2018

2018

... “Believe in the Lord Jesus ... " Acts 16:31

for now, but - my Bible Verse - yet to be determined
I do BELIEVE so this is more for someone else! <><><>
Hoping to get back and share about this but since I added it on the One Word page I thought I'd better mention it here
and that I have many YouVersion reading plans lined up to start out 2018 - probably too many but I also have 2 other devotionals as actual books that I plan to lean in and read
The One Year Walk with God by Chris Tiegren
and
Beth Moore's (actually I have two from her)
Believing God and Believing God Day by Day
plus
I will be joining Priscilla Shirer's study at LIFEWAY starting January 18, 2018

{since I already started a 77 day plan on You Version "UnShakable Hope"  and his church's site I will be continuing still through this as well with Max Lucado's church's Oak Hills Church  so you might have been misled to believe  my One Word is HOPE or Strength}
 HOPE  was my One Word in 2014
and every year I need and have found more of God's Strength in every Word, I've read and chosen
I'm hoping I find more STRENGTH in iBelieve with GOD and all I BELIEVE
I found this at One Word and since I don't do FB I'm sharing it here as a reminder of my commitment to my ONE WORD PROMISE

"I promise to live out my One Word with commitment and intentionality this year. When I live out my One Word, I will become a positive force in the world and make a greater impact. I will use my One Word as a filter to provide laser-like focus and to help me live with power, purpose, and passion. I expect to be impacted in all areas of life – spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, relational, and financial. I believe that my One Word may change my circumstances, but it will change my character. I will invite my Stretch Team of friends and family to challenge and encourage me on my One Word journey. I will keep my One Word front and center by posting it in prominent places. When experiencing challenges, I will use my One Word as an opportunity to learn and grow. By living my One Word, I will discover God’s best for my life. I believe that my One Word will not only impact me, but more importantly it will impact those around me. I will ask God each day, “What do You want to do in me and through me this year?” Throughout the year, I will celebrate all that I have experienced, learned, and discovered. I believe my One Word will shape and mold me to become the person I am meant to be and to leave the legacy I am meant to leave."

{did you notice my One Word used frequently in this?}
"Faith happens when believers believe." ~Beth Moore  in Intro of above book

LET'S MAKE THIS LAST WEEK of 2017 MONUMENTAL!

All week, I have been hoping to get online in these freezing temps here and share about my
ONE WORD for 2017
HEALING
especially on
WOW
"Walk On Weds."
yet as you can tell in below zero weather I am not out for a Walk
in fact, it's not even Weds. anymore
I hoped to share some Worship or a Word
so this will have to cover this
like the snow and cold

[video: Monuments]
my
"One Year Book of Healing"
had perfect devotions for this last week of December and the year
but the one on Christmas Day spoke such truth

"Christmas Day Can Be Every Day"

in this devotional every day ended with
Today's Rx and a Prayer
the one for this one
"On this Christmas Day, do what you can to help someone else." so that's what I have been doing all week
which I hoped might bring some "healing"
but from what just happened as I was typing this
to "no avail" and I'll leave it at that
and share the prayer for Christmas Day
"Lord, Thank You for Christmas Day and the joy of this season. May I always praise the King of kings and be grateful for how You sent Your precious Son, Immanuel, to this earth." The one for December 31st is "God's Supply is Unlimited" with the Rx being
"it only takes a sip of living water for us to never thirst again"
{i believe His Supply would include "healing" also}
so I'm taking a sip a little bit ahead of time for 2018 hoping to remedy as much as I can of the
"... to no avail..." situation
with my day set aside
to draw closer
to
God
once again

I learned a great deal about "healing" this year, mostly others, yet I really have no words of wisdom to summarize God's healing and how much healing I believe or have seen happen in me and those closest to me, yet it's a continual work in progress. I have gathered and read many healing scripture verses and some really wonderful books - and I guess the best word that I have, is part of my blog title ... 
Miracles! <><><>
I was also hoping to get a book review in this week, as I just found out that it's already been released,  when I thought it was going to be in January 2018 so I'll be late again, yet it's one book that will last forever  and help us alot, even with healing - whenever I get around to reviewing it and you're able  to get a copy for yourself {it's on "praying scriptures" for your children} and the author has written others: one for teens, children, but this particular one is for our adult children and us
<>
I have not finished with my  One Word of HEALING for 2017 but I already know my new One Word and i believe it goes well with continuing this healing process meanwhile I'll be listening to the new album that this video is from  Gateway's "Monument" playlist  and continue to pray {it was a YouVersion reading plan that led me to this}

ADVENT ~ Week 4

UNWRAPPING JESUS'

PRESENCE - PRESENTS

in ISAIAH 9:6


Although there are still other names left for this 4th week in the "Unwrapping the Names of Jesus" devotional it's already Christmas Eve and tomorrow is  Christmas Day so we'll just ponder on this One Name JESUS
PRINCE
of
PEACE the last One in this verse in Isaiah 6:9
and for me
this
CHRISTmas and year of 2017 I'll seek my Healer in this
Prince of Prince

[famous painting by Akiane]
knowing
that this Peace that passes all understanding
the Peace that Jesus took special time to
impart on His disciples and us in
John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
"What does it mean that Jesus is the Prince of Peace?"

I'm pretty sure in years past, here and in actual Christmas cards, I had one that looks exactly like that blue image above and also partly why every year, I have chosen "The Cutest Blog on the Block' background with the 'magi', but my header also use to have that silhouetted manger scene because that is where the Star leads us to search and find our precious Savior that we celebrate each Christmas Day, His Birth into this world and into our hearts and lives as our Lord, our Messiah 
- the One who takes all our "messes" and turns them into a message of His Redeeming Love; the rich blessing of His salvation born in us, the true "miracle" possible in everyone's life that He makes a way for us through the many "mazes" in our journey to arrive at that place where the Prince of Peace bestows His aMazing Grace; His Love, Joy, Hope and Peace. 
This is my Christmas wish for you and your families as you spend time together; that JESUS be the center of this season and indeed the very reason we live and breathe to bring Him front and center, all the glory, honor and praise, He so deserves, as we surrender to His way all of our ways and await the glorious reign with Him in eternity, where we shall rest in final Peace ... Shalom and a very Merry and Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year! ~ Peggy

the
PRESENCE
of
Jesus
is found in
His
Peace
May you be found and delight
in His Presence
every day
and
may
the Peace that
passes all understanding
be yours when it isn't
so easy
that
we cling to
His promises and power
given us in 
His Word
His Peace
His Presence

* if you need more names of Jesus for the rest of this week, you may want to check out this devotional/blog or Love God Greatly  or this wonderful, resourceful blog and prayer journal or Bible Resources; actually there is an abundance of resources on Jesus' Names ... even the Name of God Bible available at Bible Gateway as one of the versions... 

ADVENT ~ Week 3

UNWRAPPING JESUS'

PRESENCE - PRESENTS

in ISAIAH 9:6

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder,     and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (ESV)

If you've been following along with me since Advent began 3 weeks ago, you'll realize that I am not doing them in the traditional order of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love (or whatever order you are familiar with as tradition), but I am doing these to coincide with the above verse in Isaiah 9:6, so this week I am presenting:

LOVE

with

EVERLASTING FATHER

{the preposition in between those two words could be many different ones} such as:

Love of the Everlasting Father

Love from the Everlasting Father

Love to the Everlasting Father

or just

LOVE (and no word) Everlasting Father

because

He defines LOVE

HE IS LOVE

God, our everlasting Father

is

LOVE

and

LOVE

is our

Everlasting Father*

... for some of us, this is contrary, or a conflict with our earthly father, who may not have represented our Everlasting Father, at all as love or loving or even fatherly and perhaps not even there, so we have no earthly comparison ... and/or he fails in comparison; then there are some of us, who have been blessed by loving, earthly fathers and it helps to understand better the love of our Everlasting Father. Truthfully, there is no reason to compare but not having that love might impair or (a)skew our perspective of Father ... and Love. 

When I look at the words in Isaiah, of our Father ... I focus mostly on the 'Ever' and the 'lasting' part as the best compound adjective to precede our Heavenly Father, who loves us all beyond inexplicable measures. 'Ever' means "at any time, at all times, always, increasingly and constantly" - now that most definitely describes our Heavenly Father, who is available to us ALWAYS ... and 'lasting' (without even looking this one up) means forever ... enduring or able to endure over a long period of time - that's our God! We put those two words together and see a Father that lasts forever, which is eternity ... HE is eternal!

So we can look forward to an eternity with an enduring love and a Father that is able to love forever. Now, this is our God! and the most beautiful part of this Christmas season from this Child born to us ... Immanuel, God with us ... truly aMazing! Isn't this why this following song, we can sing and sing over and over, or it comes to us, right when we need Him or this reminder the most? 

Casting Crowns {they were just in Mpls., MN for their Christmas tour}
For the previous weeks, we have been 
"UNWRAPPING
the Names of Jesus"
according to the Advent devotional book with that title
however, what I hope you really are doing is 
focusing on
JESUS
unwrapping
more of His Presence and
all HE truly is as we receive Him
as we prepare our hearts and lives for
MORE
LOVE
found in

... Good Shepherd (John 10:11) ... Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14) ... Son of Man (Mark 10:45); Son of God (Matthew 2:15); Son of David (Matthew 1:1); Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32) ... Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3) ... Lamb of God (John 1:29) Lamb (Revelation 13:8)

the
Great
I AM (John 8:58)
ABBA to Jesus and us
our
EVERLASTING
FATHER
of
LOVE
email 12/18/17 from Word Ministries - Prayers that Avail Much Everlasting Father, I thank You for giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for the marvelous changes in our lives – for transforming us into the image of Your dear Son. Almighty God, You have made us more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. I thank You that Your love abounds more and more in each of us as we fellowship this season with family and friends, in the name of Jesus. Amen. I Corinthians 15:57; Romans 8:37 for Family and Friends



*this is a link to a great article by Spurgeon on "His Name -- the Everlasting Father"

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)
<>
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!

ADVENT ~ UNWRAPPING JESUS' ...

PRESENCE - PRESENTS

the true

GIFT

is

wrapped up in one verse for me this year
ISAIAH 9:6

Isaiah 9:6The Voice (VOICE) Hope of all hopes, dream of our dreams,     a child is born, sweet-breathed; a son is given to us: a living gift. And even now, with tiny features and dewy hair, He is great.     The power of leadership, and the weight of authority, will rest on His shoulders. His name? His name we’ll know in many ways—     He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Dear Father everlasting,ever-present never-failing,     Master of Wholeness,Prince of Peace.

JESUS
the Child, a Son
Wonderful Counselor
our *(Hope)
Mighty God our *(Joy)
Everlasting Father our *(Love)
Prince of Peace our *(Peace)
attributes and names
of
JESUS
<>

*the traditional focus of each candle, each week - not necessarily in this order -  corresponds with the liturgical year and virtues of Jesus
I have put them in this order to correspond  with the scripture verse only
<><
I have "hemmed and hawed"; browsed and searched; considered and contemplated my plan to prepare my heart for JESUS, with JESUS, for the celebration of JESUS - His first coming and His second coming, this Advent until Christmas; I've looked at books and Advent reading plans, purchased some new ones and perused through some old ones, then started reading, but I keep coming back to this scripture verse and focusing on:
... JESUS ... 
these particular names and attributes found in Isaiah 9:6

Love God Greatly (LGG) is doing "His Name is ..." and one of the books that I acquired because of the wonderful You Version plan "All is Calm: Receiving Jesus Rest this Christmas" - 5 days just baited me more and more to get the author's book, so I did {btw, I thought of "unwrapping" long before I knew of this book} ... ever since I began this blog, I have looked and listed the names of Jesus and God (from studies and reading of Ann Spangler's books and Names of God Bible) with a deep desire to know Jesus more personally through His names and attributes. 
This past fall, I began my mornings and ended my evenings with the Holy Spirit (through 2 beautiful devotional books) and time with Him after completing Bonnie Gray's "Whispers of Rest", and I really enjoyed His presence and finding "rest" in Him. This is why that You Version plan caught my attention with that "rest" once again which leads to the "peace" I long to fully experience, not just this season, but daily living with the Prince of Peace, that I have had the Joy of knowing, the Hope of believing, and the immense Love of my Lord and Savior, for most of this life journey with Jesus. 
So, as I walk through this season and ending my year with the One Word - Healing, I've decided to really focus on the presence (presents) of JESUS by unwrapping the gift of Jesus, one name and attribute at a time, using the resources to guide me, but mainly the names in Isaiah, as I've outlined for each week on SONday and daily specific names that go with the theme focus and that Name ... also praying the names of Jesus. Worshiping Jesus ... with carols and contemporary songs or just being still. 
Advent starts the 4th Sunday before Christmas, which is Dec. 3rd this year but I actually began reading on Dec. 1st my devos
This week on:
HOPE
with our
WONDERFUL
COUNSELOR
Jesus  
Pondering how Jesus is truly a "wonderful counselor" who brings and is Hope to many of us, who need healing ... who need Godly wisdom ... who have beheld His wonderful - in awe of His wonder and being filled with gratitude as we try to take in the immeasurable amount of His love shown to us. The wonder we sense in His magnificent presence. The wonder of coming to know Him better, more intimately and letting Him change us from the inside out as He continually gives us one more ounce of "hope" as we hang on and anchor our faith in Christ Jesus. 
My words are inadequate to express how "wonderful" He is and how much of a "wonderful counselor" His Spirit becomes in us through His Word, so it is through His Word we find this Hope and hold on to the Hope we have, in believing in Him and believing Him. Allowing Him to be my "wonderful counselor" in my everyday situations and living, listening for His prompting, leaning in to hear His advice, staying close in and through His Word, checking whatever as it lines up with what He says in God's Word - the Bible, His love letter and basic instruction to us


I can't help but keep singing this Hillsong worship song
which goes from
what a beautiful name to wonderful  name to powerful name the sweet name of Jesus Come along with me as we unwrap Jesus and rest in His presence as we find our Hope Joy Love and Peace in Him this season of Advent - Christmas born to us which can be born in us anew

"Ponder on how you might need to see Jesus  revealed as Counselor in your life, situation, or circumstances and which names of Jesus bring you Hope or  comes to mind as you think of Him as Wonderful Counselor? "

[Let's see if any are the ones I choose to focus on each day this week] Light the first candle of Hope
as you ponder with me about Jesus (Matthew 1:21) Christ (Luke 9:20) Messiah (Daniel 9:25) King of kings, Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15) the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25, John 14:6) the Light of the world (John 8:12)
Yes, LGG and Billy Graham, I agree a beacon of  HOPE
and of course Wonderful Counselor with our verse Isaiah 9:6
You could take each one of those names of Jesus like I'm doing one for each day this week then truly worship Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, our anchor or beacon of Hope ...  "HOPE of all hopes"  May these names bring you more
HOPE
this week! (and every day hereafter)