The Love of Advent is
Jesus Christ!
This final week of Advent is represented by love. The most unconditional, never failing, always present love of Jesus Christ for you blankets not only this week but each and every day of the year. His is such an all-encompassing love that you cannot even understand the height, depth or width of the Savior’s love for you. It goes beyond the ends of the earth. It is eternal.
Think about that for a minute. Let it sink deep into your heart. It does not matter what is going on around you at this moment or what challenges you face. Take this moment in time to allow His love to wash over you. Feel His peace and grace. It is always there for you. Do not let the trials of life dull your awareness of His ever-present love.
How Conditional is Your Love?
As a follower of Jesus take His love to those around you. His assignment to all who call themselves Christian is to love one another as He has loved us. He loves you unconditionally. How many conditions do you place on the love you show to others in your life?
Do you only choose to love when all is going your way or at least the way you think things should be? Do you only choose to love when another is doing and saying just what you find acceptable? What are the conditions you place on relationships? How might these conditions be limiting all God’s best for you through relationship with those in your life? Think about that for a little while.
We are called to relationship with the Lord and with one another. Love is the firm foundation on which to build a solid relationship to stand the test of time. Think about, pray about and meditate on love this week. Humbly acknowledge the unfathomable love of the Savior for you. Purpose to love without condition those He has placed in your life.
It is not always easy to love but it is our calling. As you release fear and attempts to control you open the way for His love to be the balm of Gilead in your own heart and in the heart of those around you.
Is There Room in Your Heart?
This week we celebrate the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. For a moment the world seems a little nicer. There is a hush unlike any other time of the year for those who believe. Jesus came to earth in a lowly stable to make a way for those called by His name to be set free and have eternal salvation. His humble birth opens the way for you to let Him into your heart (for it is always a heart issue).
When you make room for Him He will make the way clear for you. When you choose to put Him first in your heart and in your life your foundation will be solid. You will no longer live on ever shaky ground that shifts as sand.
It is hard to imagine that the King of kings and Lord of lords began His earthly journey in a manger because there was not room for Him at the Inn. Is there room for Him in your heart? Just as He came to earth in humble beginnings so today He seeks a humble heart in which to reside.
All the trappings of this earthly world mean nothing to Him. He seeks only a broken and contrite heart. Will you let Him into your heart today?
A Fresh Start!
Whether you have accepted Him as Lord before or whether this is the beginning of your journey with Him directing your way, make this Christmas a new beginning. Just as the birth of Jesus Christ signaled a new order so Christmas signals the opportunity for a fresh start. The newness of birth is filled with such expectancy and hope. Let this Christmas be one of immense faith and anticipation for the year ahead. Jesus came to give you life in abundance. Open your heart this Christmas and let Him reside there forever.
My wish for you is for a most blessed Christmas and for a 2014 filled with His love and peace!
Quotes to Ponder This Week
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” ~Jesus, John 10:10
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” ~Jesus, John 15:9
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” ~Jesus, John 15:12
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” ~Isaiah 7:14
“”Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”” ~Matthew 1:23
“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” ~Luke 2:9-11
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” ~John 1:1, 14
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” ~1 Corinthians 12:13
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps not record or wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” ~1Corinthians 13:4-8
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” ~1 John 4:18
“Lose all your identity in the Son of God. Let Him become all in all. Seek only the Lord, and let Him be glorified.” ~Smith Wigglesworth, Devotional, page 534
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives.
God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families. May the Lord keep them safe. Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Muslim extremists and all forms of terrorism. We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history.
Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi and for safety in Israel. May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. May we may arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history.
We continue to pray for truth to prevail as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk. Fail not in this hour.
Please Join Me In Prayer
Father we thank You that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Grace us to open our hearts wide to let Jesus dwell among us today and every day as we walk out our destiny for Your Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Teach us Your ways Lord and let us be Your light and Your love in this world. Let all proclaim glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth. We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and amen.