DECEMBER 2023 - still with JESUS or JESUS still with me

[credit for image]

As December is off to a start, or an ending of 2023, I began yet another ebook that I recommended last year (upcoming post will share a bit more) on December 1st (since the book starts on December 1st, not the 1st Sunday of Advent and it is an Advent Journey). 

At the same time I have begun an Artists' Advent Journey of Gratitude (journaling, more than the art part), which is good to do reflecting on this past year's journey & continuing from November's thankfulness into December, with the practice of expressing gratitude intentionally. I'm finding this plan to be very meaningful as I follow the prompts and look back at this year with God's Ever-Present Help, and so thankful that "With JESUS" in 2023, I have made it to this final month & point of reflection. Creative journaling or even just creating an image through your words or perhaps a worship song or prayer of gratitude, one can begin "to acknowledge God's hand in bringing us to a spacious" place of expressing creatively our thanks to God. I guess from all the writing I've already done so far, that there was pretty much just stored up in me that needed to come out & it just poured out, which brings me back to my book & December 1st:

"Preparing room for Jesus is ultimately what saves us."

Now the author of this book is just as brilliant as she indicates the director of one of my favorite Christmas movie is, as she walks us through the various scenes of the movie & correlates this entire movie to our Christian walk of preparing room for Jesus. Just as there was no room in the inn, when Mary & Joseph were searching for a place for the birth of Jesus, we too search and don't quite find the room, or the time, or the space ... in our lives and in our hearts. Yet "preparing room for Jesus" is the exact reason we need to set time aside and realize the importance of that choice, that decision in our lives, each and every year as we draw near to the end of another year. Are we any closer at realizing Jesus is the Ultimate One who saves us? As a believer, we may think that because we accepted Jesus that that's all we need to do. So we grow complacent in our daily walk "With Jesus" or everything else seems to take more of a place in our lives then spending meaningful time with Him. Just another addition to our checklist. "What do you need to let go of so you leave more room for Jesus to dwell in you?" It was this question from this book's author that was so powerful of a consideration that I had to pause and think whether it's expectations, hurts, busy-ness, church or non-church activities, stresses, life issues, family situations or problems, or what was keeping me from preparing room just for Jesus, seeking Him & seeking His will in all these things. We need to empty out our lives and make room. We need to prepare our hearts to be more open and accepting to what Jesus would do for His Kingdom. I know I do. Because ...

"Preparing room allows us to show compassion to others." December 2nd ...

Yes, this world is desperately in need of more compassion to others ...
and as I've indicated I shared more last year of this book and the 25 days given in
"PREPARING ROOM"
I applaud this book, this author & her creativity
as I once again discover
"It's a Wonderful Life"
because of
JESUS
The prayers each devotion are so special to me!
The memories from the movie also.
Thank you Rebecca Horvath!
Thank you Frank Capra!
Thank You
JESUS
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Right now, today
as I glance through & ahead at these 
25 gifts  
Preparing Room
I NEED the following ones:

#4."Preparing room gives us the space to see & appreciate the humor in life."
#5."Preparing room allows us to hold on to hope and to have faith even when all seems lost."
#8. "Preparing room allows us to love others, even when they're unlovable."
#11. "Preparing room allows us to reach down deep & make the right choices, even when it's hard."

#14. "Preparing room allows Jesus to fill us with His Presence & strength."

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oh, let's face it, I need every one of the 25
to adequately begin
"Preparing Room"
and allow
JESUS 
in
to fill me
with more of Him
and much less of me
to know, love & serve
through the power
of the Holy Spirit
God's Grace
in me

Thank You Jesus for saving me!
{now I pray for the others who still need You}
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven
I pray for our nation & our world!
31 Days of Preparation

for

2024

50 Days of Prayer

New Year's Day, Jan. 2 - Feb. 20, 2024

JESUS, the LEADER #45 - #48

{My apologies that this did not publish for the last week of November. I had to draft it & forgot to click publish again. If you recall I was moving the post forward each week & adding the next week. This was the final week with JESUS, the LEADER. JESUS, the OVERCOMER #49 publishes on December 3rd}

This blog post features

Jesus,

the Leader

 for November

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Section 7 includes:
 Jesus, the Leader(weeks 45-48)and then finally Jesus, the Overcomer(weeks 49-52)

November - Section Seven: Jesus, the Leader 45. The Standard of Greatness   Nov.6-10 46. A Servant First                       Nov.13-17 47. The Victor                              Nov.20-24 48. Commander in Chief            Nov.27-Dec1 December - Section Eight: Jesus, the Overcomer 49. The Passion of the Christ—the Rest of the Story 50. His Grace, My Place 51. The Warrior Rises 52. Dead Man Walking

<>This looks incomplete, but it's not - as long as I don't forget (lol)
EACH WEEK I plan to add and fill in the missing parts for each Chapter:
JESUStheLEADER
This Week is #46

SCRIPTURE READINGS for the Weeks of Chapters 45-48:

45. Mark 9:30-35; Matthew 20:20-28; 1 Peter 4:7-11; Philippians 2:1-8; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 46. John 13:1-17; Romans 12:3-8; Mark 10:35-45; Hebrews 6:9-12; Galatians 5: 13-15 47. Matthew 4:1-11; James 4:6-8; James 1:12-15; 1 Corinthians 10:6-13; Hebrews 2:14-18 48. Luke 9:23-27; Ephesians 5:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:11-15; Romans 14:5-9;  1 Peter 2:19-23

These are the subtitles/segments of each devotional in Chapters 45-48:(listed after the title of that devotional)
November 5-10

45.The Standard of Greatness:  "Who's the Greatest?"; "A New Measure"; "Approach Serving the Right Way"; "Appreciate Serving the Right Way"; "Apply Serving the Right Way"

Approach - Appreciate - Apply
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November 13-17

46. A Servant First:  "A Surprising Reversal"; "See Opportunities"; "Serve Others"; "Same Old, Same Old"; "Surrender Ourselves"

Surprising - See - Serve - Same - Surrender
"The servant-leader is servant first" ... Robert K. Greenleaf
"Servant leadership is an approach to leadership where the leader puts the needs of others before their desires and acts as a servant first. Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of a servant leader, and His life and teachings show us how important it is to lead with love, compassion, and a servant's heart. Christians are called to follow Jesus' example and become servant leaders in our spheres of influence. We can become great leaders by showing compassion, empowering others, and creating a culture of respect and collaboration. Leading with love and humility for God’s glory makes a positive difference."from CCU
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November 20-24

47. The Victor: "Fight of the Century"; "Fierce Competitors"; "Don't Be Surprised by Temptation, Expect It"; "Don't Be Fooled by Temptation, Detect It"; "Don't Be Defeated by Temptation, Reject It"

I am so thankful for JESUS
The Victor
"Christ, the Victor"
a song from a musical
"The Victor"(Jamie Owens-Collins)

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November 27- December 1

48. Commander in Chief: "Are You All In?"; "Living Wholeheartedly"; "Deny Yourself"; "Die to Yourself"; "Devote Yourself"

Most often, I think of the Commander in Chief as our President,and he should receive the respect & authority while in Office.Currently, the uprising created in this country, sadly does not do thisand shows great disrespect & disregard for the Office of the Presidency.You need to be worthy of such a position!However, ALL Authority and our deepest Respectbelongs to the ultimate Commander in Chief our LORD JESUS & HE is Worthy!
Also, as this week points out with "D" only applies toTHE COMMANDER IN CHIEFJESUSwhere we Deny ourselves, & are willing to Die to ourselvesand be Devoted, which belongs to no human beingONLY GOD[to do so, with a human, is idolatry & blasphemous]
*these are my humble yet strong opinions
I bow only to
JESUS
now & forever
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and thePRAYERS:

45. "Lord, Give me a holy desire to be great in Your kingdom by giving my life away to others and bearing witness to Your greatness."

46."Lord, I thank You that You have cleansed me from head to toe. Teach me to humble myself, as You have, by serving others in Your Name."

47."Lord, I trust that You've prepared me to fight the good fight. Fill me with Your Spirit and gird me with Your Word to resist the temptations of the enemy."

48. "Lord, because of the work and witness of Jesus Christ, I'm convinced that You are worth ("betting the ranch on"). Give me courage every week to be all in."

The term "bet the ranch" came from the Wild West and was used in the first devotion:And to be "All In" happens to be a gambling phrase in a poker game.
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I am only ALL IN when it comes to JESUS CHRIST as my Commander In Chief.But I do respect & trust our current President as this country's Commander In ChiefI pray every day that our President receives Godly wisdom & all that he needs to govern our nation and maintain a positive influence in the world.I write this with the courage & conviction given to me by God.No matter what party you belong to or support,as a citizen in this country you should respect, pray & support your LeaderJESUSfirstalwaysthen who HE appoints to be in authorityfor the time appointed<>
God bless the United States of America!
and our Commander In Chief
in Jesus' name

"Few words are batted about by managers, pastors, {*educators}, entrepreneurs, and politicians more than leadership. When we want to learn how to lead, we often look to those whose names emblazon book covers and fancy business cards. But what about the leader who claims more followers than any person in history? What made Jesus such a great leader? The answer has the power to transform us into people of influence and impact." James Merritt, "52 Weeks..."

* I added my own: 
In my opinion, we are either a leader, or a follower waiting to blossom.Some of us, just need more encouragement and perhaps training in how to lead.
There is no better Teacher, Helper or Exampleof a Leader than 
JESUS
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"6 Characteristic Traits of Jesus as a Leader"
"Ten Traits of Jesus as Transformational Leader"
"The Leadership Strategy of Jesus"
[Just a few links given above plus the video below but there are much more]
"A Leader Worth Following"You Tube video of the Church teaching the series of 52 Weeks with their Pastor Chip Bernhard
Truly, JESUS, is the Leader Worth Following!

NOVEMBER ... with JESUS (6) PRESENCE

(In case you've chosen to do this with me)

for
"30 Days with Jesus"
Experiencing His PresenceThroughout the Old and New Testament

by Lysa TerKeurst and Dr. Joel Muddamalle

WEEK 1 is PORTRAITS           Nov. 1-5    WEEK 2     PROPHECIES        Nov. 6-10    WEEK 3     PATTERNS             Nov. 11-15    WEEK 4     PROVISIONS         Nov. 16-20    WEEK 5     PROTECTIONS     Nov. 21-25    WEEK 6     PRESENCE           Nov. 26-30

During these 30 days "we'll look for and discover JESUS using 6 different lenses":
November 26 -30
we'll be looking through the lens of
PRESENSE

"We see God’s desire to be near His people since creation, and the ultimate invitation to be with Him is in Jesus."

I know I will enjoy being in His
PRESENCE

this final week of the 30 days!
Again I found key statements that connect with me, in just the intro to this(but I'm only sharing the following):

"... A significant takeaway from this whole study for us has been the reality that if we can SEE JESUS' PRESENCE in the Old Testament, beyond a PROPHECY of the Messiah's coming, then we can have deeper conviction He is present in our lives right now, too."["Because He always has been."](from previous paragraph)

OK, one more:

"JESUS is not merely patterned, pointed to, and promised in the Old Testament, He is present."

As indicated previous to that statement, 

"... the New Testament authors (explicitly show)  Jesus' Presence in the Old Testament" {and some examples given are in John 8:56-58; Hebrews 11:26; Jude 5; 1 Corinthians 10:4; John 12:40-41}

Days 26-30

11/26 "The Tabernacle and The Temple" (Exodus 25:1-9; Ephesians 2:19-22) John 1:14 11/27 "Jacob's Ladder" (Genesis 28:10-15; John 1:51) John 17:24 11/28 "Pillar of Fire and Cloud of Smoke" (Exodus 13; John 8:12-30) John 8:12 11/29 "Angel of the Lord" (Exodus 3:1-6; John 14:15-27) John 14:23 (NIV) 11/30 "The Incarnation" (Luke 2) Luke 2:10-11

PRAYER

"God, thank You that Your Word is so applicable. Lord, help us to remember the Truth we’ve discovered in Your Word together. We love You so much, God. We make a commitment today to start really paying attention and looking for Jesus in the unexpected places of our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."

I thank You Lord for Your Presence, Your Protection, Your Provision.
I'm so grateful for the Patterns, the Prophecies and the Portraits
provided in Your Word and through JESUS.
I give thanks for 
"30 Days with Jesus"
that
"We are held safe in  the embrace of a God who promises the comfort of
His PRESENCE
from the Garden to Glory."
And that
JESUS
is returning soon.
(Revelation 22:12-20)
For this,
believers can be
eternally
THANKFUL
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I hope all of you enjoyed a wonderful
THANKSGIVING
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🦃
I give thanks for you, too!
Thanking God
for some other important answers to prayer

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Looking forward to this last week of the 30 Days in
HIS PRESENCE