Born Thy People To Deliver

ADVENT-DAY 9

BORN THY PEOPLE TO DELIVER

"Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest."

I love that verse from Psalm 55:6.

I think all of us at times want to be delivered from our present situation and God has made provision for just that very thing.  Maybe not the actual reality of them but for sure from the stress they create.

But it is not the day to day cares of this life that are the main thing. The Bible says this life is a vapor.  Think about it.  Here one second, gone the next.

He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Deliverer to free us from our guilt, our sin, and an eternity apart from His presence.

When I really stop and think about a heavenless eternity, it is the absolute vacuum of His presence that sends my mind to a place that is unthinkable.  I bring myself back to reality quickly because it is a thought I don't want to think about.

However, even though we may be sure of our own salvation, thoughts of a Godless eternity should drive us to our knees in prayer and intercession for others and in thanksgiving for ourselves--that He has called us and we have heeded.  

After all, it is He Who pursues us.

I am praying that you, my precious reader, will fly away with the Spirit today.  Let Him catch you in His updraft of comfort, love and reassurance.  Let Him deliver you.

Forget the cares of this world and be at rest.

He was born to deliver us.

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2020

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Joy of Every Longing Heart

What does your longing heart desire today? 

This is what mine desires--to be in God's presence and intimately aware of our close relationship all day long.  I want my heart to break for what breaks His.  I want to rejoice when He rejoices.  I want to grieve over sin that He cannot look upon.  I want to celebrate Him each and every day.

Think about a time in your life when you have longed greatly for something.  Was it a spouse?  A new article of clothing you had fallen in love with?  A job that seemed to fulfill every facet of yourself.

You name it!

I remember one year some time ago.  My Christmas-loving single 25 year old son and I had just trimmed our Christmas tree--older two sons were already out of the house and on their on, hubby had crashed from a long day at work, youngest son and I turned out the lights and were looking at the beauty and majesty of our tree.

It wasn't long before I noticed a far-off look in my son's eyes--one of hope and longing.  The mother in me had to ask about 'the look.'

He, very simply,  succinctly, wistfully, longingly and heartfelt said, "Oh, I am just wishing for the day that I will have my own home and my own family to celebrate with."

The longing was palpable.

That is how I want to desire God and His presence.

I can just imagine that the church above is filled with longing hearts--those who dared leave their warm, cozy home to gather with like-hearted ones.  Sometimes we just need to be with others to celebrate and satiate our longings.

The result of this pandemic has caused lots of loneliness, distress, and discouragement.  Not even to mention tremendous grief for those who have lost loved ones and have suffered the ill-effects of this dreaded virus.

My son (discussed above) and his wife have both recently had Covid and are having to deal with the after-effects of that.  Thank God none of their three children got it.

I hope that wherever you are today that you are well and happy.  I pray God's peace and protection over you.  I pray that you will be filled with unspeakable joy.

Let God fill your longing heart with joy.

He is sufficient.

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2020





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Dear Desire of Every Nation

We are commanded to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth because He is the hope of all the earth. 

ADVENT-DAY 7

The nations long to hear about Him Who came to rescue them and fill their greatest needs and longings because He is the desire of every nation. 

The earth and its inhabitants groan and moan for a Savior to come and cleanse us from our sins, to make all things right, to impart justice, to exhibit true righteousness.

We pray that all people everywhere should come to know this One Who came to meet the desires of every nation.  We pray that the bells of Christmas Day would ring out all over this planet with the rejoicing of those who have discovered and claimed for their very own the Master Himself.

And in the words of another great old Christmas carol, let us "Go tell it on the mountains, over the hills and everywhere, Go tell it on the mountains that Jesus Christ is born."  

Let us pray that every people group, every tribe, every tongue in every nation will hear the gospel, the great good news of the birth of this lowly and humble babe, the One who would walk in our shoes, would be tempted in every manner just as we are but Who would live a perfect life, die on the cross in our place, and gloriously be resurrected on the third day.

Oh my friend, let the bells ring out in your heart today.  Let us rise above the cares of this world and focus on the glory Who has and is to come.  

"And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of Hosts."- Hag 2:7

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2020

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Hope Of All the Earth Thou Art

Decrmber 4

HOPE OF ALL THE EARTH THOU ART

I have to admit when I started studying and researching for this post, I had no idea what all the ramifications would be. I was totally overwhelmed. 

 Verses were brought to my attention that I had read before but had not made a huge impression on me. Suffice it to say that there is no way I can cover this topic in one day.

So, I would encourage you once again to do your own research on this line from the Charles Wesley hymn, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.

When I first read the hymn and decided to feature it for Advent, I thought, "He really covered a multitude of information about our God come in the form of Baby Jesus.

Until I started studying each line, I had no clue the magnitude of these lyrics.

A few years ago, I was inspired by another blogger to memorize Psalm 19.  If you want to know about the earth and how God feels about it and why He created it, this is an incredible Psalm to meditate on.

I would encourage you to do the same today.  Try to take in the extremes of His creation and then read that each star He created has a name.  Psalm 147:4

He truly is the Lord of All.  Won't you let Him be the Lord of All of your life today.

I am going to spend some time paying especially close attention to the sky and clouds, the mountains and trees, the moon and the stars, the vegetation and the birds of the air.  I am going to analyze how they speak to the whole Earth about our God.  

And still, I will have only barely skimmed the tip of the iceberg of His creation.  He is Lord of it all!

To sum up in a nutshell what made the biggest impression on me was this:

In the extremes of God's covenant with the Earth and all its creatures and creations is a picture in the natural of the covenant He has made with all mankind in the spiritual.  

Won't you choose to participate in this covenant today.  A covenant is a relationship!

He wants a relationship with you!

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2022

Israel's Hope and Consolation

ADVENT DAY 5

N

ow there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 

And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 

And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 

"Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, 

according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation 

which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 

a light for revelation to the Gentiles, 

and for glory to your people Israel." 

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." - Luke 2:25–35

 

Even though it is a short passage and the only time that Simeon is mentioned in the Bible, I love reading about him.

Many years ago when this image by Ron DiCianni was made into a puzzle, I bought it for our family to work at Christmas time.  I loved it so much because as the anticipation of completing the puzzle mounted, so did the excitement, consolation and fulfillment that DiCianni captured in this image.

I am going to read it several times today just to feel those emotions all over again.

Luke 2:29-32

Have a wonderful day my friend.

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2020


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