Intro
Hope, joy, faith, peace and love. In the coming weeks as we expect, prepare, proclaim and reveal the reason we celebrate the coming of our savior throughout advent, we will take these simple, basic words and weave them into the reality of a baby born in a manger to bring God to us. Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with an encouraging word for your day, during the advent season. As we look at hope this week, I believe that you will be encouraged to put more and more of your hope in God. Here is your encouraging word for today.
Monday
Oh Come, oh come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel. Whenever I hear this song during the holidays, I am always so thankful that we are not waiting for, or still looking toward, or still hoping for our Savior to come to earth. There are many who don’t know this truth. In fact there are people all over the world who are still awaiting the first arrival of their Messiah. But He already came! The prophesies of old were fulfilled. Our hoped for messiah has come. He is here! Emmanuel means just that, God is with us. The simplicity of a baby born in a stable, contained the magnanimous revelation that God is with us. No longer do we have to hope for Him to manifest, He is Here. What an awesome thought! The waiting and the search is over. He found us and now we can find Him! He came to us, now we can come to Him. He offered His life to us, now we offer our lives to Him. His love was demonstrated, so that we can demonstrate our love back to Him. He was a willing vessel, and God’s plan was perfectly executed because he was willing and then obedient to every part of God’s plan. You know the Bible says With GOD, nothing is impossible. The opposite of that is without God there are lots of impossibilities. But God is with us. He is here, so now what was once impossible, is possible. Hope can be manifested into sight. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. He has come. He is with us. He is here. Emmanuel.
Word for the Day: Isaiah 7:14 …A virgin will conceive and bear a son, and His name will be called Emmanuel.
Tuesday
During the time of preparation for a baby, Mary and Joseph were on a journey. It was unexpected for both of them. They probably had their life planned out a little differently than what was now happening. Their personal hopes and dreams had taken an unusual turn. They made their way on this long journey to Bethlehem, to do, of all things, pay taxes. Didn’t anyone know how inconvenient it would be for a pregnant woman to travel on a donkey during her 9th month of pregnancy? Joseph and Mary weren’t quite prepared for this, but this was their reality. This is not what they had hoped for. Our earth journey is really preparation for heaven. Earth really is very short, and heaven is really very long. What we have to look forward to in and hope for in heaven is way beyond what we can imagine with our finite minds. What the young couple on a journey to
Wednesday
Be it unto me according to your word. This is one of my most favorite passages of scripture. It was said by a sweet young woman who had a big mandate on her life. Her name was Mary and she would become the mother of Jesus. She told the Lord when she was asked to do something way out of the ordinary, “yes Lord, be it unto me according to your word”. Those simple words she said, were words of hope for the world. Mary was willing to do whatever she had to do to see that Jesus would be born to the earth, to bring hope to everyone. Mary visited and stayed with her cousin Elizabeth who was also pregnant and would soon have a baby boy who would grow up to become John the Baptist. After speaking with Elizabeth, Mary sang this beautiful song.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant
From now on all generations will call me blessed
For the mighty one has done great things for me.
This humble servant girl had the most important thing God was looking for – a heart that was open and willing to do whatever He asked. Be it unto me according to your word, and The Mighty One has done great things for me. This holy season, let’s have that same attitude…be it unto me according to Your Word. Whatever assignment you are given, let your answer be a willing yes!
Word for the Day: Luke 1:37 For with God, nothing shall be impossible
Thursday
I once heard an acronym for the word Hope which has stuck with me. Honest Optimism Persevering eternally. Hope starts with honestly assessing where you are, and then realizing where you want to be. Hope is optimistic, and sees good in the future. Hope perseveres, and keeps on, even when it feels easier to give up. Hope doesn’t give up….it keeps on going, eternally if necessary. Hope sometimes gets a bad rap, but without hope, there would be nothing to shoot our faith toward! Faith is the substance of things we hope for. When we realize that Jesus himself, coming as a baby, was the substance of what the world was hoping for, we see that his life brings hope to us. We can live honestly, and optimistically realizing that when we do persevere until the end, we will see our desire manifested. When Jesus was manifested to the earth, everything we ever needed was delivered to us. He brought life, and not just average get by life. He brought life abundant. He brought life to the full and overflowing. So as we celebrate advent, and realize that our hope has been fulfilled in Jesus. He gives us hope for the difficult circumstances we may be facing in our own life. Is God big enough to handle them? He took on the whole world, so be confident, our God is able. Our God is willing, and our God wants you to overcome! Let’s be honestly optimistic and persevere eternally if necessary. Our faith will be sight….that is what we hope for.
Friday
Uncommon hope. In our world today, it isn’t uncommon to see people without hope. If we look only to the natural realm, things don’t look that great. The economy is suffering, many are jobless, and people everywhere are looking for an answer. During the season of Christmas, things can seem even more desperate for those without hope. One thing we know is that their answer won’t be found in the natural realm. In other words, the government won’t be their answer, a new relationship won’t be their answer, even a new job, or better job won’t be their answer. Jesus is the answer. He was the one the world was hoping for 2000 years ago, and He has arrived! Because of Jesus Hope should be common! As believers, especially those who know the truth, and live in truth, we should have hope abounding. The advent season is a reminder of hope for all the world. When it seems the darkest, the light will shine. When it seems like circumstances are overwhelming, God will make a way. When relationships bring disappointment, we are reminded that God never fails. I hope that encourages you today to be more hopeful than ever. Everythings we see in the natural realm is subject to change, but we serve a God who never does. He is always faithful. He gives us reason to be full of uncommon hope.
Saturday eword for kids
There is a scripture in Isaiah 1:19 that says if we are willing and obedient, we will eat the good of the land. We’re beginning a journey to Bethlehem, and this week is the first week of Advent we are talking about hope. I want you to think about what Mary must have felt like when she was told as a young teenager that she was going to be the mother of Jesus. When the announcement came to her through the angel Gabriel, she didn’t reply with “no way”, or “I don’t think so”. She said without hesitation, I am the Lord’s servant, be it unto me, just as you have spoken. Then she sang this hopefilled song and the Message Bible says it like this:
I am bursting with God news, I’m dancing the song of my Savior God
God took one look at me and look what happened
I’m the most fortunate girl on the earth
What He has done for me will never be forgotten.
Willingness and obedience in the heart of Mary led to great joy in her life, and a new song in her heart. She was pregnant with Jesus who would bring hope to all the world. God looks at our heart, and loves to see in you a willingness to obey. This advent season, set your heart to obey willingly – your parents, your teachers and especially God’s Word. When we do, we set in motion the opportunity to be a blessing to others. Maybe your obedience will help someone else have hope for their own life.
Word for the Day: Isaiah 1:19 If you are willing and obedient you will eat the good of the land.
Sunday
Sometimes you don’t just get what you expect, you get more. That would definitely apply when it comes to the birth of Jesus. When Mary was told that she would be the birth mother of a holy child named Jesus, she probably had no idea of what that all meant. The “world” was looking for and expecting a Savior, and she was expecting baby, still cradled in her womb. This baby was the darling of heaven deposited to the earth. He was sent to bring Joy to the world!She had great expectations for this baby, yet I am sure her wildest imaginations were exceedingly, abundantly, surpassed.
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