Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

This year as we looked forward to Christmas, we decided to do something different...instead of just counting down the days with our normal advent calendar, we chose to have fun while learning 25 names of God.  So I made up little tags and hung them over the fireplace.  Each tag had the date, the days left till Christmas, and a name of God.  Each day of December we've turned over a new tag to learn another name of God.  

I have to say, I didn't realize the impact this simple new advent calendar would have on us.  As the days progressed we learned and discussed different characteristics of our Heavenly Father, and daily we've been reminded of the greatest gift ever given.  This year, Christmas has more meaning, because for 25 days, we've been celebrating the true reason for the season!  

There have been days when I would turn the tag over, and be overwhelmed with the love and goodness of our God.  God is so good to us, we don't deserve it, we did nothing to earn it, and we can do nothing to change God's love for us...His love and goodness are a part of who He is.  When you look over this list, you will see that God truly is our everything, all we need is found in HIM!

Date Name of God Days Till Christmas

December 1st - Jehovah-Saboath: The Lord of Hosts 24

December 2nd - Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is There         23

December 3rd - Jehovah-Rohi: The Lord our Shepherd 22

December 4th - Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord our Righteousness 21

December 5th - Jehovah Elohim: LORD God         20

December 6th - Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord our Peace 19

December 7th - Jehovah-M'keddesh: The Lord Who Sanctifies 18
December 8th - Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord our Banner 17

December 9th - Jehovah-Rophe: The Lord Who Heals 16

December 10th - Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord will Provide 15

December 11th - Jehovah-Lord: Yahweh - God's Covenant Name 14

December 12th - Adoni: Master         13

December 13th - El Shaddai: God Almighty         12

December 14th - Tsur: God Our rock         11

December 15th - El-Gibhor: Mighty God 10

December 16th - El-Berith: God of the Covenant         09

December 17th - El-Olam: Everlasting God         08

December 18th - Eyaluth: Strength                 07

December 19th - Magen: Shield 06

December 20th - Palet: Deliverer 05

December 21st - Melekh: King         04

December 22nd - Tsaddiq: Righteous One 03

December 23rd - Gaol: Redeemer 02

December 24th - Yeshua: Savior         01

December 25th - Emmanuel: God with us!! Merry Christmas!!

Praise The Lord!

Praise The Lord!

Life has some unexpected twists and turns.  But in every situation, in all that happens, good or bad, I choose to give thanks and praise to the Lord!  

Last Friday morning, our beloved pastor, Rev. Bob Swope, suffered from a heart attack and went to be with Jesus.  We are all still in shock, it doesn't seem real. I keep thinking it is just a joke, some horrible prank, but then I go on Facebook, and see all the posts about what a great man he was and how much he will be missed, and I know it is real. 

The tears start to fall again.

 Today the family announced the time and date of the memorial service, and the loss flooded over me once more.  It is hard to let go of someone who had such a huge impact on your life.  It is easy to see the hurt and pain, and sometimes it feels like it could overwhelm you, but today in my Bible reading, I was reminded that God is good.  We may not understand why things happen, but we can trust Him to work it all into His marvelous plan.  

So today, I choose to focus on how good God is, and praise Him for who he is, not for what I can get from Him, not even for what he has already done (both of these give me many reasons to praise), but today I want to praise Him just for who He is! 

God is love.

God is great.

God is good.

God is just.

God is all powerful.

God is all knowing.

God is merciful.

God is compassionate.

God is ever-present.

God is gracious.

God is Lord of all, creator of heaven and earth.

God is worthy of all our praise.

Psalm 145:3

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.

Exodus 15:2

The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

Exodus 15:11

“Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

2 Samuel 22:4

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Psalm 7:17

I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.

A God Near At Hand!

"'Am I a God near at hand,' says the Lord,

'And not a God afar off? 

Can anyone hide himself in secret places, 

So I shall not see him?' says the Lord;

'Do I not fill heaven and earth?' says the Lord."

Jeremiah 23:23-24

In this passage the Lord is talking to Israel and all the false prophets, through Jeremiah.  He is telling them all the punishment their bad choices and false worship will bring.  And He reminds them in these few verses that He is a God at hand, and not a God afar off. 

Today I believe this scripture is for us as well.  So many times we go to church put on the facade that everything is honky dory, but if those we try to deceive could see into our daily lives they would be forced to see just how good at acting on Sundays we really are.  

God is not just a God we sing songs about on Sunday, and forget about the rest of the week.  God wants to have a personal, real, daily relationship with each one of us.  God is not a God afar off! God is right there beside us when we

spread 

that nasty bit of gossip. He is right there with us when we watch that show that uses His name in vain over and over again.  God is with us when we lie to our boss about being sick.  The list could go on and on...All of us make bad decision, all of us have fallen short...and no one is perfect.  Even so, we should do our best to live our lives to honor and serve God.  Not because there is some law, or rule about it in the Bible; but because we are so in love with God.  When we love someone, we want to please them...Are you living your life for your own pleasure? Or are you living your life for God's pleasure?

My hope is that my life, the part seen by all my friends, family, and church family, and the part only seen by God, the secret, hidden parts will all bring pleasure to God.  

How about you???

Let's Pray!

 Father God, I am so thankful that You are not some God afar off...I am so glad that You are here with me every single moment of every single day.  You see the good, the bad, and the ugly, yet You still love me and call me Your child!   Your love is amazing...it is too much for my mind to even comprehend...but I accept it and I thank You for it!  Today I ask that You help me to live my life worthy of Your love, I want every part of my life to bring You glory an honor.  Show me, Lord, the areas of my life that aren't pleasing to You, and give me the strength to make the necessary changes.  I love You so much! You are so good! My words could never express how great You are! Holy, Awesome, Mighty, Gracious, Loving, My Provider, My Healer, My Joy and Strength. You are my all in all! 

Thank You Lord!! 

In Jesus Name, AMEN.

Psalm 91 - Chapter 16: I Am Seated with Christ Jesus

Psalm 91: God's Umbrella Of Protection

Chapter 16: I Am Seated with Christ Jesus

"Because He has loved Me...I will set him securely on high, 

because he has known My name."

Psalm 91:14

 This verse talks about us being set securely on high for two reasons 1) because we love Him and 2) because we know His name.  I love looking at all the names of God...it is so powerful just to see all the promises we have based on who He is. So let's take a quick look at some of God's names. (I know I've posted this list before, but it is worth re-posting!)

EL SHADDAI: God Almighty, or God all Sufficient
ADONAI: Lord, or Master
JEHOVAH: LORD - Yahweh: God's covenant name
JEHOVAH-JIREH: The Lord will Provide.
JEHOVAH-ROPHE: The Lord Who Heals
JEHOVAH-NISSI: The Lord Our Banner.
JEHOVAH-M'KADDESH: The Lord Who Sanctifies
JEHOVAH-SHALOM: The Lord Our Peace
JEHOVAH ELOHIM: LORD God
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU: The Lord Our Righteousness
JEHOVAH-ROHI: The Lord Our Shepherd
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH: The Lord is There
JEHOVAH-SABAOTH: The Lord of Hosts
EL ELYON: Most High
ABIR: Mighty One
KADOSH: Holy One
SHAPHAT: Judge
EL ROI: God of Seeing
KANNA: Jealous (zealous)
PALET: Deliverer
YESHUA: Savior
GAOL: Redeemer
MAGEN: Shield
EYALUTH:Strength
TSADDIQ: Righteous One
EL-OLAM: Everlasting God
EL-BERITH: God of the Covenant
EL-GIBHOR: Mighty God
TSUR: God our Rock
MELEKH: King
IMMANUEL, or EMMANUEL, or IMANUEL: God with us
HUPSISTOS: Highest
SOTER:Savior
JESUS: JEHOVAH IS SALVATION.

All of these names describe an attribute of God...all of these names give us a promise of who God is and how God works.  I am so thankful that God is our healer, provider, and strength, our rock, our shepherd, and shield, our deliverer, our peace, our savior and so much more...God is so Good!