Day Twenty-Five: Immanuel

Immanuel
God With Us!
The Lord has come!

I was excited this morning to put the star on top of my tree that had the name Immanuel written across it. He came to earth, He is still with us! I rejoice today that I serve a living Saviour, a risen King. He is ever present and has promised to always be with us. I am so grateful for that today. Immanuel - the title reveals so much about His character; that He would dwell among us tells us of His love for us. Take time to meditate on these verses and grasp the reality of Immanuel.

Stay tuned for a final reflection on this advent journey.

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which translated means, "God with us." - Matthew 1:23

"For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:9-11

Dear Jesus,
I rejoice with an excited heart that you are with us. I praise You for coming to this earth, for living a sinless life, for dying on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins and for rising again and being our Lord! Thank You! Amen.

Day Twenty-Four: Lamb of God

Lamb of God
I picture Mary holding her newborn Son. Staring at Him and taking in each detail of this new life. I wonder if as she sat there holding her baby she recalled the words that the angel spoke to her. His name was to be called Jesus, because He would save the people from their sins. Jesus the baby became Jesus, Lamb of God who would be the sacrifice for each and every one of our sins. Without the sacrifice of the Lamb, our future would be dim, but because of Him we have hope. The Christmas story marks a pinnacle point in history, many awaited the coming of the Messiah for hundreds of years, but it also marks the beginning of our reconciliation with God. As you celebrate Jesus the baby, also celebrate the Lamb of God who has taken away your sins - the reason He came in the first place.

"The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" - John 1:29

Dear Jesus,
As I celebrate the manger I also celebrate the cross and thank You for coming to this earth to be our sacrifice. Without You our lives would be so dim, so hopeless. Thank You for the manger and thank You for the cross.

Day Twenty-Three: Saviour

"Jesus the baby is also Jesus the Saviour."

This is the reminder that the worship leader at church gave to the congregation this morning. I have found that this year more than ever as I celebrate Christmas, I also celebrate the cross. Without the cross, the manger loses its' significance. The manger is part of the bigger picture, the story of God. The manger reminds us that Jesus came, the cross reminds us why. Jesus, our Saviour came to this world as a baby to save us from our sins and redeem us from the penalty of death. Baby Jesus is Saviour Jesus.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." - John 3:16

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." - 2 Peter 3:18

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the manger and thank You for the cross. Thank You for coming to this earth and Thank You for dying on the cross so that we can know You personally. I know that I will never fully grasp the depth of that this side of heaven, but thank You for loving us in this way. Amen.

Day Twenty-Two: Creator

I've been reminiscing a lot lately about the time I spent in Tanzania 4 and a half years ago. Those were two of the best months of my life and I always look back on them with find memories knowing that God grew me tremendously during that time. It was during those months that I viewed God as Creator in a way that I hadn't before. Sunsets over the Indian Ocean, beautiful views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, safari on the African plains and the.most.amazing view of the starry night sky. It was throughout this time that we were doing a Bible study on the book of Colossians and chapter 1 verse 16 came alive in a real way.

"For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created through Him and for Him." - Colossians 1:16

It's all His. He created it and He holds it all together. His creation declares His glory and majesty. Since my time in Tanzania I find myself so much more aware of God's incredible creation and often praise Him for it.

"Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right." - 1 Peter 4:19

Dear Jesus,
I praise You wonderful Creator for Your incredible masterpiece. Your beautiful, glory and majesty are evident in what You have created. Thank You that it also reveals the depth of Your love to us. I love you. Amen.

Day Twenty-One: Majesty

Majesty
Majesty
Your grace has found me just as I am
Empty handed but alive in Your hands
Majesty
Majesty
Forever I am changed by Your love
In the presence of Your Majesty
'Majesty,' Delirious

According to the dictionary, the word majesty has the following definitions:
1. supreme greatness or authority; sovereignty
2. regal, lofty, or stately dignity; imposing character; grandeur
3. Christ in Majesty, a representation of Christ as ruler of the universe.

So much attention is placed on those in such a regal position which is understandable when someone holds that kind of power. It's exciting to me though, to think of the fact that God reigns supremely over ALL. The Queen of England, the President of the United States, or even the corrupt, evil rulers of the past - They've got nothing on Our King. Not one of the natural disasters, wars, tragedies or elections surprised Our Majesty, He knew it all before it came to be. To be honest this gives me so much peace when I look around at what our world has become. It seems completely chaotic until we are reminded that Our Majesty is still in control and always will be.

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, - Hebrews 1:3

The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. - Psalm 93:1


Dear Jesus,
There is so much comfort in the fact that You always have and will always reign above all other powers and authorities. You hold the earth in Your hands and I give You praise for Your sovereignty. Thank You for being all-knowing and ever present in our lives. Amen.

Day Twenty: Light of the World

Jesus, Light of the World
Shine through the darkness
Bright as the day
Jesus, Light of the World
Shine in our hearts
Show us the way tonight
- Jesus, Light of the World, Third Day

Watching five minutes if the nightly news will remind you what a dark and broken world we live in. Violence, war, crime, death, hate. Jesus knew that the world was full of these things before He arrived, yet despite that He came. The Light in a pitch dark world, the Hope to the broken pieces. Think about when the power goes out and you can't see anything, you try to feel your way around so that you don't walk into anything. Then, someone lights a candle or finds a flashlight and all of the sudden the way is not so dark anymore. You feel relieved and navigating around isn't so difficult. Jesus is that flashlight or flame to the udder darkness of this world. He is hope that it won't always be this dark. Boy am I thankful for that.

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." - John 8:12

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for bringing light to a dark world. Thank You for leaving the throne to physically come to such a broken place and thank You that through You the brokenness is healed. I pray that despite all of the distractions and temptations I will walk with You in the light. Amen.

Day Nineteen: Bread if Life

Sustainer, Provider and Bread of Life.
This time of the year I find that I always need to be reminded that God is the only One who fills the hunger and void in our lives. No amount of material possessions will come close and as basic as that sounds not many live it out. I say it all the time yet find myself thinking that I "need" all of these things for Christmas. Things don't satisfy, only God does. He gives life, joy, hope and peace - the things that we need. When our contentment is found in Him, we are not hungry for anything else.

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. - John 6:35

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for providing for our needs, thank you Your goodness to us and that You promise that You will give us all that we need. I pray that my hunger for You would continue to grow and I would strive to know You more. Remind me as much as I need it Lord that only in You is true satisfaction found. Amen.

Day Eighteen: Cornerstone

"Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong, in the Savior's love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of All"
- Cornerstone, Hillsong

I was excited when I read the verses and name for today because I have experience Christ as my Cornerstone in a real way over the past few months. Many of you know that my dad was in a very serious motorcycle accident in September and it has been a long journey since then. I am incredibly grateful to have him home, but my family has definitely walked through the valley of the shadow of death. It was scary to say the least to receive a phone call that your dad is intensive care in a hospital 18 + hours away. Especially during those first few weeks I played Hillsong's 'Cornerstone' on repeat. I needed to believe and be reminded that He is my Cornerstone, my Firm Foundation especially when it seemed like the ground I was standing on was falling out beneath me. I am encouraged now to tell you that God showed me in a real and much needed way that He remains, He is faithful and that I needed to lean on Him and nothing else. Through the storm, He is my Lord of All.

Therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed. - Isaiah 28:16

Dear Jesus,
I praise You for being my Cornerstone through storms and trials, highs and lows; You have remained my Firm Foundation through it all. Thank You that my feelings, circumstances and emotions don't change who You are. Jesus I know I wouldn't have made it through the past few months without You. Thank You. Amen.

Day Seventeen: The Vine

As I reflect on Jesus being The Vine I am reminded of a few things. First that He always needs to be my source of strength. Second, that I cannot do good, bear fruit or make a difference in this world apart from Jesus. Only through Him will I accomplish this. Lastly, I am so thankful that God cares so much about me that He wants to prune, shape and grow me into who He wants me to be. Read through these verses, they describe the character of God well. He is life-giving and life-shaping.

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. - John 15:1-5

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for being the giver of life. As we cry out that we can't do it, You assure us that You can. I pray that I will be reminded to find strength in You and not myself. As I abide in You may You bear much fruit in me. Amen.

Day Sixteen: Strong Tower

You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I seek
-Strong Tower, Kutless

I, like so many, was deeply saddened, heart broken, and grieved to hear of the shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School this past Friday. The fact that 20 sets of parents will be without their 6 or 7 year old child this Christmas brings me to tears. It's easy and I think even human nature to look at this horrific tragedy and feel like God has turned His back or that He has looked away when in fact it is the complete opposite. This morning at church as we mourned with and prayed for these families affected, the pastor spoke about the Mighty God talked about in Isaiah 9:6. The Bible is filled with so many instances where Mighty God: Yahweh was right in the middle of situations that seemed hopeless, situations that could not be overcome without the strength of God. The residents of Newtown need that strength; as they grieve deal with deep pain they need the strength of our Strong Tower to get them through each hour of each day. God is in the middle of Newtown, CT and today as I remember God as my Strong Tower, I pray that He would be that to those who mourn the lost of loved ones.


"The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and is safe." - Proverbs 18:10

Dear Jesus,
Lord my heart is broken for those of Newtown, CT. I can't fathom the pain that so many are feeling and I feel sick thinking about the loss that they are experiencing. I pray that You would be their Strong Tower in the midst of this nigthmare. I ask that they would run to You and find refuge in Your arms. Be so near to them I pray. Amen.

Day Fifteen: Alpha and Omega

Alpha and Omega
Beginning and the End
Who was and is and is to come
In control of the past, present and future
All things come from Him and are for Him
Always had been, always will be
Creator and Finisher
Eternal

"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

Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. - Revelation 21:6

Dear Jesus,
You always were and always will be and I give You praise. You are powerful and almighty as You control and create all things. You are outside of time and space and are far beyond our understanding. Remind how big You are and how small I am. Amen.

Day Fourteen: I AM

"I know I'm not, but I know I AM." - Louie Giglio

To be honest, for a long time this concept of 'I AM' really confused me. What does it all mean? Once I started researching it and hearing a pastor preach a sermon about it I was fascinated. God's name, the I AM, reveals the fullness of His nature. All of God's character and attributes are embodied in His name. I AM that I AM reveals His self existence and what He is in Himself. Never-changing, faithful, eternal. We cannot and will not ever fully comprehend the fullness of His nature and attributes. Wow. Above all, learning about all of this just creates a bigger sense of awe for my Father.


"Then Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, " I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" - Exodus 3:13, 14

Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." - John 8:58

Dear Jesus,
I praise You I AM for being far, far, FAR bigger and greater than we can ever grasp. Thank You for never changing and for remaining faithful always. I sit here in awe of Your greatness tonight Lord. Amen.

Day Thirteen: Redeemer

There is a redeemer,
Jesus, God's own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One,

Jesus my redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank you oh my father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit,
'Til the work on Earth is done.
- There is a Redeemer, Keith Green

This was one of my favourite choruses for a long time. It was the first that I learned how to play on the flute back when I was in elementary school. Even more than the melody though, I really like the simplicity, yet power of the lyrics. Solid.Biblical.Truth. Jesus is our Redeemer and the more aware I become of my sin the more thankful I am that Jesus has cleansed it all. He paid for our debt, traded His life for our own, recovered our lives from the captivity of sin - He is our Redeemer.

“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,And at the last He will take His stand on the earth."  - Job 19:25

"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb,'I, the Lord, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself and spreading out the earth all alone.'" - Isaiah 44:24

Dear Jesus,

Nothing that I say or do will ever be able to repay what You did for me on the cross. Thank You that ALL of my sin has been redeemed by the only One who was able to do so. Jesus, thank You for laying down Your life so that mine could be free. Words are not enough, but I love You. Amen.

Day Twelve: Living Water

The story of the Samaritan woman at the well is one of my favourites because it reveals so much about who Jesus is. In this passage He refers to Himself as Living Water. What Jesus spoke figuratively, this woman took literally until He explains further. Just as our physical body needs water to survive so does our spirit. He is refreshing to the soul just like a cold glass of water on a hot day. The only thing that can truly quench the thirst of the spirit is the living water, Jesus Christ.

"Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." She said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?" Jesus answered and said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.'" - John 4:10-14

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for being the refreshment to my soul and for being the only One who can truly satisfy my spirit. When I try to find satisfaction in other things remind me that You are the only One that will fill that void. Thank You Jesus for giving me what I need and loving me so much. Amen.

Day Eleven: The Truth

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'" - John 14:6

This verse brings me back to my university days because this was a topic that came up frequently. So many of the spiritual conversations I had with friends, classmates or even strangers on campus centered around truth. It was a challenge to stand for for the Ultimate Truth when the rest of the campus seemed to be fighting against it. To hear someone say that there is an Absolute Truth was rare. I often question what I am doing, how am I living, what is my life saying to show others that Jesus is the Truth. Everything He did, all the words He said and His very character is absolutely true. We can trust His promises, His guidance and His words because everything about them is true. The next time you're having a hard time trusting God, remember that.

Dear Jesus,
I am so thankful that I can fully lean on You and Your Word because You are The Truth. Thank You that even though the world doesn't believe it, I know that there is an absolute truth, You. Jesus help me to remember that especially when I am having a hard time trusting You. Amen.

Day Ten: The Good Shepherd

The job description of a shepherd is to:
- Care for and tend to his flock
- Guard the sheep from danger
- Discipline wandering sheep
- Provide for their flock

In a spiritual context, Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His flock. He cares for us, protects us from the enemy, disciplines us when we need it and He provides for our needs. Not only that, but He lays down His life for his sheep. He knows us, He loves us.  This passage in John shows the deep care and love that Jesus has for His sheep. Take a moment to read and reflect on this verse, His love for us is so great.

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep." - John 10:11-15


Dear Jesus,
This side of Heaven we will never fully grasp the care and the love that You have for Your sheep. Thank You for being the Good Shepherd who has laid down His life for His flock. Thank You for guarding me, protecting me and providing me with discipline when I need it. I love you. Amen.

Day Nine: Messiah

I've never researched the definition of the word Messiah, until now. My findings created another sense of awe for my Saviour.

Messiah

"(Heb. mashiah), in all the thirty-nine instances of its occurring in the Old Testament, is rendered by the LXX. "Christos." It means anointed. Thus priests (Ex. 28:41; 40:15; Num. 3:3), prophets (1 Kings 19:16), and kings (1 Sam. 9:16; 16:3; 2 Sam. 12:7) were anointed with oil, and so consecrated to their respective offices. The great Messiah is anointed "above his fellows" (Ps. 45:7) 
- Easton's 1987 Bible Dictionary

1.	Judaism  the awaited redeemer of the Jews, to be sent by God to free  them
2.	Jesus Christ, when regarded in this role
3.	an exceptional or hoped for liberator of a country or people                             He is the Anointed One, the hoped for Deliverer. This time of year I always try to put myself into the shoes (or sandals) of those who lived during the time of the Messiah's birth and as the Bible says, God was silent in the 400 years leading up to the birth. Generation after generation hoped for the awaited Messiah, wondering when would be the day that they would be delivered to freedom. I can only start to imagine the deep rooted joy and peace and relief that followed the announcement of the newborn King. The Messiah was here. He had finally arrived. And probably in the form that no one would have expected.  "Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah." - Matthew 1:16 "The woman *said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus *said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”" - John 4:25-26 (emphasis added) Dear Jesus, Thank You for being the Deliverer that we hoped for. Thank You for delivering us from our sin and for promising us so much more than the temporal things of this life. Thank You for coming to earth and for being the One that we still hope in and for as we await Your second coming. I praise You Messiah. Amen.

Day Eight: Healer

"I believe You're my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need."
- Healer, Hillsong

These are the words I first thought of when thinking of God as Healer. One thing that God has been teaching me over the past couple years is that He doesn't always heal the way we expect, but the way He knows is best. Recently a co-worker shared a story about her sister-in-law who was diagnosed with cancer as a teenager. This young girl went through treatment after treatment until the doctors didn't know what else to do. Being a somewhat spiritual family they decided to go to a healing service lead by an evangelist. After the service she told her family that she believed that she was healed, thinking that she meant physically her family was ecstatic, so when her health continued to decline they were confused. It was then she explained that she was still going to die, but God had healed her spiritually, she then had a relationship with Him an was no longer afraid of death.

This young woman was not healed in the way that her or her family had imagined, but clearly God knew what He was doing and the faith of so many was affected by that. He knew what she needed and He knew what was best. He promises to heal us, in one way or another, this side of heaven or the other He will heal us, just remember that He knows what He's doing.

"He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds." - Psalm 147:3

"Bless the Lord , O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;" - Psalm 103:2, 3

"But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing." - Luke 9:11

Dear Jesus,
You are our Healer. I'm thankful that you don't always heal the way we expect, but rather the way that is best. Thank You that You are still a God of miracles and of healing. You are truly all we need. Amen.

Day Seven: Rock of Ages

Today as I sit here watching the blinking cursor on my screen I am somewhat lost for words on what to write today, not because I don't know what to say, more so because I have too much. As I think about my life I see so clearly how God has continually been my Rock. Through my ups and downs, mountains and valleys, joys and sorrows - He has been constant. God has taught me that my emotions and feeling don't change His character - He is my Rock no matter what I am feeling or what I am experiencing. Boy am I thankful for that.

He is constant
He is forever
He is faithful
He is eternal
He is our protection
He is our defense.

“Trust in the Lord forever,
For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock."
- Isaiah 26:4

Dear Jesus,
I praise You Lord that through and through You are my Rock and You never change. I thank You for keeping Your promises and being worthy of my full trust. I could not live without You. In the happy times and in the hard times may my trust remain in You, the Rock of Ages. Amen.

Day Six: The Word

Words can be creative, heartfelt, life changing. They can tell a story, share an emotion and reveal a lot about the author of them.

John 1:1 says that, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Matthew Henry's commentary asserts this about the first verse of the book of John.

"The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father's mind to the world."

I have read this statement over and over and it continues to blow me away. As an English major and creative writer I love words. I like putting the together to create statements, sentences and poetry and I enjoy learning new words. For me writing is the way in which I express what is on my heart and mind. So, reading Henry's statement made so.much.sense to me. Just as I write poems and blogs so that I can explain to other who I am, Jesus is called The Word because God sent Him to dwell among us so that His character and His plan for the world might be revealed to us. Beautiful.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You that You came to dwell among us and that You are the living Word. I'm simply in awe that You are the Word sent to reveal The Father's heart. Thank You for loving us. Amen.

Day Five: King of Kings

I'll admit that in reading these verses I got excited and nearly started fist pumping. Watching the news, so much of it circles around power and politics, it`s overwhelming. When I study Scripture like this, it reminds me that He already has it taken care of and He really is in control of it all. The bombing in Syria, the political unrest in Egypt and the election that just took place in the US - Jesus is King over it ALL!

"Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign,the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen." - 1 Timothy 6:12-16


"These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful." - Revelation 17:14

Dear Jesus,
Thank You that You are the King of ALL kings. You rule, You reign and You are Lord over all. I praise You that there is not one political party, power, or group that You aren't King over. Remind us Lord that You have overcome and we have nothing to fear. To You be glory and honour. Amen.

Day Four: Everlasting God

I can't read today's name without thinking of the lyrics to Chris Tomlin's song:

"You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary"

In my 4th of university I claimed this as my song of the year. It was a busy and tiring year and I found myself constantly trying to rely on my own strength, but time and time I again I realized that it quickly ran out. Every time I would listen to that song on my iPod or sing it at church I was reminded of the promise given in Isaiah 40:28-31:
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.
He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary."

This will always be one of my most favourite passages of Scripture because of the incredible promise in holds. It captures so well the contrast between our little strength and His great strength. We get tired, we stumble, we lack power, but not God's! He NEVER grows tired or weary and not only does He provide the strength we need, but as we wait upon Him, He mounts us on wings like eagles! WOW.

When you're busy and worn out this month, rely on the Everlasting God and wait upon Him for strength to carry you.

Dear Jesus,
I praise You for Your great strength, power and faithfulness. Thank You for the times where You have mounted me on wings like eagles an carried me. May I continue to remember to rely on Your strength and not my own, for my strength fades so quickly, but Your's lasts FOREVER! Amen.

Day Three: My Hope

My Hope.

My Hope for a future.
My Hope in times if trouble.
My Hope, an anchor for the soul.
My Hope to carry on.

Today I am rejoicing that through Jesus I have true hope. I'm so thankful that on the days when life seems utterly hopeless, My Hope is faithful and is the Hope to go on. It's the soft whisper of," Everything is going to be okay," when everything doesn't seem okay. He doesn't just give us hope, He IS Hope.

Paul opens His letter to Timothy with this declaration:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope, - 1 Timothy 1:1

"My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him." - Psalm 62:5

Dear Jesus,
I praise You because You are true Hope in a world that is so hopeless. Thank You for giving us that hope when going on another day doesn't even seem bearable. I am so thankful that You have a future planned for me far greater than I could even plan for myself. I hope in You. Amen.

Day Two: God of Glory

Upon reading what the name for today is, a looked up 'glory' in the dictionary and came across the following definition:

glory
1. very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown
2. something that is a source of honor, fame, or admiration
3. adoring praise or worshipful thanksgiving
4. resplendent beauty or magnificence

I don't know about you, but reading this definition puts me in a place of awe mostly by the fact that the God of great praise, honour and resplendent beauty loves me, and wants to have a relationship with me, and with you. Thinking about it brings me to my knees both figuratively and literally. Our God is GREAT. 

Psalm 29:3
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
The God of glory thunders,
The Lord is over many waters.

Dear Jesus,
I worship You because You are the God of magnificence and are worthy of ALL of our praise. Thank You that even in Your praise, honour and fame You choose to love each one of us and desire to have a relationship with us. May we give You ALL glory because You are worthy of all our praise. Amen.

Advent Day One: Prince of Peace

Today begins this journey of advent and although I'm exhausted I am really excited to spend more time with Jesus and deepen my relationship with Him.

Prince of Peace. What a great reminder during what can be a hectic and chaotic time of the year and the verses for today are some of my favourites.

Isaiah 9:6
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.

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We are promised peace in Him who is the Prince of Peace. I pray that this month when the pressures of this world and the commercialism of the season start to stress us out, that we would find peace in Him who is peace.

DearJesus,
Thank You for being the Prince of Peace in our lives, for being the calm during the storm and the stronghold during the hurricane. When life is too much to handle and when the stresses of this life are weighing us down, may when run to You to find peace. Amen.

The Journey of Advent

This year, more than usual, I am excited for the advent season. Usually I dread this time of year because the commercialism drives me crazy and all the hype just stresses out, but this year is different. I feel an endless amount of joy to dive into December for a few reasons. I am hungering to know Jesus more and spend more time with Him - what a perfect season for it! I have some great advent devotionals lined up. God has also reminded me of the real reason we celebrate at all. Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season, but do you realize what that means?! Immanuel - God With Us, we celebrate the fact Jesus came with the ultimate plan to save humanity and we celebrate the fact that we worship a God who is WITH US! I am SO excited to celebrate that. Lastly, in light of all that has happened this year, I am looking forward to sharing the joy of the Lord and the love of Christ with those around me.

Because I know how easily it is to become wrapped up in the commercialism and secular aspects of Christmas, especially working in retail, I have been praying and brainstorming ideas of ways to keep Christ at the center of this season. This brings me to the point of this blog post - to share with you one of the ways I will be journeying through this advent season...

Names of God CHRISTmas Advent

So. After reading through a bunch of Scripture I made a list of 25 of the names of God found in the Bible. With each name I chose, I attached 1 or 2 Scripture references to it. I then bought ornaments (from the dollar store) and painted one of the names on each.

 I set up a mini Christmas tree in my room and for each day of advent, starting Saturday, I will place that ornament on the tree and read the attached verses. I pray that it will keep my heart and mind focused on Christ and teach me more about who God is.

I invite you to journey with me. Along with this advent project, I want to blog each of the 25 days to share with you the name of God and the verses for that day in hopes that you will be reminded of why we celebrate and what an amazing God we serve.

Blessings

It seems like I write on this topic often.
Maybe I don't learn the first time.
Maybe writing helps me to process everything that is going on.
Maybe it's one way I can praise God in the storm.
I think it's all of the above.

To say that I've been on a roller coaster these past 6 weeks would be an understatement, my emotions and mood are up and down on a good day. Lately I've been all over the place and sometimes I go from joyful to bawling my eyes out in the matter of 5 minutes. Seriously, in the past half an hour I have laughed and cried, multiple times. Exahusting... VERY!

As much as I dislike these difficult times, they truly are time of the greatest growth in my relationship with God. Each time, I learn more about who God is, the truth of His Word and the strength of His promises. No, these storms of life are not fun... at all, but it's worth it. It really is. It's in the storms that God reveals everything His Word tells us about His character to be true.

When everything that you've been leaning on falls out from underneath you, it's then you realize that you weren't the one holding on to begin with.
When He is all you have, you learn that He is all you need.
It's always hard to say this during the storm, but I am thankful for the hard times, the painful times and the confusing times.

What if my greatest disappointments, 
Or the aching of this life 
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this lifeThe rain, the storms, the hardest nightsAre your mercies in disguise - Blessings, Laura Story

God didn't give you the life that you have because He thought you could handle it, He gave it to you because He knew that you couldn't. It's through the rain, the thunder, and the crashing waves that I realize that I need Him more that I even know. I seem to have to learn this over and over again (if I could only learn things the first time around)!

The truth is, I am blessed, incredibly blessed. We all are.
Blessed with simple things like the cool fall breeze, a warm mug of tea, a hug from a friend.
Overwhelmed with the love of the family of God, and the generosity of friends and family.
Amazed by the mercies of God, the hope found in Him, and the deep, deep love shown on the Cross.

Thank You Jesus that You are the Comforter, Healer and Giver of Every Breath. Thank You for these times that remind us that Your Word is true and Your love never fails. These times grow my love for You and show me that You remain sovereign even in the chaos. Jesus I trust You with the past hurts, present pain and future disappointments knowing that You will bring good out of it all. You are good and You are faithful. Thank You Lord for that. I love You Jesus, with all that I am.

I'm His Mess

Yes, I'm a Christian.
Yes I can be the biggest hypocrite.
I backslide. I stumble. I fall.
I stray onto the wrong path.
But God is working in me.
Teaching me. Growing me. Shaping me.
I may be a mess, but I'm HIS mess
He is slowly straightening me out,
Directing each step as I allow Him to lead me.
And the day will come when I will stand before Him, His work in me complete.
Until that day I will take His hand, and let Him do in me whatever needs to be done no matter how painful it will be.
That He would use me, to reach others, for His glory.
When He is finished, it will all be worth it.

*inspired by a post on Tumblr 

The Struggle With Loneliness

I am single.

Most days I am completely okay with it. I am a fairly independent person and a strong introvert so I do need  a lot of time on my own.

Some days though I feel lonely, really lonely.
Today is one of those days.
One of those days that I wish I had someone to go for a walk with, watch a movie with, study the Bible with... walk through life with. It happens every once and a while and I'm still learning how to combat these deep feelings of loneliness. It's on days like today that I realize that I'm not believing that Jesus alone is enough.

I think it's okay to want to be with someone, to want to get married - after all, God created us as social and emotional beings who long for relationship. A Godly relationship is a good thing. Although, as Mark Driscoll says, "Idolatry is taking a good thing and making it a god thing and that's a bad thing." Relationships/longing for a relationship is definitely an idol that I struggle with. It consumes a lot of my thought life sometimes and often I find my heart aching for someone.

Days when I'm feeling so lonely, instead of turning to girly movies and Christian romance novels I need to turn to Jesus. I need to surrender my loneliness to Him and lean on His promise that He will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). I need to remember that true love is when a Man wipes your tears even after you left him hanging on the cross for your sins. No man will EVER even come close to filling the void that only Jesus can fill. I don't want to look back on my season (or life) of singleness and see a time of lost potential - potential to spend as much time with Jesus is possible. I don't want to waste it wishing and longing and dreaming about a husband, I want to spend it giving Jesus my all and serving Him wholeheartedly. I'm not sharing all of this because I have it all figured out, I'm sharing it because I don't. I'm still learning.

"As a single woman, give your heart fully, wholly, unabashedly, and devotedly to Christ alone."

I'm sure that there will be many more days of loneliness, but may they be times when I am reminded that Jesus alone is enough and cling to Him even more. What if I'm single for 10 more years, or 20, or for the rest of my life? Then Jesus will still be enough. As hard as that is to say, He is enough. Him and Him alone.

"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."                     - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Thanksgiving Chair

I came across this video on Facebook this morning and knew that it was one that needed to be shared. What an excellent reminder to give thanks continually, in ALL circumstances. Happy Thanksgiving!

A Psalm for Thanksgiving

I have been just loving this Psalm lately. It's such an outpouring of praise to God for who He is and it stirs my soul to read these words. It reminds me again of just how blessed and thankful I am to have a relationship with God. Read through and be reminded of the powerful and loving God that we serve.

Praise for the LORD's Mercies

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
³ Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
⁴ Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
⁵ Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

⁶ The Lord performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.
⁷ He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
⁸ The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
⁹ He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
¹² As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
¹³ Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
¹⁴ For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.

¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
¹⁶ When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
¹⁷ But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸ To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.

¹⁹ The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His ^[h]sovereignty rules over all.
²⁰ Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
²¹ Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
²² Bless the Lord, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the Lord, O my soul!