Intro

Starting this year, we celebrate 400 years of having the Bible written and printed in English! The KJV of the Bible was first printed in 1611 and how thankful we are that we can have multiple copies of the Word available to us. So to commemorate the anniversary, I want to talk about the importance of giving God’s Word high priority. Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with an encouraging word for your day. From reading the Word, to taking time to study it, to meditating on it, and to memorizing and living it out, God’s Word is our guiding force. To make right choices, and to live the victorious life God has for us, let’s give God’s Word preeminence always! We’ll start this new year by talking about meditating on God’s Word. Here is your encouraging word for the day.

Word for the Week: Ps 119:105 Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.

Monday

Can you find some time this week to just meditate on the Word of God? I hope you do! I thought it might be a good idea to give you a little explanation on what it means to meditate. Meditating on the Word is simply taking time to think and ponder on a specific scripture or passage from the Bible. Meditating on God’s Word is really a great way to fill up the reservoir of your spirit. Everyday things drain life from us. The drains could be a result of a difficult relationship, an unhappy boss, insecurities, low self image, overwhelming bills, a job loss, too many responsibilities, not enough time, or a myriad of things. One way to refill your reservoir is to meditate on the Word of God.

Some of the most spirit-led people I know are those who have discovered the value and necessity of meditating on the Word. What meditating does is makes us more sensitive to the voice of God, and instead of just trying a million different things to bring change in their own lives, we just ask God for His specific directions for our life. So what is one area where you would like to become an overcomer? Why not search the Word and find scriptures that relate specifically to you? You might find one word or phrase that jumps out at you that can be your personal encouragement in that area. If you are believing for healing, a new job, even a raise, or new friendships and relationships, there are tons of scriptures that will specifically speak to you. Search them out, and then make them a part of your life. Get the Word of God working on the inside of you. Let it work on the inside and then let it change you on the outside. You will find that meditating on the Word of God brings success, even in natural areas!

Tuesday

Another reason to spend time meditating on the Word of God is so we can live in the overflow. If someone has a need, I want to be willing and ready to help meet their need. To do this, we should be filled up to the brim to be able to “spill” on someone else. Meditating on the Word gives us the opportunity to continue being refilled, so that we always have enough in our reservoir to have extra to give away. This kind of spilling isn’t messy like a toddler spilling their food. This is the kind of spilling that is like oil rubbed on dry skin. It is like ointment on an open sore. This kind of spilling brings refreshing to the weary and gives strength to the weak. It is like a cup of cool water in a dry and thirsty land. We become as the Word of God states that surely out of our bellies shall flow rivers of living water! (John 7:38)

A few years ago, I was asked on a moments notice to share about being filled with the Holy Spirit with our children’s church. Because it is one of my passions to pray for people to be filled with the Spirit, I have spent a lot of time studying and meditating on the scriptures that relate to that subject. As I was sharing with the kids, I first asked if there was anyone who wanted to be saved, and 2 girls got saved. I shared about the scriptures on the Holy Spirit and 12 kids (first through fourth graders) got filled with the Holy Spirit. How exciting! Then I went back to the adult service, and a young man came up as soon as church was over to be filled with the Holy Spirit as well. Praise God for living water flowing from us to those who want to be filled! God does want to speak to us through His Word, and He does want us to be full enough to have something to give. We are prepared and flowing over when we meditate on His Word.

Wednesday

One of the greatest things about meditating on the Word of God is that it makes day dreaming respectable! Isn’t it great that God wants us to sit and rest and think? His desire is that we mull over His Word, ponder it, think about it, wonder about how it applies to our life, and then actually do that…..apply it to our life. This is easy to do, all day long. If I begin the day by thinking about a specific scripture, and say it over to my self a time or two, then when I have a moment to ponder, I do just that….I think about it. Then I ask if I am being obedient to what it says. Do I understand what it means? Sometimes straight from heaven, a fresh revelation will penetrate my heart about that scripture. Just by thinking about it, God will reveal some aspect of what I was wondering about, and shazam!!!, it becomes totally clear. Sometimes I’ll think about, ponder and meditate on one scripture for a week or more. It will be one that keeps coming up in my heart. One that has captured my attention for quite a while now is in Eph 3:20,21 where it says, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory, in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, amen.” The three phrases that have captured me are “above all”, “power that works in us”, and “to all generations”. As I think on these verses, I realize that God wants to do powerful things on the earth that are way above what we can dream, that will affect all generations, through His power in us! Is that mind blowing or what! Think on that a while! That will encourage you!

Thursday

“Word of God Speak”, is a song you’ve probably heard on the radio. Another song by the duo Branded with a similar theme says this – speak to me words of life, speak to me words of truth, speak to me words of healing, to my heart, to my soul. I know just about every Christian I have ever talked to wants to be led by the Spirit of God. No one wants to take a misstep, or to walk the wrong direction, or to turn away from the will of God. We want to hear what the Spirit of God is saying to us. In my life, I have found when I need a specific word from God, in a specific instance or circumstance, when I take time to meditate on the Word, God will lead me by His Word that has already been planted in my life. His Word will speak to me! He will bring back to my remembrance what He has previously taught me when I was meditating on God’s Word. That means I can have confidence that when I meditate on the Word of God, even if what I am meditating on right now doesn’t apply to my life specifically right now, it is being stored up for future reference. So think of your time meditating on scripture like this….it is an account being stored up for future use. It is the best kind of account to have, because it is advance preparation for exactly what you will need in the future….How encouraging is that! It definitely encourages you, but God can do the same thing for other people too! You can know inside your knower, (your spirit) that God wants you to share a specific scripture with a specific person. So be sensitive and be ready. Keep filling up the reservoir so there is more than enough to give away at a moment’s notice!

Friday

Did you know that taking time to meditate on God’s Word is one avenue of receiving supernatural revelation in your life? Having the mind of Christ, as it says in I Cor 2:16, comes as we are led by the Spirit of God. As we talked about earlier this week, being led by the Spirit of God is often a direct result of spending time meditating on the Word of God. In I Cor 2:9,10, it says that eye hasn’t seen, nor has ear heart, or has it even entered into our heart what God has prepared for those who love Him. Verse 10 says this… But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit! It is like the light being turned on our path. The things that were once concealed are now visible to us. When we spend time meditating on the Word of God, the Word becomes not just ink on pages, but line upon line, and precept upon precept of living letters written specifically and directly to us. God’s Word will speak, and we will hear and understand. Above the noise, above the crowd, I can hear Him speak. I am His sheep and I know his voice. My ears are attentive to my shepherd. Those are words that we should say on a regular basis, not only because it is directly from the 10^th chapter of John, but because we believe them, and we operate in them! God does want to give us specific direction. He isn’t hiding His will from us. He gives us liberally all the wisdom we need if we ask of Him. He even has given us the mind of Christ, so we can know in our knower what to do in every circumstance. He said His Word is a light to us! He doesn’t want us walking in darkness…..so expect there to be light on your path, expect to be His sheep who not only knows his voice, but listens and obeys.

Saturday Eword for Kids

Have you ever eaten anything that makes your jaws tired? One thing that really does that to me is beef jerky. It tastes so good, but it can be hard to chew. You can chew and chew and chew, and still not break it all down enough to swallow for a long time. Well this might sound a little funny, but I want you to think of God’s Word like beef jerky. If you want to meditate on God’s Word, you need to chew on it a while. That really means, think it over, mull it around in your brain, and just bring it back around to your thoughts again and again. Kinda like beef jerky. The best part about chewing on the Word of God is that the more you meditate on a specific scripture, the more real it becomes in your life. God can bring fresh ideas of how to put it into practice in your life, and even give you some specific information that will bless your life through the words you are meditating on. The Words that you read in the Bible won’t just be black ink on a white page, it will become the very Words of God, that He wants to speak specifically to you. So just like you’d chew on some beef jerky, chew on God’s Word, take a little bit at a time, and then chew away. Soon it will be broken down into bites you can swallow, and will bring amazing nourishment to your spiritual life. Why not try meditating on God’s Word today. Your jaws don’t even have to get tired! Hey, where’s the beef jerky…..I’m hungry!

Sunday

When we hear about how “new age” people meditate, sometimes we as Christians shy away from any type of thing that would connect us to them. What is interesting is that God thought up meditating, and everyone else who does is just trying to imitate what God invented!

Joshua 1:8 is a terrific scripture to look at when we talk about meditating on the Word. It says very clearly that if we want to experience prosperity and success, we should keep the Word of God on our tongue and on our mind all the time, and then be obedient to do what it says. Experiencing prosperity and success can also be translated from another version of the Bible as dealing wisely in the things of life. I know I want to deal wisely in the things of life, and be able to give good advice to others who want to deal wisely in the situations they are in. That makes it so important that you and I spend time meditating on God’s Word every day.

I often use the illustration of a cow chewing her cud to make a visual reference to how important meditating on God’s Word is for a believer. We should daily take a morsel of God’s Word, and chew on it all day long. If we have an area we need to work on in our own life, we should find the scriptures that relate to our situation, and get them down deep into our heart. If we want real change in our life, we have to renew our mind to the Word of God. Rom 12:1 and 2 says that transformation takes place in our life as take the old thoughts out, and put the new thoughts that are “the truth” in their place. In II Cor 10:3,4,& 5, we can see that thoughts become imaginations, and imaginations can become strongholds. A strong hold is anything that holds us strongly. That explains the progression of how we can be in bondage because by the way we think. How do we change our thinking? A great place to begin is by meditating on God’s Word. Most of the time when we need an answer, God is just waiting for us to ask Him. We will go to everyone else to find out their opinion or what their solution for us would be. God wants us to ask Him, and then meditate on the Word that applies to your specific situation. As we do, be encouraged, God will make His Word become freshly spoken to you.

Intro

We have just celebrated a blessed holy day of the Birth of Jesus, and now we are embarking on a new year. There always is new mercy available, and fresh grace from God. Let’s make this a banner year for spiritual growth. Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with an encouraging word for your day. This year is a year for joyfully celebrating the Word. I’ve determined to live filled with the joy of the Lord, and filled up with God’s word. I hope you will too. Here is your encouraging word for today.

Monday

Before we move on to the new year, let’s take 2 days and celebrate the love of God that came in the form of a baby. We talked about hope, joy, peace, faith and love, and because we only spent one day on the topic of love, I want to expand on it just a bit. The day had finally arrived. After expecting and preparing, Christmas day has come and gone. But we continue to celebrate the gift… we celebrate Jesus. After being in captivity for 700 years, and then a period of waiting to 400 more years, Jesus, God’s gift, came to earth to deliver God’s people. He came as a baby, innocent, fragile, and holy. He came as a King, longed for and long expected, who was mighty to save. On Christmas, we celebrated the birth of Jesus who changed history forever. Jesus came to be God with skin on. God came to be with us. Everyone longs to know that they have someone who will never leave them, disown them, or desert them. Jesus came as Emmanuel, which means, God dwells among us. That means we are never alone. In the moment of our greatest joy, or the deepest season of despair, Jesus is always there. His Name means that He is always with us. What can take comfort in His permanent presence. As we prepare for a new year, let’s make a commitment to enjoy His presence every day. Take time to talk to Him and listen for His voice, and become more aware of what is happening in the unseen realm than in what you see with your eyes. Then you will be an expression of God’ s love in a greater degree than ever before. What a great way to start a new year!

Tuesday

Jesus came as love personified. He came as a baby, lived, died, and rose again all because of the love of God. God is love, and he who abides in love, abides in God, and God in him. (I John 4:16) The God of love has come to never leave us, and to abide with us in love. Love is the greatest of all (I Cor 13:8). We should pursue love and be love to the world. One thing love does is cover - love is like the snow. The beauty of snow is in what it covers up. Everything can be dirty underneath, but put a blanket of snow over the top, and everything looks beautiful. That is just like love. We can bring beauty all around us when we cover other’s mistakes and when we extend grace to others. When we make an effort to cover everything in love, just like a fresh dusting of snow, beauty emerges. If you look at each snowflake indidvidually, you notice that each snowflake is unique. God demonstrates His love to us in unique ways… what could be more unique than a royal king born in a manger? When each of us, like individual snowflakes, begin to manifest the love of God, the beautiful body of Christ can be revealed. And, when each member loves like Jesus, we can envision the purity of fresh fallen snow, covering ugliness and bringing loveliness to this earth.

Wednesday

As the month of December comes to an end, and as the new year approaches, everyone starts thinking about new beginnings. What I love about January is that it comes right after Christmas. Not only are the days beginning to get longer, but we just finished celebrating the arrival of the King of kings and Lord of lords. When Jesus comes on the scene, doesn’t He just make everything better? The new little baby, gives us the opportunity to start fresh starting today. He is alive and living big on the inside of you and me. Whatever you and I are facing is not insurmountable. Jesus is here. What a great start to a New Year. We have a fresh slate, a blank canvas, a clean sheet of paper to begin working with. What happens when Jesus comes? We get new life, new hope, new joy! He brings rest and peace, and power to overcome. Jesus came to reverse the curse of the devil. He actually came to destroy the devil’s work. He did it right out in the open, on the cross of Calvary, and in the belly of the earth as He took on the powers of darkness and triumphed over them. Jesus came onto the scene and changed destiny. When Jesus comes where we are, we got all those same benefits. As we prepare for what God has for us in 2011, recommit yourself to living life full…full of life, full of hope and full of joy. What is in the past is just that, in the past. Why not live your very best life right now. That’s God’s desire for you!

Thursday

Moment by moment, day by day, we have new mercy and grace applied to our lives. There is new mercy for each new day. There is grace for the next moment, even if we messed up in the last moment. We have hope to start new at any time. That helps us have a heavenly perspective. We don’t have to look only at what we see, but we can see through the eyes of faith and our faith become sight as we walk it out. So did you mess up real bad last year? Or did life mess with you last year? Was it a year you want to forget? Well, the Bible says we can forget those things which are behind and look ahead to those things before us. One thing we should always do is to check our heart and learn from our mistakes. We don’t want to have to take this same trail again, so learn the lesson and then live it! If what you learned is that you stand on the Word of God and never quit, keep on standing. If you learned you shouldn’t hang around with people who pull you down, make some new relationships. If you learned that your mouth gets you in trouble, keep a tighter rein on your tongue. If you learned to be more sensitive to others, put it into operation. God is giving us clues and reminders all the time. Let’s be listening to His Word, and paying attention to the Spirit of God, so we walk in God’s ways, and live and love like Jesus wherever we are.

Friday

Was last year a banner year? Hallelujah!! Let’s believe for an even better one in 2011. Jesus is here. He came to dwell with us permanently. He will never leave us, and His love lives inside of us. What great joy and comfort that brings. We are loved with the purest, most abiding love available – God’s love. Let’s be as committed to loving Him as He is to us. Let us never leave Him and let us always demonstrate His love to others. As we finish this year and begin the next, let’s operate in hope, joy, faith, peace and love all through the year. We have experienced His presence. We know His promises are yes and amen to us. We know who we are in Christ, and we walk in His grace and mercy. Let’s make it our goal in 2011 to see as many people come into the kingdom of God as possible. Let’s be faithful to pray for God’s will to be done on the earth as it is in heaven. Let’s see the enemy be defeated and God be glorified in our lives more than ever. Let’s make this a banner year for proclaiming the goodness of God. More obedience, more faithfulness, more sensitivity to the Spirit of God, more growth in the spiritual realm, more confidence in who God is, more blessings, more joy, more peace, more rest, more victory! If all we want is more of Him, He will reward us, because He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. I believe that is who you are…a diligent seeker of the Lord! And as you diligently seek the Lord, you will become more Godly, more gracious and more generous! Those are all attributes of heaven, and exactly what we want to see manifested on the earth! Let’s believe together for more attributes of heaven in 2011!

Saturday-Eword for kids

Have you ever been disappointed by someone who said they would do something for you and then they didn’t? I know we all have. You know what? There is someone who will never disappoint you, who will never leave you, and who loves you unconditionally. I bet you already know who it is. It is Jesus. We celebrate on Christmas day that He came as Emmanuel which means God is with us. He will never leave you. He came to stay by your side, and to always be there for you. He also came as the most perfect example of pure love. God is love, and when Jesus came as a baby in a manger, He became love to the world. When we live in Him, we have that same love living in us. So we never have to be alone, and we can always know we are truly loved by God.

As we start the new year, I hope you know better than ever that God is with you. He will never leave you. The presents you received should be a reminder of God’s love that came as a present to the world. He wasn’t wrapped in wrapping paper and a bow, but in swaddling clothes! He came to bring joy and peace, and He still does that today. There is great joy in knowing that God is always near, and great peace in knowing you are fully loved by God. This New Year share some of what you have with someone else. Most importantly this New Year, give God all of you. Let Him know you are as commited to loving Him as He is to you. Let Him know that you will always love Him, and that you will never, ever leave Him. Happy New Year!

Sunday

Did you know that the Bible says that God rewards those who diligently seek Him? What do you think it means to diligently seek God? When you are diligent, you are actively trying to do your best in every area where God gives us direction - like reading God’s Word, talking with God, living out the principles of the Bible, and becoming more like Jesus every day. So another way of saying that God rewards those who diligently seek Him is this - God gives good gifts to those who do their best to do what He asks of them. What is cool about God is that He is Good and loves to bless us. It almost sounds like you’re his favorite! YOU ARE! And I am too! It is the diligent ones who get rewarded.

Isn’t that how life works on the earth too? Those who do a good job get rewarded. Those who aren’t diligent, probably won’t get any special recognition. God wants us to get the best out of this life, and He gave us a huge hint how to get it. Be diligent. If you haven’t been diligent in the past, choose today to start! Today can be a great new beginning. You don’t have to wait until every one else is making resolutions to make changes in your life. Be one who decided on a consistent basis to make right choices, when it comes to actions and attitudes. We are world changers, and we can start by changing ourselves, in our own world, by becoming more like Christ. Then others will be drawn to the Jesus in us, and we can model to them how to diligently seek Him. How rewarding!

Intro

Hope, joy, faith, peace and love. This is weekend of Christmas and 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 love this Christmas, I believe that you will be encouraged to love others like Jesus does during Christmas and always. Jesus came so that we could receive His love and then give it to others. Here is your encouraging word about love for Christmas.

Friday

Love came near – not only near but in. Love didn’t stay far off, it came close, it came close enough to touch! Jesus was love with skin on! Somebody once said that the almighty had to come as a baby so we could have someone to wrap our arms around. Don’t you love that? Why not let his love embrace you as well this Christmas? I hope you truly realize that God’s love sent in the form of a baby was for you! He loves you that much. We are only good at loving others when we realize how much we are loved. When we experience unconditional, uninhibited love that comes from God, we can take what we have been given and share it with others. Romans 5:5 says that the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Another thing we know the Holy Spirit came to do as it says in Act 1:8 is to give us power to be a witness. We have the love of God on the inside of us, and the power to show compassion to others as a gift from the Holy Spirit. If you put them together, we have the power to love within us! How powerful is that. Love came in, and now we get to love others with the same love that we have received. When we look at the big picture from the cradle to the grave and through Jesus’ resurrection, we see that love motivated it all. He was born to die, but then He came alive with resurrection power, so that we could live the abundant life that Jesus came to the earth to give us. How precious is that little one in the manger. It is love that we can wrap our arms around. How precious is it that He wraps His arms around us, with His amazing love. How wonderful it is that we can wrap our arms of love around others, and show God’s love to the world. Jesus so loved the world, He gave us Jesus. Jesus so loved us that He gave His life. We can so love God, that we give our lives back to him, and serve, love and bless others with all of the love He put in our hearts. What a wonderful way to spend Christmas.

Saturday – Love

Something amazing had happened in Bethlehem. A heavenly announcement about this special event was broadcast throughout the airwaves. In the heavenlies, angels made it known that this event would bring good tidings of great joy for all people. A very special baby was born. The amazing thing about this announcement was that it wasn’t made before kings or people of great worldly importance, it was made to shepherds out taking care of their flocks in the nearby hills. Often shepherds go about what they do quietly. They take care of their animals. They are rarely in the spotlight, so the brightness of the glory of the Lord was a new experience for them! They do their work behind the scenes, most often, unnoticed. But God noticed them. He knew they were faithful and committed and they were the first to know God’s own Son made His entrance on the earth.

The angels told the shepherds to go and see. This baby was God’s own son, the Savior who was Christ the Lord. Once they saw, THEY decided to go and tell. Once they had seen HIM, they made it known abroad. (Luke 2:17) Without satellite television, without FOX News or CNN, someone got the news out. It was those faithful, behind the scenes shepherds. Whether they were ready for prime time or not, they had something to tell. The news they shared would have a life altering impact. Their magnanimous message of the GOOD NEWS was spread abroad.

What was so great about this baby? He was the manifested presence and goodness of God. He came to bring great comfort and joy. He came to bring peace on the earth, and good will toward men. Their world badly needed comfort and joy. It was aching for peace on the earth, and good will towards all men. Hearing the message of Christ’s entrance into our world was for then and is for now. Jesus came to bring comfort, joy, peace and good to all. He still uses ordinary people, just like us, who often go unnoticed in the big scheme of things, to do important jobs for Him. Let us make the good news known abroad. Someone you know needs to hear it. They need to know the comfort and joy that comes through Jesus. They need His peace. Go and tell!

Sunday – love

The last candle of advent has been lit and we can still feel it’s glow. Have you been changed by the love of God during this season of Advent? How has the little baby in a manger affected your world? Are you living a hope filled life, excited about the possibilities in your future? Have you experienced the joy of the Lord that is only found in Jesus? Are you using your faith, and exercising your faith on a daily basis? Do you have a peaceful spirit and have you determined within yourself to become a peacemaker, peace keeper, and a reconciler in your own relationships? Have you been changed from the inside out because of God’s love penetrating your heart? Do you really know how loved you are? Do you desire for others to know that too? My prayer is that not only have you had a meaningful advent season, but that you are growing daily in your walk with God. I pray that your daily rituals include spending time with God, and getting fed by his Word! We make time for natural things on a daily basis, like grooming, cleansing, and feeding. Let’s do the same thing for our spirit. We can definitely be washed by the Word and feed on it daily to make our outward appearance more pleasing to those who are around us, through our attitudes and our actions. You don’t have to feel like change happens for everyone else but you. You are not the exception to the rule. The Word states it very clearly that if we give ourselves daily to the word, to worship and to fellowship, we will become more like Jesus. Isn’t that our goal? Isn’t it our goal to have others be drawn to the Jesus in us? Let’s take what we have learned, and experienced this Advent, and put it into practice. We can be hope filled, joyful, faith filled, peaceful, and love filled people. When we are full, we have overflow, and spilling over the top is a great way to live. Let’s let the overflow of hope, joy, faith, peace and love fill up someone else around us. We have it in us, let’s let it out. We have the light of the world living within, and we don’t have to let the glow fade. Let it shine, and let the warmth of God’s love permeate even the hardest hearts of those you know. Let’s make this a banner year for spiritual growth and numerical growth in our own church body. When we grow spiritually, we become encouragers to others around us to do the same. When we grow numerically, we get to reach more people for Christ. When each number represents a life, we realize that Jesus came for individuals, and his desire is that all would come to know him, and live with hope, joy, faith, peace and love. That’s how love changes the world…..one life a time.

Intro

Hope, joy, faith, peace and love. This is week 4of Advent, and 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 Peace this week, I believe that you will be encouraged to make your Christmas preparations in a peaceful, calm and serene way. Jesus came so that we could live in peace and be peace makers. Here is your encouraging about peace for today.

Monday

Peace is a beautiful word. In Hebrew the word is Shalom which means nothing missing and nothing broken. In Israel, instead of saying hello, or even goodbye, people exchange the greeting of Shalom. What a lovely way to speak words of encouragement over everyone you meet. We know that when Jesus came, He came to bring peace in a world of turmoil, unrest and distress. He came to be the Prince of Peace, the counselor, and our mighty God. During the holiday season lots of people get stressed out. It can be from all the activity, because of dreading spending time with relatives that are difficult, or even the stress of feeling the necessity to over spend to keep up a good image. Take a deep breath! Let me speak shalom into your life. Let me speak peace to your soul. We really are too blessed to be stressed. We have the Prince of Peace living within us, so there is no reason to get stressed or live in a state of frustration or turmoil during the holidays, or any time of the year. Can we learn to rest in the peace of God? I believe we can. Peace is more than just a greeting, and more than just a sign we use to say we don’t like war, peace is an attitude that can prevail in our hearts and lives year round. Let’s live in a constant state of peace! When we look at the big picture, we have found what we are looking for. Jesus, who is in the center of our heart, came to fill in the missing pieces in our lives. He came to fix everything in our lives that was broken. So we can say about ourselves, I have Shalom in me, nothing is missing and nothing is broken. Because He came to fill us, we can live in peace, radiate peace, and be peacemakers in a world that is empty and broken. So speak Shalom to your own soul, and then begin speaking it to those around you. Make this Advent more peace-filled than ever, and enjoy Christmas in the peace of God. SHALOM!

Tuesday

Phil 4:7 God’s peace shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace, which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount a guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. How can we experience that tranquil state of soul, that peace that passes understanding in a world that is stressed out? One of the best things to do, during the holiday and really anytime is to speak peace to your soul. Jesus spoke to the storm, and He speaks peace to us through His Word. We can remind ourselves of his words and speak peace to our inner man, to silence the turmoil, or even the feeling that things are out of control. Doesn’t it do your heart good to know that everything is going to be ok? Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that fact. God is our provider, protector and promoter. He is taking care of us. We know that even if the enemy attacks us, what the devil intends for evil, God can still turn it around for our good. So say to yourself, soul, be still. Speak peace to your inner man, and live fearlessly and victoriously. God has a great plan for your life and it is full of the peace that only he can give.

Wednesday

Be a peacekeeper. Did you know that’s what we are as believers? We are called to keep peace! The Bible tells us repeatedly to seek peace and to pursue it. We are called the salt of the earth, and one of the things salt does is preserve things. We are a preservative in this world’s system. When everyone else is in turmoil, unset, or living in chaos, we are the ones who set the standard of peace. We know a soft answer turns away wrath. We know that we don’t have to have the last word. We know that we don’t always have to state our opinion, when we know it will bring a conflicting view. We do know that we can raise the standard of righteousness by how we respond and react in any situation. We don’t fight fire with fire! We are called to bring peace, and because the Prince of Peace has come, we get to bring his message and live his message everywhere we go. So why not bring a higher level of peace to each situation you enter. Remember what Jesus came to do. He came to bring peace on earth. He brought joy to the whole world, and came as the prince of peace. Let him reign in your heart and life. You are called to peace!

Thursday

Blessed are the peace makers. Jesus came to break down walls, so lets be like him, and do the same in our own relationships. Let’s encourage others to do the same too. Do you know that because you are a Christian, you have the ministry of reconciliation? That not only helps us in our personal life, with our spouse and kids, we can help others be reconciled to each other as well. Recently when I spoke at a Wednesday night service, I prayed for reconciliation for family members who were estranged. One woman came up to me right after service and asked that I specifically pray for her daughter who she hadn’t seen or heard from in 2 years. She went home from the service, called her up, and spoke with her for over an hour, and they reconciled that evening. She is planning to come home for Christmas. I was so happy to be able to help through my prayer, to begin the process of reconciliation in their lives. Don’t you know that was God’s heart for them all along? God put us on the planet to do that. He wants everyone to know His peace and his presence. Let’s be peace makers at work, in our churches, and especially in our homes. Let’s have homes that are an oasis, and a soft place to fall. Many homes are like a war zone, with fallout everyday. Let’s hold up the standard of righteousness and live in peace, and teach our families that living in the peace of God is the best way to live. During Advent, be a peacemaker in your own family, and radiate the peace of God wherever you go.

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 9^th 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 Bethlehem had to look forward to, with God’s own son living in their home, was way beyond what they could have imagined. But they made room for Jesus. And when they did, God gave them a taste of heaven on this earth. When we make room for Jesus, He does the same for us. The kingdom of God is within us. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matt 6:10) The very presence of God, His life, His nature, and His ability resides in us, empowering us to make our earth life, a little bit of heaven. The very evidence of things we have hope for! He is giving us a foretaste of things to come. Yes, Lord, we welcome you. You are the one we have hoped for. What great preparation for an extraordinary celebration!

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.

The phrase that Mary spoke when the angel first told her the news of her impending pregnancy was….. “Be it unto me, according to your Word. May it be just as you have spoken.” That phase should be the joy filled theme of our life. Whatever you want Lord, be it unto me, according to your Word. The great repository of truth, the Bible, has both the plan and the process for us not only to know and love God and His Word, but it has the revelation knowledge of the path and provision for a life filled with His joy. That is something to magnify God for!

Jesus gave it all. He gave up heaven for an earthly home. He willingly made a way for us to have exceeding joy and an abundance of peace, on the earth. He brought heaven to us, and made a way for our relationship to be restored to perfect intimacy with His Father. That certainly is exceedingly, abundantly above all I could have ever asked or expected!