Wk 51

WORSHIP SET 1

ADVENT

Candle of Hope or Prophecy

This first candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

Bethlehem Candle or Love

On the second Sunday of Advent, the second purple candle is lit.

This candle typically represents love. Some traditions call this the "Bethlehem Candle,"

Candle of Joy

the third Sunday of Advent.

Luke 2:15–20 NLT

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Let’s rejoice today for not just what the Shepherds experienced but what we have come to know by faith!

WORSHIP SET 2

GENEROSITY

CELEBRATION— OUTREACH

A Biblical thought teaches us that

"In God’s economy, what we give away in love is never lost—it is multiplied in eternity."

Luke says,

Luke 6:38 NLT

38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

The preface we see in Paul’s writing is it should be given with a “Cheerful Heart”

REMEMBER:

Open handed giving makes room for God to fill them again!

AMEN

UPDATE

MIDWEEK

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE

oUR dAILY bREAD — OBD

Christmas A to Z

BIG THOUGHT:

This series is about discovering the Spiritual window behind the celebration of gifts, sparkling lights, tinsel, and carols. About God reaching down to mankind and bringing us a Savior, forgiveness, restoration of our World.

GEST:

Thus, to investigate God’s plan to restore mankind to His heart, in the midst of tinsel and lights.

BEST LINE:

CHRISTMAS A-Z: Finding God in the tinsel and lights.

LAST WEEK

We looked at A to F

A - Angel, Advent, Advent Calendar

B - Bauble, Bells, Bethlehem

C - Candy Cane, Carol, Christmas Tree

D - Decorations, December, Donkey

E - Elf, Eggnog, Evergreen

F - Festive, Festival, Frosty, Fruitcake

WE SETTLED ON

ANGELS

Bethlehem

Carols and

The need to have a Festival of celebration.

WHAT DID WE SAY? Angels helped break 400 years of silence between God and man.

Angels brought God’s love for mankind by way of Jesus our Savior.

Angels are obedient to do what God says, they KNOW His Voice!

Psalm 103:20 NLT

20 Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands.

Angels are more than messangers,

they are powerful beings created by God to serve His purposes.

They are not to be worshipped but respected as part of God's divine order.

Angels are sent to assist and protect believers— you and me.

Hebrews 1:14 NLT

14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

WHAT ABOUT DEMONS OF HELL, FALLEN ANGELS, AND THOSE WHO HAVE DOMINION OF THE AIR?

They are angelic NOT God!

By the Name of Jesus they to must bow...

We overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony!

Philippians 2:10–11 NLT

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Peter 1:18–19 NLT

18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

Scripture affirms a single narrative:

the redeeming blood of the Lamb ushers in triumph for those who trust in Him.

Consequently,

believers honor Christ’s victory in daily living-approaching God’s throne with confidence,

believers honor Christ by resisting temptation,

and believers honor Christ by testifying to others of the life-changing power that enables them to overcome.

Angels— more than white, beautiful winged creatures...they are warriors and worshippers of Heaven sent to assist all who shall be heirs of Salvation who brought us the message of God’s love through a baby—Jesus!

THIS WEEK

G to L

G - Gifts, Gingerbread, Garland

H - Holly, Hope, Hymn

I - Icicle, Immanuel, Invitation

J - Joy, Jingle Bells, Jesus

K - Kringle, Kindness, Kwanzaa

L - Lights, Love, Laughter

Gift is Jesus

Holly is Jesus

Immanuel is Jesus

Joy is the sound of Jesus

Hope and Joy have a working relationship in our lives.

they are not a symbiotic relationship for to symbiotic they would have to be two different species — they may be on the end of the spectrum, but they flow from a spiritual place by the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus was on the cross he said...

Hebrews 12:1–3 NLT

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

Ponder this Today… Are you or a close friend:

fading in their faith,

they are so angry at the world or an individual that they are more focused on revenge than their relationship with God,

or possibly wishing for a better tomorrow, but not praying with a heart filled with faith from reading God’s Word,

or doing, doing, doing, instead of trusting trusting, trusting.

If so—they are not where Jesus was.

Jesus was a place of hope —looking past the cross that was before him and seeing the Joy that was on the other side.

Hear these scriptures and visualize you or your friend in the Hope filled place were Jesus was.

Romans 12:11–12 NLT

11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

REMEMBER:

1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT

7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

AMEN!

RUBIK's cube

The Rubik's Cube is a 3D combination puzzle invented in 1974 (my Junior year in High School) by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik.

Originally called the Magic Cube

IT DIDN’T TAKE MY FANCY — I QUICKLY RESOLVED THAT i DID NOT HAVE THE MIND FOR THIS TRIVIAL TOY...

However, this is what I have recently learned:

if you can solve the 3x3 puzzle you are part of an elite group of people— only 5% of the worlds population can solve it

I have a Brother in Law who can do this and I have a Grandson who is really good at it!

I recently discovered a comic who can mix up the cube and then turn right around and match another one to look just like it… 5% of the population

How many options or possibilities does the 3x3 cube have?

43 Quintillion

when have you used a quintillion of any thing?

10 to the 18th power, 18 zeros.

LET’S PUT THAT IN A DIFFERNT FORM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A QUINTILLTION IS...

How many pieces of sand are there on the plant earth?

In Psalm 139 the author compares God’s precious thoughts about him to the number of sand pebbles… HOW MANY?

The best minds believe that there are approx. 7 Quintillion pebbles of sand on the Earth!!!

The Rubik’s Cube has 43 quintillion options.

JESUS LOOKED PAST THE CROSS AND SAW YOU

out of all the people in time— the insignificant pebbles of sand and said… “I am going to die and raise again for that one—RIGHT THERE!

God sees you here today.

He sees your troubles, your heart to do better, your failures, your inability to produce lasting results in your life and he says, “Father, I died for that one, and that one.”

YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON!

WE CAN REJOICE AND SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS THAT JESUS THE MESSIAH — OUR SAVIOR HAS COME!

THUS WE BRING...MORE ALPHABIT SOUP AND DISCOVER JESUS FROM A-Z

G - Gifts, Gingerbread, Garland

H - Holly, Hope, Hymn

I - Icicle, Immanuel, Invitation

J - Joy, Jingle Bells, Jesus

K - Kringle, Kindness, Kwanzaa

L - Lights, Love, and Laughter

The joy that we demonstrate today,

pushes back the darkness

reminds us that we can have HOPE

it also reminds Satan that he has a destiny (cause we have read the end of the book and he loses)

this Joy is a witness to ALL those around us of the Love of God to send his son to be our Savior

and this joy gets fuller as we learn the strength of being the presence of God!

5 KEY STEPS TO DISCOVER FULLER JOY:

Go to God First, not just in times of trouble

Choose Love above all, no vengeance

Make God’s Word your daily meditation, it will direct the words you speak

Offer forgiveness first and hold no bitterness in your heart

Let praise flow from your heart for God dwells in the praises of His people — it also will silence the enemy.

YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON!

— OUR SAVIOR HAS COME!