What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Sunday, December 18, 2016

4th Sunday of Advent: Spread the Good News! (Updated)




Today  was the fourth Sunday of Advent...the Sunday prior to Christmas Day. As we lit the fourth candle, the question was asked:  "Why do we light this candle?"

And the response was:

"Today we add the Shepherd's Candle.  It reminds us of our responsibility to share what we have seen and heard.  The Galilean Shepherds, who received the first announcement of the Savior's Birth, left their task and went with haste to see the Christ child, and then returned to tell others about the earthshaking event.  Sharing the Good News required no special talent, simply telling others what they had seen and heard with the conviction of personal experience."

Then we read Luke 2:1-20

"Now when they (the Shepherds) had seen Him (the baby Jesus),
they made widely known the saying which was told them 
concerning this Child.
And all those who heard it marveled at those things which
were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all the things that they 
had heard and seen, as it was told them."
Luke 2:17-20

We were reminded that, like the Shepherds, we too should go out from this Holy place and spread the good news.  What IS the good news?  That little Baby that was born in the manger came to save us all from our sins.  He came to change the world....Click Here for "Mary Did You Know?" by Pentatonix

May the Good News of this little Baby fill your heart with joy and peace and the strength to carry on in the New Year, no matter what may come your way.  I am so thankful that I know this little Baby, Who grew up to save us ALL.  I hope that you know Him too.  No better time than now. And if you DO know Him, let us join with the Shepherds and spread the Good News throughout the world. This Little Baby Jesus, Who grew up to die and save us from our sins, didn't stay in the tomb.  After three days He arose from the grave, and conquered death once and for all. As He ascended into heaven, we were promised that He would return for us someday...

"And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up,
behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
who also said,
'Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?
This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven,
will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.'"
Acts 1:10-11

Jesus told His disciples in John 14:18-19 ~ 

"I will not leave you orphans;
I will come to you.
A little while longer and the world will see Me no more,
but you will Me. 
Because I live,
you will live also."



Just before Christ ascended into heaven, He gave His disciples (and us) this "Great Commission"...

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you,
and lo, 
I AM with you always,
even to the end of the age.
Amen."
Matthew 28:19-20

And that, my friend, is truly GOOD NEWS!   EMMANUEL, "God WITH Us", will be with us until the end of the age...and then He will come again and take us home to heaven to be with Him forever.  What better message could we share with the world than this?

Let us go and do as the Shepherds did.

Let's Go!





Pictures from our Advent Candle Lighting service today, 12/18/2016...our friends Marion Hill and Maura Masterson lighting the candles, and our son Benton read the scripture readings.  

Following our service today we had our Home Bible Fellowship Christmas dinner....  Here is the table being prepared the night before....



And here we are today enjoying a wonderful ham dinner together...





And here's "Nanny", my 93 year old mother in law...enjoying the fellowship and good food and her after dinner snack of peanuts and a piece of chocolate...something she seems to be craving these days and we have to limit or she'll just eat that and nothing else!  Yes, never a dull moment...

I pray that you and yours are having a blessed Advent season...preparing for the celebration of the birth of Christ next Sunday!  Now, Go Tell it on the mountain...that Jesus Christ is born!!! 
Hallelujah!!




9 comments:

  1. Pam, I love how you lift Jesus up in your posts. I never want to lose my amazement at what Jesus did for me, for all of us. Now to share the Good News in a caring way--in way that draws people to the Lord, rather than causing them to flee away.


    Merry Christmas!

    Blessings!

    Kim

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    1. Oh sweet Kim! I am so happy that you "get it"! I have no doubt that you are sharing that Good News in a caring way every day. Thank you for seeing the Light and sharing it with the dark world! God bless you richly!

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  2. Although I don't always comment, your Advent posts have been very special. Thanks for sharing each day!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Debbie. I know we are all very busy right now, and it is almost impossible to keep up with everyone's posts...so I appreciate the fact that you are out there...reading and responding anytime you can. I try to do the same...we all know that Christmas preparations are foremost in all of our minds right now. God bless you and have a Merry Christmas!!!

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  3. Yes! Let's shout it from the mountaintop! Jesus is born!
    Blessings, Pamela!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pam,
    Thank you for sharing this again. I think my comment (above) from last year remains accurate. Thank you for spreading the Good News through your blog and in many other ways.

    Blessings!

    Merry Christmas to you and your family!

    ReplyDelete

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