Advent Day 4 Nov 30, 2011 Wednesday

2 Peter 3:1-10 1 This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory. 2 I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.3 Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. 4 They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”5 They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. 6 Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. 7 And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

-Advent means coming.

-We not only remember the birth of Jesus during Christmas, but look forward to the second coming.

-The Blessed Hope is "Jesus is coming", that should be our mindset. We got to many fake preachers with the "let's get out of here" mindset.

-The second coming of Jesus has become a good punchline for comedians, but I believe in the Day of the Lord. I am not afraid of it, I look forward to it. The Father is patience waiting for many to repent, but even so come quickly Lord Jesus.

Merry Christmas

Advent Day 3, Nov 29, 2011 Tuesday

2 Peter 1:12-21
12 Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. 13 And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live. 14 For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life, 15 so I will work hard to make sure you always remember these things after I am gone.16 For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes 17 when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” 18 We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

-Remember Advent means "coming"

-Verse 16 Peter tells us the life of Jesus is not something fable writers made up. Peter and the other disciples saw the coming of Messiah, they heard the voice of God the Father claim that Jesus is the Son of God. Christianity is not founded on a set of beliefs, it is founded on a person, Jesus Messiah.

-Because the disciples experienced the coming of Jesus and heard the voice of the Father it gave them even greater confidence and the proper perspective on the writings of the prophets, what we call the Old Testament. Peter encourages believers to cling to Scripture, it is a light in dark times. Scripture is not just man's words, the Holy Spirit of God directed those words. Through them we see the dawning of the morning star. Jesus Messiah. He is alive, living in our hearts our very being for those that believe.

Merry Christmas.

Advent Day 2- Nov 28, 2011 Monday

Matt 21:1-11
1 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, 5 “Tell the people of Israel,‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.’”6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. 8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,“Praise God for the Son of David!Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!Praise God in highest heaven!” 10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked. 11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

-Remember Advent means coming

-Look your King is coming to you, He is humble.

-What is God like? God is like Jesus. Well what is Jesus like? He is humble?

-We misrepresent God as some strong armed military dictator, but He is not. God is humble. Does God win the victory? Does God defeat every enemy? Yes he does. But He does it His way, through humility. The God of the cross is victorious. The God of the cross is the King of kings, President of presidents.

-The day of the triumphal entry, the day if Jesus was going display "worldly" power, Jesus choose humility. That's our King.

Merry Christmas.

Advent Day 1- Nov 27, 2011 Sunday

We start the Advent season of the church today. I am Pentecostal, Assembly of God, and my fellowship sometimes misses some of the beauty of Advent. But Advent is a sacred season of the church where we prepare our hearts for the coming of Messiah. Advent actually means, "coming". During this season we think back to the coming of Jesus as a baby, God incarnate, God in the flesh. We also look forward to the second coming of Jesus, the blessed hope. One of the ways we do this is by reflecting on Scripture about the first and second comings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Messiah. I will try and put a daily Advent Scripture up during this season to help us prepare our hearts as a church.

Luke 21:5-19
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” 7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” 8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” 10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. 12 “But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 This will result in your being witnesses to them. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 All men will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By standing firm you will gain life.

Merry Christmas

Weaker Than We Think

"O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." book of common prayer

We are weaker than we think. I can't over come the evil alone. I can't stay away from temptation on my on. The good news is God doesn't expect us to. God through his son Jesus helps us through prayer. So God I pray, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, in Jesus name, let it be so.

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Jesus, Friend of Sinners- Lyrics by Casting Crowns

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah...
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

This Little Light of Mine-Addison Road

This song was played at my daughter's school during a morning chapel service. I love to hear my little girl sing this song. I kinda like the song as well. So brave the dark and let your light shine.

Plus the singers name is Addison Road, that is an awesome name. Of a great location. Or the name of a Beatles album.

If We've Ever Needed You- Casting Crowns

-For me this song deals with pride I have. I/we have not arrived. We look at others with a heart of compassion, knowing they need God as well.