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
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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)

"IN THE MIDDLE of the MESS ...

"IN THE MIDDLE of the MESS ...

... STRENGTH FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL, BROKEN LIFE"
by
Sheila Walsh
{release date 11/7/17}

is not just Sheila Walsh's story

but it's ours!

Sheila concludes her book

with this truth:

"No matter your circumstances ... You have a story, and that story has its own peculiar mess. You can confess that story to Christ and let go. You can let Him start a work of healing, even now, right in the middle of your mess. ... Together, we find strength for this beautiful, broken life." ... "I believe one of the greatest miracles of all is ..." Sheila Walsh, "In the Middle..." {you'll have to read her book to find out}

... however, Sheila weaves her story unwaveringly once again  (for some of us who are familiar with Sheila, or to capsulize it for those new to her life story) with complete vulnerability  throughout each of the 12 chapters with added recent updates in her life as well, that has brought her through a deep journey of (with) 'brokenness' that we can relate to in our own lives and 'messes'. Sheila has a personal style of writing and speaking that gently and compassionately touches our soul with hers while teaching us spiritual (biblical) ways that we too can apply and use to equip ourselves to connect with God and overcome our own struggles in life better through confession, community to share with closely, Scripture meditation (contemplation) and daily connection with Jesus in honest prayer (communication with Our Father). 

Midway through her book "In the Middle of the Mess", I discovered her first session of the DVDs that accompany her Study guide and this book, so I just had to order the Study Guide also. Although each chapter in the book ends with "Reflection", the Study Guide does so much more, breaking down the 12 chapters into 6 sessions of Brokenness (that was most helpful to me and well worth getting, but this is not a review of the Study Guide). Yet for me, it's a total package! The videos are so well done! 

I couldn't agree more with so many points that Sheila brings forth, chapter after chapter becoming my new favorite, until I was stopped dead-on with the following truth I read right before the middle of this book ... and then every line kept pouring into my own brokenness with more and more freeing, healing truth and deliverance.

"So many coping mechanisms, avoidance techniques, and lies. They kept me blind to where Christ was in the middle of my mess ... But this is the beauty:sometimes even when we try to avoid the truth, God uses the smallest hands to invite us into the safety of deliverance."

There were moments of tears and moments of sheer delight as I continued reading through Sheila's words, Sheila's story and saw mine (though we hardly share the same past or story), each of us have gone through struggles that help us get the point being made, in such a relatable way. This is Sheila's gift to us. This is her lifeline to us (as Ann Voskamp wrote)! And it may be ours to someone else. 

This book is meant for everyone, not just those who have struggled with depression or deep hurts and messy lives ... it's meant for the weak and the strong to come alongside another human being waiting in the shadows, feeling isolated and alone, in need of a listening ear, a helping hand, an understanding, brave heart, willing to meet one another "in the middle" and find strength to overcome and go forward, changing lives for the better. Highly recommended read, church study, and for personal individual growth. I have much more to say but you'd be better off just getting a copy for yourself. Reading this book has given me a new found strength with God to deal with my brokenness and spiritual practices to put into use in my messes, and I know I will be rereading and turning back to this as a study again.

*{my actual book review is still coming}

I'm right in the Middle of the book - OK, just past that in

"Beautifully Broken"

which might be

the reason

for my

delay

but

my review 

is on its way

[After viewing Session One at Faith Gateway of the Study Guide for this book, I had to take a longer pause and view all 6 sessions available at Study Gateway because I couldn't wait. The DVDs that accompany this book and study are exceptional and so beautifully done! Sheila Walsh adds such compassion and understanding to her beautiful vulnerability of her own story used as a lifeline to help others facing overwhelming struggles with a new hope in allowing God into our dark places and hurts honestly.]

Book Description

"How do you turn your struggles into strengths?  Beloved Bible teacher Sheila Walsh teaches readers how the daily spiritual practices of confession, meditation on God’s Word, and prayer result in fresh freedom in Christ.  In her long-awaited new book, Sheila Walsh equips women with a practical method for connecting with God’s strength in the midst of struggle. From daily frustrations that can feel like overwhelming obstacles to hard challenges that turn into rock-bottom crises, women will find the means to equip themselves for standing strong with God. Using the spiritual applications of confession, prayer, and meditation on Scripture to form a daily connection to Jesus, women will learn how to experience new joy as a child of God who is fully known, fully loved, and fully accepted.  In the Middle of the Mess, Walsh reveals the hardened defenses that kept her from allowing God into her deepest hurts and shares how entering into a safe place with God and practicing this daily connection with Him have saved her from the devil’s prowling attacks. Though we will never be completely “fixed” on earth, we are continually held by Jesus, whatever our circumstances." Thomas Nelson

*Posting before release in case you want to
PRE-ORDER to receive bonus gifts {just click on link and pre-order at the top} * written on 11/6/17 prior to my review

Disclosure: I received this book free from Handlebar in return for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the  FTCommission’s  16 CFR, Part 255

MIRACLES in my MESS On Monday

{Just in case I do not finish reading to review by release date Tues., Nov. 7, 2017, I am sharing this so you don't miss out on Sheila Walsh's newest book}

"In the Middle of the Mess -

Strength for this Beautiful Broken Life"

a definite must read

especially for me

with a blog

named

"aMazing Grace - Mazes, Messes, Miracles"

FaithGateway

You can find out more over at Faith Gateway for a sample of this Study of Sheila's book also You Version reading plan and of course Sheila Walsh's website
I just happen to be blessed to receive  weekly devotional emails from Sheila Walsh
here's a personal note from her and this book
Sheila also appeared on Life Today for Wednesdays in the Word since Oct. 4th Part 1  Part 2  Part 3 Part 4 also one on  "Facing Depression"

Clearly, I am a bit biased and have found Sheila Walsh to be one of my favorite authors because I relate so much to her experience (not the same details) but close enough for the same "miracles in my mess" {which is probably why these words are part of this blog since its inception and before Sheila put her story together with this title - "In the Middle of the Mess"} and we all have Messes that God uses perhaps with Miracles that become our MESSAGE too! 

In this month of ThanksGiving, let's reflect on and with gratitude of how God turns our Messes into Messages to encourage and bring life changes in others, as Sheila Walsh speaks from her heart and life experience to help us find peace and strength in God, as we too struggle with hardships (or messes) throughout our lives, but we can encounter God by being authentic {like one of the other books I reviewed not too long ago: "No More Faking Fine" by Esther Fleece} letting us know God wants us to be real! ... with our brokenness, with life, with emotions.

I love the Group Discussions (which must be part of the study guide, because each chapter in the book ends with "reflections") that Faith Gateway shares after Session One video from Study Gateway on their site that I linked above, but have chosen this one for here: 

"Sheila noted the six sessions of this study. Which of the following holds the most promise for you? Which one makes you feel anxious the first time you read it? Brokenness is the beginning… the truth of our situation, as bleak as that truth may be, can set us free. Brokenness is hard… even on the darkest night, we never walk the path of grief alone. Brokenness is loud… even in our noisy world, we can learn to live in the stillness and quietness of God’s presence. Brokenness is to be shared . . . there is strength to be found in confessing our sins to one another. Brokenness is the path to healing . . . when we fix our eyes on God, we live a life of thanksgiving. Brokenness is temporary . . . what you are facing right now will pass."

"Brokenness is the path to HEALING!"
{fits both questions as the answer for me}
2017 God gave me HEALING as my One Word
although I am not completely healed I have seen "brokenness" as I've seen in years before so that I believe it will lead to my HEALING and hopefully HEALING for others

I don't think it's fair for me to review this until I complete reading the full book ... although my impression being half-way through the book, is as always ... a book meant for me (and you) to find "strength for this beautiful, broken life" and there is no one better qualified with compassion and experience than Sheila Walsh to lead us to God as our Source. My stumbling block in finishing this is so much of this is needed by me, applies to me, which causes me to go back and reread to be sure I got it and didn't miss it, but after seeing the Session One video, I am sure that Sheila Walsh has another best seller to add to her successes. Looks like I'll need to add the study guide, the saving grace is I cannot post my review at Amazon, etc. until the book is released. So my review is forthcoming and will be in time. Not only is this the "Bible Study of the Week" with Faith Gateway, but it is my Bible Study of 2017 and the competition has been really strong; lots of favorites this year aimed to help me heal and grow.

THANKS GIVING THANKS CHALLENGE 2017 VERSES

2017 is closing quickly on us as we are already into the 5th day of November!

and

as is tradition usually

in blog land

(probably Facebook now)

I join in a

GRATITUDE CHALLENGE

I found a new one

this year from a blogger

(that I think does it on FB too)

with verses reflecting on how 

the daily verse helps us remain faithful

so I'm joining in late with her

30 Days of Thanksgiving

especially because Mrs. C 

(the blog author of Food, Faith, Fatigue)

A Lifestyle Blog on Beating Burnout

appealed to me when she began

with

...Philippians 4:4-7...

{which is also one of the books I am studying with YouVersion and LGG}
for  DAY 1

" 4 Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One!  5 Let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near. 6 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell Him every detail of your life,  7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. " The Passion Translation (TPT)

In previous years, I have shared scriptures as well 

but let's look at these afresh and give our gratitude to God

Day 2 Colossians 3:16-17
Day 3 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Day 4 Psalm 100:3-4
Day 5 Psalm 118:28-29
"...I will bring You praise. For You are the God of my life and I lift You high,  exalting You to the highest place.
So let’s keep on giving our thanks to God, for He is so good!
His constant, tender love lasts forever!"
{as soon as I published this blog post challenge, I noticed the above blogger was no longer continuing to post daily so I am posting enough Thanksgiving Verses to keep us going with being THANKFUL and GIVING THANKS}

1 Chronicles 16:8

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

1 Chronicles 16:34

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

1 Chronicles 16:35

Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.

Psalm 7:17

I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

Psalm 9:1

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 26:6-7

I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O LORD, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds.

Psalm 50:23

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”

Psalm 69:30

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 95:2

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Psalm 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Psalm 107:22

And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

Psalm 116:17

I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

Psalm 147:7

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!

Isaiah 12:1

You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.

Jeremiah 30:19

Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.

Jeremiah 33:11

Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’

Daniel 2:23

To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

Amos 4:5

Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim freewill offerings, publish them; for so you love to do, O people of Israel!” declares the Lord GOD.

Jonah 2:9

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!”

1 Corinthians 1:4

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

2 Corinthians 4:15

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 9:11

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Ephesians 5:4

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Philippians 4:6

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Colossians 2:7

rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

1 Timothy 4:4

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

Revelation 11:17

We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.

Revelation 7:12

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

*****

Psalm 103:2-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 136:1-3

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

James 1:16-18

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

{I will try to just keep adding on this page the verses but you can always just follow the link to Mrs. C's blog or FB, where she makes beautiful images with the verses and her own added special insights on her posts. I have not decided if I will write as she does yet, although that is the purpose of applying the verses and giving thanks to God every day, not just on Thanksgiving Day.} 
Thank you Mrs. C for your Thanksgiving Challenge for 2017! you were off to a good start and intention, I pray you are able to continue soon.

"... Your life might be hard right now. Things might not be going to plan. But you can still give thanks.  “Our lives don’t have to be perfect for us to be grateful. (That won’t happen this side of eternity.) The truth is gratitude is a choice; a choice that honors God, transforms our countenance, and brings us into His presence.” ... Julie Gillies Crosswalk.com writer Julie K. Gillies prays:  “Lord, I want to cultivate a grateful heart. Please help me, Lord, and open my eyes so that I can see all that I have to be thankful for. Enable me to recognize Your hand of blessing in my day to day life. Help me to express gratitude to You daily, for that is Your will (Ephesians 5:19-20).  “God help me to do all things without complaining (Philippians 2:14), so that I don’t grieve Your Holy Spirit. By Your power I desire to be thankful in all circumstances, for this is Your will for those of us who belong to Christ Jesus    (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  “Lord help me to devote myself to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart (Colossians 4:2). May my heart overflow with gratitude to You, God, for You are good. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.”

Other resource links:  A Thanksgiving Prayer and Prayers of Gratitude by Cindi McMenamin
Julie Gillies more resources available through Julie "Hot Mess to Blessed" {which will also go with what I'm sharing Mon.too} Crosswalk and iBelieve Daily Prayer
I thank God for YOU!