12/12          Luke 22:1-8

1 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 2 The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction.

Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5 They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”

NOW

Now is the time for us to remember all about Jesus; His birth, life, death and resurrection.  Jesus is in charge.  Then with the disciples He was preparing them for His demise and today He is preparing us for His life.  Now is the time to get to know Jesus.  Now is the time to begin the preparation of your life with Him.  Now is the time.  Today. 

12/11          Revelation 11:17

And they said, “We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign.

JESUS

Jesus is reigning.  He is alive and in charge.  We are focused on the day we celebrate His birth and it seems like a long time even though it isn’t because as we celebrate His birth He is already reigning.  Jesus is in charge right now. 

12/10          1 Tim 4:8

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 9 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. 10 This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.

LOOKING

I am looking forward to the Gospel.  His birth is celebrated on December 25.  Jesus is the Good News.  God has provided a Savior of all people particularly of all believers.  Jesus is Lord.  Look forward with me to the celebration of His birth.

12/09          Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

DEVOTE

Devote yourself to prayer.  It takes commitment and hard work to pray specially to pray at or near the same time each day.  Learn to pray without ceasing.  This takes hard work, and attention to details to devote yourself to prayer and to pray without ceasing.  That’s why few people do this because it is difficult.  Please remember the value of joining together with the Lord to pray.  People are literally placing their life in your hands so pray for the lost, pray for the homeless, pray for the prisoner, pray for our leaders.  Prayer is desperately needed in a lost world.  Pray for your church members.  Pray for your pastor.  Pray for your family.  Pray.   

12/08          Colossians 2:6

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

FOLLOW

Follow Jesus.  Spend time with Him.  Prayer time, Bible reading time, and meditation time.  Jesus is Lord and seeks a relationship with you.  Follow Jesus every single day. 

12/07          Philippians 4:6

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

PEACE

God’s peace isn’t like anything else we know.  His peace is active and protective.  It cleanses us of the world’s chaos.  His peace brings a sense of calm and permits us to have conversation with Him.  We are no longer at war with God. 

12/06          Ephesians 5:1

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

IMITATE

God is love therefore we are to imitate Him and love people.  God loves people especially those who have come into His family.  Love one another and be a please aroma to God.  God is love. 

12/05          1 Thessalonians 5:16

Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

WILL

Are you interested in doing God’s will?  Then be joyful.  Why?  Because no matter what happens in your life, you are in the family of God and have a dwelling place with Him.  Praying?  Pray constantly for your heavenly Father loves to hear from you.  Remember you are so blessed by the Lord that you can always be thankful. 

12/04          2 Corinthians 9:10

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

ALL

Everything we have, everything we are is because of the activity of an Eternal God.  Jesus loves you and me and He came from the Father to save us from our sin.  His sacrifice gives us entre to the Lord God by faith in Christ.  Jesus is Lord. 

12/03          2 Corinthians 4:14

We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. 16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

ASSURANCES

His assurances are iron-clad.  The Eternal God is our dwelling place.  We will be with Him from now unto forever.  Don’t look at your troubles, cares and woes and especially at your failures-KEEP YOUR EYES UPON JESUS.  He is the author and finisher of our faith.