JESUS - God WITH Us

Each close of the year, I try to summarize the One Word that I focused on and in 2023 that

 JESUS

 I spent "52 Weeks With Jesus" in this book

by James Merritt

sharing as much as I could here

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.

In John 1:1-2 (NIV above), Word is the title of the Lord Jesus.
Jesus embodied the total message of God to man.
With this and all that I read, I just don't think I can possibly summarize JESUS.
"The One and Only"
Through spending "52 Weeks With Jesus" I was able to focus on different aspects of who
JESUS 
is
and so that is what I've shared here all year but
not only is "there nobody like Jesus" 
there is also no way to summarize
JESUS
To experience a year focused on
JESUS
is like James Merritt wrote & as the subtitle indicates that you'll
"Fall in Love with the One Who Changed Everything"
as your passion for Jesus will grow & your love will increase
as you draw closer to Jesus, your eyes will be opened to 
"new facets of His wonder, His beauty, His majesty"
One minute with Jesus turns into one year 
that most certainly can & will
transform your life!
IF you let Him
IN
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Experiencing JESUS day after day, walking with Him, talking with Him, listening to Him,
reading about Him, brings the Word alive for you - in you, and hopefully through you to others.
I began this journey
WITH JESUS
the Transformer with this:

"Birthdays are not unusual - unless the baby happens to be God. We begin our journey with Jesus at a logical place: His lineage and birth. More than a sweet, syrupy Christmas story, Christ's beginning reveals why He should be important to us and why we are important to Him."~James Merritt

and then

I encountered Him in 7 more sections, totaling 8
WITH JESUS
as
the Answer, the Miracle Worker, the Storyteller, 
the Teacher, the Helper, the Leader
and ended up
WITH JESUS
the Overcomer
and I found that He is All this and so much more!

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"Experiencing God's Presence"
WITH JESUS


This year, an author that I have many books & ebooks of left this earth for her heavenly home.

The focus of all her books is JESUS! I am sure that many of you know her and her books,

even some of you (also well-known) criticized her books, calling them 'blasphemous', 'troubling', and 'built on falsehood'. I don't happen to agree with the criticism or controversy that she was claiming her beautifully written books as the Word, Jesus' speaking to her or us (even though her books are written in the voice of Jesus, as if He is speaking to us, but often she gives Scripture references). So in my opinion, she is restating the Scripture as if Jesus is saying it to us and to our situation. What I do know is that for her & for readers that liked her style and gift of writing & taking God's Word & personalizing the message, we were drawn closer to Jesus. I thought that we were suppose to encourage one another. Anyways, with the passing of Sarah Young, at 77, in August of 2023, I decided to look through her many devotional books starting with "Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence" (which started the criticism; but all her books are her personal reflections of her own daily quiet time, Bible readings, praying and writing in her journals - isn't that what we're encouraged to do?).

My very favorite is "Jesus Listens"; however, there are also "Jesus Always" (a close second);

"Jesus Today"; "Dear Jesus"; "Jesus Lives" and variations of these for kids, special occasions and themes. In each one, I notice one word: JESUS! Not that I knew that Sarah Young would be leaving for her earthly home this year, when I chose the one word: JESUS as my focus but clearly Jesus was calling her home & I pray her departure was as peaceful as she certainly wrote much about Jesus and enjoying "peace in His Presence". 

I am thankful for her many books, contrary to what others warn against, I find that she inspired me to draw closer and listen to what Jesus is saying when I read His Word. I never confused the two: Sarah's reflections; with JESUS, as the Word, in God's Word, our Living Word. 

I also appreciate the Discussion Guides made available on the Jesus Calling website. Perhaps if we LISTEN to JESUS' CALLING us, we wouldn't have so much time to be negative in our world and we would be living JESUS in our daily interactions with one another, especially in the body of Christ. All I know for sure is that JESUS is the same, yesterday, today and forever, so we'd better continue to look to JESUS and keep our eyes on Him! 

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2023 

WITH JESUS

is/was

just the beginning

I look forward to a lifetime

and an eternity

WITH

JESUS

"Your Word, Lord, is Eternal!"

Psalm 119:89

"Jesus is the Word because He was the means through which the Father brought all physical reality into existence and because He is the One Who represents the Father's invisible nature and character to that creation. Just as your spoken word is the physical manifestation of your thoughts and personality, Jesus is the "Word" of the invisible God to His creation."

JESUS
a perfect revelation of the
Father
"The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us"John 1:14

JESUS CHRIST
God WITH us

[Immanuel or Emmanuel]

Dear Immanuel, 

Thank You for being with us in every moment of our lives. Thank You that we never have to be alone because You, God love us so much that You are here with us always. May each moment of our day be filled with that life-strengthening truth. We love You, Lord. As we close our journeys for 2023 and head into 2024, we ask that You be with us, Immanuel & lead us.

In Your name, I pray, Amen
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"JESUS WITH US...
...LIVE LIKE JESUS, LOVE LIKE JESUS"
I thought that I was finished with tying all of my year (2023) together "With Jesus" and lo & behold, I found out that it's just a new beginning & this journey continues with a better foundation & a fresh spark of JESUS with me, in a closer relationship that keeps growing & getting better. I realized that James Merritt was right about "falling in love" ... all over again & it was then, in October, that I discovered another 4 book series from JourneyWise through a sample plan at You Version, which is the first of the four (yet to be published in 2024):

1. Jesus With Us: Meeting Him Where He Began
2. Jesus Among Us: Walking with Him in His Ministry and Miracles
3. Jesus Through Us: Following His Example in Love and Service
4. Jesus in Us: Living Wholeheartedly the Life He Intends

so I could be continuing with these, but for now, I've decided just to list them & the words in bold & all in capitals of this section - sums up what "falling in love" again with Jesus means that we desire & commit our lives once more to follow in His foot steps to live & love like Jesus (our goal & our purpose & our calling in life) so that JESUS is WITH us; AMONG us; THROUGH us (by following His example in love & service); and JESUS IN US! [not a lesson in prepositions, it's a lesson in the Way - the Truth and the Life, allowing JESUS to live through us, we become the extended hands of Jesus to others & we flow overflowingly in His aMazing Grace, with love & service like Him. True vessels, true followers. 

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*You may not see the connection through this post as a summary of my One Word: JESUSbut it is for me - a thread runs through all of this post in my head, although I am not implying any connection between the authors: James Merritt and Sarah Young; JourneyWise. That connection is only for me because each author spoke volumes to me about JESUS in my life.
Only God can sum up JESUS! But the most important part is that God is With Us & He sent JESUS, the Word to us, to reveal & teach us how to LIVE and BE more like JESUS, reflect His Love to All!
Let's do better in 2024!
No big reveal of a new One Word yet for 2024
but as usual I will start the year 
in
PRAYER
as
JESUS
CALMs my HEART
in
HIS PRESENCE
💓

CELEBRATING JESUS ...

2023 was not the easiest yearbut because I chose to spend itWithJESUSHe brought me through it because

"JESUS (is) THE REALEST RELATIONSHIP YOU'LL EVER HAVE"YV PLAN
so spending "52 Weeks With Jesus" kept me focusedon our relationship intentionallyreminding me that

... "Although some people have experienced challenging relationships that changed their lives, accepting the invitation to be in relationship with Jesus Christ, The King of Kings is the realest relationship anyone will ever be in."Dr. Kennetra A. Bryant, day 1 of "JESUS, the Realest ..."

"THE LIFE of JESUS"7 day reading planor *10 part series at YV & Jesus.net
You Tube
*linked to Part 1 reading plan onlywith a video available atYou Tube
The Book of John (playlist of all)is a good place to startfor the Life of Jesus
WHYam I sharing all this?
because the BEST GIFT for any time
CHRISTmas or any day/night
is the Gift of
JESUS
YES, the REALEST RELATIONSHIP
(not a religion or even a church)
It's a relationship, which means coming to know JESUS,
believe in Him as the Son of God, Son of Man
and admit that you need to be saved by
accepting JESUS today
as the
WAY
the TRUTH & the LIFE
learn to talk with Him daily & develop your relationship
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I AM

"CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS WITH JESUS"
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Truth be told or perhaps you already know
I have been "celebrating" all of 2023
With
JESUS
❤️
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Given to you as a GIFT
a Present of His PRESENCE
always with you
JESUS
is 
EVERYTHING
and the only way to the God, the Father 
[not to be separated from God is Heaven]
to be separated forever is Hell
You may feel or think that Heaven and Hell is right here
(and in a way, it can be, but there's more beyond this life & its hardships)
it's an eternity - an eternal life
with God & your loved ones
who believed in
JESUS
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In this year of 2023
I fell in love with JESUS all over again because
He is the One who changed Everything!
I spent a year long journey experiencing
JESUS
anew
as
JESUS, my TransformerJESUS, the AnswerJESUS, the Miracle WorkerJESUS, the StorytellerJESUS, my TeacherJESUS, my HelperJESUS, my LeaderJESUS, the Overcomer
and so much more
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JESUS
is my
EVERYTHING
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and HE can be yours!
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HE offers you a free GIFT - the GIFT of Salvation
please open today

"A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great." NIV

THE GREATEST GIFT
JESUS
THE GREATEST GIVER
JESUS
YOU ARE WELCOME INTO THE PRESENCEof theGREATJESUS
today, yesterday & forever
He is the same & He's inviting you
He's been waiting just for you
to choose, to decide
to open
His Present, His Gift
and each day of your life from this day forward
you can unwrap more & more with
your new Friend & Savior
JESUS
All you need to do to start is say so (it's called a prayer, a way to speak to Him)

"God our Father, I believe that out of Your infinite love You have created me. In a thousand ways I have shunned Your love. I repent of each and every one of my sins. Please forgive me. Thank You for sending Your Son to die for me, to save me from eternal death. I choose this day to enter into (renew my) covenant with You and to place Jesus at the center of my heart. I surrender to Him as Lord over my whole life. I ask You now to flood my soul with the gift of the Holy Spirit so that my life may be transformed. Give me the grace and courage to live as a disciple in Your Church for the rest of my days. In Jesus name I pray Amen." — St. Paul Street Evangelization "

[I wanted a prayer without a lot of "church sounding" words (they just complicate a simple act of accepting God's free gift)- it's too hard to find, but I tried to choose one without the word 'sin' because 'sin' means wrongs that you admit you have done (against God & others), then you repent (which means changing your way & trying not to repeat) but all God wants to hear is that you know you need Him (Jesus) who died so that you could live free & for eternity. Admit (or Accept), Believe, Confess Jesus as Lord & Savior over your life, to love & live as He teaches in the New Testament of the Bible. (God's Word)]
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THE BEST GIFT
for me
in
2023
is
JESUS
{for me or for you}
He always has been for me, through His aMazing Grace, but this year the 
BEST GIFT of CHRISTMAS
would be if YOU & Yours would all receive 
JESUS & HIS GIFT of SALVATION

 MERRY CHRISTMAS
~ Peggy

JESUS, the OVERCOMER #52

{Instead of allowing this to publish on Christmas Eve, I moved it back one day.}

This blog post features

Jesus,

the Overcomer

 for December

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Section 8 is Jesus, the Overcomer(weeks 49-52)

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

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SCRIPTURE READINGS 
for 

WEEK 52

52. Matthew 27:57-28:10; John 11:1-44; Ecclesiastes 8:8; Psalm 89:46-48; Revelation 20:4-6

These are the subtitles/segments of #52 

52. Dead Man Walking: "Hope for the Hopeless"; "The Secret to Security"; "We Must Expect the Fact of Death"; "We Will Experience the Force of Death"; "We Can Escape the Fear of Death"

Expect
Experience
Escape
Death & Live
With
JESUS
...because of Jesus' death
We Live
this is our Hope


PRAYERS:

52. Lord, I thank You that in Your dying and rising, You have become hope for the hopeless. I praise You for being - for me & for the world - the Resurrection and the Life!

This isn't really the best
CHRISTmas
message

or
maybe it is
if you believe
tell others what Jesus has done in your life!
That's the reason for this season
Jesus was born, lived, died & was buried
and then
He was raised from the dead
as those in
Christ
will
be

JESUS
the Overcomer
[Interview with James Merritt]
"52 Weeks with Jesus"

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a more current series (May 2023) with James MerrittTouching Lives
"This is Your Captain Speaking"(series on the 7 Letters found in the book of Revelation)
Sardis: The Walking Dead
{this was the reason I chose to list this & then the series}

"The church at Sardis was not a weak church that needed restoration. It was not a sick church that need rejuvenation. It was a dead church that needed resurrection. It was in a sense the church of the walking dead. I can tell you as a pastor my greatest fear is both pastoring a dead church and being a dead Christian. I want all of us today to perform our own self-examination and let’s see what steps we must take first of all to determine just how alive our Christian faith is and what we must do to be resurrected. Death may be fatal, but it is never final if we turn back to Jesus. As we examine ourselves, notice the fourfold prescription Jesus gives to get a church (or your faith) off the machine and alive again."

But because I am always interesting in series on these letters to the Churches, I've listed them all:
[not in order]
Smyrna: Grace Under Pressure
Laodicea: Spiritually Bankrupt
Ephesus: You've Lost that Loving Feeling
Thyatira: Failing the Tolerance Test
Pergamum: Dealing with the Devil
Philadelphia: Forever Faithful<>[Full Playlist of them all]for this Sermon Guide

Another interesting one this past year:
"From Here to Eternity" 6 videosdeal with death as this lastWeek 52seems to do
"All Things New"

Current series: "Unsung Heroes"
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This certainly is enough to keep us busy into the New Year of 2024,
yet I hope to still post a couple more posts as summary to
2023
WITH JESUS

JESUS, the OVERCOMER #51

This blog post features

Jesus,

the Overcomer

 for December

<><><>

Section 8 is Jesus, the Overcomer(weeks 49-52)

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

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SCRIPTURE READINGS
 for 

WEEK 51

51. Matthew 27:32-54; Genesis 3:14-15; Romans 3:21-26; Luke 24:13-27; John 20:1-10

These are the subtitles/segments of each devotional in Chapters 49-52 (listed after the title of that devotional)

51.The Warrior Rises: "Waiting for the Bruiser"; "An Unexpected Hero"; "Jesus Sacrificed His Life for Me"; "Jesus Substituted His Death for Me"; "Jesus Satisfied God's Justice for Me"

JESUS
Sacrificed
Substituted
&
Satisfied
All for Me&You
PRAYERS:

51. "God, thank You for sending the Warrior who dies and rises to free the ones You love {that love You} from the grip of sin and death."

"A Promise to Those Who are Overcoming"
by Rick Renner
[a portion below]

"...Today I want us to look at what it means to “overcome.” The word “overcometh” comes from the Greek word nikao. It refers to a victor, a champion, or one who possesses some type of superiority, and it can be translated to conquer, to defeat, to master, to overcome, to overwhelm, to surpass, or to be victorious. This word was often used in Greek literature to portray athletes who had mastered their sport and ultimately reigned supreme as champions in the games. It could also describe a military victory of one foe against the other. The word nikao denotes a complete victory over the opposition that Christians were facing on all fronts. By using this word, Jesus was calling upon those early believers to rise up like a mighty spiritual army to defeat the enemies that threatened them on every side."... Rick Renner

So 
Warriors, Rise Up
now is the time
that God is calling us 
to be in tune with Him
to know our Father's Heart & Will
to rise up above the enemy

"The Eternal is a warrior; the Eternal is His name." Exodus 15:3 (The Voice)

to Rise up, we must Rest in Him

W.A.R.R.I.O.R – (acronym) Wear Armor of God, Resist the devil, be Righteous, and In all Occasions pray and Read the Word of God.~from a WordPress "Jesus is the Answer" site

We, too, are Overcomers in Christ Jesus!(1 John 5:4-5; Romans 8:37; John 16:33)
Hebrews 12 Endurance
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Next week's post & the last one from
"52 Weeks With Jesus"
will post a day ahead on Dec. 23rd
rather than on
CHRISTmas Eve or CHRISTmas Day

JESUS, the OVERCOMER #50

This blog post features

Jesus,

the Overcomer

 for December

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Section 8 is Jesus, the Overcomer(weeks 49-52)

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

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SCRIPTURE READINGS for WEEK 50

50. Matthew 27:11-26; Hebrews 10:1-10; Galatians 3:10-14; 1 John 4:7-12; Titus 3:3-7

These are the subtitles/segments of each devotional in Chapters 49-52 (listed after the title of that devotional)

50. His Grace, My Place: "A Compelling Question"; "But Why?"; "Jesus Sacrificed His Life for Me"; "Jesus Substituted His Death for Me"; "Jesus Satisfied God's Justice for Me"

PRAYER:

50."Lord, make me a vessel of Your mercy, justice & grace by inviting others to meet You at the Cross."

Yes, there's so much to be shared about 
HIS GRACE ...
that's why Max Lucado writes so much about it
and
this blog's
aMazing Grace
that wonderful Christian hymnby John Newton(who was changed by God & fought to abolish slaveryrather than be a slave owner. He realized his 'wretchedness'.The saving Grace of Jesus Christ.)
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We cannot thank God enough for
His aMazing Grace
that we need now more than ever
along with mercy & justice
as the prayer says
Lord JESUS
make us
vessels
of
Your
Mercy, Justice
&
GRACE
in this country
as a witness to the world
let the freedom of democracy reign
JESUS
OVERCOME
&
COME ONCE AGAIN
TO SAVE US
🙏

JESUS, the OVERCOMER #49

This blog post features

Jesus,

the Overcomer

 for December

<><><>

Section 8 is Jesus, the Overcomer(weeks 49-52)

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      (Dec. 17 post) 52. Dead Man Walking

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SCRIPTURE READINGS for the Weeks of Chapters 49-52:

49. Matthew 27:1-10, 27-31; Isaiah 53:1-6; Psalm 22; Romans 5:6-11; 1 Peter 3:13-18 50. Matthew 27:11-26; Hebrews 10:1-10; Galatians 3:10-14; 1 John 4:7-12; Titus 3:3-7 51. Matthew 27:32-54; Genesis 3:14-15; Romans 3:21-26; Luke 24:13-27; John 20:1-10 52.

These are the subtitles/segments of each devotional in Chapters 49-52 (listed after the title of that devotional)

49.The Passion of the Christ—the Rest of the Story: "Cause for Passion"; "Who Was the Christ?"; "How Did He Die?"; "Why Did He Die?"; "What Am I to Do?"

50. His Grace, My Place: "A Compelling Question"; "But Why?"; "Jesus Sacrificed His Life for Me"; "Jesus Substituted His Death for Me"; "Jesus Satisfied God's Justice for Me"

51. The Warrior Rises:  "Waiting for the Bruiser"; "An Unexpected Hero"; "Jesus Sacrificed His Life for Me"; "Jesus Substituted His Death for Me"; "Jesus Satisfied God's Justice for Me"

52. Dead Man Walking:  " "

PRAYERS:

49. "Lord, pierce my heart with the reality of the suffering that pierced Your body. And teach me how to live faithfully in response to Your aMazing Love." 50."Lord, make me a vessel of Your mercy, justice & grace by inviting others to meet You at the Cross." 51. "God, thank You for sending the Warrior who dies and rises to free the ones You love {that love You} from the grip of sin and death."  52.

In order to prepare our hearts for Jesus, during Advent 2023
for this upcoming 
CHRISTmas
we must come
to know
JESUS
in all His many facets
from His earthly birth to His heavenly reign
and one day (soon, I hope)
His Glorious Return.
Spend more time 
WITH JESUS
putting
CHRIST
back into your
CHRISTmas
Celebrations
HE is the GREATEST GIFT!
HIS PRESENCE is our best present!
Open your heart and mind to
JESUS
ask Him(if you haven't)
to be Your personal Lord & Savior
and if you might have forgotten spending time with Him,
you can start again (and again and again)
until you receive Him fully.
Start this Advent 
to "fall in love" with
the One Who Changed Everything
just BELIEVE, RECEIVE and ADMIT your need for
JESUS
because Eternal Life, knowing the Father God, only comes through
knowing His Son, Jesus
then allow His Holy Spirit to fill you
(over and over)
as you, too, become an
OVERCOMER
through Jesus
and the power of the
HOLY SPIRIT
in you
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ADVENT
starts today
December 3rd
I've found quite a few good choices of Reading Plans 
with bible.com
You Version
and
FaithGateway
starts 
"Waiting Here for You"
by Louie Giglio
December 4 
{there's a 7 day plan at YouVersion of this}

I have even started on December 1st, 2 plans and one ebook
* "Preparing Room..."
(which is ... an Advent Journey through "It's a Wonderful Life" - linked to a Spotify Playlist)
by Rebecca Johnston Horvath
{I may have to skip Louie Giglio's, and even one of the others}
John 14:2-3
1 Peter 1:13 (NASB1995)
🎄

* I recommended this Advent ebook in 2022 too when I purchased it!There are so many available now books, ebooks and reading plans.