ADVENT ~ Week 2

UNWRAPPING JESUS'

PRESENCE - PRESENTS

in ISAIAH 9:6

"For a child has been born—for us!     the gift of a son—for us! He’ll take over     the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor,     Strong God, Eternal Father,     Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow,    and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness He brings."... (MSG)

JOY
{not the traditional 2nd week but I have changed the order to somewhat correspond with the Names and Attributes of Jesus as found in Isaiah 9:6}
MIGHTY GOD
Perhaps you (as I) are wondering how does Joy line up with Mighty God. Truthfully, I just ended up putting these two together because the other ones did fit and this was left ... but as I reflect on Joy (or not really finding much Joy as I should at this time of year) I realize that if I reflect on God (in Jesus) and Him being Mighty ... it really does stir up some Joy in the assurance that no matter what we face, our God is Mighty and Jesus certainly showed us this along with the humility of coming to us as a man, a babe in a manger ... Jesus, in all His power and might.
Last week, I looked at Jesus as the “Wonderful Counselor”... "the one who would show us the Father and lead us to the truth about ourselves and about life" {and I certainly do understand looking at that name as "Wonderful" and "Counselor" separately as well} and bring us Hope, as we look forward with expectation to what is to come (somewhat hard to do as we see so much devastation going on around us and our own personal trials). This week I am focusing on the title, “Mighty God”.  "The Hebrew for God in this title is the simple word “el”.  It denotes a mighty power that can be found only in deity.  When we understand that the word for God means “Mighty Power” then we can see that this title really means the “Mighty Mighty Deity”.  In other words, Jesus is set apart from all other powers, deities and spirit beings.  His power is seen as far superior to anyone else." The "Miracles" of Jesus definitely show His power and His authority, the way He endured temptation and most definitively the events of His death followed by His Resurrection (and my, oh, my ... the benefits of His Power and claiming and proclaiming them with His promises - and the completion of them, especially the promise of salvation). So there are two reasons why this title of Jesus (Mighty God) should bring Joy:

• "He is Able to do what He promise(d)"(s)
• "He is Able to help where we need it"

..."The promises of Jesus are wonderful and they provide us hope.  But those promises often seem distant.  They seem sometimes unrelated to what we are going through in the present. The fact that Jesus is the Mighty God also means that He is able to help us where we need that help right now.  If you don’t know where to turn . . . turn to Him.  He can . . . and He will, help."... ©December 9, 2001 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche (and other parts in quotes)

Alleluia Singers
{and of course there is the upbeat worship song of  Don Moen "What a Mighty God we serve" but it was so short and neither are Christmas carols/songs  like this Kid's one}

These are the Names Unwrapped in Week 3 in the book which goes with
JOY
but this is moved up to Week 2 to correspond here with
MIGHTY GOD
Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14) Alpha and Omega (Rev.1:8) True Vine (John 15:1) {skipping the book's 4th one until the 4th week but substituting with} Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5) Bread of Life (John 6:48)
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others to consider {not included in the devo book}

Almighty One (Rev. 1:8)
Advocate (1 John 2:1)
Authority (Matt. 28:18)
Captain of Salvation (Heb. 2:10)
Chief Cornerstone (Ps. 118:22)
Deliverer (1 Thes.1:10)
Leader and Commander (Isaiah 55:4)
Mighty One (Isaiah 60:16)
I AM (Ex.3:14 and John 8:58)
Oh, there are many others of 
Jesus 
as
Wonderful
and
Mighty
because
HE IS
GOD
after all
"...the Joy of the Lord is my strength..."
Nehemiah 8:10
so it will be no matter what

Praying for His Joy to surround 
You
and
Yours
this week, this season
until
Jesus
comes
again


May His sweet Presence
complete you
in His Mighty Name
forever
as
we
draw near
and unwrap
the best gift given
ever
J E S U S
O t h e r s
Y o u
JOY
Hillsong {you must have known I had to share some Christmas music - 'tis the season} Christmas must be coming 'cuz I couldn't wait ('til 6pm) for this JOY! EnJOY!