The Story of the advent and the year end celebrations

THE STORY OF THE FISRT ADVENT AND THE YEAR END CELEBRATIONS.

Good day, All,

Season’s Greetings and a healthy 2020 to you and your families.

With only a few more days before we wish each other a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Many of us are in a mode of reflection during this season. For one reason or another, we find ourselves thinking of the past 12 months of our good times and bad times. Our loved ones living and gone, but not forgotten. 

 

For the most part, the pandemic has dominated the news since day one. We’ve all had to adapt to a “change of how we do things privately and publicly. 

 

What that looks like in the new year, is difficult to imagine. But we must stay optimistic!

 

On the other hand. With so many people in need, due to a loss of jobs, houses, or food. Things are just not what they used to be. 

The climate has cooled down in many parts of the earth, where it had reached record highs. At this time, more people are taking out time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Whatever you do, may you take out some time to pause and reflect.

As it was said many years ago, "What matchless love, Jesus manifested by coming to earth for falling men! 

 

Behold the angel's song to the shepherds over Bethlehem as the Saviour was born. Shall not our hearts echo the glad strain, Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, goodwill to all men!

Although we do not know the exact day of Christ's birth, on December 25th we honor the sacred event. 

 

Lord forbid that anyone should be so narrow-minded as to overlook the event because there is an uncertainty in regard to the exact time. 

 

Let us do what we can, to fasten our minds and the minds of the children upon those things which are precious to every one who loves Jesus. Let us teach them how Jesus came into the world to bring hope, comfort, peace, and happiness to all.

The angels explained the reason of their great joy, saying, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” 

 

My Brothers, and sisters, youth, and children. As you celebrate the coming Christmas. Take a moment to count the many things for which you are grateful. Then present a gratitude offering to God for your appreciation of the heavenly Gift?"

Soon JESUS shall return again. Not as a baby in a manger this time, but as King of Kings and Lord of Lord! But the big question is, will we be ready? If not why? And if we are ready, how can we help someone easl to be ready!

 

Our Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ, is comng! He is coming to reconciled earth to heaven, and thus paved the way for the great and glorious day of His return when—as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. He will bring the fullness of His reconciliation to men to its eternal consummation.

This is the great hope of all who acknowledgment Christ as Lord. But to all who have rejected Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives, the Second Coming will be a sad and fearful event. 

The Patriarchs, Prophets, and the apostles all longed for His coming. Those who were martyred through the years, and those who have falling asleep even up to our generation, have expected His return long before now, yet, the promise is still sure. 

 

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come” (2 Pet. 3:9, 10, NKJV).

The apostle Paul affirms the certainty of our hope in these words: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:16-17. NKJV). 

 

We have this hope that burns within our heart,
Hope in the coming of the Lord.
We have this faith that Christ alone imparts,
Faith in the promise of His Word.
We believe the time is here,
When the nations far and near
Shall awake, and shout and sing
Hallelujah! Christ is King!
We have this hope that burns within our heart,
Hope in the coming of the Lord.

2
We are united in Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are united in His love.
Love for the waiting people of the world,
People who need our Savior’s love.
Soon the heav’ns will open wide,
Christ will come to claim His bride,
All the universe will sing
Hallelujah! Christ is King!
We have this hope this faith, and God’s great love,
We are united in Christ.

My friend, "The second coming of Jesus is not wishful thinking. It is our certain hope. 

 

In the quietness of this moment, why not, right now, make your complete surrender to the One who, at Calvary, surrendered all for us?

With these things in mind, many people will take time to celebrate Christmas which is the story of the matchless love of God that was manifested to the world! Some will talk of angels as they sing because the Redeemer was born. They will honor the sacred event that brought hope, comfort, peace, and happiness at a time when there was no hope.

Some people will celebrate Hanukkah. Which is a Jewish holiday which celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the larger Syrian army. ... This celebration will last for eight days.

Yet there will be some who will not take part in the traditional celebration of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the New Year’s festivities. They will happily share in the joy of their fellow neighbors, colleagues, classmates and friends with the knowledge that though we may have different beliefs, we can all live together in peace and harmony.

Today I encourage you in your own way to count up the many things for which you are grateful for during this holiday season and present a word of gratitude to God, Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, El Shaddai Etc. for the heavenly Gift.

As the new year opens for us in a few days’ time. May we take a moment to reflect on our many successes and our few losses, whatever they may be, and learn from them.

For me, I am seeking for a closer relationship with God, my immediate family, external family, friends, community, and most of all my colleagues.

I believe great things await all of us in the new year, once we work together with a will to make a difference for the good, in our communities.


May God bless you.

Song of the day: Watch "Richard Smallwood with Vision!" I'll See You Again!"

https://youtu.be/1lo6ja2VWYo

Do you have questions that have not been answered? Would you like to know more about the God of the Universe? Then contact me at Garden Ministry. Just email your questions today!

Thank you for your prayers for this ministry and may the blessings of the Lord rest on you, and your family always. If you have a comment, write to  comments

Why not tune in to our newest ministry. It’s called, (YOU AND THE WORD). You can be seen on Facebook live every Friday evening from 7 o’clock, Eastern Standard Time, or 8 o’clock in Bermuda. YOU AND THE WORD is an open Bible study that you can join in to with your question or comments. Join me by name Kevin Santucci on facebook live.

Garden Ministry Devotionals are written by Chaplain Kevin J.T. Santucci

Blessings, Blessings, Blessing

If you know of ten persons who need a word of encouragement, forward this to them today: https://gardenministry.blogspot.com/

Links to this post 

CELEBRATION OF REDEEMING LOVE

*CELEBRATION OF REDEEMING LOVE*

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17

In the hearts of all mankind, of whatever race or station in life, there are inexpressible longings for something they do not now possess. This longing is implanted in the very constitution of man by a merciful God, that man may not be satisfied with his present conditions or attainments, whether bad, or good, or better. God desires that the human shall seek the best, and find it to the eternal blessing of his soul.

Satan, by wily scheme and craft, has perverted these longings of the human heart. He makes men believe that this desire may be satisfied by pleasure, by wealth, by ease, by fame, by power; but those who have been thus deceived by him (and they number myriads) find all these things pall upon the sense, leaving the soul as barren and unsatisfied as before.
It is God's design that this longing of the human heart should lead to the One who alone is able to satisfy it. The desire is of Him that it may lead to Him, the fullness and fulfillment of that desire. That fullness is found in Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Eternal God. "For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in Him should all the fullness dwell;" "for in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." And it is also true that "in Him ye are made full" with respect to every desire divinely implanted and normally followed.
Haggai calls Him "the Desire of all nations," “And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.” Haggai 2:7

No human agent can supply that which will satisfy the hunger and thirst of the soul. But the one who is life! Speaking of HIM the BIBLE says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.” Revelation 3:20; John 6:35.

It is God's design that this longing of the human heart should lead to the ONE who alone is able to satisfy it. The desire is of Him that it may lead to Him, the fullness and fulfillment of that desire. That fullness is found in Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Eternal God."

Today GOD is waiting for HIS LOVE to shine fully in us and through us. As it is said, "Love never claims, it ever gives. Love ever suffers, never resents never revenges itself." — Mahatma Gandhi

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. "Love, will not betray you, dismay or enslave you. It will set you free." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"His name shall be called Immanuel, . . . God with us." "The light of the knowledge of the glory of God" is seen "in the face of Jesus Christ." From the days of eternity the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father; He was "the image of God," the image of His greatness and majesty, "the outshining of His glory." It was to manifest this glory that He came to our world. To this sin darkened earth He came to reveal the light of God's love,--to be "God with us." Therefore it was prophesied of Him, "His name shall be called Immanuel."

By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels. He was the Word of God,--God's thought made audible. In His prayer for His disciples He says, "I have declared unto them Thy name,"--"merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,"--"that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them." But not alone for His earthborn children was this revelation given. Our little world is the lesson book of the universe. God's wonderful purpose of grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is the theme into which "angels desire to look," and it will be their study throughout endless ages. Both the redeemed and the unfallen beings will find in the cross of Christ their science and their song. It will be seen that the glory shining in the face of Jesus is the glory of self-sacrificing love.

In the light from Calvary it will be seen that the law of self-renouncing love is the law of life for earth and heaven; that the love which "seeketh not her own" has its source in the heart of God; and that in the meek and lowly One is manifested the character of Him who dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto.

In the beginning, God was revealed in all the works of creation. It was Christ that spread the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth. It was His hand that hung the worlds in space, and fashioned the flowers of the field. "His strength setteth fast the mountains." "The sea is His, and He made it." Ps. 65:6; 95:5. It was He that filled the earth with beauty, and the air with song. And upon all things in earth, and air, and sky, He wrote the message of the Father's love.

Not to condemn but to save! This is why JESUS came! Today, “there are souls who are trembling in unbelief. They ask, “How can I know that God is reconciled to me? How can I be assured that He loves and pardons me?” It is not for you, dear youth, (or anyone), to make yourselves just with God. Jesus invites you to come to Him with all your burdens and perplexities.... Accept the promise and the provision that God has made.... Look away from self to Jesus; for in Christ the character of the Father is revealed.

The blood of Christ in ever-abiding efficacy is our only hope, for through His merits alone we have pardon and peace.

The character of God as revealed by Christ invites our faith and love, for we have a Father whose mercy and compassion fail not. At every step of our journey heavenward He will be with us to guide in every perplexity, to give us help in every temptation.

Your reason and imagination should be touched with the life-giving power of Christ, that forms of beauty and truth may be impressed thereon. There are great and precious truths that demand your contemplation, in order that you may have a sound foundation for your faith by having a correct knowledge of God. O that the superficial, vain seeker for truth would learn that the world by wisdom, however much acquired, knew not God.

It is proper to seek to learn all that is possible from nature, but do not fail to look from nature to Christ for the complete representation of the character of the living God. By contemplation of Christ, by conformity to the divine likeness, your conceptions of the divine character will expand, and your mind and heart will be elevated, refined, and ennobled. Let the youth aim high, not relying upon human wisdom, but living day by day as seeing Him who is invisible, doing their work as in the sight of the intelligences of heaven....

He who constantly depends upon God through simple trust and prayerful confidence, will be surrounded by the angels of heaven. He who lives by faith in Christ, will be strengthened and upheld, able to fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold upon eternal life.” OFC 165

From my family to yours, Seasons Greetings and may Heaven always shine on you and your family.

Song of the Day:
https://youtu.be/KsKZPjJncFU

Do you have questions that have not been answered? Would you like to know more about the God of the Universe? Then contact me at Garden Ministry. Just email your questions today!

Thank you for your prayers for this ministry and may the blessings of the Lord rest on you, and your family always. If you have a comment, write to  comments 

Why not tune in to our newest ministry. It’s called, (YOU AND THE WORD). You can be seen on Facebook live every Friday evening from 7 o’clock, Eastern Standard Time, or 8 o’clock in Bermuda. YOU AND THE WORD is an open Bible study that you can join in to with your question or comments. Join me by name Kevin Santucci on facebook live.

Garden Ministry Devotionals are written by Chaplain Kevin J.T. Santucci

Blessings, Blessings, Blessing

If you know of ten persons who need a word of encouragement, forward this to them today: https://gardenministry.blogspot.com/

Links to this post