Day 336 - 2 December 2021 reflections
Day 336, 2 December 2021
1)
2 Corinthians 1 -4
2 Corinthians 1
Salutation
1 (Eph 1:1; 2Ti 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ
by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God which is at Corinth,
with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
2 (Ro 1:7) Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul's Thanksgiving After Affliction
3 (Eph 1:3; 1Pe 1:3; Ro 15:5-6) Blessed be God, the Father
of our Lord ÂJesus Christ, the Father of mercies,
and the God of all comfort,
4 (Isa 51:12; 2Co 7:6-7) who comforts us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble
by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 (Col 1:24; Php 3:10) As the sufferings of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6 (2Ti 2:10) If we are afflicted, it is for your consolation
and salvation, which is effective in enduring the same
sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted,
it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that as you partake
in the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
8 (1Co 15:32) For we would not, brothers, have you ignorant
of our troubles which came to us in Asia. We were pressured
beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even
of life.
9 (Lk 18:9) We had the sentence of death in ourselves,
so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God
who raises the dead.
10 (Ro 15:31) He delivered us from so great a death
and does deliver us. In Him we trust that He will
still deliver us,
11 (2Co 4:15; Php 1:19) as you help together by praying
for us, so that thanks may be given by many on our behalf
for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many persons.
Paul's Travel Plans Change
12 (2Co 2:17; 1Co 2:13) For our rejoicing is this:
The testimony of our conscience is that we conducted
ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you,
in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom,
but by the grace of God.
13 For we write nothing else to you than what you read
or understand. And I trust you will understand even to the end,
14 (1Co 1:8; 2Co 2:5) as you have understood us in part,
that we are yours, boasting even as you are ours
on the day of the Lord Jesus.
15 (Ro 1:11; 1Co 4:19) In this confidence I planned
to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit:
16 (1Co 16:5-7) to visit you while going to Macedonia,
and to come again to you from Macedonia, and then be sent by you
on my way to Judea.
17 (2Co 10:2-3) Therefore, when I was planning this,
did I do this lightly? Or the things that I plan,
do I plan according to the flesh, so that I would tell you
"Yes, yes" and "No, no"?
18 (1Co 1:9) But as God is true, we did not tell you "Yes" and "No."
19 (Heb 13:8; Ac 18:5) For the Son of God, Jesus Christ,
who was preached among you by us, even by Silas, Timothy,
and me, was not "Yes" and "No." In Him it was "Yes."
20 (Rev 3:14; 1Co 14:16) For all the promises of God
in Him are "Yes," and in Him "Amen," to the glory of God through us.
21 (1Jn 2:20; 2:27) Now He who establishes us with you in Christ
and has anointed us is God,
22 (2Co 5:5; Eph 1:13-14) who also has sealed us
and established the guarantee with the Spirit in our hearts.
23 (Ro 1:9; 1Co 4:21) Moreover I call God as a witness
upon my soul, that it is to spare you that
I have not yet gone to Corinth.
24 (Ro 11:20; 1Co 15:1) Not that we have dominion over your faith,
but we are fellow workers for your joy, for by faith you stand.
2 Corinthians 2
1 (2Co 1:23; 1Co 4:21) But I determined this for myself,
that I would not come again to you in sorrow.
2 (2Co 7:8) For if I make you sorrowful, who then will there be
to make me rejoice, but the one whom I have made sorrowful?
3 (Gal 5:10; 2Co 8:22) I wrote concerning this matter to you,
so that when I came, I would not be grieved by those in whom
I ought to rejoice, having confidence in you all,
that my joy is your joy.
4 (2Co 7:12) For out of much affliction and anguish of heart
I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be grieved,
but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly for you.
Forgiveness for the Offender
5 (Gal 4:12) But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me,
but to some extent all of you, not to put it too severely.
6 (1Co 5:4-5)This punishment which was inflicted by many
on such a man is sufficient.
7 (Eph 4:32) So on the contrary, you ought to forgive him
and comfort him, lest perhaps he might be swallowed up
with excessive sorrow.
8 Therefore I ask you to confirm your love toward him.
9 (2Co 10:6; Php 2:22) For to this end I also wrote,
so that I might know that you are proving yourselves
by whether you are being obedient in all things.
10 (1Co 5:4) Whomever you forgive anything, I also forgive.
For if I forgave someone anything, for your sakes I forgave
it in Christ,
11 (1Pe 5:8; Lk 22:31) lest Satan should take advantage of us.
For we are not ignorant of his devices.
Paul's Anxiety in Troas
12 (Ac 14:27; 16:8) Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,
13 (2Co 7:5-6; 12:18) I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find
Titus my brother. So taking my leave of them, I went from there
into Macedonia.
14 (SS 1:3; 2Co 8:16) Now thanks be to God who always causes
us to triumph in Christ and through us reveals the fragrance
of His knowledge in every place.
15 (1Co 1:18; Eze 20:41) For we are to God a sweet fragrance
of Christ among those who are saved and among those who perish.
16 (Lk 2:34; Jn 9:39) To the one we are the fragrance of death,
which brings death, and to the other the fragrance of life,
which brings life. Who is sufficient for these things?
17 (2Co 4:2; 1:12) For we are not as many are who peddle
the word of God. Instead, being sent by God, we sincerely speak
in Christ in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 3
Ministers of the New Covenant
1 (Ac 18:27; 2Co 5:12) Do we begin again to commend ourselves?
Or do we need, as some others, letters of commendation to you,
or letters of commendation from you?
2 You are our letter written in our hearts, known and read by all men.
3 (Ex 24:12; Jer 31:33) For you are prominently declared to be
the letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink
but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone
but on human tablets of the heart.
4 (Eph 3:12) We have such trust through Christ toward God,
5 (1Co 15:10) not that we are sufficient in ourselves to take credit
for anything of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
6 (Lk 22:20; Jn 6:63) who has made us able ministers of the new covenant,
not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills,
but the Spirit gives life.
7 (Ex 24:12; 31:18) If the ministry that brought death, written
and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel
could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory
of his countenance, the glory which was to fade away,
8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
9 (Heb 12:18-21; Ro 3:21-22) For if the ministry of condemnation
is glorious, the ministry of righteousness much more exceeds
it in glory.
10 Even that which was made glorious had no glory in comparison
to the glory that excels.
11 For if that which fades was glorious, that which remains
is much more glorious.
12 (2Co 7:4; Ac 4:13) Seeing then that we have such hope,
we speak with great boldness,
13 (Ex 34:33-35; 2Co 3:7) not as Moses, who put a veil over his face,
so that the children of Israel could not look intently at the end
of what was fading away.
14 (Ac 13:15; Ro 11:25) Instead, their minds were blinded.
For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the
reading of the old covenant, the veil which was done away
with in Christ.
15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is in their hearts.
16 (Ex 34:34; Isa 25:7) Nevertheless when anyone turns to the Lord,
the veil is removed.
17 (Gal 4:6; Jn 8:32) Now the Lord is the Spirit.
And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 (Ro 8:29; 1Co 13:12; 2Co 4:4) But we all, seeing the glory
of the Lord with unveiled faces, as in a mirror,
are being transformed into the same image from glory
to glory by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 4
Treasure in Earthen Vessels
1 (1Co 7:25; 2Co 3:6) Therefore, since we have this ministry
through the mercy we have received, we do not lose heart.
2 (2Co 2:17; 5:11) But we have renounced the secret things of shame,
not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully,
but by expressing the truth and commending ourselves to every man's
conscience in the sight of God.
3 (1Co 1:18; 2Co 3:14) But if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden
to those who are lost.
4 (2Co 4:6; Jn 12:31; Heb 1:3) The god of this world has blinded
the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
5 (1Co 1:23; 2Co 1:24) For we do not preach ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants
for Jesus' sake.
6 (Ge 1:3; 2Pe 1:19) For God, who commanded the light to shine
out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light
of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 (2Co 5:1; La 4:2) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
the excellency of the power being from God and not from ourselves.
8 (2Co 7:5) We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 (Heb 13:5) persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 (Ro 6:5; 2Co 1:5) and always carrying around in the body the death
of the Lord Jesus, that also the life of Jesus might be expressed
in our bodies.
11 (Ro 8:36) For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake,
that also the life of Jesus might be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 (2Co 13:9) So then, death works in us, but life in you.
13 (Ps 116:10; 1Co 12:9) We have the same spirit of faith.
As it is written, "I believed, and therefore I have spoken."
(Ps 116:10, LXX (Septuagint).) So we also believe and therefore speak,
14 (1Th 4:14; Eph 5:27) knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus
will also raise us through Jesus and will present us with you.
15 (2Co 1:11; Ro 8:28) All these things are for your sakes,
so that the abundant grace through the thanksgiving
of many might overflow to the glory of God.
Living by Faith
16 (Ro 7:22; Isa 40:31) For this reason we do not lose heart:
Even though our outward man is perishing, yet our inward man
is being renewed day by day.
17 (Ro 8:18; 1Pe 5:10) Our light affliction, which lasts
but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory,
18 (Heb 11:1; 2Co 5:7) while we do not look at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.
For the things which are seen are temporal,
but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2) Our Daily Bread for 2 December 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/12/02/celebrating-diversity
entitled Celebrating Diversity
Psalm 133
Psalms 133
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brothers to dwell together in unity!
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) It is like precious oil upon the head,
that runs down on the beard-
even Aaron's beard-
and going down to the collar of his garments;
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) as the dew of Hermon,
that descends upon the mountains of Zion,
for there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
even life forever.
At the 2019 graduation ceremony at a local high school, 608 students prepared
to receive their diplomas. The principal began by asking students to stand
when he read the name of the country where they were born: Afghanistan,
Bolivia, Bosnia . . . . The principal kept going until he'd named sixty
countries and every student was standing and cheering together. Sixty
countries; one high school.
The beauty of unity amid diversity was a powerful image that celebrated
something near to God’s heart—people living together in unity.
We read an encouragement for unity among God's people in Psalm 133,
a psalm of ascent-a song sung as people entered Jerusalem for annual
celebrations. The psalm reminded the people of the benefits of living
harmoniously (v. 1) despite differences that could cause division. In vivid
imagery, unity is described as refreshing dew (v. 3) and oil-used to anoint
priests (Exodus 29:7)-"running down" the head, beard, and clothing of a priest
(v. 2). Together, these images point to the reality that in unity God's
blessings flow so lavishly they can’t be contained.
For believers in Jesus, despite differences such as ethnicity, nationality,
or age, there's a deeper unity in the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3). When we stand
together and celebrate that common bond as Jesus leads us, we can embrace
our God-given differences and celebrate the source of true unity.
By: Lisa M. Samra
Sign in to track your progress!
When have you experienced the goodness of unity in Christ?
How has it brought blessing?
Heavenly Father, help me do my part to live in unity
with all of God's people.
Learn more about loving those who are different from you.
3) From The Billy Graham Evangelical Ministry Association
Words in Season - Scripture Memory Tools
Week 3 - Saved Now and Forever - Day 5 - God Loved, So He Gave
John 3:16-17
16 (Ro 5:8; 1Jn 4:9–10; Jn 1:18) "For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
17 (1Jn 4:14; Lk 19:10) For God did not send His Son into
the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved."
Often called "the gospel in a nutshell", John 3:16 is so familiar,
even the unchurched, that it has all but lost its impact for us.
WE cite it by rote, as if it had no more meaning than a SSN (SIN),
and think that we understand the truth becuase we know the words.
Why did God send Jesus, his only Son, into the world to die?
Because he loved the people he created. God had no reason,
humanly speaking, to love mankind. Throughout history, from
the Garden of Eden forward, people had deliberately turned
against God and tried his patience. Even the nation God chose
for himself, Israel rebelled againt the Lord and turned to other gods.
And we, as individuals, have rebelled against him too. WE have tried
to control our own lives; we have denied his reality; or
acknowledged his existence and then systematically ignored him.
We have become our own gods.
Yet Christ, in love, took upon himself the rejection, the humiliation,
the pain we were responsible for. We deserved to be condemned to die,
but he died for us instead. "God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world," John 3:17 says, "but that the world
through Him might be saved."
Often, even after we have committed our lives to Christ, we mistakenly
suppose that God's primary purpose is to condemn us - to catch us in sin
and punish us. But God says that his purpose is to love us and to save us
from sin and ourselves. He loved, and so he gave; he still loves us,
and he still continues to give.
Application
a) What sin in my life put Jesus on the cross?
b) How do I know that my sins has been forgiven?
c) How can these verses help me when I face condemnation and guilt?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Deut 29:9
9 (Dt 4:6; Jos 1:7)Therefore, keep the words of this covenant
and do them, so that you may prosper in all you do.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are ill or injured
Psalm 103:1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits,
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) who forgives all your iniquities,
who heals all your diseases,
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
The Northern Territories of Canada
Yukon
Yukon Total population (2015) 36500 Muslim (est) 69
In Whitehorse the Muslim population grew from 2 families
in 2001 to more than 60 people in 2014. Originally meeting in a church,
they now meet for prayer service in a former office space.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse to come together,
and for MUslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Northwest Territories (NWT)
NWT population (2015) 43600 Muslim (est) 473
The Muslim community of Yellowknife has grown from 275 to 330 un the past year.
To replace their inadequate facity, they are planning a C$2 to C$2.5 million
Islamic Centre.
Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to
spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Nunavut (NU)
NU total population (2015) 36600 Muslim (est) 86
The Islamic Centre of Iqaluit now claim about 100 Muslims and have surpassed
80 % of their funding goal to building the first mosque in this territory.
Their stated goal is "To spread the message of Islam
in the far notherern reaches of Canada."
Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
2nd Day of the Month
a) Pray for the Church to make the Gospel accessible to all Canadians
( Rom 10:14-15 -
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 I And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those
who preach the gospel of peace, who bring good news of good things!"
)
b) Pray that Christian Leaders would seek God's
heart for vision,wisdom and direction.
(Jer 33:3 - Call to Me, and I will answer you,
and show you great and mighty things which you do not know. )
(Prov 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord,
as the rivers of water;)
Advent Day 5
From C.S. Lewis A Grand Miracle by Joel Heck
24 Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls
into the ground and dies, it remains alone.
But if it dies, it bears much fruit
John 12:24
"In this descent and reascent everyone will recognize
a familiar pattern: a thing written all over the world.
It is the pattern of all vegetable life. It must belittle
itself into some thing hard, small and deathlike,
it must fall into the ground: thence the new life reascends.
It is the pattern of all animal generation too." - C. S. Lewis
(Read this and more in Miracles, p. 148.)
Dying and Rising
The Gospel writers remind us that the arc of Jesus'
life on earth began at the Incarnation and ended with his death.
The first humÂbling was his birth in a manger,
but the final humbling was death on a cross.
The pattern that God set into the universe is one of death
and resurrection. The same is true, John writes in today's
Scripture, in the world of plants. It is no surprise that
we see the death of plants every fall and their resurrection
in the spring. Again, we see the "death" of a seed
when it is planted and the "resurrection" of that seed
when it springs forth and produces many other seeds. Why?
Because this is a divine pattern, say Jesus and Lewis,
set into the fabric of the universe, reflecting the nature of God.
Sometimes a person dies, and an organ transplant saves a life.
Lewis calls it "a familiar pattern." The point is that dying and rising,
including Jesus' descent in the Incarnation and his reascent
in the Ascension, are common, so common that we shouldn't
wonder that God redeemed us with dying and rising.
Jesus, you came down to us for our salvation.
Thank you for dying and rising for us. Amen.
From Follow the Story by Marva J. Dawn
THURSDAY, FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT
John's Character
Read Luke 1:8-20
8 Now while he served as priest before God, when his division was on duty,
9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn
incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side
of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not fear, Zechariah, for your prayer
has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall call his name John.
14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink
neither wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb.
16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready
a people prepared for the Lord."
18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this?
For I am an old man and my wife well advanced in years."
19 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.
20 And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day
that these things happen, because you did not believe my words,
which will be fulfilled in their season."
Luke 1:15b ...and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb.
I purposely had us read the same verses from Luke 1:8-17
for three days in a row (including part of today's reading), so that
the angel's message to Zechariah could impact us more deeply with
the good news of God's answer to prayer, the strength of John's
character, and the magnitude of his calling. John was not
a minor person (nor are we!) in God's plan for the salvation
of the world. Indeed, he would "make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Zechariah doubted God's miracle because of his and his wife's ages,
but Gabriel assured him that it was the Lord's determination.
He would experience muteness, not so much as punishment,
but as a sign until the prophecy had been fulfilled.
Has God ever allowed us to endure such a symptom
to be reminded constantly of our call to participate in God's designs?
Perhaps we suffer an aggravating handicap to cue us that
we are commissioned to encourage others to become prepared for,
and know, the Lord.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, thank you for including us in your intentions
for the growth of faith. Amen.
From The AH-HAs of Advent by Rich Bimler
FIRST THURSDAY
AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and AMOUR!
Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore.
love is the fulfilling of the law.
Read Romans 13:8-10.
8 (Ro 7:5) and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 (Gal 4:6; 1Co 6:19; 3:16) You, however, are not in the flesh
but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.
Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he does not belong to Him.
10 (Eph 3:17; Col 1:27) And if Christ is in you,
though the body is dead because of sin,
the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.
ROMANS 13:10 And if Christ is in you,
though the body is dead because of sin,
the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.
Love. or amour (the French word for love). is what Advent
and Christ himself, are all about Love is one four-letter
word that needs to be used and shared over and over again
for all the world to see. to sense and to savour.
One problem with the word love is that it is misused by society
to mean anything we like or are attracted to-from beer
to baseball to brats. As a result it has lost much
of the amorous quality about it.
But not so in the Scriptures! Love is always seen
as a gift from God himself. in Jesus Christ. In today's reading, St. Paul
boldly states. "Owe no one anything. except to love one another"
Wow, now that's amour!
Seek ways today to share health, hope and amour with those around you .
All three go together as God's gifts to you and to others.
As you work at loving your neighbour as yourself, do not forget that
God in Christ is first loving and forgiving you in order that
you have the energies and Easter-power, to he able to love others.
Advent's message's a big AH-HA of amour! Don't you think someone
should write a hymn entitled Amour Makes the World Go Round?
Lord thanks for being Amour to us and for us Help us to love one
another by first knowing that you love us always. Then enable us
to love ourselves for who we are 1n order to love others
for who they are Thar happens because we know who you are!
In Jesus' name. Amen ,.. and AH-HA!
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and Thank Him for renewing us day by day.
Pray to the Lord "Heavenly Father, help me do my part to live in unity
with all of God's people."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for Him for freeing you from sin
for His sacrifice on the cross for He came to save us.
Pray to the Lord and pray ask for help to keep His covenant.
Pray to the Lord and give Him for His forgiveness and lovingkindness.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse and the Yukon to come together,
and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse to come together,
and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.
Pray for the Church to make the Gospel accessible to all Canadians
Pray that Christian Leaders would seek God's
heart for vision,wisdom and direction.
Pray: Jesus, you came down to us for our salvation.
Thank you for dying and rising for us. Amen.
Pray: Gracious Lord, thank you for including us in your intentions
for the growth of faith. Amen.
Pray: Lord thanks for being Amour to us and for us Help us to love one
another by first knowing that you love us always. Then enable us
to love ourselves for who we are 1n order to love others
for who they are Thar happens because we know who you are!
In Jesus' name. Amen
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
1)
2 Corinthians 1 -4
2 Corinthians 1
Salutation
1 (Eph 1:1; 2Ti 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ
by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God which is at Corinth,
with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
2 (Ro 1:7) Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul's Thanksgiving After Affliction
3 (Eph 1:3; 1Pe 1:3; Ro 15:5-6) Blessed be God, the Father
of our Lord ÂJesus Christ, the Father of mercies,
and the God of all comfort,
4 (Isa 51:12; 2Co 7:6-7) who comforts us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble
by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 (Col 1:24; Php 3:10) As the sufferings of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6 (2Ti 2:10) If we are afflicted, it is for your consolation
and salvation, which is effective in enduring the same
sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted,
it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that as you partake
in the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
8 (1Co 15:32) For we would not, brothers, have you ignorant
of our troubles which came to us in Asia. We were pressured
beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even
of life.
9 (Lk 18:9) We had the sentence of death in ourselves,
so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God
who raises the dead.
10 (Ro 15:31) He delivered us from so great a death
and does deliver us. In Him we trust that He will
still deliver us,
11 (2Co 4:15; Php 1:19) as you help together by praying
for us, so that thanks may be given by many on our behalf
for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many persons.
Paul's Travel Plans Change
12 (2Co 2:17; 1Co 2:13) For our rejoicing is this:
The testimony of our conscience is that we conducted
ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you,
in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom,
but by the grace of God.
13 For we write nothing else to you than what you read
or understand. And I trust you will understand even to the end,
14 (1Co 1:8; 2Co 2:5) as you have understood us in part,
that we are yours, boasting even as you are ours
on the day of the Lord Jesus.
15 (Ro 1:11; 1Co 4:19) In this confidence I planned
to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit:
16 (1Co 16:5-7) to visit you while going to Macedonia,
and to come again to you from Macedonia, and then be sent by you
on my way to Judea.
17 (2Co 10:2-3) Therefore, when I was planning this,
did I do this lightly? Or the things that I plan,
do I plan according to the flesh, so that I would tell you
"Yes, yes" and "No, no"?
18 (1Co 1:9) But as God is true, we did not tell you "Yes" and "No."
19 (Heb 13:8; Ac 18:5) For the Son of God, Jesus Christ,
who was preached among you by us, even by Silas, Timothy,
and me, was not "Yes" and "No." In Him it was "Yes."
20 (Rev 3:14; 1Co 14:16) For all the promises of God
in Him are "Yes," and in Him "Amen," to the glory of God through us.
21 (1Jn 2:20; 2:27) Now He who establishes us with you in Christ
and has anointed us is God,
22 (2Co 5:5; Eph 1:13-14) who also has sealed us
and established the guarantee with the Spirit in our hearts.
23 (Ro 1:9; 1Co 4:21) Moreover I call God as a witness
upon my soul, that it is to spare you that
I have not yet gone to Corinth.
24 (Ro 11:20; 1Co 15:1) Not that we have dominion over your faith,
but we are fellow workers for your joy, for by faith you stand.
2 Corinthians 2
1 (2Co 1:23; 1Co 4:21) But I determined this for myself,
that I would not come again to you in sorrow.
2 (2Co 7:8) For if I make you sorrowful, who then will there be
to make me rejoice, but the one whom I have made sorrowful?
3 (Gal 5:10; 2Co 8:22) I wrote concerning this matter to you,
so that when I came, I would not be grieved by those in whom
I ought to rejoice, having confidence in you all,
that my joy is your joy.
4 (2Co 7:12) For out of much affliction and anguish of heart
I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be grieved,
but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly for you.
Forgiveness for the Offender
5 (Gal 4:12) But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me,
but to some extent all of you, not to put it too severely.
6 (1Co 5:4-5)This punishment which was inflicted by many
on such a man is sufficient.
7 (Eph 4:32) So on the contrary, you ought to forgive him
and comfort him, lest perhaps he might be swallowed up
with excessive sorrow.
8 Therefore I ask you to confirm your love toward him.
9 (2Co 10:6; Php 2:22) For to this end I also wrote,
so that I might know that you are proving yourselves
by whether you are being obedient in all things.
10 (1Co 5:4) Whomever you forgive anything, I also forgive.
For if I forgave someone anything, for your sakes I forgave
it in Christ,
11 (1Pe 5:8; Lk 22:31) lest Satan should take advantage of us.
For we are not ignorant of his devices.
Paul's Anxiety in Troas
12 (Ac 14:27; 16:8) Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,
13 (2Co 7:5-6; 12:18) I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find
Titus my brother. So taking my leave of them, I went from there
into Macedonia.
14 (SS 1:3; 2Co 8:16) Now thanks be to God who always causes
us to triumph in Christ and through us reveals the fragrance
of His knowledge in every place.
15 (1Co 1:18; Eze 20:41) For we are to God a sweet fragrance
of Christ among those who are saved and among those who perish.
16 (Lk 2:34; Jn 9:39) To the one we are the fragrance of death,
which brings death, and to the other the fragrance of life,
which brings life. Who is sufficient for these things?
17 (2Co 4:2; 1:12) For we are not as many are who peddle
the word of God. Instead, being sent by God, we sincerely speak
in Christ in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 3
Ministers of the New Covenant
1 (Ac 18:27; 2Co 5:12) Do we begin again to commend ourselves?
Or do we need, as some others, letters of commendation to you,
or letters of commendation from you?
2 You are our letter written in our hearts, known and read by all men.
3 (Ex 24:12; Jer 31:33) For you are prominently declared to be
the letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink
but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone
but on human tablets of the heart.
4 (Eph 3:12) We have such trust through Christ toward God,
5 (1Co 15:10) not that we are sufficient in ourselves to take credit
for anything of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
6 (Lk 22:20; Jn 6:63) who has made us able ministers of the new covenant,
not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills,
but the Spirit gives life.
7 (Ex 24:12; 31:18) If the ministry that brought death, written
and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel
could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory
of his countenance, the glory which was to fade away,
8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
9 (Heb 12:18-21; Ro 3:21-22) For if the ministry of condemnation
is glorious, the ministry of righteousness much more exceeds
it in glory.
10 Even that which was made glorious had no glory in comparison
to the glory that excels.
11 For if that which fades was glorious, that which remains
is much more glorious.
12 (2Co 7:4; Ac 4:13) Seeing then that we have such hope,
we speak with great boldness,
13 (Ex 34:33-35; 2Co 3:7) not as Moses, who put a veil over his face,
so that the children of Israel could not look intently at the end
of what was fading away.
14 (Ac 13:15; Ro 11:25) Instead, their minds were blinded.
For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the
reading of the old covenant, the veil which was done away
with in Christ.
15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is in their hearts.
16 (Ex 34:34; Isa 25:7) Nevertheless when anyone turns to the Lord,
the veil is removed.
17 (Gal 4:6; Jn 8:32) Now the Lord is the Spirit.
And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 (Ro 8:29; 1Co 13:12; 2Co 4:4) But we all, seeing the glory
of the Lord with unveiled faces, as in a mirror,
are being transformed into the same image from glory
to glory by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 4
Treasure in Earthen Vessels
1 (1Co 7:25; 2Co 3:6) Therefore, since we have this ministry
through the mercy we have received, we do not lose heart.
2 (2Co 2:17; 5:11) But we have renounced the secret things of shame,
not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully,
but by expressing the truth and commending ourselves to every man's
conscience in the sight of God.
3 (1Co 1:18; 2Co 3:14) But if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden
to those who are lost.
4 (2Co 4:6; Jn 12:31; Heb 1:3) The god of this world has blinded
the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
5 (1Co 1:23; 2Co 1:24) For we do not preach ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants
for Jesus' sake.
6 (Ge 1:3; 2Pe 1:19) For God, who commanded the light to shine
out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light
of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 (2Co 5:1; La 4:2) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
the excellency of the power being from God and not from ourselves.
8 (2Co 7:5) We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 (Heb 13:5) persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 (Ro 6:5; 2Co 1:5) and always carrying around in the body the death
of the Lord Jesus, that also the life of Jesus might be expressed
in our bodies.
11 (Ro 8:36) For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake,
that also the life of Jesus might be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 (2Co 13:9) So then, death works in us, but life in you.
13 (Ps 116:10; 1Co 12:9) We have the same spirit of faith.
As it is written, "I believed, and therefore I have spoken."
(Ps 116:10, LXX (Septuagint).) So we also believe and therefore speak,
14 (1Th 4:14; Eph 5:27) knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus
will also raise us through Jesus and will present us with you.
15 (2Co 1:11; Ro 8:28) All these things are for your sakes,
so that the abundant grace through the thanksgiving
of many might overflow to the glory of God.
Living by Faith
16 (Ro 7:22; Isa 40:31) For this reason we do not lose heart:
Even though our outward man is perishing, yet our inward man
is being renewed day by day.
17 (Ro 8:18; 1Pe 5:10) Our light affliction, which lasts
but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory,
18 (Heb 11:1; 2Co 5:7) while we do not look at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.
For the things which are seen are temporal,
but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2) Our Daily Bread for 2 December 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/12/02/celebrating-diversity
entitled Celebrating Diversity
Psalm 133
Psalms 133
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brothers to dwell together in unity!
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) It is like precious oil upon the head,
that runs down on the beard-
even Aaron's beard-
and going down to the collar of his garments;
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) as the dew of Hermon,
that descends upon the mountains of Zion,
for there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
even life forever.
At the 2019 graduation ceremony at a local high school, 608 students prepared
to receive their diplomas. The principal began by asking students to stand
when he read the name of the country where they were born: Afghanistan,
Bolivia, Bosnia . . . . The principal kept going until he'd named sixty
countries and every student was standing and cheering together. Sixty
countries; one high school.
The beauty of unity amid diversity was a powerful image that celebrated
something near to God’s heart—people living together in unity.
We read an encouragement for unity among God's people in Psalm 133,
a psalm of ascent-a song sung as people entered Jerusalem for annual
celebrations. The psalm reminded the people of the benefits of living
harmoniously (v. 1) despite differences that could cause division. In vivid
imagery, unity is described as refreshing dew (v. 3) and oil-used to anoint
priests (Exodus 29:7)-"running down" the head, beard, and clothing of a priest
(v. 2). Together, these images point to the reality that in unity God's
blessings flow so lavishly they can’t be contained.
For believers in Jesus, despite differences such as ethnicity, nationality,
or age, there's a deeper unity in the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3). When we stand
together and celebrate that common bond as Jesus leads us, we can embrace
our God-given differences and celebrate the source of true unity.
By: Lisa M. Samra
Sign in to track your progress!
When have you experienced the goodness of unity in Christ?
How has it brought blessing?
Heavenly Father, help me do my part to live in unity
with all of God's people.
Learn more about loving those who are different from you.
3) From The Billy Graham Evangelical Ministry Association
Words in Season - Scripture Memory Tools
Week 3 - Saved Now and Forever - Day 5 - God Loved, So He Gave
John 3:16-17
16 (Ro 5:8; 1Jn 4:9–10; Jn 1:18) "For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
17 (1Jn 4:14; Lk 19:10) For God did not send His Son into
the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved."
Often called "the gospel in a nutshell", John 3:16 is so familiar,
even the unchurched, that it has all but lost its impact for us.
WE cite it by rote, as if it had no more meaning than a SSN (SIN),
and think that we understand the truth becuase we know the words.
Why did God send Jesus, his only Son, into the world to die?
Because he loved the people he created. God had no reason,
humanly speaking, to love mankind. Throughout history, from
the Garden of Eden forward, people had deliberately turned
against God and tried his patience. Even the nation God chose
for himself, Israel rebelled againt the Lord and turned to other gods.
And we, as individuals, have rebelled against him too. WE have tried
to control our own lives; we have denied his reality; or
acknowledged his existence and then systematically ignored him.
We have become our own gods.
Yet Christ, in love, took upon himself the rejection, the humiliation,
the pain we were responsible for. We deserved to be condemned to die,
but he died for us instead. "God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world," John 3:17 says, "but that the world
through Him might be saved."
Often, even after we have committed our lives to Christ, we mistakenly
suppose that God's primary purpose is to condemn us - to catch us in sin
and punish us. But God says that his purpose is to love us and to save us
from sin and ourselves. He loved, and so he gave; he still loves us,
and he still continues to give.
Application
a) What sin in my life put Jesus on the cross?
b) How do I know that my sins has been forgiven?
c) How can these verses help me when I face condemnation and guilt?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Deut 29:9
9 (Dt 4:6; Jos 1:7)Therefore, keep the words of this covenant
and do them, so that you may prosper in all you do.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are ill or injured
Psalm 103:1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits,
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) who forgives all your iniquities,
who heals all your diseases,
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
The Northern Territories of Canada
Yukon
Yukon Total population (2015) 36500 Muslim (est) 69
In Whitehorse the Muslim population grew from 2 families
in 2001 to more than 60 people in 2014. Originally meeting in a church,
they now meet for prayer service in a former office space.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse to come together,
and for MUslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Northwest Territories (NWT)
NWT population (2015) 43600 Muslim (est) 473
The Muslim community of Yellowknife has grown from 275 to 330 un the past year.
To replace their inadequate facity, they are planning a C$2 to C$2.5 million
Islamic Centre.
Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to
spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Nunavut (NU)
NU total population (2015) 36600 Muslim (est) 86
The Islamic Centre of Iqaluit now claim about 100 Muslims and have surpassed
80 % of their funding goal to building the first mosque in this territory.
Their stated goal is "To spread the message of Islam
in the far notherern reaches of Canada."
Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
2nd Day of the Month
a) Pray for the Church to make the Gospel accessible to all Canadians
( Rom 10:14-15 -
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 I And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those
who preach the gospel of peace, who bring good news of good things!"
)
b) Pray that Christian Leaders would seek God's
heart for vision,wisdom and direction.
(Jer 33:3 - Call to Me, and I will answer you,
and show you great and mighty things which you do not know. )
(Prov 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord,
as the rivers of water;)
Advent Day 5
From C.S. Lewis A Grand Miracle by Joel Heck
24 Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls
into the ground and dies, it remains alone.
But if it dies, it bears much fruit
John 12:24
"In this descent and reascent everyone will recognize
a familiar pattern: a thing written all over the world.
It is the pattern of all vegetable life. It must belittle
itself into some thing hard, small and deathlike,
it must fall into the ground: thence the new life reascends.
It is the pattern of all animal generation too." - C. S. Lewis
(Read this and more in Miracles, p. 148.)
Dying and Rising
The Gospel writers remind us that the arc of Jesus'
life on earth began at the Incarnation and ended with his death.
The first humÂbling was his birth in a manger,
but the final humbling was death on a cross.
The pattern that God set into the universe is one of death
and resurrection. The same is true, John writes in today's
Scripture, in the world of plants. It is no surprise that
we see the death of plants every fall and their resurrection
in the spring. Again, we see the "death" of a seed
when it is planted and the "resurrection" of that seed
when it springs forth and produces many other seeds. Why?
Because this is a divine pattern, say Jesus and Lewis,
set into the fabric of the universe, reflecting the nature of God.
Sometimes a person dies, and an organ transplant saves a life.
Lewis calls it "a familiar pattern." The point is that dying and rising,
including Jesus' descent in the Incarnation and his reascent
in the Ascension, are common, so common that we shouldn't
wonder that God redeemed us with dying and rising.
Jesus, you came down to us for our salvation.
Thank you for dying and rising for us. Amen.
From Follow the Story by Marva J. Dawn
THURSDAY, FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT
John's Character
Read Luke 1:8-20
8 Now while he served as priest before God, when his division was on duty,
9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn
incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side
of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not fear, Zechariah, for your prayer
has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall call his name John.
14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink
neither wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb.
16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready
a people prepared for the Lord."
18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this?
For I am an old man and my wife well advanced in years."
19 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.
20 And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day
that these things happen, because you did not believe my words,
which will be fulfilled in their season."
Luke 1:15b ...and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb.
I purposely had us read the same verses from Luke 1:8-17
for three days in a row (including part of today's reading), so that
the angel's message to Zechariah could impact us more deeply with
the good news of God's answer to prayer, the strength of John's
character, and the magnitude of his calling. John was not
a minor person (nor are we!) in God's plan for the salvation
of the world. Indeed, he would "make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Zechariah doubted God's miracle because of his and his wife's ages,
but Gabriel assured him that it was the Lord's determination.
He would experience muteness, not so much as punishment,
but as a sign until the prophecy had been fulfilled.
Has God ever allowed us to endure such a symptom
to be reminded constantly of our call to participate in God's designs?
Perhaps we suffer an aggravating handicap to cue us that
we are commissioned to encourage others to become prepared for,
and know, the Lord.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, thank you for including us in your intentions
for the growth of faith. Amen.
From The AH-HAs of Advent by Rich Bimler
FIRST THURSDAY
AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and AMOUR!
Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore.
love is the fulfilling of the law.
Read Romans 13:8-10.
8 (Ro 7:5) and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 (Gal 4:6; 1Co 6:19; 3:16) You, however, are not in the flesh
but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.
Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he does not belong to Him.
10 (Eph 3:17; Col 1:27) And if Christ is in you,
though the body is dead because of sin,
the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.
ROMANS 13:10 And if Christ is in you,
though the body is dead because of sin,
the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.
Love. or amour (the French word for love). is what Advent
and Christ himself, are all about Love is one four-letter
word that needs to be used and shared over and over again
for all the world to see. to sense and to savour.
One problem with the word love is that it is misused by society
to mean anything we like or are attracted to-from beer
to baseball to brats. As a result it has lost much
of the amorous quality about it.
But not so in the Scriptures! Love is always seen
as a gift from God himself. in Jesus Christ. In today's reading, St. Paul
boldly states. "Owe no one anything. except to love one another"
Wow, now that's amour!
Seek ways today to share health, hope and amour with those around you .
All three go together as God's gifts to you and to others.
As you work at loving your neighbour as yourself, do not forget that
God in Christ is first loving and forgiving you in order that
you have the energies and Easter-power, to he able to love others.
Advent's message's a big AH-HA of amour! Don't you think someone
should write a hymn entitled Amour Makes the World Go Round?
Lord thanks for being Amour to us and for us Help us to love one
another by first knowing that you love us always. Then enable us
to love ourselves for who we are 1n order to love others
for who they are Thar happens because we know who you are!
In Jesus' name. Amen ,.. and AH-HA!
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and Thank Him for renewing us day by day.
Pray to the Lord "Heavenly Father, help me do my part to live in unity
with all of God's people."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for Him for freeing you from sin
for His sacrifice on the cross for He came to save us.
Pray to the Lord and pray ask for help to keep His covenant.
Pray to the Lord and give Him for His forgiveness and lovingkindness.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse and the Yukon to come together,
and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse to come together,
and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.
Pray for the Church to make the Gospel accessible to all Canadians
Pray that Christian Leaders would seek God's
heart for vision,wisdom and direction.
Pray: Jesus, you came down to us for our salvation.
Thank you for dying and rising for us. Amen.
Pray: Gracious Lord, thank you for including us in your intentions
for the growth of faith. Amen.
Pray: Lord thanks for being Amour to us and for us Help us to love one
another by first knowing that you love us always. Then enable us
to love ourselves for who we are 1n order to love others
for who they are Thar happens because we know who you are!
In Jesus' name. Amen
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
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