Encouraging Word

To me there is not a more welcoming place to be than in the presence of God. From the time I was young, I have always loved church, loved God’s people and loved serving God in any way. When Jesus came to live inside of us, we can have His presence with us everyday, not just when we go to church. Our hope is fulfilled in knowing that He is always with us. So, my encouragement to you is to make God feel welcome in your life everyday! God takes attendance daily! He notices if you notice Him! Even though the song says that Santa knows when you are sleeping and knows when you are awake, God knows everything about you. He counts the numbers of hairs on your head, and knows the thoughts and intents of your heart. Nothing escapes Him. So we should lay out the welcome mat to God permanently. He wants to be involved in your life moment by moment. My hope is that during this season, that you realize that God’s hope and dreams for you are more than you can even believe. He says your future is filled with good! Jeremiah 29:11 He places great value on you and wants you in His close circle of friends. Friendship with God is wonderful and rewarding. Getting to know God up close and personal bring us hope for tomorrow. Knowing that God wants that for us, and was determined enough to make it happen through a baby in a stable, makes the Nativity story come to life. It is more than a story, it is God revealed to us, to live with us, and reside within us as our Emmanuel, coming to stay forever.

Jeremiah 29:11 I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, “plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future

#6 Today is St. Nickolas Day. Our family tradition is to have appetizers as we set up our main family Christmas tree. Everyone gets a new ornament, and we usually watch a movie or play a game when we are done decorating. It is also our daughter Chantel and her husband Chris’ anniversary. They had red velvet cake at their wedding, so we always have red velvet cake on St. Nickolas Day too.

During the time of preparation for a baby, Mary and Joseph were on a journey. It was unexpected for both of them. They probably had their life planned out a little differently. They made their way on this long journey to Bethlehem, to do, of all things, pay taxes. Didn’t anyone know how inconvenient it would be for a pregnant woman to travel on a donkey during her 9th month of pregnancy? Joseph and Mary weren’t quite prepared for this, but this was their reality. I’m sure all of us have had our plans changed unexpectedly, but none quite this dramatically. Our earth journey is really preparation for heaven. Earth really is very short, and heaven is really very long. What we hope for in heaven is way beyond what we can imagine with our finite minds. What the young couple on a journey to Bethlehem was hoping for, with God’s own son living in their home, was way beyond what they could have imagined. But they made room for Jesus. And when they did, God gave them a taste of heaven on this earth. When we make room for Jesus, He does the same for us. The kingdom of God is within us. God’s desires that His will is done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matt 6:10) The very presence of God, His life, His nature, and His ability resides in us, empowering us to make our earth life, a little bit of heaven. He is giving us a foretaste of things to come. What hope that brings. Yes, Lord, there is room in my heart to you! What great preparation for an extraordinary celebration!

Matt 6:10 Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

#5 Create a gingerbread house in the shape of a stable. Perhaps you can use a store-bought kit, and remake it into a stable for baby Jesus.

Southern Hospitality – it is famous around the world. If ever you want to feel really welcome, find a hospitable southern home. They act like they’ve been waiting all year for you to arrive, and when you leave, they can’t bear to see you go. That wasn’t exactly what Mary and Joseph found in Bethlehem. I guess the Israelites and middle easterners hadn’t been to the south, and learned about southern hospitality! Needless to say, the red carpet wasn’t awaiting them, and no welcome mat was at the door. It not only was a bother for Mary and Joseph to go on the trip, it was a bother for anyone to be prepared for them when they arrived. No one was hoping for their arrival.

Do you know that hospitality is a great tool for evangelism, and a great opportunity for fellowship that we often overlook? I encourage you to open your home and welcome others into your family. It happens more during the holidays, but I want to encourage you, make a choice to be hospitable. People are looking for the warm family feeling that they find in the house of the Lord. They are hoping to feel welcomed. When we open our homes with welcome, we bring the hope of friendship, the hope of companionship and the hope of belonging. Everyone wants to belong, so especially during advent, find ways to invite people into your home. If you’re thinking your home isn’t perfect, or as good as someone else’s, no worries! It is yours and that is all that matters. If you wait until everything is perfect, you’ll never have anyone over! Hospitality is just like giving. If you start when you have little, it will be a habit when you have more, and it will become your lifestyle. Remember, little become much when God is in it and God lives in your house because He lives in you. God wants you to share your home, and use it to promote His kingdom. Why not make your domain, HIS? Make your house, God’s house! I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the house where the Lord lives! That is your house too! Rejoice that you get to invite people to share in the hope of belonging as they visit your home. Bring the southern hospitality feel, and a touch of heaven on earth to your front door, and bring the hope of belonging to friends, relatives, associate, neighbors, kids and even strangers, the FRANKS in your world.

Ps 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.

#4 Invite someone over spontaneously today! Have cookies and coffee or something simple and share God’s love this holy season.

During this Advent season, we are doing 25 days of Christmas ewords! Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with your dailyeword. We will be celebrating Advent with a different scripture everyday that relates to Hope, Joy, Peace and Love, all the wonderful things that Jesus came to bring. He was heaven manifested on the earth, and because of Him, we can live an amazing abundant life, filled with hope, overflowing with joy, enjoying perfect peace, and surrounded with love. In Matt 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus makes it very clear that he wants the earth to experience a little bit of heaven…. His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let’s enjoy life with a little glimmer of heaven right here on this earth during these 25 days of Christmas ewords.

Week of Hope
Our God is the God of all hope. When we think about how much the world was looking hope before Jesus came, we realize how amazing it is that He became hope manifested to the world. Heaven came down and kissed earth, and we got caught right in the middle of the smack! Jesus was the kiss of heaven! He brought hope that would change history with his story! The story of Jesus is all about hope for the world. There doesn’t have to be darkness and despair, the light appeared. Darkness had to flee. Jesus came! What does hope do to the human heart? It reveals a future that is bright. It fills us with joy and peace in believing as it says in Romans 15:13. Hope overflows through the power of the Holy Spirit. When we know the plans God has for us are filled with hope, we can live filled with joy, knowing that our future is going to be awesome. So my prayer for you today is that you know the God of all hope. That he would fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, and that you will overflow with hope, and it will spill onto others who are all around you. You can be a hope infuser to your world! The light has come and He lives in you.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy.

#3 Make a Christmas card for a soldier and put it in the mail. Your words on a card can bring hope to someone serving our country.

Intro
During this Advent season, we are doing 25 days of Christmas ewords! Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with your dailyeword. We will celebrate Advent with a different scripture everyday that relates to Hope, Joy, Peace and Love, all the wonderful things that Jesus came to bring. He was heaven manifested on the earth, and because of Him, we can live an amazing abundant life, filled with hope, overflowing with joy, enjoying perfect peace, and surrounded with love. In Matt 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus makes it very clear that he wants the earth to experience a little bit of heaven…. His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let’s enjoy life with a little glimmer of heaven right here on this earth during these 25 days of Christmas ewords.

Through the coming weeks we will be on a journey to Bethlehem. Each Christmas, we do an advent devotional during each of our Sunday services, and for almost 11 years as I’ve written Encouraging Words every week that have gone out by email, on the radio, on my dailyeword blog, and podcasts. So I will be doing this again this year. Join us each day on our journey to the manger.

One thing that I have noticed as I study the Nativity story each Christmas is that it becomes more meaningful. It really isn’t about the trappings that we associate with Christmas, even though I love every part of Christmas. What it is really about, is a gift of hope, joy, peace and love from God. Christmas is about a precious gift, in the form of a baby, who was an offering, and became a seed that would reap a tremendous harvest in each of us. He was a gift wrapped in flesh, clothed with humanity, and destined for greatness. He is the substance of things we hoped for (Hebrews 12:1) The simplicity of a baby born in a stable, contained the amazing revelation that God is with us.. No longer do we have to wait for Him to manifest, He is Here. What an awesome thought! Our waiting and our search is over. He found us and now we can find Him! He came to us, now we can come to Him. He offered His life to us, now we offer our lives to Him. His loved was demonstrated, so that we can demonstrate our love back to Him.
I hope that during this season of hope, joy, peace and love, that your heart gets expanded to really know how much God has for you. God was determined enough to make it happen through a baby in a stable. Let the story of the Nativity come to life in you this year. It is not just a story, but an unfolding of God’s breath of life, manifested in humanity, wrapped in divinity, so that we can know Him, experience His presence and then live for Him, filled with hope, enveloped in joy, surrounded by peace, and wrapped in love.

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Today we start 25 days of Christmas ewords! Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with your dailyeword. We will celebrate Advent with a different scripture everyday that relates to Hope, Joy, Peace and Love, all the wonderful things that Jesus came to bring. He was heaven manifested on the earth, and because of Him, we can live an amazing abundant life, filled with hope, overflowing with joy, enjoying perfect peace, and surrounded with love. In Matt 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus makes it very clear that he wants the earth to experience a little bit of heaven…. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let’s enjoy life with a little glimmer of heaven right here on this earth during these 25 days of Christmas ewords.

Saturday Week of Hope
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:23 What hope filled words result from knowing that someone is with us and will never leave. There is such confidence that comes in knowing that in our ever changing world, we serve a God who never changes. He said He is here, and He is here to stay! This little sweet baby boy came to earth with a purpose, and He brought hope to the world. From a hope filled heaven, Jesus came into a world that was hurting, empty, and looking for hope. He was heaven come down, and comes to bring hope that is constant. He isn’t looking for a relationship that comes and goes, or is for a short time, but he is looking for a relationship with you that is eternal. He is God who wants to be with you. No question of His loyalty. No question if He would find someone else who will hold His attention. He is Immanuel, God with you. My hope is that your confidence in God increases as you know, He is not only among us, He is with us, and He is in us.

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Plants will only be as successful as the soil in which they are planted. Good soil is important! If we want to flourish in life, we need to be planted with good soil, in a good, Bible believing Christian church. When we are planted we have the potential to have a good root system, to become a strong tree, and to produce tasty, lasting fruit. The best encouragement I could give you for your life would be to get planted! This little lesson in farming really is a life principle that can alter your destiny. No more stony, thorny ground, let’s get on track for God’s best for the soil of our lives. The church is like a greenhouse. It should be a place where there is maximum exposure to light, and where growth is accelerated because of the good seeds that are planted in good soil. We become well-maintained soil, full of rich nutrients, free of rocks and weeds in the greenhouse of the church. It is good to examine your own soil. How well maintained is it? After we examine the soil, we need to make sure the soil is where the seed is being spread. We don’t want it fall on the wayside and be devoured. Are you fortifying yourself, and stirring yourself up to get rid of anything that will hinder the Word from growing in your life? Are you hungering and thirsting for God? Are you staying watered with the Word, and fully exposed to the Son so that you give your life the absolute best opportunity to grow stronger? You have that opportunity….let’s make the most of it!

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The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. That scripture is found in Ps 92:12-14. If you know me very well, I love quoting these verses. One of the greatest goal in my life is to encourage people to flourish in life, and this scripture tells us how to do it. If we are planted in God’s house we will flourish…..hummm, flourish, that sounds a little bit like experiencing heaven on earth! Flourish means to thrive, to prosper and to be in peak condition. That is my desire for every one of you. What is very cool is that is God’s desire for you too! In III John verse 2, John penned these words inspired by the Holy Spirit….I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all will go well with you, even as your soul is prospering. Soul prosperity is having a mind that is renewed to God’s Word. It is making choices that lead to abundant life. God gives us the opportunity to taste heaven on earth – that is flourishing in life. We can flourish more and more as we grow deep roots in the church body where God has planted us. The positive result of putting our roots down in the House of God is that our whole life will flourish! We will have a good root system, become a strong tree, with great tasting, lasting fruit. It’s the kind of life we all need to live!

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I love talking about the House of God. I have loved church all of my life. When the church door swings open, I swing on in! I would be there all the time if I could! I think I love church so much, because it has all of the elements I think you would find in heaven. It is a place of beauty and order. Being a music lover, I love worship with instruments, with voices in choir, or praise and worship teams, all kinds of music that I’m sure is evident around the throne of God in heaven. I love the reverence you feel in church, because people are getting fed the Word of God which is able to save their souls. It is like a feeding trough for faith. I love people being saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, sharing their faith, growing in God, and making disciples. I love seeing people become fruitful as they learn about taking dominion of the earth, operating under submission to the Father and exercising the authority that Jesus told us to operate in. I love church being a place of encouragement for the body, where people finding solutions and answers to life issues, and learn to have a prosperous soul. I especially love church when joy is abundant, jealousy is non existent, and where people feel like they’ve experienced heaven on earth. Just like a plant that will only flourish when it is planted, so it is with our spiritual life. We grow and flourish in life, when we are planted! I hope you love to put down roots, and are growing lasting fruit, in your life. For me, and I hope for you too, that is what I call heaven on earth!

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What do you think heaven looks like? I imagine there would be:
Divine relationships, Supernatural peace, Joy overflowing, Glorious Worship, Open and loving communication, and every need supplied

Amazing, those are all things that we have access here on the earth if we are connected to God! We get a relationship with God that tops all earthy relationships. We even get divine connections to other believers who encourage us, and help us grow in our walk with the Lord. We have the peace that passes all understanding…no need for worry or fear. We choose not to worry, because God’s hand is on us, and besides, Jesus told us not to worry, so why go against his will for us? Joy bubbles up from inside of our spirit that is filled up and overflowing with the Spirit of God. We get to praise God will all that we are, with our voices, with instruments, with dancing, and even shouts of victory. We get to communicate from the heart of a servant, demonstrating love through our words and actions. We get to experience the abundant life that Jesus came to give because our God supplies all of our needs. That sounds like heaven on earth! Of course life on earth will have challenges, but you already know that! There will be things that we can’t control or fully comprehend, but when we put it all in perspective, earth for the believer can be a little taste of heaven, and make us even more hungry for our eternal home. Let’s let the world know what heaven will be like…by giving them a taste of what we have experienced. Taste and see that GOD is good… on earth as He is in heaven!

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