Wednesday, December 30, 2015

2015 In Review

Hello, friends

As 2015 comes to a close, I decided to share some pictures and videos of some of the highlights of this past year.

I pray that your year has been full of blessings and as another new year approaches, that you walk with the Lord and He provides you with a year of many more blessings!!!




You may find me linking up at any of the blog parties listed on the left sidebar.(or go to my blog party page link, below)

Favorite Blogs Parties where I Link-up 






Friday, December 25, 2015

Advent(Dec. 25): Never-Ending Christmas

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,

    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”  And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.  And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.  
But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
Luke 2:11-19
An angel appeared and gave the first announcement - "Unto you is born this day, Christ the Lord!!!"

Then, suddenly, there was not just one angel in the glory of the Lord, but a whole host of them all around the quivering shepherds. Not only were they visible, they were singing as only angels can, praising God. Their presence heightens the importance of the announcement. This was not just a small, heavenly choir but the heavenly host that appeared in full force. God's vast army came to add their voices to the announcement that their great Captain had just been born!

The hymn they sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace!"


One of Christ's titles is "The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6), and He who had just been born would eventually bring peace on earth.  
What then, is this Christmas peace --  It is the peace that may be experienced by the people of God's good will.  This kind of peace begins with peace with God, which is evident from the words of the angels -- they announced "peace among men with whom He is pleased." -

 And that peace is the result of becoming a disciple of Jesus. Jesus Himself said to His disciples: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you" (John 14:27).

Oh, I cannot imagine how awestruck the shepherds must have been that night when the angels appeared.
Handel's Messiah "Glory to God in the Highest" makes this glorious moment even more memorable!!!
High praise is to be given to God for his love in redeeming people. Oh, that not only “angels,” but “men,” would join universally in this song of praise!(source)



"The whole world lingers long at Christmas trees tonight, not wanting Christmas to be over. All of us long for this wonder to go on.
But it will never be dark again..."For unto us a Child is born..."
God, Jesus, stays with us.
Because we have Jesus with us, Christmas goes on forever!!"
He is the greatest Gift!!!
Thank you for joining me on this 25-day walk through the Advent Calender...from the book, "Unwrapping the Greatest Gift".(All quotes listed are from the book, unless indicated.)
I have been sharing each story in this beautiful book, as well as some of the breathtaking pictures. 
To view the whole series on one page, go HERE

You may find me linking up at any of the blog parties listed on the left sidebar.(or go to my blog party page link, below)

Favorite Blogs Parties where I Link-up 

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Advent(Dec. 24): Kneel at the Manger

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7

"Mary and Joseph hunched in a stable, awestruck that they were holding in their trembling hands the Son-King, the rescue plan to free His children from darkness.

On the night Jesus was born, there was more happening than we could see. High in the heavens, it wasn't a silent night - it was a cosmic war spinning across space. Jesus came for you, warring against the darkness to win you back to Him. The evil enemy of God, Satan, fell like lightening from heaven - fell out of the sky in a heap."
How do you open up your heart after rejection’s slammed you closed, after you’ve exposed dreams and begged prayers, after you’ve tasted the rot of loss —  after the loss keeps coming and gets caught right there in your gullet?
How do you walk through this hard world with your heart gaping tender open?This night our rescue has come. God has visited our planet, and we can breathe free.
Emmanuel — God with us. God with us and for us and in us and holding us and this is the Christmas miracle that outlasts all of time. 
"Tonight, at the foot of the cradle of Christ, like at the foot of the cross of Christ, there are no big, powerful, or proud people. Tonight we are all children who struggle to the manger with nothing. Tonight, we kneel down before Jesus and reach out our hands that need little - because we want more of God."
 We need some One to touch the wounds of our heart with a warm and gentle hand - to be with us...
  • When you don’t think you can forget what she’s said about you —-
  • When you don’t think you can forget what he’s done to you —
 When it’s His heart beating in you — you can let go in a heart beat. (source)

You will hurt and you will be held
God is our Strength for the way.  And God has healed our hurt with more of Himself. 
Wise men follow more than a star — they follow the God of the scars. Who heals our scars

God takes broken hearts — and gives you His."
And the good things in life are not so much health but holiness, not so much the riches of this world but relationship with God, not so much our plans but His presence — 
 He withholds no good thing from us.

Jesus whispers, 
"The freedom you could never earn, with your raggedy rags - that's what I came to give you. I did it for love, because I could never, no matter what, EVER stop loving you."
Come back again, as I share Day 25 of the Advent Calender...in the book, "Unwrapping the Greatest Gift".(All quotes listed are from the book, unless indicated.)
I will be sharing each story in this beautiful book, as well as some of the breathtaking pictures. Won't you join me? Stop by each day to see the stories shared. If you would prefer I email you each days post, please leave your email in the comments section or send me an email at apop12341@hotmail.com 
and let me know. I will make sure each post is sent to you.
To view the whole series on one page, go HERE

You may find me linking up at any of the blog parties listed on the left sidebar.(or go to my blog party page link, below)

Favorite Blogs Parties where I Link-up 

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Advent(Dec. 23): He Can't Stay Away

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall call his name Immanuel
Matthew 1:20-23

Joseph is told that Mary should bring forth the Saviour of the world. 
"He was to call his name Jesus - because it means 'The Lord saves' - this baby is the One the whole epic story of the universe, the tale of the greatest rescue, has been leading up to. He's finally coming to save His children...from all that held them captive to the darkness."

The angel had told him that 'He would be called Immanuel… God with us.' The Messiah was the manifestation of God in our midst. The thought is parallel to that of John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Emmanuel(God is with us) is a promise of God's presence and comfort - the promise of the Name is fulfilled in Jesus by His helpful and saving presence with His people in their sorrow, their conflict with sin, and their struggle with death.
(compare "Lo, I am with you alway," Matthew 28:20(source)

"He is the God who is so for you that He can't stay away from you - so God threw open the door of this world and entered as a Baby. He came because He was done with the barriers. 

Only the One who loves you to death - the God who had to come back to get you - free you - be with you."


"You alone are the God for us — because You alone are the God who has been one of usYou felt what we feel, You touched the death that we know, You came to us as Immanuel: 'God with us'."
Listen to this moving reading of what these powerful three words truly mean...
And a beautiful song that reminds us also of how much He loves us....that He came to be WITH US!!!

"Christmas isn't about getting something big and shiny. It's about God doing whatever it takes to be WITH US - and our doing whatever it takes to be WITH HIM!!!!"


Come back again, as I share Day 24 of the Advent Calender...in the book, "Unwrapping the Greatest Gift".(All quotes listed are from the book, unless indicated.)
I will be sharing each story in this beautiful book, as well as some of the breathtaking pictures. Won't you join me? Stop by each day to see the stories shared. If you would prefer I email you each days post, please leave your email in the comments section or send me an email at apop12341@hotmail.com 
and let me know. I will make sure each post is sent to you.
To view the whole series on one page, go HERE

You may find me linking up at any of the blog parties listed on the left sidebar.(or go to my blog party page link, below)

Favorite Blogs Parties where I Link-up 

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Advent(Dec. 22): Wide Awake Dreams

The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:28, 35, 38

"Mary, the girl Joseph was engaged to, turned around and right before her eyes, she saw the stuff of dreams - even though she was wide awake! A very real angel - Gabriel - standing in front of her."


"Gabriel beamed, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a Gift for you - for the whole world. A baby boy named Jesus. 
Mary said yes to becoming a space for God - right there beneath her beating heart."
"When you make space in your words, in your wants, in your ways for Jesus, He comes and lives in the most miraculous way in your heart, too.
To say yes to whatever God wants to give you, you are really holding on to the hands of God."

LISTEN
…to the heart of the sad.
LOOK
…into someone’s loneliness and reach out to them.
BECOME
…a safe space for someone.

We get the miracle of being a miraculous space for Jesus, too.
Only one thing is necessary - just let your hands and your heart be a space for LOVE to come into the world.

“When the divine life possesses the soul, it flows over in gracious ministries among our fellowmen. The affluence becomes an influence importing itself to others.”John Henry Jowett

Come back again, as I share Day 23 of the Advent Calender...in the book, "Unwrapping the Greatest Gift".(All quotes listed are from the book, unless indicated.)
I will be sharing each story in this beautiful book, as well as some of the breathtaking pictures. Won't you join me? Stop by each day to see the stories shared. If you would prefer I email you each days post, please leave your email in the comments section or send me an email at apop12341@hotmail.com 
and let me know. I will make sure each post is sent to you.
To view the whole series on one page, go HERE

You may find me linking up at any of the blog parties listed on the left sidebar.(or go to my blog party page link, below)

Favorite Blogs Parties where I Link-up 

Monday, December 21, 2015

Advent(Dec. 21): Thunder in the Desert

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 
 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.’”
Matthew 3:1-3

God sent John the Baptist to prepare Israel for his climactic revelation in history. A voice of a crier in the wilderness. This is quoted from Isaiah 40:3, which clearly proves that John the Baptist was the person of whom the prophet spoke.(source)
John declaired, "The Lord whom your have sought, the Messiah whom you have expected, is just coming, he will quickly appear; prepare to meet him by repentance, and receive him by faith, relinquish your former notions and principles, correct your errors, and amend your lives, remove all out of the way which may be offensive to him."(source)
"John couldn't keep quite - he kept booming out the good news, just like he was thunder in the desert! He thundered the joy of it: "Clear the road! Prepare the way! Jesus is coming!"
"Clear the way, so nothing you want stops you from seeing Jesus - so you don't let anything distract you from seeing His coming. Jesus is coming to carry the heaviness and to wash away all the badness and to give us the gift of happiness."

Do you need to clear the way - to make things right with your Savior? As John thundered to the world..."Repent, for the kingdom is at hand."
Repentance is preparation for quenching, for new growth, for rainshowers of hope and fertility. Repentance washes away our sins and makes a straight path for God to come near. 
When John thundered the good news, the people came out of their own personal deserts, to confess, repent, and plunge themselves in the cool, flowing waters of the River Jordan—to be washed clean of the past and its pain…and to be drenched in newness of Life.(source)
A Prayer of Repentance
From The Book of Common Prayer:
“Most holy and merciful Father:
We confess to you and to one another,
and to the whole communion of saints
in heaven and on earth,
that we have sinned by our own fault
in thought, word, and deed;
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.
Have mercy on us, Lord. 
Accept our repentance, Lord.
Restore us, good Lord, and let your anger depart from us;
Favorably hear us, for your mercy is great.
Accomplish in us the work of your salvation,
That we may show forth your glory in the world.
We pray these things in the name of Him who saves us….Amen.”
"It was already happening. God was opening the back door of the universe - Bethlehem. The great rescue was starting! The LOVE that had been coming for us ever since the beginning was coming to undo all the bad things. Could there be a greater Gift than - a love that forever frees us?"
"Everything is almost ready for Christmas. Do you feel it? - Coming down like a gentle rain, like a gentle snow? It's the wonder of Jesus coming down like love all around us, everywhere."


Come back again, as I share Day 22 of the Advent Calender...in the book, "Unwrapping the Greatest Gift".(All quotes listed are from the book, unless indicated.)
I will be sharing each story in this beautiful book, as well as some of the breathtaking pictures. Won't you join me? Stop by each day to see the stories shared. If you would prefer I email you each days post, please leave your email in the comments section or send me an email at apop12341@hotmail.com 
and let me know. I will make sure each post is sent to you.
To view the whole series on one page, go HERE

You may find me linking up at any of the blog parties listed on the left sidebar.(or go to my blog party page link, below)

Favorite Blogs Parties where I Link-up