Advent Devotional

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 ELOHIM Who is God? God is the Creator. He is powerful and mighty. He is the Lord of lords. Out of nothing, Elohim created the beautiful world in which we live. God did not skimp on anything. Before He placed Adam on this earth, God created light and darkness. He created air for us to breathe; He divided the sea and land. Then, God placed plants of infinite variety on the land. Once that task was completed, God created the stars and the sun to light the night and the day respectively. Next, He created all varieties of fish and birds to populate the waters and the air. On the final day of Creation, God created all manner of land animals to populate the earth. God’s very last creation, man, was made in His image, for God placed His spirit within the heart of mankind. When He was done with His creation, God pronounced it good, and He rested. What a wonderful gift Elohim gave to us- life!

13 “Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”[a] And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord,[b] the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”  Exodus 3:13-15 YAHWEH Yahweh has always existed. When the earth, the sun, and the solar system is no more, God will still be God. Because He is, you can rely on God, for He is your eternal source of strength.

“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.” Deuteronomy 10:17 ADONAI There is no question as to Who is the Lord God Almighty, for there is only One Who is the Lord over all- Adonai. Safety is found in Adonai. Justice is found in Adonai, for He is impartial in His judgments. God cannot be threatened or bribed. His Word is absolute.

18 “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High,     Possessor[a] of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High,     who has delivered your enemies into your hand!’ And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” Genesis 14:18-20 EL-ELYON God is the Most High God. There is no one Who is equal to or above El-Elyon. If you know that God is the “Most High God,” then you have nothing to fear. Trust in Him. Philippians 2:10 states, 10 “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” With this promise in mind, know that under the protection of El-Elyon, Satan’s arrows cannot harm you because the Devil must bow to Jesus, El-Elyon.

“13 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,”[a] for she said, “Truly here I have seen Him who looks after me.”[b] Genesis 16:13 EL-ROI God is the “Strong One Who Sees.” Do you feel that you are you alone? This eyewitness account tells you differently- you are never alone, for God is El-Roi. God sees your rejoicing, but He also see your suffering. He knows you, and He hears each and every cry your heart makes. God loves you. He is weaving your story for your good. Slaves were commonplace in ancient times. In this portion of Scripture, Sarai, the mistress, dealt harshly with Hagar, the servant. As a result of the harsh treatment, Hagar ran away from her mistress. God did not free Hagar from Sarai, but He did much more. In Genesis 16:9-12, we are privy to a conversation between the angel of the Lord and Hagar. “ The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant     and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael,[c]     because the Lord has listened to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man,     his hand against everyone     and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” Your situation may not change, but knowing that El-Roi loves you and cares for you will change you.

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”[a] Isaiah 7:14 Traditional. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Hymns for the Family of God. Thomas Helmore, arranger. Nashville: Paragon Associates, Inc., 1976. Performed by The Piano Guys https://youtu.be/iO7ySn-Swwc

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”Psalm 91:1

EL-ShADDAI-ROHI

God is the Mighty One of Jacob.He is the All Sufficient One the Creator of heaven and earth.El-Shaddai-Rohi is the Bestower of power, gifts, and blessings.He sees your need and gives you the grace necessary to accomplish your goal.As the Shepherd, El-Shaddai-Rohi guides His flock in a very close Fatherly relationship.

⁹ “As I looked,

thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
¹⁰ A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.”

¹¹ “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. ¹² As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.”

The Son of Man Is Given Dominion

¹³ “I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
¹⁴ And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:9-14

ATTIYQ YOUM

God is called the Ancient of Days.He is eternal.Attiyq Youm was before the beginning of everything.He has all authority- no one gave God the power to create, to rule, or to be.They have always belonged to Attiyq Youm.

“For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.^[a]
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.” Psalm 139:13-18

EL-CHUWL

El-Chuwl is the God of all creation, and He is the One Who created all life.As He breathed life into Adam and then Eve, God carefully placed you in your mother’s womb. El-Chuwl created you.You were not an accident, for you are dearly loved and cherished by the One Wo made you- El-Chuwl.

“Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
His understanding is unsearchable.
²⁹ He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might He increases strength.
³⁰ Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

EL-OLAM

El-Olam is God.He is Everlasting, Never-ending, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, but you need to know that God was before the beginning and will be after the end.We tend to think that each new day with its problems and solutions will last forever, but we are wrong.Each day is only twenty-four hours long.Each day is encapsulated within those hours, minutes, and seconds.When the day is gone, it is gone forever.Our problems, much like each day, are fleeting and temporary, but God is eternal, and His promises are true.EL-Olam is with you through all your trials and tribulations.He sees your heart. He knows your fears, and, if you trust in Him, God will strengthen you so that you may come through the valley of your trials a stronger and a better person.

“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon^[a] His shoulder,
and His Name shall be called^[b]
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

EL GIBBOR

El Gibbor is the Mighty God.When you need advice, God is ready to help you.You need a mountain moved?Take your request to God with thanksgiving as Philippians 4:4-7 states, ^{4 “}Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness^[d] be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”God will not leave you or forget you, for He is the “Everlasting Father.”When you are upset, remember that Jesus is not only El Gibbor, the Mighty God, but He is also the “Prince of Peace.”When He was on earth walking and teaching His disciples, Jesus gave a great gift to us- He gave us His peace.John 14:27 states, ^{27 “}Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”El GIbbor, the Mighty God, gave His all for you.Now He is waiting for you to reach out to Him.

“Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by Him actions are weighed.” 1 Samuel 2:3

El-DEAH

Each day, we search for knowledge.We have hardcopy books like dictionaries, encyclopedias, or online search engines like Google or Bing to help us find the answers.Yet the answers to life’s most difficult questions are found in God’s Word, the Holy Bible.Google is a good place to search for information, but for the answers that matter we need to go to El-Deah, for all knowledge, all wisdom come from Him. As the author of Proverbs 9:10 stated, ^{10 “}The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

PEACE

https://youtu.be/YeSPgiXKo7ISandi Patty “Child of Peace”Lyrics by: Lin Hopkins

Child of Peace

On a night of promise long ago,
When a star announced the light of hope
To a world that knew no peace before
The holy child of peace was born.
But he stirred their longings deep within
For his kingdom knew no end.
From a place eternal high above
The wondrous child of peace had come.
Child of comfort, child of light.
Hope that drowns away the night.
Touch our lives from heaven above.
Oh child of peace, we need your love.
In a world where peace eludes us still
Where the heart exerts its will.
At a time when words are not enough
Oh child of peace we need your love.
Oh man of peace we need your love.
God who only knows our need

Come to us, oh child of peace.

^{13 “}And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”;^[a] as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” Genesis 22:13-14

YAHWEH-JIREH

“Jehovah-Jirah, my provider, His grace is sufficient for me,” is the first line of a praise song I learned when I first became a believer.What comfort it is to know that the Lord will provide for me!Because everything belongs to God, His resources are vast.Even as Abraham trussed up his son Isaac as a sacrifice, Abraham trusted Jehovah-Jireh to supply the true sacrifice, a ram.What faith Abraham had in God, Jehovah-Jireh.

“And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner,” Exodus 17:15

YAHWEH-NISSI

Are you in the middle of a battle?Most of us have some sort of battle in our lives. Perhaps your battle is illness, family quarrel, job loss, or financial concern.If you are fighting your battle without God, your struggle is unnecessarily difficult, for Yahweh-Nissi is our banner.Let me relate Moses’ battle with the Amalekites to you. Found in Exodus 17:8-13, Joshua’s job was much easier when Moses followed God’s instructions.

^{8 “}Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. ⁹ So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” ¹⁰ So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. ¹¹ Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. ¹² But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. ¹³ And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.”

Like Moses, you might be tired too.You might need someone to join you in prayer and thanksgiving, but, like the victory over the Amalekites, your victory will come from God.Yahweh-Nissi is your banner.Remember that God is the one in charge of the spiritual battle that is waging around you.He is your banner- trust in His goodness and power.

^{5 “}Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15

YAHWEH-SHAMMAH

Yahweh-Shammah is the God Who is present.He is with you always in the good times and in the bad times, for God is with you in all times.Your friends may leave you, but your Best Friend, Yahweh-Shammah, will never leave you.God is with you when you choose the more difficult path; your choice might sadden Him, but He will be with you.Your friends may betray you, but your Best Friend, Yahweh-Shammah, is still with you lifting you up and encouraging you.The Bible is filled with uplifting Scriptures which reveal God’s love for each one of us.This portion of Scripture shows Yahweh-Shammah’s love for Jacob even while he was in the wrong.Jacob, whose name means ‘trickster’ was fleeing for his life.He tricked his brother Esau into giving up both his birthright and his blessing.What Jacob did was definitely wrong, and Esau was definitely angry.Yet, God was with Jacob- encouraging him.

”Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. ¹¹ And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. ¹² And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder^[b] set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! ¹³ And behold, the Lord stood above it^[c] and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. ¹⁴ Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. ¹⁵ Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” ¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” ¹⁷ And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”” Genesis 28:10-17

As Yahweh-Shammah was with Jacob, He is also with you.You are never alone.

^{26 “}saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your Healer.” Exodus 15:26

YAHWEH-RAPHA

God is our physical, emotional, and spiritual Healer.Though in Exodus 15:26 God is speaking about physical healing, throughout the rest of the Bible, God specifically tells us He will heal all parts of us.In Psalm 147:3, God shows His concern for our inner being: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”Later, as Jesus donned the mantle of the Son of Man, He walked upon the earth. It is at the very beginning of His ministry that Jesus quoted the Scripture which proclaimed His purpose in coming to earth,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because He has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” Isaiah 61:1

Whether you are reading the Old or the New Testament, Yahweh-Rapha is your Healer.He will never ever let you down.

““Flee from the midst of Babylon;
let everyone save his life!
Be not cut off in her punishment,
for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance,
the repayment he is rendering her.” Jeremiah 51:6

YAHWEH-GHMOLAH

Looking at today’s Scripture with human eyes and understanding, the words may seem harsh and unrelenting.However, God is a just God.The Babylonians defeated and captured the Hebrews in battle.While the Hebrews were not treated as badly under the Babylonians as they were under the harsher Assyrian rule, the Israelites were not able to live in their own country worshiping the one true God.Because Yahweh-Ghmolah is the God of Repayment or Recompense, the Babylonian’s control over the Israelites had a time limit.From the Old Testament Book of Leviticus to the New Testament book of Romans, God clearly sets the ground rules for our dealings with others.In Leviticus 19:18, Scripture states, ^“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”In Romans 12:19, Paul, speaking to the Roman converts, reiterates the same message, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it^[a] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.””Have you been mistreated?Do you want vengeance?Stop!Pray for that person or persons and move on with your life, for Yahweh-Ghmolah will bring the recompense that is necessary.

“Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.” Judges 6:24

YAHWEH-SHALOM

Yahweh-Shalom is the God of Peace.Away from the noise and prying eyes of spectators, God came to earth in the form of a tiny Boy Child named Jesus, the Anointed One.As the Son of Man, Jesus taught us the ways of God.By His humiliating death on a cross, Jesus took the punishment for all the sins of all mankind to Himself.But Jesus revealed God’s glory when on the third day, He rose from the grave of death to life everlasting.Throughout Jesus’ earthly travels, Yahweh-Shalom, the God of Peace, was clearly revealed to one and all, but it was near the end of His life on earth that Jesus spoke about the peace that He would share with each one of us.In John 14:27, ^“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Jesus shared His peace with us.Where are you looking for peace?If you look to and trust in Yahweh-Shalom, you will find the peace which passes all understanding, for you are trusting in the God of Peace.

^[a] “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.” Micah 5:2

Traditional. “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Hymns for the Family of God. Thomas Helmore, arranger. Nashville: Paragon Associates, Inc., 1976.

Performed by: Andre Rieu

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” Luke 2:1-5

In 2020, Americans were counted in a census. Did you remember that particular detail, or has all of the other rigmarole of the year forced it from your mind? Americans were counted to know how many representatives are needed for each state, to find out who was born, who died, and a host of other applications. By filling out the census forms, the federal, state, and local governments can make decisions based upon the population of a given area. The same was true two thousand years ago, when Caesar Augustus called for a census of the Roman empire. Unlike Americans, if you were Jewish, you had to return to the town of your ancestors to be counted.

Hence, Luke introduces us to two important people in the Christmas story: Joseph and Mary. A lowly carpenter made a trip to his ancestors’ home, a little town called Bethlehem, with his pregnant fiancée. Mary was pregnant by the power of God’s Spirit. God always ensures that His will is done, and He often accomplishes it through people, including those who do not worship Him. In this case, Caesar Augustus and governor Quirinius helped God fulfill the promises of Scripture through a simple government concept: the census. Because of the census, God’s Son was born in Bethlehem, not Nazareth, but that is the story for another day. As we prepare for Christmas and the birth of Jesus, let us think of how God continues to work His will today and remember that He used a census to ensure that Scripture was fulfilled so many years ago.

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.” Luke 2:6-8

In 1 Corinthians 1:27, Paul reminds us that God uses the simple things of this world to confound the wise. The Christmas story is filled with examples of this very idea. A simple carpenter, a pregnant fiancée, a Baby lying in a feeding trough, and lowly shepherds make an appearance in Jesus’ journey to earth. Of course, the Baby is Jesus- God Incarnate, the center and reason for our story. But what connects the other three?

Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds each saw the signs and wonders of God and followed His leading. Mary did not have to be Jesus’ mother. She could have said, “No,” but she accepted God’s calling on her life. Joseph could have walked away from Mary; he could have subjected her to public ridicule and potential death. Yet, Joseph chose to take Mary as his wife and become Jesus’ earthly father. The shepherds watched their flocks in the fields, ever vigilant in their waiting.

That night two thousand years ago, the culmination of thousands of years of waiting arrived in the form of a tiny Baby. The Son of God came into the world. Who knew about this wondrous birth? A carpenter, an unwed mother, and shepherds in a field- they were the only ones awake and recognized the signs God used to light the way to Jesus. Do you recognize God’s signs? Do I? This Advent season, let us pray for our eyes to open, our ears to hear, and our hearts to understand the wondrous gift God has given us: His precious Son Jesus.

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:9-14

Imagine you are a shepherd. It is the middle of the night, and the sky is pitch black. Your fellow shepherds ran out of topics of conversation hours earlier, and the only sound is the bleating of random sheep. The ground beneath you is cold, and the air is freezing. What words come to mind? Lonely, dark, dreary, isolated, worthless? Perhaps, the shepherds of the Christmas story felt the same.

Now imagine, the sky lights up like the sun. An angel tells you and your friends- not the king, nor the emperor, nor the wealthiest man in town- tells you that the Son of God was born, where to find Him, and how you will know Him. How are you feeling now? Loved, honored, stunned, reverent? All of the above, and then some? The shepherds may have had those same emotions coursing through them. Overlooked by society, these shepherds became part of the select few graced with the news of Jesus’ birth.

Do you know what is even better? The message the angel shared with the shepherds is the same message given to you, me, and the entire world. Come to the stable; come to the One Who saves. Come to Jesus. This Christmas, let us accept the invitation given by the angel to the shepherds. Then let us draw near to Jesus. He is waiting with arms open wide to welcome us all to the stable.

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby, Who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Luke 2:15-18

Let us revisit our shepherd friends and imagine that you are one of them. The angel has given you the ultimate Good News and an invitation to see the promised Messiah for yourselves. As he finishes speaking, the heavens fill with the Heavenly Host, and you listen in awe to the most awesome concert of the ages, as the angels praise God for His gift to all mankind. Then, as suddenly as it began, the angels disappear, and the night sky returns to the inky blackness, while a profound silence fills the air.

What would you do? Perhaps you remain still too in awe to move, or perhaps you look at your companions and discuss what you just witnessed. As you talk about the angels’ news and invitation, one of the shepherds suggests going to see this Baby. After all, you were invited. In an instant, every shepherd including yourself is hurrying down the hills toward the sleeping Bethlehem, searching for this Baby. As shepherds, you know where to go: the caves where the animals are kept. Just as the angel promised, you find the Baby. He is just a tiny bundle lying in a manger. Your hearts fill with joy as you look on this sleeping Baby, and the Good News bubbles up inside of you. You just have to tell someone. That is exactly what each and every one of the shepherds, including you, do: you tell everyone you meet about the Messiah born this very night.

Tonight is Christmas Eve two thousand years later, and, like the shepherds, we have come to see the newborn King. As we look upon our Savior, the Good News wells up inside of us, and we just have to share the Good News. Listen. Can you hear it? The church bells are ringing, saying, “He is born.” Listen. Do you hear the songs? People are singing, “Christ the Savior is born.” Jesus is born! Let us share the Good News with everyone we meet. Merry Christmas!

One Solitary Life He was born in an obscure village, the son of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter's shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he became a wandering preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn't go to college. He never visited a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of those things one usually associates with greatness. He had no credentials but himself. He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and went through a mockery of a trial. He was executed by the state. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind's progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that One Solitary Life.

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:19-20

Our shepherd friends left Mary, spread the news of Jesus’ birth, and returned to the hills and their waiting sheep. I am sure that Bethlehem rang with their joyous tidings long after the shepherds made their way back to the countryside. Normally, when reading this Scripture, I focus on the shepherds, but, this time, Mary captured my attention. What did Mary do? She treasured and pondered all of the things which occurred.

Over and over, God reminds us to meditate on His Word, His goodness, His faithfulness, His wondrous works, and Who He is. How often do we take the time to follow His instructions? If I am completely honest, less than I care to admit. Yet, what did Mary do? Mary marveled at her infant Son, welcomed visitors in the middle of the night, and remembered all God promised. Rather than filing these memories away and looking toward the next great milestone, Mary thought about it. She pondered God’s favor and His mysterious ways. She treasured these memories, for they were precious to her. This Christmas season, let us ponder God’s goodness, His favor, His ways, and Who He is. Then let us treasure their memories as precious gifts given to us by our loving Almighty Father.

“CHRISTMASTIME”Recorded by: Michael W.Smith

Written by: Michael W. Smith and Joanna Carlson

CHRISTMASTIME

(Chorus)Ring Christmas bells
Ring them loud with the message bringing
Peace on the earth tidings of good cheer
Come carolers come and join with the angels singing
Joy to the world Christmastime is here again

(Verse 1)Children gather around and listen
And you'll hear the sound
Of angels filling the sky
Telling everyone Christmastime is here

(Chorus)

(Verse 2)Loved ones close to our hearts
And strangers in lands a far
Together share in the joy, Emmanuel
To tell the world

He has come to dwell
The time is near
With one voice, let the world rejoice

Christmastime is here

(Chorus) 2 times

(Michael W, Smith)Children gather around and listen
You'll hear the sound
Of angels filling the sky

It's Christmastime is here again

6 “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train^[a] of his robe filled the temple. ² Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. ³ And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of His glory!”” Isaiah 6:1-3

YAHWEH-SABBOTH

Yahweh-Sabboth is the God of Hosts, but who are the Hosts?They are the faithful angels who praise God and are assigned help (Hebrews 1:14) and protect us (Psalm 91:11).Created by God these Heavenly beings have assignments in Heaven and on earth.Cherubim minister to God (Hebrews 9:5); Seraphim or “Fiery Ones” signify God’s purifying fire as mentioned in Isaiah 6.However, we are more familiar with Gabriel who brought messages from heaven to earth for Zechariah and Mary in Luke 1 and Michael who fought the Devil and his minions who were impeding a breakthrough for Daniel in Daniel 10 and 12.Created in Genesis 2, angels do the bidding of their Creator, Yahweh-Sabboth.

“He will tend His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs in His arms;
He will carry them in His bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:11

YAHWEH-ROHI

Since David was a shepherd in his youth, he looked to Yahweh-Rohi as his personal example.In Psalm 23, we are able to comprehend what a blessing it is to have God as our Shepherd.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.^[a]
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness^[b]
for his name's sake.”

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,^[c]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely^[d] goodness and mercy^[e] shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell^[f] in the house of the Lord
forever.^[g]

“And he believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:6

YAHWEH-TSIDKENU

Each one of us is a sinner.We are not righteous- we all miss the God’s standards.But, God is a good God Who loves His creations- all of us.Before Jesus Christ the Messiah came to earth to pay the penalty for our collective sins, those who believed God’s promises were considered righteous because they had faith in God.Yahweh-Tsidkenu is our Righteousness.Whether we read the Old Testament, before Christ, or the New Testament, after Christ, our rightness with God does not depend upon anything that we do or do not do.Our rightness depends upon God’s gracious love and righteousness.In the Bible, Hebrews 11, the Faith Chapter, gives God’s definition of faith and briefly examines the Old Testament saints, men and women, who through their belief in God were “counted it to him as righteousness.”Since Jesus came to earth and rose again, we are considered righteous when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.Yahweh-Tsidkenu is our Righteousness.

If you desire to accept God’s offer of salvation, there is no time like the present to become right with God; please Admit, Believe, and Confess to follow Christ.If we may be of help to you, please contact us at officeislandofhope7@gmail.com.God loves you, and so do we.

A - Admit

Admit what you have done wrong and ask forgiveness.

Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death.
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

B - Believe

Believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again as a payment for your sins.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

C - Confess and Choose

Confess and choose to allow God to the be in charge of your life

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:13 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

The ABC's of Salvation | ABCJesusLovesMe

^{13 “}“You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.“ Exodus 31:13

YAHWEH-MACCADDESHEM

Yahweh-Maccaddeshem is our Sanctifier.Yahweh-Maccaddeshem purifies us.God takes the mess that is our choices and forgives you.Many of the choices we make are sinful.Through Christ’s death and resurrection, our sins are forgiven; then, through the work of God’s Spirit in our lives, our choices change to be pleasing in God’s sight.The Holy Spirit works in each of us to become like our Brother and Lord, Jesus: pure, loving, and faithful.

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the One Who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’” Matthew 2:1-2

Have you ever thought about the Magi (Wise Men)?Out of all of the people introduced in the Christmas story, I am always impressed by the Magi. No, I am not impressed by their wealth, their status, or their gifts. I am impressed by their willingness to leave their homes in a distant land to go to Israel in search of an infant King- a King of a religion not their own. These Magi were learned men. They were voracious learners who read anything they could, including the Jewish Scriptures (our Old Testament), and they watched the heavens. We are not told if these men were friends, colleagues, acquaintances, or perfect strangers drawn to the same star. Instead, we are told that they came to Jerusalem in search of the newborn King. Additionally, Matthew does not tell us how long these men searched for Jesus before going to King Herod in Jerusalem, but they ended up at Herod’s palace asking questions about the location of Jesus. The Magi sought Jesus.

I remember seeing a sign which read, “Wise Men still seek Him.” Do we seek Jesus? Do we lay aside our conveniences and actively pursue Jesus? Do we give up all that is comfortable to find Him? I pray that I do, and I pray the same for you. Like the Wise Men, we need to seek Jesus. Let us take to heart this Scripture just as the Magi did two thousand years ago, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) Let us seek Jesus.

“When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written:

‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rules of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

Who will be the Shepherd of my people Israel.’” Matthew 2:3-6

Have you ever heard the saying, “You cannot see the forest through the trees?” So often, we as people are so wrapped up in ourselves that we cannot see the evidence right in front of us. God did not hide Jesus’ birth from the world. Instead, He foretold Jesus’ birth through the prophets, announced Jesus’ birth through angels, and proclaimed His Son’s birth through a new star in the heavens. Yet, who were the ones searching for Jesus? Israelites? Romans? No, the Magi searched for Jesus and followed the star to Israel. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the Magi asked King Herod the way to the Baby King.

To say that King Herod was disturbed was an understatement, for Herod hated anyone and anything which threatened his power. But even Herod knew who to ask about the birth of Jesus: the chief priests and teachers of the law. The Jewish leaders correctly went straight to the prophet Micah for the answer, quoting the Scripture foretelling where Jesus was born. Now, here is the interesting part. Not one of them accompanied the Magi to Bethlehem. Not one of them went to worship the promised Messiah, and not one of them acknowledged that Jesus was the One come to save the world. Who will we be like? Will we seek Jesus as the Wise Men did? Will we reject Him as those in Herod’s palace did? I pray that I continue to seek Jesus. Will you join me?

“God Bless Us Everyone” 1984 version

From the Dicken’s A Christmas Carol 1984 movie version.

(Verse 1) The past of man was cold as ice. He would not mend his ways.

He strove for silver in his heart, And gold in all his days.

His reason weak, his anger sharp, And sorrow all his pay,

He went to church but once a year, And that was Christmas Day.

(Verse 2) The present man is full of flame; He rushes here and there.

He turns away the orphan child, The widow in her chair.

He takes more than he really needs, Forgets how brief his stay,

And stands a-jingling of his coins In church on Christmas Day.

(Refrain) So grant us all a change of heart, Rejoice for Mary's Son;

Pray, Peace on earth to all mankind, God bless us everyone!

(Verse 3) The man to come we do not know; May he make peace on earth,

And live the glory of the Word, The message of the birth,

And gather all the children in To banish their dismay,

Lift up his heart among the bells In church on Christmas Day.

(Refrain) So grant us all a change of heart, Rejoice for Mary's Son;

Pray, Peace on earth to all mankind, God bless us everyone!

Pray, Peace on earth to all mankind, God bless us everyone!

“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.’

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was.” Matthew 2: 7-9

King Herod was the quintessential enemy, an evil man of no conscience. When the Magi arrived in Jerusalem, they immediately visited Herod. Herod hated the Jews- God’s chosen people, yet he knew exactly who to ask about the location of the Messiah’s birth. Then Herod called the Wise Men to a secret meeting. I do not know about you, but, if I were the Wise Men, warning bells would have gone off in my mind over the secret meeting. Nothing good could come from it. First, Herod pumped the Magi for information, then he gave them directions to Bethlehem. Why did Herod gather information about the star’s appearance? He wanted an estimate of the infant King’s age, for Herod had plans. Before the Wise Men left, Herod extracted a promise that they would tell him where the child was, “so that I too may go and worship Him.” The evil practically oozed out of the man.

But God had plans too, and human plans are no match for God’s. After the Magi left Herod, the star appeared again and led them to where Jesus lived with Mary and Joseph. The Magi had good intentions and wanted to worship Jesus. They sought the Messiah, and God always helps people find Him. He will do the same for you. Are you seeking Jesus? God will lead you right to Him. After all, He is never far from you. In fact, Jesus is just a prayer away, and never fear, no human plans will keep you from His love.

“On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”

Matthew 2:10-11

What do you treasure? Do you treasure the first time your baby smiled? Do you treasure a favorite stuffed animal? Do you treasure a person’s kindness in the midst of your pain? What do you treasure? Do you treasure wealth, fame, or notoriety? The above Scripture reminds us of the importance of remembrance, for God wants us to remember the past. He wants us to remember His goodness to us, and He wants us to remember that we are not alone. However, this Scripture also reminds us of what treasure truly is. The Wise Men showed us the way, following a star to a simple house in Bethlehem.

Roughly two years passed since the last time we visited Mary. Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus no longer slept in a stable; instead, they lived in a house. The house was not a mansion, just a humble abode where they lived and worked. Suddenly, Mary and Jesus heard noises in the street, and three incredibly wealthy men came into the house. Upon seeing Jesus, the three men immediately worshiped this two-year-old Boy before opening their chests of gifts fit for a king. What did the Magi treasure? They treasured the Messiah, and nothing was going to stop them from finding their Treasure. As we begin this new year, let us ask the same question. What do we treasure? I pray that, like the Wise Men, our Treasure is Jesus. May we let nothing stop us from seeking Him.

“And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the Child and His mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.’

So he got up, took the Child and His mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called My Son.’” Matthew 2:12-15

I love how God works. Throughout my own life, I watched God work in mysterious ways, no less miraculous than how He worked in Biblical times. Despite Satan’s best efforts, he cannot thwart God’s plans, and God always provides every person an opportunity to know Him. Herod is a prime example. The Wise Men went to Herod for directions to the newborn King. As they asked, Herod found himself at a crossroads. On one hand, he could go with the Magi and worship Jesus. On the other hand, Herod could let the Magi find the Child and tell him where Jesus was so that Herod could kill Him. Guess which option Herod chose.

Meanwhile, the Wise Men found Jesus, worshiped Him, and gave Him gifts of gold frankincense, and myrrh- all symbolic of Jesus’ status and life. Rather than return to Herod, they returned home a different way in an effort to protect Jesus. However, Herod was incredibly evil and driven- a deadly combination. God sent an angel to warn Joseph to flee with his family to Egypt. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus immediately fled in the middle of the night. There was no time to stop and prepare for the journey. They just left and took the Magi’s gifts with them. The very gifts given in love and homage paid for Jesus’ protection from a deadly king. On top of everything else, the move to Egypt fulfilled Scripture. What Satan means for evil, God works for good.

On this Twelfth Day of Christmas, remember the Wise Men, their gifts, and their love for Jesus. Remember that God works in mysterious ways, just as He did two thousand years ago. Remember that nothing and no one can stop God’s plans from fulfilment. Then, ask our Heavenly Father to use you, for you never know whose life you will touch or what part in their story God intends for you to play. Finally, remember what others mean for evil, God works for good because He loves us all.