Advent Alphabet - "O" - "Obedience"

“For just as by one man’s disobedience the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man’s obedience the many will be constituted righteous and made acceptable to God and brought into right standing with Him.” (Romans 5:19) “For the true love of God is this: that we do His commands. And these orders of his are not irksome, burdensome, oppressive, or grievous.” (I John 5:3) The Christmas story started with the Son in heaven willingly obeying the plan the Father had made for Jesus – starting with the manger to the cross, from the cross to the grave, and from the grave back to heaven. While growing up here on earth, “although He was a Son, Jesus learned active and special obedience through what He suffered” (Heb.5:8). Jesus put aside His “rights” so as to assume the guise of a servant in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after he had appeared in human form, He humbled Himself still further and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:7-8)! His obedience proved His love for the Father. Obedience from the heart proves our love (I. Jn. 5:3). Obeying out of fear of discipline is not done in “true love.” Obedience involves submission, commitment, and trust in the One you are obeying. Our learning discipleship has been called, “a long obedience in the same direction.” Do you remember the little story of the mother who was disciplining the little boy and had told him to sit in a certain chair until he would obey. The little boy continued to get up only to be set down again by his mother. Finally with threats of harsher discipline, the little boy sat down but said to his mother, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I am standing up on the inside.” This is not true obedience. His love for having his own way was greater than willing to obey out of love and respect for his mother. This is not how Jesus obeyed – He obeyed from His heart, and it was not “irksome, burdensome, oppressive or grievous.” He knew the Father knew what was best so He willingly obeyed because He loved the Father and His instructions. Mary likewise obeyed willingly. Luke 1:26-38 tells the story of Mary’s complete obedience. The angel, Gabriel, appeared to her, telling her she would become pregnant by the Holy Ghost and give birth to a Son and call His name Jesus, and He would be great and would be called the Son of the Most High. Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said.” Matthew 1:18-25 tells how Joseph was told by an angel to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife because that which is conceived in her is from out of the Holy Ghost, and she would bear a Son and you shall call His name, Jesus. This was all a fulfillment of prophecy (Isa.7:14). Then when Joseph roused from his sleep, he obeyed just as the angel had commanded him: he took Mary to his side as his wife, but had no union with her as her husband until she had borne her firstborn Son; and he called His name Jesus. Trust and Obey (by J. H. Sammis) When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word what a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. But we never can prove the delights of His love until all on the altar we lay. For the favor He shows, and the joy He bestows, are for those who will trust and obey. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet, or we’ll walk by His side in the way. What He says we will do, where He sends we will go - never fear, only trust and obey. Blog Address: http://lightfrommywindow.blogspot.com

Advent Alphabet - "N" - "Name"

“She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus (Savior), for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Names have always been a part of the “person” of the peoples of the earth, both civilized and uncivilized. It was certainly so in the days when Jesus was born. When Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, was contemplating what should be done about the difficult situation of being engaged to be married to Mary who was with child, and not knowing this Child was from the Holy Spirit, “an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus (which means Savior), for He will save His people from their sins.” It was about 740 B.C. when Isaiah gave a prophecy to the house of David, which specifically gives Jesus a different name in chapter 7 and verse14, “Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel – which means, God with us.” Also, Jesus Christ, the “anointed One,” was used as a glorifying epithet name (Matt.1:16-18). All His names pointed to the “real Jesus.” Throughout the scriptures many names were given to Him to show that He was mankind’s “all in all.” I will mention a few below. 1) Word of God – John 1:1; 2) Word of Truth – James 1:18; 3) The Rock – I Cor.10:4; 4) Fountain of Living Water – John 4:14; 5) Sun of righteousness – Isaiah 49:9; 6) Law Giver – Ex.20:1; 7) Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – Isa.9:6; 8) Deliverer – Rom.11:26 9) Our Strong Tower – Prov.18:10 10) Morning Star – II Peter 1:19 11) The God of all Comfort – II Cor.1:3-5 12) Refuge – Duet. 33:27 13) Advocate – John 14:l6 13) Spirit of Truth – John 14:17 14) The Unchangeable God – James 1:17 There are many, many more names given Jesus. Read and find them for yourself. Believe and meditate on their meaning. It will strengthen your faith. Take the Name of Jesus with You Lydia Baxter Take the name of Jesus with you, Child of sorrow and of woe. It will joy and comfort give you. Take it, then, wherever you go. Take the name of Jesus ever, as a shield from every snare. If temptations round you gather, breathe that holy name in prayer. At the name of Jesus bowing, falling prostrate at His feet. King of kings in heaven we’ll crown Him when our journey is complete. Precious name, O how sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heaven. Precious name, O how sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heaven.

Advent Alphabet - "M" - "Meek"

“Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble, lowly in heart, and you will find rest, refreshment, and blessed quietness for your souls.” We do not use the word meek anymore because it has taken on the opposite meaning from the true meaning. Some who do not understand the meaning of being “meek” thinks it means to be “spineless,” weak, Mr. Milk-Toast, or being a coward. Actually, the true meaning is very different. Webster’s first definition of meekness is: “Enduring injury with patience and without resentment.” The Hebrew and Greek meanings are about the same: “Mild, gentle, and lowly (in spirit)” I heard one definition, which I like is, “meekness is power under control.” The illustration of this definition that was given with this definition was, “a bridled horse.” The horse has great power of itself, but when bridled its power comes under control of the handler. It no longer acts and does as it wishes, but must come and go and perform just as the one controlling the bridle directs. The horse and bridle picture is not completely, nor perfectly analogous of the relationship of the Father and Son picture. The horse has no choice but to obey the directives of the bridle or be in great pain and even injury, but Jesus had chosen to do the Father’s will and even said, “I have come to do the will of my Father” (Jn.6:38). Jesus came into this world under control of the Father, both as a baby and as an adult man, who chose to obey the directives of Father. He knew the Father’s will before coming to earth, and He chose to do His will – this is meekness! In heaven Jesus was the omnipotent God, but when He came to earth He chose to “bring His power under the control” of His will as a man. He lived in a spirit of gentleness – this is meekness. “When He was insulted, He did not offer insult in return. He was abused and suffered, he made no threat of vengeance; but He trusted Himself and everything to Him Who judges fairly (I Peter 2:21). We too must choose to bring the power we have of free will and choice under the control of the Holy Spirit Who wants to control our lives, so we must seek and bow to His will in all things - He gives us many promises when we do. We must not be like the lady in Zephaniah 2:3 who was the epitome of the opposite of meekness. “She did not listen to and heed the voice of God; she accepted no correction or instruction; she did not trust in the Lord or was not confident in Him, but was confident in her own wealth; she did not draw near to God, but to the god of Baal or Molech.” The Lord gives us some promises to those who are meek: 1) He will lead the meek in what is right, and teaches them His way (Ps.25:9). 2) In the end the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace (Ps.37:11). 3) He lifts up the meek and downtrodden; He casts the wicked to the ground (Ps.147:6). 4) The Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with salvation and victory (Ps.149:4). 5) The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord (Isaiah 29:10). 6) Blessed (joyous) are the meek (the patient and long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth (Mt.5:5). So if you are a believer, who is trusting in the Lord, and walking in the Holy Spirit, you will have the power to be meek (Gal.5:23). Just as the Holy Spirit lived in, and controlled Jesus, and was meek, you can be meek. Do you want to be like Jesus? O To Be Like Thee! (Thomas O. Chisholm) O to be like You! Full of compassion, loving, forgiving, tender and kind, helping the helpless, cheering the fainting, seeking the wandering sinner to find. O to be like You! O to be like You, blessed Redeemer, pure as You are! Come in Your sweetness, come in Your fullness. Stamp Your own image deep on my heart.

Advent Alphabet - "L" - "Light"

“In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men” (John 1:4-5). Many years ago in 1880, Helen Keller was born, blind, deaf, and a mute. She never saw the light of day, but when just a young girl Anne Sullivan became not only her teacher and friend, but she became her “light.” By teaching Helen how to touch/read lips, and to read Braille, opened up a whole new world to Helen which she had never seen nor heard, but which brought light and knowledge to her mind. Helen became an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf/blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. How thankful and grateful she was to Anne Sullivan for shining this light into her life. One of her quotes says, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” This is what Jesus did to this dark world – He brought glorious light into this world, to us who were in the darkness and blinded in our sins. God brought light into the world from the beginning when He created the heavens and the earth and all that are in them. God is Light. Jesus came as “Light of the world.” In Him is no darkness at all. Even at His birth there appeared to the shepherds, first one angel, then an army of angels appeared in a great light that flashed and shone all about them announcing the birth of the Savior and praising God (Luke 2:9-14). Wherever Jesus was, there was light, either physical or spiritual or both. Matthew 4:16 says it well, “The people who dwelt enveloped in spiritual darkness have seen a great Light (illumination of mind and heart), and for those who sat in the land and shadow of spiritual death, Light (Truth of His good news) has dawned.” The next lighting was told about in Matthew 2:1-12, where the wise men (astrologers) from the east came in search of the “King of the Jews” to worship Him. They had seen His star in the east and followed its light to where it stood over the place where the Christ Child was and fell down and worshiped Him. David proclaimed in Psalm 27:1, that “The Lord is my light (luminary – bright & clear) and my salvation.” >“God’s Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Ps.119:105). Daniel 2:22 says that, “He reveals the deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him!” He is the eternal Light! Even in heaven Jesus is the Light, “And there shall be no more night; they have no need for lamplight or sunlight, for the Lord God will illuminate them and be their light. (Rev.22:5) He is still the LIGHT of this world! Is He your Light? The Light of the World Is Jesus Philip P. Bliss The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin – The Light of the world is Jesus. Like sunshine at noonday His glory shone in – The Light of the world is Jesus. No darkness have we who in Jesus abide – The Light of the world is Jesus. We walk in the Light when we follow our Guide – The Light of the world is Jesus. No need of the sunlight in heaven, we’re told – The Light of the world is Jesus. The Lamb is the Light in the City of Gold – The Light of the world is Jesus. Come to the Light, ‘tis shining for thee! Sweetly the Light has dawned upon me. Once I was blind, but now I can see – The Light of the world is Jesus.

Advent Alphabet - "K" - "Keep/Kept"

“All who heard it were astounded and marveled at what the shepherds told them. But Mary was keeping within her herself all these things weighing and pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:18-19). There are precious and dear things we all have kept in our hearts. They are things we want to remember. They bring pleasure and joy to our hearts. Those memorable things are sometimes things we write in a diary, or keep in a picture album, but some things are just indelible on our hearts – they are precious and dear, and we never want to lose them. Spiritual Truths are dear to me and I keep them close in my heart – they bring me comfort, joy and peace. When Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple for Mary’s purification and Jesus’ dedication, to present Him to the Lord. There was an old man, Simeon, who was righteous and devout, and never left the temple enclosure. He was looking for the Consolation of Israel (the Messiah). When Simeon saw the parents with Jesus, he took Him up in his arms and prophesied over Him. And Mary and Joseph marveled at what had been said about Jesus. When Jesus was 12 years old the parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. When the feast was over the parents started home with the crowd not knowing Jesus had stayed behind. After a day’s journey they discovered He was not with the group, so returned to Jerusalem where, after three days they found Him in the courtyard sitting among the teachers listening and asking questions. When questioned about why He had stayed behind He replied, “How is it that you had to look for me? Did you not know that it is necessary for Me to be in My Father’s house and occupied about My Father’s business? But they did not comprehend what He was saying to them. He went back to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them; and His mother kept (Gr. guarded, thoroughly watched) all these things in her heart. Also, when Jesus, with Peter, James and John were coming down the mountain from the transfiguration, and He was talking to them about rising from the dead, they faithfully kept (retained) the incredulous things they had seen and heard to themselves (Mark 9:9-10). Paul said in II Timothy 4:7, when writing to Timothy that he “had fought the good fight, finished the race and kept (watched over & guarded & firmly held the faith).” Can we say the same? Are we fighting the good fight; and persevering to finish this race we are in; and are we keeping the faith? As Mary kept those precious things about Jesus in her heart, we too should keep those precious things we know about Jesus in our hearts - His Word (Ps.119:69); His way (Ps.37:34). You will (guard) him and keep Him in perfect and constant peace whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is kept on You, because he commits himself to you, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. (Isaiah 26:3). Blog Address: http://lightfrommywindow.blogspot.com

Advent Alphabet - "J" - "Joy"

Advent Alphabet – “J” – “Joy” And behold, the star which had been seen in the east in its rising went before them until it came and stood over the place where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they were thrilled with ecstatic joy. (Matthew 2:9b-10) Joy was the entire ambiance and the pervading atmosphere of this Birthday! Joy should be one of the outstanding characteristics of a Christian, because it is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Eph.5:22). There was much rejoicing and exceedingly great joy over the birth of this Christ Child: 1)John the Baptist (in his mother’s womb) who was the son of Zachariah, an elderly Jewish priest, and his older wife, Elizabeth, who was a relative of Mary the mother of Jesus, both walked blamelessly before the Lord in great anticipation of the Messiah. Both played into the joy and exultation of Jesus’ birth (read Luke 1:5- 41, 42-45). 2) Mary’s Magnificat, “a joyous song or hymn of praise” (Luke 1:46-55). 3) Zachariah prophesied a joyous prophecy of Jesus, the Messiah (Luke 1:67-75). 4) Shepherds rejoiced (Luke 2:8-20). 5) Angels sang and rejoiced (Luke 2:9-14). 6) Simeon, a righteous and devout man rejoiced and prophesied (Luke 2:25-35). 7) Anna, a very old widow, a prophetess thanked God (Luke 2:36-38). 8) Wise men (astrologers) from the East were thrilled with ecstatic joy and worshiped (Matt.2:1-10-12). What would your response be at hearing and/or seeing an angel; or at seeing a phenomenal star; or seeing in person the Christ Child - the Savior of the world? I believe it would so dramatically change our lives that we would never be the same again. We would put away any worry or fears we might have. We would leave behind old hurts, grudges and unforgiveness. We would choose to focus on and worship Jesus, the Babe of Bethlehem, the Hope of the hopeless, and the Savior of the world! Coming into a personal relationship with Jesus by trusting Him as our Savior of our sins ”is seeing” Him, and coming to know Him! And Oh, the joy of seeing and knowing Jesus! Just experiencing the goodness of God should bring us great joy! JOY TO THE WORLD Isaac Watts Joy to the world! The Lord is come, let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing! Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ. While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy! No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love!

Advent Alphabet - "G" - "Greatest Gift - Grace"

Grace, (God’s unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually, not indiscriminately, but in different ways in proportion to the measure of Christ’s rich and bounteous gift. (Eph.4:7) “For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through your faith. And this salvation is not of your own doing, it came not through your own striving, but it is the gift of God. It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself. (Eph.2:8-9 Amp.) Have you ever known anyone who didn’t enjoy getting a gift? From young to old a personal gift speaks of love, caring, and sometimes even sacrifice. This time of year my time is filled with obtaining gifts for all our family, and even friends. I try to get just what I think each will enjoy. It brings me much joy to watch their joy in receiving anything. Sometimes it is not what they needed, or had thought about, but just the fact that they were remembered brings much joy (at least it does to me). The Father gave us the Greatest Gift, Jesus, not just for the joy He would receive by giving His Son, but for the joy He would see in us when we received this most wonderful Gift. Oh, what love, caring, and what a great sacrifice He made by giving His gift. Then what joy unspeakable and full of glory we have by receiving His gift, Jesus! The scriptures tell us in Ecclesiastes 5:19, that, “Every man to whom God has given riches and possessions, and the power to enjoy them and to accept his appointed lot and to rejoice in his toil – this is the gift of God to him.” As Paul demonstrated in Acts 1:11, we as believers can share some spiritual gift with other believers, which will strengthen and establish them, so they may be mutually strengthened, encouraged and comforted by each other’s faith. Some of believer’s gifts are spoken of in Romans 12 and I Corinthians 14. These gifts have been given by the Holy Spirit when He came to live within us. They are given to each to employ it for one another as good stewards of the gifts granted to Christians by His grace (unmerited favor). Every good and perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of light (James 1:17). All the above are wonderful gifts, whether given by others or by God, but the “Greatest Gift” is His Grace Gift to us of His Son, Jesus Christ, Who came in the form of a baby so long ago. None of us merited this favor, but The Father graced us with this superlative, magnanimous, wondrous, and indescribable gift to all who would believe and accept His free gift. We don’t have to work for it or try to be good enough to deserve it. We just repent (change our views and purpose to accept the will of God in our inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Just open our hearts to Jesus and receive The Greatest Gift - Grace.