Coming Alive at Advent: Day 4

I love that phrase. Here is Joy.

Sometimes we just need a little joy.  Things can get overwhelming at times.

Maybe it is the Polly want to be positive in me but when I see hard things, when I experience hard things– when I have questions about why God allows hard things, it’s just beautiful to be reminded, ” Here is joy.”

Isaiah 9 was a prophecy to the people in desperate need of hope.

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
³ You have multiplied the nation;
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon[d] his shoulder,
and his name shall be called[e]
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it

This child has been born.  This child was given to us.  This child was Jesus.

What is your favorite gift that you can remember?

I am a gal who doesn’t need expensive gifts, but if you give me a gift that makes me feel known, (especially if you got it on sale or at the dollar tree) I feel so loved.

I remember a birthday party my friend Leah threw me in Nepal. They called it a favorite things party– and the birthday cake was shaped like a coffee mug.

Could you show me love any better?  And let me add that there was no cake mix in Nepal unless it was expired several months imported from far countries away and costing 20.00 a box for that expired mix, so that cake was made from scratch.

For the party, they made a book of gift certificates for my favorite things. (which in Nepal involved a few of my favorite restaurants, pirated DVD’s because that is all you could get, and a hair wash from the local salon).

I felt so known.

Unto us a child was born.

We are known.

This is the greatest gift we can unwrap.  He knew us before we were born (Psalm 139) and He came to redeem, to rescue and to restore.

To bring us hope.

Today let’s celebrate a child was given.

The greatest gift.

 

Don’t forget you can grab a copy of the King is Coming:  Coming Alive at Advent if you would like to come an additional devotional resource to come alive this Advent Season.  

I wanted to let you know before we go that I have the joy of teaching a breakout session at this awesome online conference this spring.

I realize spring feels a really long time away– but who does not LOVE a good deal.

If you register for this conference that you have lifetime access to and can watch entirely in your pj’s if you want before the 5th you get 10.00 off the ticket price so get your tickets today.

You can find out more and register by clicking here.