Sabbath Rest- Gifts

Sabbath Rest Prayer
Heavenly Father, with much adoration and love, we give thanks for Christ the Messiah. We give thanks O Father for all Jesus has done for us. For this great gift we give you praise, glory and honor. We ask O Lord thy God for your guidance. Guide us in giving Jesus gifts worthy of our King; gifts which reflect our love and gratitude for life granted to us by Your Son, our Savior, Jesus the Christ. In His most holy and mighty name we pray. Amen.

Sabbath Rest Scripture
They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. Matthew 2:11


Sabbath Rest Reflections
The wise men travel a great distance seeking Jesus. We don’t have to travel very far to seek Him, yet we often fail in this task. He is very close by us waiting for us to come. God has also provided us a star, the Bible. We only need to open it and tenderly search the scriptures. Sometimes we have to dig deep, other time we can Him on the surface with no digging at all. In either case He promises if you seek me, you will find me. Just as the wise men saw Him when they entered the house, we will see Him when we enter the word.

Just as the wise men saw Jesus in Mary’s arms, we when wise often find ourselves in Jesus arms. Jesus has become our refuge and strength and He will hold us in His arms as long as needed.

As Jesus daily cares for you, become overcome by His grace and love. Stand in awe of His great care and concern for you and Kneel and worship. Bow down your life to Him, and bring gifts worthy of our God. As you move from Christmas Day move to the Spirit of Christmas presenting God with costly gifts, which cost you something, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5, and love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39. Loving God with everything we have, with our all and our neighbor as our self will lead us to giving gifts reflective of our Savior. To begin this process we must open our heart to Jesus, truly allowing Him to dwell in us and live through us. When we let Jesus do the God thing in and through us we give Him one of the greatest gifts we can offer. In essence we are saying I sacrifice myself to You Lord, use me, mold me, grow me, shaping me into what you would have me to be, work through me Lord . I have so little to give You, but me and I freely give to You, my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable.


In what ways do you identify with the Wise Men?
What other gifts can you bring to Jesus in the coming year?
Spend time with the wise men this week seeking truths you can apply to your life.



Prayer
Lord, we can’t thank you enough for Jesus. It appears we have so few gifts to give to you Lord that are worthy. We ask You today to guide us in giving gifts which are pleasing to you. Fill our heart with Your word, your truths and help us to live Your word, Your truth until we are truly living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to You. In Jesus Name we pray.

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Spiritual Sundays- Celebration

Today I am doing something different. I want us to remember not only do we celebrate the Birth of our Savior but we celebrate His life. There is no way I can bring Honor to His entire life here but prayerfully a few reminders we celebrate all Jesus is- Our Lord, our Savior, Our God. Let Your heart rest on His ministry, His life and His death and because of His obedience we have a relationship with God, we have become children of God, we have inherited a Kingdom and we have everlasting life through Christ; The Prince of Peace, Emmanuel God with us, our Wonderful Counselor. The Alpha and Omega-the Beginning and the End.

Somewhere this past week I read on another site (and I am sorry I can't give you credit I don't remember where but perhaps you are visiting today and can let us know) "Jesus is not a season, He is the "REASON" this has stayed with me this entire week and thus you have my tribute to the "Reason". It is my prayer I not only keep Jesus in my Christmas but that I make Him my Christmas. Without Him there would be not Reason. I pray I will carry Christmas in my heart everyday as I rest on and in His ministry of teaching, healing, humility, generosity, peace, gentleness, grace, mercy, compassion, obedience and most of all love. It was love which nail Him to the cross. It was love which kept Him on the cross. Let Love make Him your Christmas.

Happy Birthday Jesus, my Lord, my Savior, my God. All glory, honor, power and praise belongs to You.

I hope you enjoy the slide Show

Prayer
Father God, I pray blessings to all who share with me and Spiritual Sunday may their Christmas be joyous and filled with Your Love God the Everlasting Father, God the Son;the Everlasting Savior and God the Holy Spirit. In Jesus most precious, sweet and loving name I pray. Amen


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Sabbath Rest-The Lord's Servant

Sabbath Prayer
Father God, I am Your Servant, may I walk according to Your word, Your truths. Grow my heart until it reflects that of Your daughter Mary and Jesus Your beloved Son. Let my heart be in total surrender to You, Most Holy One. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen

Sabbath Scripture
I am the Lord’s Servant. May everything you have said about me come true. And then the angel left her. Luke 1:38

Sabbath Thoughts

Mary’s words speak total surrender to God. My life to You O Lord I bow down. My will is insignificant, only Your will is of the utmost importance. My plans are Your plans, thought I don’t understand all You have said to me, I trust You and I give my will to You, God Most High. I accept Your wisdom, for it is far greater than mine. I seek only to be pleasing to You, whatever service You give me Lord I accept.

Mary’s actions speak total surrender to God. Lord I was afraid when Gabriel called me highly favored. I must confess I am even more afraid now, I am a virgin, and what will Joseph think? What will my parents think? What will the people of this community think? O Lord I will not let these fears hinder me. I will trust in You for guidance and understanding. Mary didn’t let herself be besieged with doubts and fears. She didn’t give the enemy a chance to attack, she open her heart to God and followed His lead and went to Elizabeth to help her sort through her feelings. She sought strength to aid her to meet any obstacles ahead.

Mary’s surrendered heart speaks God promises stand. “May everything You have said about me come true.” I will be the mother of my Savior, Son of the Most High God. I will be the mother of my deliverer, my peace. I will give birth to the Bread of Life, the Alpha and the Omega, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Sabbath Reflection
Mary believed God. “You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said. Luke 1: 45

Are you a true believer? Does your life reflect you know God will do all He has promised you?

God promises to be your Savior

I am the LORD, and there is no other Savior. Isaiah 43:11

It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When the people cry to the LORD for help against those who oppress them, he will send them a savior who will rescue them. Isaiah 19:20


Powerful kings and mighty nations will bring the best of their goods to satisfy your every need. You will know at last that I, the LORD, am your Savior and Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel. Isaiah 60:16

For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song." Zephaniah 3:17

And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:11

God word is full of His promises; have you put the promise of a Savior in your heart? Does your everyday life reflect your belief in God and His promises? Does your every step reflect you daily remember a night over 2000 years ago where in a little town called Bethlehem, God sent His greatest promise. The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! Luke 2:11 Do you daily remember The Promise at Calvary? When they came to a place called the Skull, they nailed him to the cross. Luke 23:33



Can you say “I am the Lord’s Servant. May everything you have said about me come true.

Prayer
O Most Holy God, may I daily cry I am the Lord’s servant, May everything you have said about me come true. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

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A Sabbath Rest-Spiritual Sundays

"Finding Favor with God, Preparing a Christmas Heart”

Sabbath Prayer
Blessed Father, Most Holy One upon Your great Name I call. Father it is my heart’s desire to find favor with You. I seek to bring pleasure to Your heart. Please rest with me today and lead me to those things which are pleasing to You. In Jesus sweet Name I pray. Amen

Sabbath Scripture
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Luke 1:26-28

Sabbath Reflection
We are first told by Gabriel that Mary found favor with God. How do we begin to find favor with God that on Christmas morn He looks at us and be pleased? I believe once we look at the entire story we find Mary had not only an open heart but a knowing heart. She knew enough about God to accept and believe Gabriel’s words. God possibly chose Mary to carry His son because He had searched her heart and knew she was a woman after His own heart. Are you a woman/man after God’s own heart? Do you keep your heart open to receive whatever He tells you, are you constantly listening to hear from Him? Does your heart know it can trust and believe whatever God speaks to it? As you prepare for Christmas Day open your heart and fill it with the knowledge of all God has done for us through Christ. Let your heart daily rest on God’s truths and His works. Read the words of the Prophets who foretold the coming of Christ. Search the scriptures and watch how the words of the prophets come to life. Let this knowledge penetrate your spirit and come Christmas morning let your spirit rejoice as it remembers how Christ left His heavenly home and came to earth for all the world. Lifting your voice in joyous praise, I believe God will be pleased, looking upon you with favor.

The Promise
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isa 9:6

The Promise fulfilled
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossian 1:19-20

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1Jo 2:1

The Promise
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light – a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow. Isaiah 9:2

The Promise Fulfilled
Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.
The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:4-5

The Prophet Speaks
All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. Isaiah 53:6


The Prophet’s Word Manifested
Finally, they came to a place called The Skull. They nailed him to the cross. Luke 23:33

The Prophet Speaks
When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. Isaiah 53:11



The Prophet’s Word Manifested
Because one person disobeyed God, many people became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many people will be made right in God's sight. Romans 5:19


Quiet Time Reflection -My Favor with God

Do I bring peace to the world or am I the creator of chaos, and confusion?
Do I seek counsel from Jesus, or do I look to others first?
Do I continually walk in the light or do I cover myself with darkness?
Do I follow God’s path or my own?
Do I walk righteously?

Prayer
Father God, let me please you by walking in peace, seeking Your counsel first, let me always walk in Your light, hating the darkness. Help me Father God to walk in your purpose and stay on the path You have ordained for me and as I walk let me walk righteously bringing honor to Your Holy Name. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen

Deeper Study
Isaiah 53

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