EMBRACING HOPE

1st week of Advent

I'm choosing to
EMBRACE
HOPE



as I, "Come and Behold Him", with this book
in The Passion Translation by Brian Simmons

WEEK ONE: HOPE 

Day 1 Nothing Will Be Able to Stop Us! (Psalm 80:1–7)  Day 2 Every Great Story Has a Great Beginning (Mat.1: 1– 17) Day 3 What’s in the Name of Jesus? (Matthew 1: 20 – 21)  Day 4 The God Who Lived Your Life (Matthew 1: 23)  Day 5 What Do You Do When Life Doesn't Turn Out the Way You Thought it Would? (Matthew 1:24-25) Simmons, Brian. Come and Behold Him (The Passion Translation): Advent Devotional (Kindle Locations 21-31). BroadStreet Publishing

So basically reading Matthew 1:1-25 (TPT) and Psalm 80 {Bible readings linked to TPT in Bible Gateway} to get us started this week, along with the devotions
Day 5 looks like that one is meant for me {maybe that's how you're feeling too}
However I'm thinking that if after a week of EMBRACING HOPE we will be more HOPEFUL in any hopeless situation we face that as we keep our eyes on Jesus preparing for His coming we can open our hearts to live more intently with HOPE and we can bring our little flame of HOPE to others in need of more hope as we open our minds to optimism and open our eyes to notice more of the good in humanity or being the good in humanity so that our spirit will receive and give more HOPE in Jesus
*The following is an addition from a YouVersion reading plan: 

"What is Advent? Advent simply means coming into place view or being; arrival. There are literally dozens of historical and traditional ways that advent is celebrated. As Christians, we can use this advent time to highlight 3 key places that Jesus promised His coming.  1. Advent can be used to highlight the suffering of the people of Israel throughout the Old Testament and prepare us for the coming of Messiah, Jesus.  2. The second aspect of advent can be the coming of Jesus into your specific situation and life.  3. The third aspect is to anticipate His second coming where He will rule and reign as King." ... Illiminate Advent, YouVersion reading plan, day 1, from the Abiding Network

"... “This is Christmas, the season of perpetual hope.” – Kate McCallister from Home Alone The first attribute of Christ we see in Advent is hope. Hope is defined as: a feeling that what is wanted will happen or that events will turn out for the best; to look forward with desire and reasonable confidence; to believe, desire, or trust.  Hope is a driving force in human life that when present can change everything. However, hope in and of itself can lead to disappointment. When we discuss hope we must ask, hope in what or whom? Many people view Christmas as a season of hope simply because they think there is a magical piece to the holiday season. Many people practice religious traditions without the relationship with Jesus. This actually can leave us hopeless." ... [part on Genesis fall] ..."Christ’s arrival offers a holistic response to the sin problem and can directly affect your life today and give you hope for a future in Him. This is the promise from God that we want to illuminate in this devotion. In Christ, there is hope for restoration of God and man. In Christ, there is hope for freedom from sin. In Christ, there is hope for eternal purpose for your life. In Christ, you have hope to live as a son or daughter of a loving and compassionate Father. In Christ, your religious traditions are overshadowed by a relationship with God. We pray that this devotion illuminates the knowledge of the Glory of God in your life today." Illiminate Advent, YouVersion reading plan, day 1, from the Abiding Network

{just in case I find more to add* as I prepare, read and EMBRACE HOPE}

Other Resources:

...How Does Hope Shape Us? (part of an online Advent Retreat) Video also available {I'm pretty sure it's Catholic since it's Ignatian, who is a saint, as are the Jesuits}

Really good - I highly recommend the following:

Discovery Series| Hope  - Introduction Chapter 1: Hope for Desperate Times Chapter 2: The Meaning of Hope & more to 6

Chapter 3 is the Source of Hope (without reading this - Jesus is mine!) 

"Discover the Power of Hope" Joyce Meyer

"4 Promises of God to Give You Hope & Security" Wayne Stiles

"9 Promises from God Guaranteed to Give You Hope – Part 1" Hope Discovered, Gary Hardin

Both of the following are from iBelieve (dot) com

"10 Beautiful End Time Promises to Give You Hope (Not Fear)"

"20 Biblical Promises You Need to Give You Hope in the Future" Tamela Turbeville

If you're in need of more HOPE resources, I can find them just let me know but the best source of course is found in God's Word
as the above resources show

EMBRACING "ADVENT"

Advent 2019 

begins today 

December 1st until December 24th

I LOVE ADVENT
so
this is a season that is not difficult to
EMBRACE
{except for tomorrow, Dec. 2nd & then Dec. 6th}

"Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”),  in the Christian church calendar, the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ."...

  Advent is a season of a time of  expectant waiting and preparation

Beautiful Savior, may every symbol of Your birth draw us closer to You ...

I look forward to finding more peace, purpose and strength with Jesus in prayer.
Each week I will  EMBRACE one theme of Advent and daily I will be following chosen plan(s) at You Version {less there than usual} 
I also finally gave in and purchased "Advent in Narnia" which I can't wait to read so I really have to pace all this reading {maybe I'll share this one in 2020}
plus
here on my blog (at least once a week) I will be sharing from The Passion Translation (TPT) book
"Come and Behold Him" by Brian Simmons
{I have read it before but would like to read it again to keep me focused}
Book Description (but also a good introduction to Advent)

"Prepare yourself to celebrate the real reason for the season—Jesus! Beginning with the first day of Advent, this four-week devotional will take you through the entire Christmas season with twenty-one readings organized around the weekly themes of Advent. Through short, engaging reflections on hope, peace, joy, and love, combined with the beauty and relevance of The Passion Translation—a fresh, faithful translation of the Bible—you will find the inspiration you need to celebrate the true reason for the season. Each reading follows the inspiring journey of the main characters of the Christmas story and offers and Advent prayer, making them perfect for personal, family, or small-group use. Scriptures from The Passion Translation will give you greater insights this season for your journey toward Bethlehem. May this devotional and translation of God’s Word inspire your faith in the One who came to rescue us and will come again to create us anew!"

so

YOU

may

EMBRACE

Advent

along with me

* There will be another post this evening and each week of Advent as we EMBRACE this season in every aspect and theme. Sadly, I went to change to my winter 'Star of Bethlehem' template that I received from 'The Cutest Blog on the Block' and even though I saved the code, I forgot how or where to do it so then I tried to go to that blog as I had in the past, only to find out either I could not enter it or it was gone (safety warning). So this is the best I have for my Christmas look, and now I understand the frustration of others who have tried to visit here or leave comments. Still, we'll press on. If anyone finds the blog or knows where I put the code (I was thinking just in a gadget and move it under header but it just went black) please let me know.