Advent 2021 • Week Four • Day Two

Tuesday, December 21st, 2021

Verse of the Day

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).”
— Matthew 1:23 —

In Matthews’s gospel, he included forty-three Messianic quotes from the Old Testament, which includes our verse of the day. Matthew used the quotes to link Jesus’ life to the Old Testament prophecies. Matthew also wanted to show God’s provision for His people and His faithfulness.

It is through the physical birth and life of Jesus that God wants to be near His people, His creation. Have you ever really tried to imagine the day man was created? God created man out of the dust of the ground and breathed His life into man, the breath of life. He didn’t stop there, God placed within man a soul, so that man could commune with God. Wow!! That’s a lot more complex than placing a silk hat on the ground and having a man come to life! I just watched “The Legend of Frosty the Snowman” last night. I know we are not made from magic but we are made pretty cool and we have souls. We were each created and have been given a purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Isaiah 43:7
“Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Hopefully, I did not lose you with the Frosty picture and video. It’s fun to relive childhood memories. As I was viewing video clips I found myself thinking of some similarities of Frosty coming to life and my own experience of accepting Jesus as my Savior, that feeling of being alive, really alive. Feeling of weights being lifted and a driving sense of purpose. Frosty was just a pile of snow, in the shape of a snowman just being-there, but that silk hat made all the difference. We humans often go through life doing the expected and following some pattern of a routine, but when we surrender ourselves to Jesus life looks completely different. Our sense of purpose and direction takes on a life of its own, not our own but the life we were created for. We are called to a higher purpose, one of heavenly proportions. This journey is filled with a plethora of adventures and the best part is Immanuel, is with us every step and millisecond of the journey.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
— Matthew 28:20 —

Maybe it’s not about having a beautiful day, but about finding beautiful moments. Maybe a whole day is just too much to ask. I could choose to believe that in every day, in all things, no matter how dark and ugly, there are shards of beauty if I look for them.

—Anna White, Mended: Thoughts on Life, Love, and Leaps of Faith

CHALLENGE

It’s crunch time Christmas, it’s the busy season of last minute touches on all things Christmas…take time to be with God, He longs for you and waits for you. Be mindful this season is difficult for some, show kindness and grace. Thank God for all the times you were afforded grace and mercy for your difficult times. Share love and spread peace. ✝️❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🤍🤎💝💖❤️‍🩹💟🛐🤗🌟✨🙏🏻🕯

Prayer ~

Immanuel, thank you for wanting to be with us. Forgive us for not making time for you. Help us to slow down and make the little things count. Life is about the small things and making the best of what we have. You created mankind and breathed life into us, you gave us a soul to commune with you. Help us to always remember how magnificent and amazing you are. You love us with an everlasting love. In the Precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

➡️ • ➡️ • ➡️ • FOR FURTHER STUDY

Genesis 2:1-25 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Genesis%202:1-25&version=NIV

Exodus 13:21 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Exodus%2013:21&version=NIV

Exodus 24:15-17 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Exodus%2024:15-17&version=NIV

1 Kings 8:10-13 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Kings%208:10-13&version=NIV

Isaiah 7:14 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Isaiah%207:14&version=NIV

John 1:14 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%201:14&version=NIV

Colossians 1:27 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Colossians%201:27&version=NIV

~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com/