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There are so many amazing prophesies in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah. In the verses in Is 11:1-5, the author tells that out of the lineage of Jesse, a Branch shall grow, and the Holy Spirit will rest upon Him. It is pretty amazing who all are in the line of Jesus. Jesse was David’s father, and Jesus was born to His line all those generations later. All of the names from generation to generation are listed in Matthew chapter 1. We are now in the bloodline of Jesus through salvation. We can now be found in Him, in His royal bloodline, and He in us. It was also prophesied that the Holy Spirit would rest on Jesus. Even before Jesus was born, the Holy Spirit was upon Him in his mother’s womb. Since the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the earth, we now have the same opportunity. The Spirit of the Lord can rest upon us. We can be filled with the Spirit of God, just like Jesus was! Today and everyday, we can yield our life to the Holy Spirit. During this season of Advent, we can be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and be at the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, so we can minister to people in our world. In Jesus’ Name, thank you God for sending a light to the world in the form of a baby. Help us to be a light in the darkness around us. Thank you for your Holy Spirit’s help in believing your Word and walking in the truth. We will say yes to the voice of the Spirit of God. In Jesus Name, AMEN.
Word of the Day; Is 11:1-5

The dramatic events that led up to the birth of Jesus, demonstrate how intricately God orchestrated this world altering event, bringing hope to the world. Before Jesus’ birth, angels were present, one who came to Zacharias in the temple (in Luke 1:5-10), one who came to Mary, and multitudes who came to the shepherds abiding in their flocks through the night. In the heavens, not only did angels light the sky, there was a new star in the sky that led worshippers to the place where the baby lay. Even getting Mary and Joseph to the little town of Bethlehem, where it was prophesied as the birthplace of the Savior, took an act of the government. They were required to register in that particular town, just as Mary was about to have a baby. Amazing how all of these events lined up, to bring the living Word to this earth. All of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus were facilitated because of obedience. From Zacharias and Elizabeth walking in righteousness before God, and obeying the word of the Lord brought to them by an angel, to Mary’s words of submission to the will of the Lord, even to Jesus submitting to the will of His Father in heaven, each one lined up their will with God’s, so that Jesus could be born in a stable, in the little town of Bethlehem, to human parents who could have no earthly idea how this little baby would change the world.

It is an interesting word study to just look up all the scriptures that talk about love, and read them one after another. Here are some of them:
We get a deposit of God’s love on the inside of us (Rom 5:5)
The love of God is abounding to us (I Thes 3:12),
It is sincere (Rom 12:9),
It is unselfish (Matt 22:39),
It is impartial (Deut 10:19),
It is fervent (I Peter 1:22),
It is compelling (2 Cor 5:14),
It is divine (John 15:9),
It is self – sacrificing (John 15:13)
and it is sacrificial (Gal 2:20)
All of God’s love is deposited into our spirit!
That is just a short list of the adjectives that describe the love of God. And that is just a short list of the attributes of love that can (and should) be found in us. So even after Advent is over, make these adjectives the way you love others. If we really love, we serve. God’s love on the inside of us is there just for that. Whether we are in a relationship or just being neighborly, God’s love in us compels us to serve others. What is so great about serving others is that it not only helps them, it helps us too! So what kind of love are you showing those around you during advent? Are you loving sacrificially and sincerely? Then the natural result is service! Let’s love and serve others this Christmas!

I bring an offering of worship to my king, No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing Jesus may You receive the honor that You’re due, Oh Lord I bring an offering to you. Jesus was the initial offering to the earth, given by the heavenly Father. He was a seed that was sown, that would reap a harvest throughout all generations, and continues even now in this time and this place. He was offered in the form of a tiny little baby, who would grow up to be a man that would change the course of history. Mary and Joseph had a small glimpse of Who this baby was because of the angels that had come to each of them. When the star appeared over Bethlehem, I wonder if the lowly shepherds knew that they were first to worship His majesty, the King of all kings. As the shepherds bowed their knees before Him, they give another offering. They weren’t prepared to give him rich gifts, but they gave him something more important. They gave Him their heart of worship. Immediately when they heard the angels announcement, they left where they were to find this new born baby. Most of our time an attention during the holidays is about buying the right gift, making everything lovely, eating great food, visiting with friends, going to parties, or attending special events. It’s really easy to have a “Martha Mentality” during Christmas. This Advent may be a great time to turn that all around. Let’s concentrate on the most important thing. Jesus told Mary that she had chosen what was best, when she sat at His feet. During the Christmas season, there definitely are things that need to be accomplished, but let’s not sacrifice what is best for what we think is necessary.

Somewhere it is snowing and as the soft flakes touch the ground, they remind us that our sins are forgiven, and we are made as white as snow, all because of the love of God. You know these familiar passages of scripture. God is love, and he who abides in love, abides in God, and God in him. (I John 4:16) The God of love has come to never leave us, and to abide with us in love. Love is the greatest of all (I Cor 13:8). We should pursue love and be love to the world. One thing love does is cover – love is like the snow. The beauty of snow is often in what it covers up. Everything can be dirty underneath, but put a blanket of snow over the top, and everything looks beautiful. That is just like love. We can bring beauty all around us when we cover other’s mistakes and when we extend grace to others. When we make an effort to cover everything in love, just like a fresh dusting of snow, beauty emerges. Just as each snowflake is unique, God demonstrates His love to us in unique ways… what could be more unique than a royal king born in a manger? When each of us, begin to manifest the love of God, the beautiful body of Christ can be revealed. And, when each member loves like Jesus, we can envision the purity of fresh fallen snow, covering ugliness and bringing loveliness to this earth. Is 1:18 Though our sins are like scarlet they will be white like snow.

We are getting closer to Christmas and this week is all about the love of God. Love came down from heaven and was born in a stable. He was born with a purpose and the purpose was because God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with our dailyeword. The new commandment Jesus gave was that we love God and love people. Christmas is all about love, God’s love to us, and God’s love through us to others. Here is your dailyeword for Advent about love.

What can I give to God my Father? Have you ever asked yourself that question? What can we as mere mortals, give to the most wonderful, loving, amazing, incredible Lord of Love? Whenever I think about that question, I know that He loves worship, because He inhabits (or lives in) our praises, so He loves to hear us praise and worship Him. I also know He wants us to love lavishly, loving others as we have been loved and as we love ourselves. I have come to realize that the one of the best things we can give him is my heart. One thing that I have noticed as I study the Nativity story each Christmas is that it becomes more meaningful and my heart becomes more open to what God wants for me personally, for our family, and for our church family, and for my community. It really isn’t about the stuff that we associate with Christmas as much as it is about receiving a gift of love from God. Once we receive Jesus, the most precious gift who demonstrated the greatest act of love ever, we get the opportunity to do the very same thing. We choose to love God, love people and love this amazing life we have. Jesus was a gift of love wrapped in flesh, clothed with humanity, and destined for greatness all because He wanted us in His family. Such great love! What can you give Him? Give him your heart!
Word of the Day: Psalms 22:3

We are getting closer to Christmas and this week is all about the love of God. Love came down from heaven and was born in a stable. He was born with a purpose and the purpose was because God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.
Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with our dailyeword. The new commandment Jesus gave was that we love God and love people. Christmas is all about love, God’s love to us, and God’s love through us to others. Here is your dailyeword for Advent about love.

Oh come let us adore Him. I love this line from the chorus in Oh Come all Ye Faithful. The shepherds were invited to come into the presence of God and adore the new born Savior. The word adore has such intimate connotations. It is wonderful to feel adored. That means that someone cherishes you. They think you are valuable and precious. They love to be around you. As faithful worshippers, when we come to adore Jesus, the perfectly wonderful Gift of God, we are saying we cherish, we honor and value Him. He is precious to us. We love to be in His presence. Because we know that God is love, we get to receive Jesus, the gift from God, as a gift of love. He cherishes, values, and adores us so much more than we could ever lavish our love back on Him. As you honor God this season of Advent, try to visualize how you can show Him that you cherish, value, and love Him. He loved us first, and placed His love on the inside of us, so we can share it with those around us. Remember to tell the ones in your world how valuable and precious they are to you. And remember to show His love even to those who you don’t know.

The familiar Christmas carol, Joy to the World, reminds us to, “Let every heart prepare Him room”. Is your heart prepared to receive the King? Today we will talk about being prepared for and making Jesus welcome in our heart, in our homes, and in our world. Mary was making preparations and anticipating her baby’s arrival. The little One that Mary was expecting came at an inconvenient time. This pregnancy had some interruptions. Taxes needed to be paid, and not just by mail, it had to be done in person. They had to make an unexpected trek to Bethlehem when Mary was not just with child, but ready to give birth. Her doctor probably wouldn’t have advised it. They had to travel on the back of a donkey from the hills of Galilee to the town of Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, Joseph found that there were no more rooms available. Each inn where they stopped had the no vacancy sign. They were without options. At last they found an innkeeper who had compassion on them and told them they had stable facilities behind the inn that could serve as a makeshift hotel room. That night, without much grandeur, the “Expected One,” unexpectedly was born. As we prepare for the blessed event of Christmas this year, how are you preparing room in your heart for the Expected One? How much attention are you giving your relationship with Him? Is He welcome in your celebrations? Are you giving Him the priority and importance that He deserves? He wants you to welcome Him into your life everyday of the year. Jesus wants to be Lord of all the rooms in our heart. Let’s give Him the honor He deserves!

Isn’t it interesting that the chief priests and scribes were brought together and demanded to know where Christ would be born. Something was up for sure, the new star, and wise men questioning where the baby was born. It was very unlikely that a royal baby would be born in an ordinary town like Bethlehem. The important rulers knew what the prophesy’s foretold. Out of this little town of Bethlehem would come the ruler of Israel. Jesus was a threat to them, even as a baby. Isn’t this an amazing example of the power there is, even in a small seed. If we think about the faith of a mustard seed, a very tiny seed can grow to be a huge plant. Here was a tiny little baby, who would grow up to change the world forever. Our faith can grow, from little faith, to great faith! God planted His best seed, and the mighty harvest that would result would be a way for those who were lost to be saved. He literally was born to die, and then to live again, so that we can live the amazing abundant life that Jesus promised to us.

I have a sign I put out during Christmas time near a nativity scene that says, “Wise Men Still Seek Him”. The wise men in the Christmas story noticed a change in the atmosphere. These three wise men were seekers. There was a new star in the sky, and they asked where is he who is born to be King of the Jews? My first question is how would they know that the star was for a baby, and my second question would be, how did they know who He was? No internet, phone system, not even Morse Code, no google to find out information in an instant.. God put a sign in the sky, and they knew it meant something spectacular was taking place. They started a journey to see this one, and their whole intention was to worship Him. Worship is a lifestyle, and we can worship anywhere, but most of the time we think worship happens at church. If we took the same approach as the wise men toward seeking God in the sanctuary, we wouldn’t just haphazardly saunter into church after the first couple of songs were done. We would be the first ones there, ready to worship, because we had lived a life of worship during the week. Wise men today are seekers. In fact, they seek God first. They don’t lean on their own understanding, but they have God on the top of their list. During this season of Advent, determine to be a seeker. Seek God with your whole heart, and you will find Him, and be found in Him.