God is Coming!

“God is coming! God is coming!
All the element we swim in, this existence,
Echoes ahead the advent.
God is coming! Can’t you feel it?”

– Walter Wangerin Jr.

The excitement in this statement is contagious!  There is this inner motivation to act like a five year old anticipating Christmas morning! While I read this quote, I noticed the song that came on my iTunes playlist, “Waiting Here for You” by Christy Nockels. It is not a Christmas song, but the words apply so beautifully.

If faith can move the mountains
Let the mountains move
We come with expectation
Waiting here for you, I’m waiting here for you

You’re the Lord of all creation
And still you know my heart
The Author of Salvation
You’ve loved us from the start

 Waiting here for You
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it’s You we adore
Singing Alleluia

 You are everything You’ve promised
Your faithfulness is true
And we’re desperate for Your presence
All we need is You

Waiting here for You
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it’s You we adore
Singing Alleluia

 

Emmanuel, God with us.

He is with us always and we have the joy of ushering in His Son anew this Christmas! Take notice of God’s presence in your life. Thank Him for what He has done for you this past year and the mighty things He will do for you in 2014!

God is coming! Can’t you feel it?

Come

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee

Israel’s strength and consolation

Hope of all the earth
Thou art Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart

Born Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a king
Born to reign in us forever
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring

By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine own sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne

Written By: James Furman, Charles Wesley

 

Will you invite Christ in this day?  Are you anticipating His birth, His peace, His love?

To be honest, the invitation will change your life! Once Christ comes in, He will completely change your perspective. You will be able to obtain the joy and peace each and every one of us needs.

Are you ready? It is the best decision you will ever make!

Now, just say to Jesus…

“Come.”

The Anticipation

“Advent, meaning “the coming,” is a time when we wait expectantly.

Christians began to celebrate it as a season during the fourth and fifth centuries. Like Mary, we celebrate the coming of the Christ child, what God has already done. And we wait in expectation of the full coming of God’s reign on earth and for the return of Christ, what God will yet do.

But this waiting is not a passive waiting. It is an active waiting. As any expectant mother knows, this waiting also involves preparation, exercise, nutrition, care, prayer, work; and birth involves pain, blood, tears, joy, release, community. It is called labor for a reason.

Likewise, we are in a world pregnant with hope, and we live in the expectation of the coming of God’s kingdom on earth. As we wait, we also work, cry, pray, ache; we are the midwives of another world.” *

As we join together in waiting…anticipating…let us not grow stagnant in our faith, but seek out ways we can actively give of ourselves and enjoy this Christmas Advent season.

Angels we have on heard high
Sweetly singing ore the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord the newborn King

Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo

See him in a manger laid
Whom the choirs of angels praise
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
While our hearts in love we raise

Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo

* Found in Common Prayer – A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, page 50.

When Do Dreams Come True? – Week #4 Women’s Ministries Retreat Devotions

#4 When Do Dreams Come True?

“Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth” (Genesis 42:6) (NKJV).  In this verse Joseph’s dream comes true! It was the dream that he had back in Genesis 37: 7, “There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”

Between Joseph’s dream and its fulfillment about 20 years had past. So how do dreams come true? Very, very slowly!

The truth is that God’s plans, thoughts and ways are strictly His own. Scripture says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways . . . for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9) (NKJV).  When God births a dream in your heart, you can rest assured that it will take time for the fulfillment of that dream. Dreams aren’t rushed. They come about over a period of time.

Between the time that Joseph dreamt his dream and the time that it was fulfilled, he went through many things. And chances are, that between the time that you dream your dream and the time that it is fulfilled you will probably go through many things. But ultimately, your dream will come true in God’s perfect time. As we prepare for our time together at the conference, take the time this week to think through how long it may take for your dream to come true. I want you to prepare yourself. The Bible says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9) (NKJV). So don’t give up even if it’s been a long time already.

As you reflect this week, look at these two Scriptures. Write what they mean to you in relationship to the dream that you are waiting for. What is God saying to you?
Scripture:

1. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways . . . for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”
(Isaiah 55:8-9)

Meaning to You:

2. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9)

Meaning to You:

#4  ¿Cuando Se Hacen Los Sueños Realidad?

“Y José era el gobernador del país, y el que vendía trigo a todo el mundo. Cuando sus hermanos llegaron ante él, y postraron a Él rostro en tierra” (Génesis 42:6) (NVI).  ¡En este versículo, el sueño de José se hace realidad!  Era el sueño que tenía en Génesis 37:7, “Resulta que estábamos todos nosotros en el campo.  De pronto, mi gavilla se levantó, y quedó erguida, mientras que las de ustedes se juntaron alrededor de la mía y le hicieron reverencias.”

Entre el sueño de José y su cumplimiento habían pasado unos 20 años.  Entonces, ¿cómo los sueños se hacen realidad? ¡Muy, muy lentamente!

La verdad es que los planes de Dios, pensamientos y formas son estrictamente suyos. La Escritura dice, “Porque mis pensamientos no son los pensamientos de ustedes, ni sus caminos son los míos.  Mis caminos y mis pensamientos son más altos que los de ustedes; ¡más altos que los cielos sobre la tierra! (Isaías 55:8-9) (NVI)  Cuando Dios da nacimiento a un sueño en tu corazón, puedes estar seguro de que se necesitará tiempo para el cumplimiento de ese sueño.  Los sueños no son apresurados. Vienen aproximadamente durante un período de tiempo.

Entre el momento en que José tuvo su sueño y el momento en que se cumplió, pasó por muchas cosas.  Y lo más probable es que entre el momento en que sueñas tu sueño y el tiempo que se cumple posiblemente pases por muchas cosas.  Pero al fin, su sueño se hará realidad en el tiempo perfecto de Dios.  Mientras nos preparamos para nuestro tiempo juntas en la conferencia, tome tiempo esta semana para reflexionar sobre el tiempo que puede tomar para que su sueño se haga realidad.  Quiero que se prepare.  La Biblia dice,  “No nos cansemos de hacer el bien, porque a su debido tiempo cosecharemos si no nos damos por vencidos” (Gálatas 6:9) (NVI). Así que no te des por vencido, incluso si ha pasado mucho tiempo ya.

Al reflexionar esta semana, mire estas dos Escrituras.  Escriba lo que significan para usted en relación al sueño que usted está esperando.  ¿Qué le está diciendo Dios?

Escritura:

1. “Porque mis pensamientos no son los pensamientos de ustedes, ni sus caminos son los míos. Mis caminos y mis pensamientos son más altos que los de ustedes; ¡más altos que los cielos sobre la tierra!”
(Isaías 55:8-9)

Significado Para Usted:
2. “No nos cansemos de hacer el bien, porque a su debido tiempo cosecharemos si no nos damos por vencidos”
(Gálatas 6:9)

Significado Para Usted:

What If People Don’t Like My Dream(s)? – Week #3 Women’s Ministries Retreat Devotions

#3 What If People Don’t Like My Dream(s)?

Everyone will NOT support your dreams. In Genesis chapter 37, between verses one and eleven, 5 times the Bible says Joseph was “hated” because of his dreams! Five times!

“They hated him…” verse four says. “They hated him even more . . .” verse five repeats. “They hated him even more . . .” echoes verse eight. “His father rebuked him . . .” verse 10 emphasizes. And finally “his brothers envied him . . .” the Bible says in verse 11.

Joseph got no love from his family regarding his dreams. And you may not either.

But thankfully God doesn’t require family support when it comes to our dreams! In fact the Bible reminds us that, “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” (Ephesians 3:20) (Message Bible) That means that God is responsible for fulfilling your dreams, not your family.

If people (even family) don’t support your dream, you’re going to have to push forward anyway. The good news is you don’t have to pursue your dream alone. The Bible encourages us, “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37) (NKJV). You must accept the fact that everyone may not support your dream, but God is ultimately responsible for making it come true. So whatever dream you are imagining, whatever dream you are pursuing, whatever dream you are waiting for to come true, push past the hate, push past the doubt, push past the it’ll never come true and trust God.

As you are spending quiet time this week, look at these two verses again and answer the following:

“God can do anything you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” Ephesians 3:20
1.    Think about your “wildest dreams” what could God do this week to show you He is behind you 100% (even if others aren’t)?
2.    Ask God to heal the hurt from the pain of others not supporting your dream(s). Write your prayer to God.

“For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37
1.    What “impossible” dream are you believing God can do?
2.    Ask God to help any unbelief or doubt that is preventing you from believing your dreams will come true. Write your prayer to God.

#3  ¿Qué Pasa Si La Gente No Le Gusta Mi Sueño(s)?

NO todo el mundo va a apoyar sus sueños.  ¡En Génesis capítulo 37, versículos entre uno y once, 5 veces la Biblia dice que José era “odiado” a causa de sus sueños!  ¡Cinco veces!

“Ellos lo odiaban…” versículo cuatro dice. “Ellos lo odiaron aún más…” versículo cinco
repite. “Ellos lo odiaron aún más…” ecos versículo ocho. “Su padre lo reprendió…” versículo 10 enfatiza. Y, finalmente, “sus hermanos le tenían envidia…” la Biblia dice en el versículo 11.

José no tuvo el amor de su familia con respecto a sus sueños. Y puede ser que usted tampoco.

¡Pero afortunadamente Dios no requiere el apoyo familiar cuando se trata de nuestros sueños!  De hecho, la Biblia nos recuerda que “Dios puede hacer cualquier cosa, ya sabes – mucho más de lo que puedas imaginar o adivinar o solicitar en sus sueños más maravillosos!” (Efesios 3:20)  (Mensaje de la Biblia) Eso significa que Dios es responsable de cumplir sus sueños, no su familia.

Si la gente (incluso la familia) no apoyan su sueño, va a tener que seguir adelante de todos modos.  La buena noticia es que usted no tiene que perseguir su sueño sola.  La Biblia nos anima, “Porque para Dios no hay nada imposible” (Lucas 1:37) (NVI).  Usted debe aceptar el hecho de que no todo el mundo puede apoyar a su sueño, pero Dios es al fin responsable de hacer que se haga realidad.  Así que cualquier sueño que se está imaginando, cualquier sueño que está persiguiendo, cualquier sueño que usted está esperando que se haga realidad, empuje más allá del odio, empuje más allá de la duda, empuje más allá de que nunca se va hacer realidad y confíe en Dios.

A medidas que pases tiempo en silencio esta semana, mira estos dos versículos y responda a lo siguiente:

“Dios puede hacer cualquier cosa, ya sabes – mucho más de lo que puedas imaginar o adivinar o solicitar en sus sueños más maravillosos!” Efesios 3:20
1.    Piense acerca de sus “sueños maravillosos”, ¿que podría Dios hacer esta semana para mostrarle que Él está detrás de usted 100% (incluso si otros no lo estan)?
2.    Pídale a Dios que sane el dolor de las heridas de los demás que no apoyan su sueño (s). Escriba su oración a Dios.

“Porque para Dios no hay nada imposible.” (Lucas 1:37)
1.    ¿Qué sueño “imposible” cree usted que Dios puede hacer?
2.    Pídale a Dios ayuda de cualquier duda o incredulidad que le impide creer que sus sueños se harán realidad. Escribe tu oración a Dios.