Advent - day 24

Dec. 24 John 1:14 

Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory – the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.

Activities: lunch w/the in-laws; Open a present or 2 :) Christmas Eve service;

Prayer focus: family and friends

*Note-Because we sold our house last week and I'll have a lot to do in the next couple of weeks, I'll be taking a break from blogging until the new year.
In the meantime, Merry Christmas, enjoy the day, know the Lord and be humbled at how he came as a baby to show us the way to the Father.
Thanks for reading. I'll be back soon.
Love,
Jessica

PS Happy New Year too

Advent - day 23

Dec. 23 Matthew 2: 9-12

After listening to the king they left, and once again the star they saw when it rose led them until it stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back by another route to their own country.

Activities: read Christmas books; play games; visit w/ Auntie Ru

Prayer focus: babies and children especially those that are poor or without a mom/dad at home

Advent - day 22

Dec. 22 Mathew 2: 7-8

Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.”

Activities today: make tortilla roll-ups; lunch w/a friend; visit; ornament exchange;

Prayer focus: prisoners - those in jail and those imprisoned by their own choices

Advent - day 21

Dec. 21 Matthew 2: 3-6

When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. After assembling all the chief priests and experts in the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they said, “for it is written this way by the prophet:

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

are in no way least among the rulers of Judah,

for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”


Activities today: flu booster for Betsy; lunch with a friend; hanging out; watch new Narina movie w/ Andy;

Prayer focus: My parents and in-laws;

Advent - day 20

Dec. 20 Matthew 2: 1-2

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Activities today: coffee with a friend, lunch with Baba; visit new house after home inspection; drive around to look at Christmas lights

Prayer focus:  Ken M. and his recovery;

Advent - day 18 and 19

Dec. 18 Luke 2: 19-20

But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean. So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.

Dec. 19 Micah 5: 2-5

As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah –

from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf,

one whose origins are in the distant past.  

So the Lord will hand the people of Israel over to their enemies

until the time when the woman in labor gives birth.

Then the rest of the king’s countrymen will return

to be reunited with the people of Israel. 

He will assume his post and shepherd the people by the Lord’s strength,

by the sovereign authority of the Lord his God.

They will live securely, for at that time he will be honored

even in the distant regions of  the earth.

He will give us peace.

Should the Assyrians try to invade our land

and attempt to set foot in our fortresses,

we will send against them seven shepherd-rulers,

make that eight commanders.

Activities: watch the Nutcracker In One Act; mail out Christmas cards; deliver presents;

Prayer focus: Mamaw, Nana, Grandma, Grandpa, the elderly.

Advent - day 17

Dec. 17 Luke 2: 15-18

When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us.”  So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. When they saw him,  they related what they had been told about this child, and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said.

Activities for today: deliver clothes/gifts; 

Prayer focus: My dad and other trucker drivers and those that work in the elements;

Advent - day 16

Dec. 16 Luke 2: 13-14

Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!”

Activities today: wrap some presents, do puzzles;

Prayer focus: Ken M. who is having surgery

Advent - day 15

Dec. 15 Luke 2: 8-12

Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: Today your Savior is born in the city of David.  He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

Activities today: wrap ornaments for "O" day and ornament exchange; fill out Christmas cards

Prayer focus: Missionaries

Advent - day 14

Dec. 14 Luke 2: 6-7

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

I often think that Mary must have been so amazing to deliver this baby out in the barn after traveling on the back of a donkey for days. My prayer when I think of her plight, "Lord, save me from myself."

Activities for today: coloring pages with Mollie, dipping pretzels, date night 

Prayer focus: the homeless

Advent - day 13

Dec. 13 Luke 2: 1-5

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes. This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child.

Activities: make sheep craft; bake cookies;

Prayer focus:  The soldiers especially those stationed overseas.

Advent - day 11 and 12

Dec. 11 Luke 1: 39-45

 In those days  Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah, and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When  Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped  in her  womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She exclaimed with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child  in your womb! And who am I  that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me? For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears,  the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by  the Lord would be fulfilled.” 

Dec. 12 Luke 1: 46-56

Mary’s Hymn of Praise

And Mary  said,

“My soul exalts the Lord,

and my spirit has begun to rejoice  in God my Savior,

because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.

For  from now on all generations will call me blessed,

because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

from generation to generation he is merciful  to those who fear him.

 He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.

 He has brought down the mighty  from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; 

he has filled the hungry with good things,  and has sent the rich away empty.

 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering  his mercy, 

 as he promised  to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants  forever.”

 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

Activities: clean the house for showing Sat. afternoon; watch a Christmas movie; make snow cream (if fresh snow falls as predicted)

Prayer focus: selling the house; our pastor and his family;

Advent - day 10

Dec. 10 Matthew 1: 22-25

This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,” which means  “God with us.”   When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord told him. He took his wife, but did not have marital relations with her until she gave birth to a son, whom he named Jesus.

Activities for today: Introduce Mollie to hot chocolate; shop; church;

Prayer focus: Uncle Estil and other family members who are sick.

Advent - day 9

Dec. 9 Mathew 1:18-21

Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph, her husband to be,  was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her  privately. When he had contemplated this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Activities today: Shapes Angel Craft; shop for stocking stuffers

Prayer focus: Leaders in our country, state and city

Advent - day 8

Dec. 8 Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy,  the angel Gabriel  was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel  came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. So  the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God!  Listen:  You will become pregnant and give birth to  a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father   David. He  will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.” Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”  The angel replied,  “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow  you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God. “And look,  your relative   Elizabeth has also become pregnant with   a son in her old age – although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! For nothing will be impossible with God.” So  Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant  of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Then  the angel departed from her.

Activities: Deliver brownies; light candles;

Prayer focus: Missionaries;

Advent - day 7

Dec. 7 Luke 1: 18-25

Zechariah  said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this?  For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.” The  angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands  in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring  you this good news. And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time,  you will be silent, unable to speak,  until the day these things take place.” 

Now  the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the holy place. When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision  in the holy place, because  he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak.  When his time of service was over,  he went to his home. After some time  his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said, “This is what  the Lord has done for me at the time  when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people.”

Activities for today: Baking, Angel craft

Prayer focus: Students with upcoming finals

Advent - day 6

Dec. 6 Luke 1: 11-17

An angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared to him. And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John. Joy and gladness will come  to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of  the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. He will turn  many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go as forerunner before the Lord  in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”

Activities today: Celebrating Mollie's 2nd birthday;

Prayer focus: The persecuted church

Advent - day 4 and 5

Dec. 4 Jeremiah 33: 14-16

“I, the Lord, affirm  ‘The time will certainly come when I will fulfill my gracious promise concerning the nations of Israel and Judah In those days and at that time I will raise up for them a righteous descendant of David. “‘He will do what is just and right in the land. Under his rule Judah will enjoy safety and Jerusalem will live in security. At that time Jerusalem will be called “The Lord has provided us with justice.” For I, the Lord, promise: “David will never lack a successor to occupy  the throne over the nation of Israel.

Dec. 5 Luke 1: 5-10

During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old. Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the holy place of the Lord and burn incense. Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering.

Activities: Party for Mollie (2); drive around and look at Christmas lights;

Prayer focus: Reaching the lost; 

Advent - Day 3

Dec. 3 Isaiah 11: 1-10

A shoot will grow out of Jesse’s root stock,

a bud will sprout from his roots.

The Lord’s spirit will rest on him –

a spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom,

a spirit that provides the ability to execute plans,

a spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the Lord.

He will take delight in obeying the Lord.

He will not judge by mere appearances,

or make decisions on the basis of hearsay. 

He will treat the poor fairly

and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and order the wicked to be executed. 

Justice will be like a belt around his waist,

integrity will be like a belt around his hips.

A wolf will reside with a lamb,

and a leopard will lie down with a young goat;

an ox and a young lion will graze together,

as a small child leads them along. 

A cow and a bear will graze together,

their young will lie down together.

A lion, like an ox, will eat straw. 

A baby will play

over the hole of a snake;

over the nest of a serpent

an infant will put his hand.

They will no longer injure or destroy

on my entire royal mountain.

For there will be universal submission to the Lord’s sovereignty,

just as the waters completely cover the sea.

Israel is Reclaimed and Reunited

At that time a root from Jesse will stand like a signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to him for guidance, and his residence will be majestic.

Activities for today: eat breakfast out; finish shopping for Mollie's party; Dance to Christmas music;

Prayer focus: Eli's continued recovery; the pregnant women that I know;

Advent - day 2

Dec. 2 Isaiah 9: 2-7

The people walking in darkness

see a bright light; 

light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness.

You have enlarged the nation;

you give them great joy.

They rejoice in your presence

as harvesters rejoice;

as warriors celebrate when they divide up the plunder.

For their oppressive yoke

and the club that strikes their shoulders,

the cudgel the oppressor uses on them,

you have shattered, as in the day of Midian’s defeat. 

Indeed every boot that marches and shakes the earth

and every garment dragged through blood

is used as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born to us,

a son has been given to us.

He shoulders responsibility

and is called:

Extraordinary Strategist

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace.

His dominion will be vast

and he will bring immeasurable prosperity.

He will rule on David’s throne

and over David’s kingdom

establishing it and strengthening it

by promoting justice and fairness,

from this time forward and forevermore.

The Lord’s intense devotion to his people will accomplish this.

Activities for today: Read Christmas books with girls; make paper gingerbread ornaments;

Prayer focus: Eli's quick recovery following a successful surgery: Ms. Rhonda and her family;

Advent - day 1

Dec. 1 John 1: 1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life  and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.

 Activities of the day: head to the mall to let the girls look at the Christmas decorations; fill the Advent calendar and let Mollie open door #1; begin ABC advent book tonight;

Prayer focus of the day: Baby Eli is having surgery to remove a lobe of his lung-praying for the surgery, his recovery and for his parents.

*note: If you read this blog on the day it was posted, I copy/pasted 1John 1:1-5, now the text is John 1:1-5 sorry for the editing error (it may happen again :)) Blessings ~ Jessica