God Created

Today's Reading: Genesis 1

Advent is the story of the coming of Jesus the Christ. It starts with the very beginning in the Bible on the first page of the book of Genesis and extends to the very last page of the book of Revelation. In fact, there are many places in the New Testament that speak of Jesus being right there in the beginning of creation with God. In the book of John he refers to Jesus as the Word and says,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 

He was in the beginning with God. 

All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made." 

John 1:1-3 NKJ

In the beginning is very reminiscent of in the first words in Genesis:

 "In the beginning God created 

the heavens and the earth. 

The earth was formless and empty, 

and darkness covered the deep waters. 

And the Spirit of God 

was hovering over 
the surface of the waters. 

Then God said 'Let there be light,' 

and there was light. 

And God saw that the light was good. 

Then he separated the light 
from the darkness. 

God called the light 'day' and the darkness 'night'.
  Verses 1-3 NLT

God created the heavens and the earth, light, plants, the sun, the moon and the stars. And He said that everything was good. Consider the beauty and wonder of the universe, a star-lit sky, a full moon casting shadows across your lawn, the rain pouring down on your roof, a glorious sunrise or sunset. What does this say about what God is like? I see a God of magnificent beauty and profound love.

God created living things,

"great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, 

every sort of bird"... He also created all sorts of animals, 

"livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals... 

and God saw that it was good." 

Verses 21-25

Consider the beautiful, varied and intricate creation of all the animals and various creatures that He made, from the tiniest bug that can fly around in your yard, to the greatest whale in the sea. He said that everything He created was good. He is good and we see His goodness, His character in His creation.

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, 

being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead... " 

Romans 1:20 NKJ

When you look at creation, what do you see of the character of God?

"Then God said, 
Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;

In the image of God He created them; 

male and female He created them. 

Then God blessed them and said 

'Be fruitful and multiply. 

Fill the earth and govern it. 

Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, 

and all the animals that scurry along the ground." 

Verses 26-28 NKJ, NLT

God created Adam and Eve, the very first human beings. He created them in His own likeness. These first people are different than all the other animals in all of creation in that they were made in the image of God. He blessed Adam and Eve, then told them to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth with people and He assigned them to rule over the earth and the creatures who live on it. David spoke of how God created him:

"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mothers womb. 

I will praise You, for I am fearfully made; 

Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 

My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, 

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. 

And in Your book they all were written, 

The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.  

How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God!" 

Psalm 139: 13-18 NKJ

Consider the love and care of God expressed in David's words. David found joy, peace and comfort knowing the God who loves Him.

God said,  "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. It's plural... Jesus was there, in the very beginning. :-) Thus our story of this child begins.

Come before God in prayer and thank Him for His beautiful creation; 
and see His eternal power and the beauty of His character in what He has made.

A Great Light will Shine

Reading: Isaiah 9:2-6

Already people have been scurrying about at the malls shopping for the big day... CHRISTMAS! Thoughts whirling through our minds of Christmas music, yummy food, a Christmas tree, lights, families gathering together to celebrate the big event... the coming of Santa Claus. What? The Coming of Santa Claus? Is Santa what Christmas was originally all about? Some people don't realize that before Christmas was celebrated with Santa, people celebrated Christmas, honoring Jesus Christ by celebrating Advent: which means the coming or the arrival of Jesus.

What is Advent? Advent is a 4 week season just before Christmas to prepare our hearts for the Coming of Christ. Followers of Jesus from all over the world have celebrated Advent for hundreds of years. During Advent we celebrate His first coming as a baby long ago. I love the story of the Coming of Christ as it is written in the Bible through the ages, from beginning to the end. It is my hope to share this joy from the best of my understanding, as an act of worship to Him. It is in His Story that we find the true meaning of Christmas, The Promise of the King.

Tonight is the first Sunday, the first day of the first week of Advent. Many people celebrate Advent by lighting Advent Candles, one for each week of Advent.  For more info on the candles, the advent wreath and other resources visit Advent for Kids, a blog I started for my grandkids.

Tomorrow Advent Begins

Tomorrow is the first day of Advent. We will put up an Advent reading every day for you to drop by and enjoy. If you have time, a comment will be welcomed with joy.

Also we have an Advent Blog for kids and families called Advent for Kids. It is set up to give idea's and devotions to share times together as a family and start a new tradition to bring meaning into their Christmas Season. Check it out and send the link to someone who will enjoy this with their children.

Tomorrow is the first day of Advent when you light the first candle. 

"The first candle is traditionally the candle of Expectation" the Hope found in Prophecy. "This draws attention to the anticipation of the coming of an Anointed One, a Messiah that weaves its way like a golden thread through Old Testament history. As God’s people were abused by power hungry kings, led astray by self-centered prophets, and lulled into apathy by half-hearted religious leaders, there arose a longing for God to raise up a new king who could show them how to be God’s people. They yearned for a return of God’s dynamic presence in their midst."

This week we will look at the Old Testament, beginning in Genesis. We will see Christ in creation, the creation of people and then evil and why it was necessary for Jesus to come.  We will also see Noah, the Tower of Babel, Abraham, Samuel and King David... all relating to the coming of Christ.

For tomorrow, on Journey with Jesus, I will put up the same post as Advent for Kids for you to see. The following day, the posts on Journey with Jesus will be much more indepth. Whereas the posts on Advent for Kids will be similar but more kid/ family friendly. Enjoy this Season with your Lord and family. Blessings ~ Sheri

PS. Do you have your candles yet? I am going out today to buy some, put them in candle holders and arrange them around a simple Christmas wreath. I use red for the first four around the wreath and white in the center for the arrival of the Christ Child. This year I used four gold for the coming of our King and white for His pure holiness. Various traditions use other colors as well.

King of Kings

Reading: Revelation 19:11-16

As Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowds were cheering and wondering if this was the coming of God's chosen one. In this time of great rejoicing, Messiah finally came in to the city of David, the city of the Great king. He was righteous, and just. In their eyes He was coming to make things right and end the injustice they lived under with the occupation of Rome. But that is not how it was to be. God's chosen One, came in humility. He rode on a little donkey, rather than a majestic horse. He came in peace, not in war. And now as we look ahead to the second coming of our Great King He will come very differently.

In All Things He may Have Preeminence

Reading: Colossians 1:12-20,

As I consider Christ the King, I am amazed by what is revealed in these verses below:

"He is the image of the invisible God
and the first born over all creation.
For by Him all things were created
that are in heaven and that are on the earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him and for Him.
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
And He is the head of the body, the church,
who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
and in all things He may have the preeminence. "
Colossians 1:15-18 NKJ

Peace Through the Blood of His Cross

Today's reading: Colossians 1:12-20,

Jesus has authority over all power both on earth over kings and dictators; and in the heavenly places over powerful spirit entities; because He created them. Therefore, as Creator, He is able to complete all that is promised in His word. Furthermore when we are "IN HIM we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins". Ephesians 1:7 Here is how Paul describes this in Colossians:

"He has delivered us from the power of darkness
and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
in whom we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins.

All Things Under His Feet

Today's reading: Ephesians 1:19-22

In the book of Ephesians Paul tells us, that God in His mighty power raised Christ from the dead and

"seated Him at His right hand in heavenly places
far above all principality and power and might and dominion
and every name that is named,
not only in this age but in the age to come.
And He put all things under His feet,
and gave Him to be head over all things..."
Ephesians 1:19-22 NKJ

Christ Exalted - Public Domain

Why Do the Nations Rage?

Today's Reading: Psalm 2,

Jesus came humbly in His first Coming as the meek servant King. He was crucified, raised from the dead and God has highly exalted Him over every name. Knowing this we wait with great anticipation for His second Coming in glory to reign in great power as LORD. When He comes we will finally have peace on earth and good will among people... because evil will be destroyed.

This is a comfort to us right now in a world of immense turmoil and corruption. It seems every day evil increases more and more. There are kings, emperors, "presidents", ruling the earth right now and it seems that there is one war after another... one group pitted against another. When will peace finally come? When Jesus comes. For now, the nations rage and people plot

What David says in Psalms reminds me of our world now:

The Servant King is Lord

"Tell the daughter of Zion,
'Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey...'"  
Matt. 21:5

Today's Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

The people of Jerusalem rejoiced as Jesus, their Messiah, rode down the hill from the mount of Olives. Little did they know that by Friday many of them would be shouting "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" But Jesus knew. This is why He wept over the city as He drew near. He knew they would crucify Him, and that Jerusalem would be destroyed because of their rejection. (See Luke 19:35-44) Paul speaks so eloquently of the lowliness of Jesus in Philippians: