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2018 is quickly coming to an end, it will soon become past of our past and we look forward to the future – 2019! So exciting… “Therefore, if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh  and new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP) As I reflect on my blog, trying to decide if I should go in a different direction and mix things up a little. I think it’s time to do a New Thing but I’m not sure what that looks like right now. Last year my goal was to increase my posts from 70 to 200. Well, I didn’t quite make it but I did increase to 127 posts including this one. I love photography and a few of my favorites are featured in the photo below. I used Adobe XD to create this collage, I’ve learned to like this app a lot and have participated in several of the challenges. You can follow me on Behance if you have an Adobe account.

Encouragement Feeling a little overwhelmed by all that lies ahead or things you need to leave behind? Here are some encouraging Scriptures to hold on to today and everyday: Romans 8:31 - If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Psalm 91:2 - I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Exodus 33:14 - The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Psalm 91:11 - For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Psalm 139:14 - I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Blessings!

May you have the gift of faith, the blessing of hope and the PEACE of His love at Christmas and always. Merry Christmas from our house to yours!! 🎄🎄

The Celebration of Advent Advent—a time to get ready and prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of Christ. Advent reminds us to set aside some of the busyness of the holiday season, and to think about the miracle that every day of this season brings. Advent is all about hope—a hope that goes beyond all others. It’s more than just a feeling or wishful thinking. It’s an awareness that God is actually expecting, looking, and longing to show you His goodness.   Every day can be filled with hope—the confident expectation that something  good  is going to happen in our life. God wants us to be full of  His  hope—believing, expecting, and anticipating great things from Him. In fact, the Bible says He is the “God of hope,” full of mercy and new beginnings. God is good, and He has a good plan for each of our lives. Because He does, you can live your life with expectation, choosing on purpose to be hopeful every day…all throughout the day. The psalmist

He is risen…Remember: the women were reminded that Jesus had predicted His resurrection as far back as Galilee (see Luke 9:22). Jesus was God before time began—He was the Word through whom all things were created. He was in the Garden with Adam and Eve. His heart received sin’s first blow of violence that broke the intimate bond between Him and His beloved creation. Throughout time, He watched His people struggle. He freed them and led them through the desert. He longed for them to desire Him alone, yet their hearts were far from Him as they worshipped worthless, man-made idols. Think about how Jesus would have watched and prayed from heaven’s doorway year after year. So, when the fullness of time had come, consider His joy in finally coming to us as our Savior. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! (1 Chronicles 16:34) Be Blessed and be a Blessing! Related Posts Advent is Here Advent Day 3 Advent Day 4 Advent Day 5   Advent Day 6

Even in the hour of His death, Jesus experience the joy of granting forgiveness to a lost sinner (Hebrews 12:3). “Remember Me” – this remark is amazing for its insight. While others mocked Jesus’ seeming inability to save Himself, this thief recognized that Jesus would live and rule. He wanted to be saved and take part in Christ’s kingdom. Paradise literally means “garden” or “park.” It is the place of the righteous dead in Sheol. When Jesus spoke to the thief o the cross, He promised him that he would that day be with Him in Paradise. Again, indicating a pleasant place for the righteous among the dead. Paradise was a part of Hades where Abraham and the other saints waited for Jesus Christ to come and set them free. Jesus promised eternal life to the thief. Jesus came to earth on a mission of love. Through His great sacrifice, we are restored to our original place of fellowship with our Creator - God our Father. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! (1 Chro

Jesus gave new meaning to the symbolism of the Passover feast. “Do this in remembrance” – Jesus instituted a new meal which is not only a memorial of His death, but a fellowship meal of unity. It is a proclamation and a symbol of the believers’ anticipation of Jesus’ return, when all God’s promises will be fulfilled. The bread of the Lord’s supper represents the body of Jesus offered on behalf of His disciples. This cup is the new covenant: The wine of the Lord’s Supper depicts the giving of life, a sacrifice of blood, which inaugurates the new covenant for those who respond to Jesus’ offer of salvation. This is the strongest substitutionary image in the Gospel of Luke: Jesus died on the Cross in our place and for our sins. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! (1 Chronicles 16:34) Be Blessed and be a Blessing! Related Posts Advent is Here Advent Day 3 Advent Day 4 Advent Day 5 Advent Day 6 Advent Day 7 Advent Day 8

Jesus compared the joy of finding a lost sheep to the joy of heaven rejoicing over a sinner’s repentance. The unstated conclusion is that the hope of such a conversion was the reason Jesus associated with the undesirable of society. Persons who need no repentance is a rhetorical way of describing the scribes and the Pharisees. A similar description is found in Luke 5:31, where it is said that some do not need a physician. The scribes and the Pharisees believed that they did not need to repent because they were not lost. Spend some time meditating on this scripture. Where do you stand in your walk with Jesus? We have all fallen short of God’s standard for living because we have all sinned. But God!!! He loves us so much He sent is Son to stand in the gap. Jesus dies for our sins. He paid the price our sins with His life. He gladly went to the cross in our place. (Romans 3:10, 6:23. 5:8 and John 3:16) Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! (1 Chronicles 16:34)

Jesus compared the growth of God’s kingdom to a little seed that becomes a big tree where many birds can find shelter. A tree of the mustard family would grow to about twelve feet. The image of birds nesting is the trees is found frequently in the Old Testament and frequently symbolizes the church. Spend some time meditating on this scripture and try verse mapping it! There’s a link below to a blog post I did a while back on verse mapping. Give it a try! Be Blessed and be a Blessing! Related Posts Advent is Here Advent Day 3 Advent Day 4 Advent Day 5 Advent Day 6 Advent Day 7 Verse Mapping