Posts Tagged ‘ Holidays ’

Preparing Our Hearts: First Week of Advent 2024

I enjoy the Christmas season. I enjoy celebrating Advent.

The first week of Advent is traditionally seen as being a time for looking at hope and faith, having an expectation of the coming Savior. This year, I am using some of the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Let’s get into

Week One of Advent

“Look, the days are coming”—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
“when I will fulfill the good promise
that I have spoken
concerning the house of Israel
and the house of Judah.
In those days and at that time
I will cause a Righteous Branch
to sprout up for David,
and he will administer justice
and righteousness in the land.
In those days Judah will be saved,
and Jerusalem will dwell securely,
and this is what she will be named:
The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

Jeremiah 33:14-16, CSB

The world was full of sin, separation, and violence. Israel and Judah were God’s chosen people to spread His glory, but they had essentially failed at being faithful. Israel was already taken into exile, and Jeremiah was living during the time of Judah going into exile.

Jeremiah reminded us that God had established His covenant with King David, that an eternal Kingdom was coming with a descendant of David ruling forever. When this King comes, salvation and peace shall come. The next two verses even include that there will also be an eternal Priest.

This Priestly King will be called “The Lord is our righteousness.” As 1 Corinthians 1:30 reminds us, Christ is our righteousness and redemption, the Lord who sanctifies us.

We now know who this Priestly King is, and we must submit ourselves to His rule. And our hope is for eternity, knowing that Christ will come again. As said in Luke 21:25-36, this world will pass away, but He and His word will last forever, so we must prepare ourselves for His next coming.

The Hope of mankind has come and is coming, so let us repent of our sins, changing the way we think and act, worshiping the Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity of the Godhead, that we may be ready when He returns. We have hope only if we are found in Christ.

Believe in the coming Son.

Prayer:

Lord, we have sinned against You and You alone. You are our only hope. Grant us the grace to repent, the strength to follow You, and the will to love others through the gospel and serving each other until You return. Show us the hope we have in Your life, death, and resurrection, and by the power of the Holy Spirit guide us in all truth until You return.

2024
12/01
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A Half-Evil Day

Looking at a daily devotional, I couldn’t help noticing that our American day of Tahnksgiving falls on the 333rd day of the year.

My mind immediately thought, “That’s funny. Our holiday is only half-evil,” going from the traditional understanding of “666” being the number of the Antichrist.

Naturally, that took my mind to Scripture:

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:15-21, ESV

The world is a crazy place with more sin than we can fathom being celebrated, yet we can come together in thankfulness for our Lord who is redeeming the world and will soon return in glory.

Let us encourage each other in Christ, especially on a day like Thanksgiving but also throughout the year. Enjoy times with each other as the Church, and love your family and friends.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good … even when the world is half evil.

Happy Thanksgiving.

2024
11/28
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… And a Merry Christmas, too …

I originally wrote this 16 years ago as a part-time homeless young man on the streets of Phoenix. I also happened to be in the house of the family of my then-future wife.

Many things have changed since then, but not Jesus.

As I sit here typing this, “It’s a Wonderful Life” is playing in the background.

It reminds me of how thankful I am to my Lord and my Savior. Even though my life is not exactly in the most stable place right now. Yet, that is exactly one of the reasons I am so thankful.

Imagine this scene: 

A young woman, just a teenager, finding herself pregnant in a society that would stone her for adultery within a society that is cruel and dangerous. And when she is about nine months pregnant, she is told she needs to walk over seventy miles. 
She should worry about her fiance leaving her. She should worry about the religious officials dragging her before a court and wanting to "dispose of her." She should be worried about her unborn child coming into a world that seems heartless and callous and deadly. She should ... worry.

What does she do instead?

She trusts what God has told her. She holds on to a promise that everything will be okay… even if it does not seem to be going so well, at the moment.

Her fiancé does stay with her. Yet, there are strange people saying strange things to and about her child. Yet, she learns that her baby’s life is now threatened. She needs to take him to Egypt right away!

How does she react?

She treasures all these things in her heart.

She praises her God. She keeps a hold of His promises.

And what does she say on this day?

It is not “Merry Christmas!”
It is not “Peace and Joy to all!”
It is not even “Let us exchange gifts!”
It was probably something more like “Hello, my child. Welcome to the world. I love you, and I will be here for you.”

Do you know what is so amazing about that?

That is what our Father, our heavenly Daddy, says to each of us on the day we are born.

Even better, He says it the day we decide we need to follow Him.

Even better, He says it every single day.

When is Christmas?

It does not matter what day Jesus was really born on. God cares more for us because of His Son, and the change that He has created in us.

When is Christmas?

It is the day when we respond to His call. When we are reborn in Him. It is Christ born in us. Some call it the day you were saved. Some call it the start of eternal life. Some call it their re-birthday (yo).

But it is our own personal Christmas.

God with us.

Remember this Christmas two things:

God loves you. He loves you so much that He sent His only Son to this earth that we might be with Him forever, in constant fellowship.

Your time to remember Christ is year round, not just once a year. He is not the reason for the Season, but He is the reason for all seasons!

I say to you today if you are not a believer in Jesus as Savior, that He wants you with Him forever, that He has done literally everything to get you and make you His friend and child.

I say to you today if you call on the Name of our Lord, that He wants you with Him forever, and He has done literally everything to get you and make you His friend and child. And He is always holding you in His hand.

I say to all that God loves you. He always has. He always will.

Oh …

I love you, too! Have a great life with our Lord!

… and a Merry Christmas, too…

2023
12/24
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Happy New Year 2023!

Quite a bit of this, I admit, I just copied and pasted! I changed and added what was needed.

Did you know more stuff happened this year? (*sarcasm)

On some positive notes, my Youth Group grew much bigger, and the Instructional Assistant (one step below professor, but I still teach … but mostly grade work and keep students on task) for Christian Worldview at Grand Canyon University job is proving fruitful n many ways. A big one is that I personally have gotten to lead several people to faith in Christ and help others grow deeper in their faith, as well as helping some who had been antagonistic to religion in general and Christianity in particular be more open-minded. That is pretty cool.

Overall, we had a good year. We also did a lot of upgrades around the house, and otherwise have done many things we wanted/needed to do.

I am making a palletable bench for the Mrs.

And God is still good and in control.

This next year will definitely be … 2023.

In any event, may you receive an abundance of bunches of blessings this year. And though life may take some effort to trudge through, fall on the promises of God, this year and always.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24‭-‬26 ESV

In His Love,

Daniel

2023
01/01
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Advent 2022 – Day 29: Revelation 1:8, 22:12-13

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Revelation 1:8, 22:12-13 ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus is the Eternal Son of God who was with the Father “before” Creation, through whom all things were created.

We rebelled against our Creator, thinking we could be like Him or had no need for Him.

Yet, God came to us, paying for our sins while reserving wrath for those who refuse to believe.

And Jesus is coming again.

He came as a baby, becoming like us to grow up and save us, and we remember this.

But we also remember that this Man is also our God – truly man and truly God at once and completely.

He died on a cross for us, but He arose again from the dead proving that this Jesus is our God of wrath and grace.

And He is returning soon in His wrath and grace to finally and completely fully redeem this world to Himself.

May we seek the Lord who has defeated sin and death, has saved us, and is coming back again in glory.

Hallelujah and Amen.

Come, Lord Jesus!

2022
12/25
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Advent 2022 – Day 28: John 3:35-36

The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 3:35-36, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, and His true followers look to Him.

God the Father sent God the Son because of His love for Him and for us.

We are the inheritance of Christ from the Father, but only if we belive in the Son.

Though many still doubt and remain under God’s wrath.

Yet, God came to us, giving His life to bring life to those who believe because of His great love.

It is hard for us to comprehend how deep the Father’s love is, yet He gives all things to His Son whom He sent to die for us.

We are no longer under God’s wrath when we believe in the work of Christ on the cross, yet we have a greater hope knowing He arose from the grave.

All of Creation is placed in His hands, and we know He is coming again for us, as He promised before and at His ascension to the right hand of the Father.

May we seek the Lord who saves us and is coming again to take us as His own.

2022
12/24
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Advent 2022 – Day 27: John 3:30

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John 3:30, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, and His true followers look to Him.

True followers of Jesus rejoice to hear Him and to point others toward Him.

2000 years ago through today, there are those who say we should focus on building our own life, on making sure we are happy and influential.

Yet, God came to us, showing us He is the only one worthy of influence and fame, our true source of happiness and joy.

It is not that we hate ourselves or other people, it is that Jesus has saved His people and we want to show the world who He is.

The world may think we want to be their saviors, but we know He is the rightful King and Savior.

Our mission is not to grow our platform but to grow Christ’s Church.

Yes, like John we deny ourselves and point to Christ, and we deny ourselves because we want the world to know Christ.

It is not self-deprecation, it is glorifying our God who lives in us and is restoring all things, including us.

May we seek the Lord who saves us and to bring Him all glory.

2022
12/23
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Advent 2022 – Day 26: John 3:28-29

“You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.“

John 3:28-29, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, and His true followers look to Him.

True followers of Jesus rejoice to hear Him and to point others toward Him.

People may scoff, and they may even claim we think of ourselves as high and mighty and christs ourselves.

Yet, God came to us, showing us He is the source of all goodness and power, saving His Bride – the Church – from her sin.

Jesus has saved His people, and we will want to show the world who He is.

The world may think we want to be their saviors, but we know He is the rightful King and Savior.

Our refutation is not done the same way as the world.

Yes, we deny ourselves and point to Christ, but we do it by pointing to the Scriptures that reveal His deity and works.

We remember and proclaim the prophecies of Jesus’ first coming, His death and resurrection, and that He is coming again for His Bride.

May we seek the Lord who saves us and is coming again to claim His Bride.

2022
12/22
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Advent 2022 – Day 25: John 3:16-18

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.“

John 3:16-18, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, teaching the truths of God and proving them with miracles, signs, and wonders.

Whether we grow up surrounded by religious teachings or nothing spiritual, it can be difficult to comprehend salvation.

Jesus explained to Nicodemus, and thus to us, that it is pretty simple how to be saved, but we make it oh so difficult.

Yet, God came to us, showing us we saved only by believing in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

If we don’t choose to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, fully God and fully man, who is the God we have all sinned against, that He died for our forgiveness and restoration to Himself, and that He bodily rose back to life, we remain condemned to the wrath of God for our sin.

If we don’t believe all of that, we are in danger of not being saved.

Jesus is full of grace, and He is our only source of hope and forgiveness.

God came to us as a man to save us by taking our punishment on Himself, and we must believe this to be saved.

It is not difficult to understand, but we don’t want to admit our faults or that it can be so easy to be saved yet difficult to live by God’s standard.

May we seek the Lord who has saved us from wrath and given us the path to eternal life.

2022
12/21
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Advent 2022 – Day 24: John 3:13-15

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

John 3:13-15, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, teaching the truths of God and proving them with miracles, signs, and wonders.

Even the religious elite could see it, but they could not understand without help.

And Jesus was that help to Nicodemus and others willing to listen, but we tend to be an obstinate lot.

Yet, God came to us, showing us how we are to be saved.

What does Jesus tell us about salvation?

He tells us that only Jesus has made the trip from heaven and back, that only those who believe in Him can ascend.

He tells us we must believe He is the only source of salvation, and it is in His death on the cross we find forgiveness and are saved.

God came to us as a man to save us by taking our punishment on Himself, and we must believe this to be saved.

Maybe people who lived in Old Testament times did not understand this in detail, but they knew where salvation was found: in God alone.

Christ has come and given us the Holy Spirit who leads us to Christ’s cross and forgiveness of sins and hope for eternal life.

May we seek the Lord who has saved us and shown us the path to eternal life.

2022
12/20
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