement Sacrifice

"God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood--to be received by faith.  He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished--"

Romans 3:25

This is Christmas...why are we talking about Jesus' Death??? Jesus was born as a human to deal with our sin problem.  Sin can only be dealt with by death...

We need to take a journey back to the Old Testament to understand atonement sacrifices.  When God gave Moses the law of the Israel Nation, He instructed Moses to build a portable Tabernacle (they were still traveling to the Promised Land).  Only priests chosen by God (the Levites) could enter this Tabernacle.  The main purpose for the Tabernacle was for God to be able to dwell among His people.  The Israelites pitched their tents all around the Tabernacle tent so that it was in the middle of their campground.

The Israelites knew when God was in the Tabernacle because the Pillar of Cloud or Fire would be over the Tabernacle.  Therefore, to be able to enter the Tabernacle, one had to be Holy since it was the dwelling place of the Holy God.  The priests would offer sin sacrifices daily.  Then once a year, on the day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place (the actual place God dwelled) and offer an Atonement Sacrifice. 

This sacrifice would be for all the sins of the people that had been committed for the year.  Only the high priest was allowed to do this.  There were many preparations that needed to be performed like washing and cleansing before the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place where God dwelled.  Since humans are sinners and God is Holy, He can't be near us.  (Exodus 25-30)

This is where Jesus comes in!! He became that Atonement Sacrifice for all of us.  He was the sin sacrifice for all the people.  However, since Jesus was the Son of God, making Him God, He is infinite.  Since Jesus is Eternal and Infinite, His sacrifice can cover the sins of people yet to come, like you and me!  That's so amazing because the price of our sins was paid for over 2000 years ago.  We will never see that price (death) because Jesus has canceled it for us.  

Have you accepted that Jesus' death paid the price for your sins?

With His Love,

A

16th Day of Advent: The Resurrection and Life

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.  Do you believe this?'"

John 11:25-26

Let's take a second to recognize the power in these sentences from Jesus.  First He says "I AM" which from Exodus 3:14a: "God says to Moses, I AM WHO I AM", we know this is God's name.  So Jesus is stating that He is God.  Then, He says I am the resurrection and the life.  He is talking to Martha and Mary who are coping with the death of their brother, Lazarus.  They know who Jesus is and they realize that one day their brother will live again.  However, they don't realize that day will be sooner then they expected (John 11:38-44) 

While they still may believe in Jesus and the distant future of resurrection, it is still a humanly impossible concept to wrap our minds around.  Most people who think about rising from the dead think about zombies, but this isn't what Jesus is saying.  When we are resurrected we aren't going to be the walking dead, we are going to be the walking living!!

Jesus died on the cross.  He had a physical death that day to pay the price of the sins of the past, present and future people of the world.  When He rose from the grave three days later, He wasn't skin and bones or any of those creepy visions of zombies.  He had a resurrection body, not spirit or ghost.  It had special qualities (like walking through walls and appearing suddenly (John 20) but for the most part normal.  He could walk, talk, and eat.  

This is the hope of the Christian believer: even though our bodies will physically die, we will spiritually live with God (all three persons of the Trinity) in Heaven.  Then one day, after The Judgement, we will be reunited with our bodies with the same special resurrection qualities of Jesus' body.  

WOWWW!!! That's soo powerful.  There will be no more pain and suffering in Heaven and one day your body will be whole again!

Lastly Jesus asks the question "Do you believe?"  Everything I just stated can only be true IF you believe in Jesus.  So my challenge to you is to really think about if you believe and accept Jesus' work on the cross?  

With His Love,

A

3rd Sunday of Advent: The Way, The Truth, The Life

Jesus answered them, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." 

John 14:6

There are three powerful words that Jesus uses in this statement.  Jesus is saying He is the Way to His Father.  No one can have a relationship with God unless they go through Jesus first.  Do you know why?  God is holy which means He cannot be near sin.  We are sinners (Romans 3:23), so basically God can't be near us.  That is why there were animal sacrifices in the Old Testament to make payment (death) to cover their sins (Lev 17).

"In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" Hebrews 9:22. God set up His law, that everything needed to be cleansed in blood because someone or something needed to die as a result of sin.  Blood symbolizes the life that paid for the sin (Lev 17:11).  When Jesus died on the cross, He shed His blood for us and now we are clean and holy if we trust in that Payment.  So the Way to the Father is accepting that Jesus has cleansed you and offered you forgiveness.

The other two words are also sooo wonderful to explore.  Jesus is also Truth because He is the Logos or Word! He is the human form of God's Word and teachings.  Since God cannot be near sin, He doesn't lie.  Since Jesus is God and divine, He also can't be near sin.  Which means He will never lie.  Jesus' words and teachings are just as true Today as they were the day He spoke them to His disciples.  Isn't that amazing!  The same words He used to explain everything to His friends, you can read in your bible!!

Lastly, to wrap up the other two,  Jesus is The Life, without Him we are destined to go to H-E-double hockey sticks (HELL).  He gave His life as a sacrifice because our sin deserves death (Romans 6:23), He paid that death so that we are not bound by these human, mortal lives but we could have eternal life with Him forever and ever!! 

Is Jesus the Truth on which you stand?  A famous hymn states all other ground is sinking sand... Have you found eternal life in Him?  These are questions that are invoked by these attributes or names of Jesus.  How can you praise Him today because He provided a Way when we couldn't?

Paul tells us over and over again in Romans that it was NOTHING we could do to make ourselves right with God, even if we kept the law perfectly, we can't be right with God because we inherited Adam's sin nature, ONLY Jesus can rescue us and adopt us into His family, an eternal family of believers. Does it take a burden off your shoulders to stop trying so hard and rest in His power?    

With His Love,

A

14th Day of Advent: The Good Shepherd

"I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep....I know my sheep and my sheep know me."

John 10:11, 14b

Shepherds take care of their sheep.  They watch over them and lead them.  Why do sheep need so much guidance and protection?  They are not instinctive animals.  That is a nice way to say they are pretty dumb.  If a predator comes, the sheep will basically stand there.  They don't flee from danger. Don't these descriptions seems kind of familiar?  I know I can be described as not instinctive and dumb at times!

Today let's worship Jesus and reflect on His role as the Good Shepherd in our lives.  The Shepherd leads His sheep to better pastures and protects them from harm.  He will even go out of His way to find that lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7), He found me!! He even will lay down His life for the protection and goodwill of His Flock (that's us!).  How amazing is that?!

Jesus even goes on to say that He knows His sheep!  That means He knows each one of us.  Jesus already knew you before you were even born! (Psalm 139)  What comfort and great news is that!  Jesus will lead us and protect us if we let Him.  Did you catch that last part...if we let Him?  He will be our Good Shepherd joyfully, just ask Him!!

Not only is Jesus the Lamb of God but He also is the Shepherd.  His role as the Lamb is for sacrificial purposes, but His role as the Shepherd is for leadership.  Where in your life do you need to give up that control and allow Him to watch over, guide, and protect you like a shepherd would for their flock?  

In His Love,

A 

13th Day of Advent: Bread of Life

 

"For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heave and gives life to the world...I am the Bread of Life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
At this the Jews began to grumble about him because He said,"I am the bread that came down from heaven."

John 6:33, 35, 40

The Israelites were hungary in the desert.  What did God provide to them?  Manna or bread.  Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  Guess what Bethlehem means? House of Bread.  Five thousand people needed food.  What did the young boy have in his lunch?  Bread.  Jesus is teaching about Himself.  What term does He use?  The Bread of Life.  There is a theme of bread in the bible but an even larger theme of God's provision and He using bread as the doughy glue to connect the Old and New Testaments.

This year what jumped out at me when I read these passages was the response of the crowd.  The Jews would've known the stories about the Israelites wondering in the desert and how God provided Manna each morning for them to eat.  Instead of rejoicing that Jesus has come to provide and nourish in a way that they could never imagine, they grumble against Him.  They are confused and just question His position because He's "just the son of Joseph" (John 6:42).  They have head knowledge of the connection He's trying to make between Manna and Himself as the Bread come from Heaven, but not transformative heart knowledge. 

They are missing the truth that Jesus sustains and gives us our life eternal life! The Word of God is alive and feeds us when we read the Bible.  Just like drinking up Jesus as the Living Water, if we nourish ourselves with Jesus as the Bread of Life our souls will never go hungry or long for worldly things that don't satisfy (or less and less).  Our bodies can survive a few days without food but eventually we would starve and die.  The same is for our souls.  However, our souls are starved much longer than a few days.  If we deprive our souls of Jesus for our lifetime then we do die spiritually and physically.  That's a terrifying thought!  I want to feed my soul with the Living Water and Bread of Life, daily just like I feed my body with the nutrients it needs to function. 

How is your soul being fed by Jesus? 

In His Love,

A

12th Day of Advent: Living Water

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.....but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life" 

 John 4:10, 14

In this passage, Jesus is talking to a women at a well.  She is Samaritan and the Jews don't really talk to them.  Therefore, that was the first unusual aspect of this interaction.  She was also a woman which was uncharacteristic of men to talk to woman who aren't their family members.  He then asks her for a drink of water.  When she questions Him talking to her, He says the above verse.  She is confused because Jesus doesn't have a pail to draw water and what does it mean to be living water??

He switches it around on her.  He says you should be asking me for a drink, a taste of His Glory.  Wouldn't that have been amazing to be sitting on the edge of a well chatting with Jesus?  Oh how I can't wait for those days when we will be able to do that :) Anyways, she is curious and wants some of this water! 

As humans we need water to survive.  Our body is made up of about 60% water.  Therefore, we can barely go one day without becoming dehydrated and sick.  So how does that translate to Jesus being the Living Water?  Well if we "drink" Him up, or take in The Word and invest in our relationship, we will never be thirsty again.  We could be thirsty for: wealth, attention, significance, power, love: it is personal for everyone but basically most things of this world.  However, when we fill ourselves with Jesus, then those spaces are filled and we no longer long for those.  We will never be thirsty for things that aren't good for us!! How amazing is that!!!

There is another great truth in this name.  Jesus is the Living Water.  Yes Jesus died on the cross but He didn't stay in the grave.  Death had no power over Him.  He rose from death and is LIVING again.  We truly have a God that is not dead, but fully living in Heaven (Luke 22:69).  This means that Jesus is alive and active in our lives.  That just brings me to my knees and humbles me.  The love that Jesus has for us, we will never be able to fully give out or understand, but we can experience it if we allow Him into our lives.

But WAIT there's more.  Again in John 7:37-38, Jesus invites all who are thirst to come to Him for a drink.  He made this invitation during the Feast of the Tabernacles when the Israelites where celebrating the Exodus out of Egypt.  When the Israelites needed water, Moses struck the rock, water came out.  Well it was no coincidence that Jesus made this statement during this commemoration.  Jesus is the Rock and the Living Water flows out of Him.  Ahhhh!!! Mind Blown!! That's my new favorite revelation about Jesus!!

What worldly things are you thirsty for?  How can you ask the Holy Spirit to help you replace them with time with Jesus and drink up His presence?  Have you tried this in your life?  How has it changed your perspective?  I would love to know :D

With His Love,

A

11th Day of Advent: Son of Man

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"No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man" John 3:14

"For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost."  

Mark 19:10

Jesus was fully Man yet He was also fully God...again the duality of Jesus.  It's crazy to wrap our minds around but there is an importance for both aspects of His duel identity.  Jesus was born of Mary, therefore He was human (despite being God). He came into the world just like every one of us.  He was in the line of David, meaning He has real, human, tangible ancestors.  He had a job and family.  He was human. 

Why is it important that Jesus was Man?  Well, He needed to fulfill all the Old Testament Prophecies, but also our sins required a human death for the penalty of sins.  God had temporarily accepted animal sacrifices to cleanse from sin but that wasn't sufficient enough to cover the mass amount of sin that we commit as humans (some days I feel like the majority are mine) (Lev 17).  His Perfect Life offered as a sacrifice (Lamb of God) satiated God's wrath for all time!!! He lived the perfect life that we cannot which brings me to my third point.

Jesus is our example.  Hebrews 4:14 tells us that we don't have a high priest who can't empathize but He was tempted just like us (paraphrase mine).  We can look to Scripture and study Jesus' response to varies issues and use it for our own lives.  It is often hard work to response and act like Jesus but guess what?!....it helps us to relinquish the hold sin has on our lives.  That is a wonderful reason.  

How can you praise Him for giving us an example to live by?  Where in your life do you need to act a little more like Jesus?  (don't worry my list is long!!!).  He is seeking you and waiting with arms wide open if you need to run to Him!!

With His Love,

A

10th Day of Advent: Lamb of God

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The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!"

John 1:29

  

We need to dig deep into the Old Testament for some background.  The Israelites (God's People) were slaves in Egypt.  God sent Moses to ask Pharaoh to allow ALL the people to be freed (there were more than a million Israelites enslaved).  Pharaoh repeatedly said no.  Therefore, God sent plagues to Egypt to punish Pharaoh and the Egyptians for their disobedience.  On the night that the Israelite Nation left Egypt, God had commanded Moses to instruct the Israelites to slaughter a blemish free lamb, eat it, and  spread the blood on the doorposts of their house.  When The Angel of Death passed through the land of Egypt for the 10th and final plague--killing all first born sons, he would pass over the houses with lamb blood on the door frames.  God didn't punish or inflict judgement on His people.  Instead He passed over them! (Exodus 12)

Jesus is the Ultimate Lamb because He was Perfect and Blameless.  He was slaughtered and His blood was spilled out for us.  His Blood on our heart doorposts is way more valuable than any animal lamb.  Isn't this a beautiful picture?  The simplicity of the foreshadowing of Jesus a mere 62 chapters into the Bible.  We are now able to be passed over for God’s death punishment of sin because Jesus' Blood covers us, IF we believe in Him!

I think this is a reason to celebrate in the coming days.  Normally we talk about Jesus as the Lamb of God during Easter when He was crucified, but at His birth, He was just as much of God's Lamb as on Calvary 33 years later.  Jesus was born knowing all this would happen and yet He still continued to live a life that we will never be able to.  He was filled with the Joy of the Lord no matter His circumstances.  This is a wonderful example for our lives, although it can be difficult to implement at times.

Have you applied the Blood of Jesus to the doorposts of your life?  What would happen if you did?

With His Love,
A

PS Isn't beautiful that some of the first people to see Jesus the Lamb of God in this world were Shepherds?!

9th Day of Advent: Son of God

"He will be great and will be called the Song of the Most High.  The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David."

Luke 1:32

This image from #SheReadsTruth is perfect for today!  C.S. Lewis summed up Jesus' purpose on Earth.  Since the Son of God came, we know can also be come sons (and daughters) of God!! 

Why is it important that Jesus is the Son of God?  If you have gone to church throughout your life, you may have learned about the Trinity of God or the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  How can there be three separate persons but One God?  The only answer I have for that is because God is amazing and our brains cannot comprehend His Glory. 

No human can atone for all the sins of the people forever.  The high priests could atone for the sins of the people for a short while but needed to daily offer sin sacrifices (animals).  Since Jesus was God, He is infinite.  Since Jesus was infinite, His sacrifice could cover an infinite amount of sins.  Also since Jesus was Pure and Sinless, His Blood could offer a purer sacrifice than any animal blood. 

God literally gave us everything He is and had.  Jesus is not only the Son of God but He is also Himself God.  Jesus gave up being part of the perfect Trinity relationship, to come to Earth.  He was separated from His Father when He died on that cross to take ALL of the sins of EVERYONE who ever lived.  If that is not truly amazing and shakes you to your core, then I pray that God would open your eyes and your heart to know the Truth of His Word.  

I want to shout from the rooftops my praise for Jesus the Son of God.  We are now fully reconciled (restored) to God and can be a child with the ability to spend eternity with our Triune God :)  We need to praise God DAILY for this privilege and gift.  But how will you praise Him?  By song?  Prayer?  Completing tasks He has given you?  Telling someone else?  Jesus is worthy of our praise each and every second of the day.  He is the only one that should consume our thoughts.

In His Love,

A

2nd Sunday of Advent: The Word

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.....The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."

John 1:1, 14a

"And God said"

Genesis 1:3a

God spoke and there was light, earth, the whole universe as we know it (Genesis 1)! Wow His Words were powerful and still are powerful today! He also always keeps His covenants or promises, therefore, His Words are always true and trustworthy.  Now if we think about Jesus, He was powerful and the words He spoke were always true.  He resisted the Devil's temptations with scripture---God's Word (Matthew 4).  Jesus was born so that He could live a human life and die a human death to pay for human sins, that is what John means in the "Word became Flesh". 

Jesus' life here on Earth is an example for us to live and strive for.  He was living out God's Word by the actions of His life.  Jesus was the Word because He was the Message from God--the message of Salvation, Redemption, and Righteousness.  His Words on the Cross--"It is Finished" John 19:30, hold the same power as in creation.  The fight between Good and Evil is over--Jesus has won the Victory!!

What does Jesus say personally to you?  What is God, through the Holy Spirit or Scripture trying to tell you?

This Christmas season as your stress levels rise, I challenge you (and myself!!) to be careful of the words that come out of your mouth or stick in your brain.  Human words are powerful, but God's Words can heal.  So when you are angry, open your bible and read the Love Letter God has written to you and remember Jesus is the Word.  He came down to rescue you!! <3

With His Love,

A

P.S. This reminder is really for me :D I need to hold back my tongue and only let His Words of Life flow from my mouth

7th Day of Advent: Desire of All Nations

  

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'I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory', says the LORD Almighty

Haggai 2:7

Throughout the Bible, I have noticed this theme where people have a desire for God but only on their terms. The Israelites wanted to have God providing for them and saving them from the Egyptians but they wanted luxurious traveling accommodations.  They also want Jesus but they want Him to be a King and Conqueror of the Romans, not of sin and death.  We try to fit God into our lives instead of giving our lives to Him.

Although people desire God, I think they desire more than that.  They desire Peace, Love, and Life.  Jesus is all of that!!  He is our true Desire.  I tell the students that I teach at my bible study that we all have a Jesus-shaped hole in our hearts.  We all know that we are missing something in our hearts and we try to fill it.  When we finally realize that Jesus fits all our desires that is when it starts to click.  

Jesus fulfills our desire of peace because He reconciles us to God, so that we can have a restored relationship and eternal life.  He is Love because He loved us so much that He died for us.  He came to Earth, lived a full life and suffered as the sacrificial lamb for our sins.  He is also life because through belief in Him, we have eternal life.  If we believe all that He says He is, then we become part of God's family.  How amazing!!!  

Have you filled that hole in your heart with Jesus?  I have tried to fill it with many things but now I know only Jesus fits!!  I still need to work on allowing Him that whole space.  Often times I still try to cram other things in their with Him and it never works....it's Jesus plus NOTHING ELSE!

With His Love,

A

6th Day of Advent: Suffering Servant

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"He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain." Isaiah 53:3

"In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what He suffered." Hebrews 2:10

Suffering.  It's an unpleasant, negative connotation word.  We don't like to suffer.  We don't like to be uncomfortable.  We live in an age where comfort is not only accessible but expected and idolized.  Although for the Christian, suffering is a reality and a necessity.  It has been a topic recently in my life through BSF and my personal struggles this past year. 

When I think of suffering, I cannot have complete thoughts without thinking of Jesus on the Cross physically suffering and spiritually suffering so that I would never, ever have to experience the full and complete separation from God the Father.  That is Jesus as the Suffering Servant.  Not only did He humble Himself to become human, He shared in the suffering of the human life.  He experienced hardships and worked hard in life.  He was a carpenter and most likely not a savvy wood-worker like Clint on Fixer Upper, but a masonry, putting in hard labor hours.  

Jesus followed completely the law and lived a sinless life.  Choosing God's way causes suffering.  Our flesh has desires and wants that are not usually in line with God's Word, therefore when we deny ourselves pleasures, we suffer.  

Jesus was radical in His teachings and healings on the Sabbath which caused ridicule and rejection--more suffering.  How many times have others around you given snide comments or scoffed when you have shared your views, opinions, or preferences?  

I could go on and on about the types of sufferings.  Jesus suffering on the cross is the greatest example of suffering we have, but that doesn't mean that our suffering isn't real and the God doesn't see it or care about it.  We cannot go around comparing sufferings with each other.  We are all suffering at some capacity and God has given us different handling capacities.  We are also all in different seasons of life which bring different types of sufferings.  My caution would be to keep an open heart when meeting and talking to people. 

Lately, as I have been studying Paul's writing and missionary journeys, I am trying to wrap my head around rejoicing in suffering and counting myself worthy for the cause of Christ. Why would I celebrate the distress in my life??  Here is another verse that has put perspective on suffering:

Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.  1 Peter 4:1 

Suffering against the flesh means that I am done with sin, no longer a slave to it, meaning that I am progressing in sanctification...hallelujah....I am becoming slightly more like Jesus!! That is reason to celebrate.  The suffering is an indication of sanctification!! 

Where are you suffering today?  How is it drawing you closer to the Lord?

In His Love,

A

5th Day of Advent: Anointed One

"Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler comes, there will be seven 'sevens', and sixty-two 'seven'.  It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble."

Daniel 9:25

The prophet Daniel has stated that The Anointed One is coming.  In my NIV Bible that name is capitalized so it must be important!  How do we know that Jesus is the Anointed One?  Well let's take a journey back to Exodus to understand what the term anointed means.   In Exodus 28:41, God has just given Moses all the instructions for how the priests are to serve God.  They will be anointed and consecrated so they will be set apart for the service of God.  The act of anointment sets those priests apart for service to God.  

Acts 10:38 states "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him."  God had set Jesus apart for His service.  

As part of their service to God, the anointed priests offered sacrifices to God! (Hebrews 5:1-2).  What did Jesus ultimately do for us? Offer his body and life as a sacrifice for us!!! Wow isn't that an amazing connection.  The Old Testament is rich and full of those tiny phrases that point directly to Jesus.  That is my favorite part of studying the Old Testament and the New Testament in conjunction.

How does the fact that God set Jesus apart for His work change your aspect or outlook on your Faith in Jesus?  Are you growing closer to God this Christmas season?  

With His Love,

A

4th Day of Advent: The Branch

 

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In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. 

Isaiah 4:2

When we think of branches, we often think of trees and then family trees.  When it comes to Jesus, His family tree was unique.  He had human ancestors: He was in the line of David whose father was Jesse.  He came from men in Israelite tribes.  Out of the ashes of these human men, a Shoot and Branch will emerge bearing fruit--that's Jesus, fully human yet also fully God. 

Another way I think of branches are olive branches.  Olive branches are a sign of peace.  You know the old saying, "Extend the olive branch" when you need to extend peace.  Well it came from the Bible (shocker!!).  When God sent the flood, Noah knew the water receded when the dove came back with an olive tree.  There was peace on Earth once again (at least for a short while) (Genesis 8).

Jesus is that olive Branch that God extends to the world.  He is offering Peace through Jesus, reconciliation to Himself.  If you believe in Jesus, He restores us to a right relationship with God the Father because He paid the penalty for our sins.  We no longer have to be at odds with God because Jesus, the Branch, connects us to God.  

He is so beautiful and deserves all the glory.  The fruit He bears is transformed lives.  Transformation isn't an expedient process but rather a slow journey (I feel like I've been going in slow-mo lately).  Jesus has transformed my life, one day and one thought at a time.  How have you seen the fruit of Jesus in your life?

In His Love,

A

3rd Day of Advent: Prince of Peace

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

I have always struggled with anxiety and only when I rely on Jesus, do I have peace in my soul.  Jesus is my Prince of Peace.  He brought a Peace into my life that is unlike anything of this world.  The Peace that Jesus offers is amazing.  It's freeing to give Jesus control.  I still struggle with relying on myself but I know what to do and how to surrender all to Him.  When I give to Him what is rightfully His, then peace follows.  

There is more to the peace that Jesus brings, more than our freedom from self-reliance and more than harmony but a peace with God.  Before Jesus, we were enemies of God (Romans 5:10) because we were full of sin and God cannot be near sin. Now that Jesus intercedes, advocates for, and cleanses us, we are united back with God. The war is over between us and God because our rebellion is gone when we believe in Jesus. We are now at peace with God. He even calls us His children!  We have gone from enemies to children!!!!!

Peace is something we all desperately need at all times of the year but especially now.  We are rushing around not savoring the meaning of this season: the celebration of God's gift to us.  We have received the most important gift of all: Salvation!!  Jesus came down to save us, why do we overlook this fact every year?  What is robing you of your peace?  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  His peace can be never taken away from us.  When we feel robbed of peace, that is the false imitation of worldly peace that we feel gone.  

This is one attribute that I continuously praise Jesus for this season, but I don't feel very at peace. Daily I need to exchange my version of peace for Jesus' True Peace.  How are you incorporating more peace into your life?

In His Love,

A

2nd Day of Advent: Kinsman Redeemer

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us."

Galatians 3:13a

In the book of Ruth, Naomi has lost her husband and her sons in the foreign land of Moab.  She goes back to Israel, her homeland, with her daughter-in-law, Ruth.  A widowed woman with no sons would need to find another relative to take care of her.  Back in Israel, we see a guardian-redeemer or kinsman redeemer in Boaz.  If he marries Ruth than he can redeem the family, taking them in and caring for them, and the family name doesn't die out.  He does marry Ruth and eventually becomes part of Jesus' human ancestry line!! Boaz is just a foreshadow of Jesus redeeming us and buying us back to God's family.

Jesus bought us back at a much higher cost than Boaz.  Boaz just forfeited his family name, Jesus forfeited His home in Heaven when He came to Earth.  He lost (temporarily) the intimate relationship with the Father when He was on the cross.  He did that because of His great love for us and because we couldn't do it ourselves.  I just love how God has knitted together the Bible stories.

Another example of redemption is debt.  When someone couldn't pay a debt, they would sell themselves into slavery.  A family member could buy their freedom back by paying off the debt, thus redeeming them--buying them back.

We fall into both of these categories: estranged from God's family and a slave to sin, unable to pay the debt.  Jesus came to buy us back from slavery to sin and to redeem us into His family.  Because Jesus died for us, He took that curse of death (the penalty for sin) for us and now we can live freely in and with Him.  Jesus paid that price and brought us back to being able to have a relationship with God like Adam and Eve experienced before they ate the fruit.  Not only did He redeem us back to have a relationship with God but we can be part of God's family!!

How has being redeemed and set right with God changed your life?  

With His Love,

A

1st Sunday of Advent: Jesus is Creator

Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness....."

 Genesis 1:26a

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word with with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.  

John 1:1-3

So 26 verses into the Bible we see that God isn't singular.  He is a Triune God, three Persons but One God.  There is God the Father, Jesus is the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit.  How amazing it is to think that Jesus was present at Creation!  Jesus didn't just come into being that night in Bethlehem.  Jesus is Eternal so He has always been (just not in human form) and will always be!!  Therefore, Jesus created us.  John 1:1-3 solidifies this idea.  He is the Word (we will come back to this later this month) and so He was right there with God when He created the world and everything we know!  How amazing is that!! 

It puts into perspective another aspect of Jesus' life.  He is the Creator and He came down to Earth to live with the created.  That's wonderful news for us.  We have a God who knows us by name and wants to be with us.  Not only does He know our name but He knows all our wrongdoings, all our dark thoughts, all of our mess and HE STILL CHOOSES US!! We have a Heavenly Father who has chosen and adopted us into His family.

He knows you inside and out because He knit us together in our mother's womb (Psalm 139) so why not get to know Him the same way?  How amazing would that be to state that you know Jesus that intimately?? Well guess what...WE CAN KNOW HIM!!  Because of His sacrifice on the Cross, we can have an intimate and personal relationship with our God--Jesus has restored that relationship broken by sin.  Not only does He desire that relationship with us but also delights in it too. 

Will you praise Him today for something He created?  Whether it is you, someone else, or even the mountains, sky and stars.  It was ALL made by Him.  Walking outside brings me so much joy because I can see His hand in all!  The Holy Spirit reminds also me that since I am made in the image of God, I can also create--maybe not mountains, but we create works every day.  What are you going to create today?

With His Love,

A

Advent 2019

This is my 6th year writing Advent posts.  Can you believe it?! If you are just joining me, each day of Advent, I write about a Name of Jesus in the Bible.  This year I have categorized them into Old Testament, Jesus' life on Earth, and Jesus in Heaven waiting to come back.  I hope you enjoy and please always leave me a comment on how you've seen Jesus this Holiday season!!

In His Love,
A