A Christian lesson found in film ~ Its a Wonderful Life by Frank Capra.

 

In the 1946 movie, George's wife, Mary Bailey, especially excels at the grace business. When George comes home from work on Christmas Eve, yells at his wife and kids, insults Zuzu's teacher over the phone, and trashes the living room, Mary has every right to be furious. Instead, she forgives George, tells the children to pray for daddy, and then goes around town asking people for help in replacing that $8,000 that absent minded Uncle Billy misplaced at the bank.

 

You see, grace, is the foundation of the Christian faith. Jesus' granting us grace by forgiving our sins flies in the face of virtually every other religion, which operate on a you-get-what-you-deserve basis. But Jesus says, in essence, you don't get what you deserve. You get what you don't deserve.” The surest aspect of being a Christian is the willingness to offer grace, the willingness to accept grace, and the willingness to live by grace. 

 

That's what makes Bedford Falls such a great place to live. Let's live there!

 

 

*And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace ~ Romans 11:6.

What is Advent and What it Means...

For many Christians unfamiliar with the liturgical year, there may be some confusion surrounding the meaning of the Advent season. Some people may know that the Advent season focuses on expectation and think that it serves as an anticipation of Christ’s birth in the season leading up to Christmas. This is part of the story, but there’s more to Advent.

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. Scholars believe that during the 4^th and 5^th centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1), his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist (John 1:29), and his first miracle at Cana (John 2:1). During this season of preparation, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration; originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas.

By the 6^th century, however, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ. But the “coming” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming in the clouds as the judge of the world. It was not until the Middle Ages that the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas.

What is most important is that Advent symbolizes the present situation of the church in these “last days” (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2), as God’s people wait for the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom. The church is in a similar situation to Israel at the end of the Old Testament: in exile, waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the coming of the Messiah. Israel looked back to God’s past gracious actions on their behalf in leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus, and on this basis, they called for God once again to act for them. 

In the same way, the church, during Advent, looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people. In this light, the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” perfectly represents the church’s cry during the Advent season:

While Israel would have sung the song in expectation of Christ’s first coming, the church now sings the song in commemoration of that first coming and in expectation of the second coming in the future.

To balance the two elements of remembrance and anticipation, the first two Sundays in Advent (through December 16^th) look forward to Christ’s second coming, and the last two Sundays (December 17^th – 24^th) look backward to remember Christ’s first coming. Over the course of the four weeks, Scripture readings move from passages about Christ’s return in judgment to Old Testament passages about the expectation of the coming Messiah to New Testament passages about the announcements of Christ’s arrival by John the Baptist and the Angels.

While it is difficult to keep in mind in the midst of holiday celebrations, shopping, lights and decorations, and joyful carols, Advent is intended to be a season of fasting, much like Lent, and there are a variety of ways that this time of mourning works itself out in the season. Reflection on the violence and evil in the world causes us to cry out to God to make things right—to put death’s dark shadows to flight. Our exile in the present makes us look forward to our future Exodus. And our own sinfulness and need for grace lead us to pray for the Holy Spirit to renew his work in conforming us into the image of Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*ONLINE SOURCE ~  https://www.christianity.com/christian-life/christmas/what-is-advent.html

The Hope of Eternal Life ~ 1 Peter 1:3-21...

 

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

So be truly glad.b There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

 

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.

They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

Give thanks always.... On Him we have set our hope!

Our Christian Living is to pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not extinguish the Spirit.…1 Thessalonians 5:17-19.

Ephesians 5:20

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ...

 

Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

Colossians 3:17

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

Romans 7:25

Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Philippians 4:12-13

I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.... Indeed!

 

1 Corinthians 15:57
so... thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

2 Corinthians 1:10

For...He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us!

 

Forget Not all His Benefits ~ For those Who Fear Him...

Psalm 103 ~ Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

 

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

 

The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul

 

Living in the Kingdom of Heaven...

Job 28:13 ~ No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living." The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” ~ Matthew 13:44. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.…Matthew 13:45.

Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish ~ Matthew 13:47.

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son” ~ Matthew 22:2.

Yes, the Good News is His Kingdom Come and we can enter even now… and rest in His Peace… Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7:50. Her faith, our faith in Christ and His Kingdom saves us…go in peace.

But such a message as we read in 1 COR 1:18  is foolishness…
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”.

Remember folks that eternal life with Christ is going to be wonderful… its not of this world and so the pain, tears, disease and suffering of man by man’s hand is gone. There will be no more suffering in joyful hope either because we will be with Him where we belong. Eternally in His Kingdom!

How can we live there now? Good question… we can by having declared Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and receive the Holy Spirit. We are refreshed in Him by reading His Word and knowing the truth… which is the Word which was at the beginning was with God and is God. Living in the Kingdom of Heaven is resting in that truth...entering into His peace!

God designed it that way from the beginning. “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.” It was all done and now it was time to enjoy it. This is what he gave us and wants to give us still.

The Sabbath was made for the creation as much as it was for the Creator. The Sabbath rest is for the people of God. For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience ~ Hebrews 4:11.

Seven times Jesus rested in the bible. What is God's rest?  The rest God is talking about is not rest from your daily work or physically exhausted when you have worked hard. It is that profound peace that God gives to those who love and obey Him regardless of circumstances.

God is our everything, He holds all things together Colossians 1:17. In Him we live, move and have our being Acts 17:28.

There is nothing for us to do or change… So, Let us rest in Him…”Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes” ~ Psalm 37:7. Be still, and know that I am God… Psalm 46:10.

Yes, wait patiently for Him and His direction; wait quietly. We are to live like Christ. He rested in the Father, He spent the majority of His time in His Rest which is The Kingdom of God…

Jesus entered into this fallen world not because he wanted to check it out. It was out of God the Father's love that He sent His Son ~ John 3:16; and it was necessary and throughout Jesus's Ministry He demonstrated this. 

Not everyone He walked by or saw was amazed or healed. Jesus entered in when the Holy Spirit (the Father) moved Him to do so. This is to be our earthly behavior … 

During His Ministry, the only time when someone entered the heavenly ‘space’, the place of His Rest, is when the woman with the issue of blood reached out and touched Him. Jesus was not looking but felt this 'entering into His Rest' of her own accord and the woman was healed because she believed and entered into His Rest. 

Having the knowledge of the truth, we already live in the Kingdom though yet in this world; and in this way, when moved by the Holy Spirit, we are able to not only live in His Rest but at the same time are called to enter into the world in order to do the works that Jesus did and even greater!

You may yet be wondering how do we live then from day to day given our suffering, which is our turning from the sin of this world, and our suffering in the hope of His return? 

Yes, we live in the Kingdom though we are yet in this world… "in the world but not of it" ~ John 17:14-16. We do what we must to live a quiet life and to live it abundantly by clothing ourselves, providing shelter and feeding ourselves and our family as well as the body of Christ. We go about the day like most do and yet at the same time, in a moment, we may be called to enter in and do the works of Jesus and even greater! It may be only to help one or many but one to God is as important as many. 

This is how we live a quiet life… 1 Thessalonians 4:11 ~ "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you. Go to your pray closet to pray.

When the Lord calls you, you will know what to do because you have been ambitious in leading a quiet life; and thus, can hear His voice and realize the calling of the Holy Spirit which enables you to do the works of the Lord and even greater!

So, whatever the outcome in the world… make it your business only when you are called to … until then, live quiet, live life abundantly in His Kingdom. Let your life be salt and light to those perishing in the dark. 

Reading from Hebrews 10 ~ The Perfect Sacrifice of Christ… Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful ~ Hebrews 10:20-23. And, may the peace of the Lord be upon you! Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16.

Rest in His Peace; because, God is in control!

God is in control because in Him we live... move and have our being ~ Acts 17:28. This means that whatever happens we trust that he is Sovereign and absolutely knows what is going on. God is good all the time and all the time God is good. 

We can never be wise in our own eyes. It does not mean we lie down in regards to our position to the enemy but we give to God what we can't do for He is the greater power and this is His position...over and above all. If we fail to acknowledge His position, we lack faith in His Sovereign position.

Only a Sovereign God can be absolutely good. In Him, we live, move and have our being...Acts 17:28

In Him, all things were created and all things hold together... Colossians 1:16-17

If He knew you before you were born, he knows you now and knows eternally...so no bad thing has ever really happened or will. Even those things we think are bad like death. But we know He sent His Son and in Him we live...we live while others perish who reject that absolute truth. 

 

When it comes to the Lord, the one who inhabits eternity and who sees the end from the beginning (see Isaiah 57:15 and 46:10), He is always an infinite set of moves ahead. That should give us comfort and faith in the midst of the current crisis. (Make no mistake about it. No matter what side you’re on, we’re in the midst of a national crisis.)

 

Be of great joy says the Lord for I have overcome the world...That was John 16:33. We don't wage war as the world does...we are prayer warriors and we stand firm in the face of evil...when most would run in fear. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. Romans 5:3

Promised Rest for God’s People ~ Hebrews 4:1-14...

God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said,

“In my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.” But in the other passage God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.”

So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:

“Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.”

Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come.So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. 

Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.

Jesus Christ Is God’s Son ~ Hebrews 1 NLT

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.  

The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. 

This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.

The Son Is Greater Than the Angels

For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus: “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.” God also said, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.” And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him.”

Regarding the angels, he says, “He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire.” But to the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.

You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.” He also says to the Son,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands. They will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing.

But you are always the same; you will live forever.” And God never said to any of the angels,“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

 

What makes you righteous in the eyes of God? Faith in Jesus Christ...

Faith was the righteousness approved to Abraham. He believed, he trusted and he obeyed God’s command… the one true God, the unseen God, the eternal and everlasting God the Creator of all things seen and unseen who sent His Son (who was in the beginning, was with God and is God) to redeem us from the law of sin and death.

Abraham was rewarded for obeying God’s command just as we will be… how? We will be rewarded for our faith in the Lamb who was presented for us as a living sacrifice. Whenever we come to God in prayer and supplication we come as a living sacrifice for we know that having Christ in us we have life and have it abundantly… forever Amen.

The Jews rejected Him because they pursued the law. Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right ‘righteous’ with God. And it was by faith that this took place ~ Romans 9:30; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.…Romans 9:31.

The Word Brings Salvation...For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.…Romans 10:2-4.

Reading 2 Timothy 4: 1-5 ~ I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

For a time is coming when people (sadly women) will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after false beliefs/ideas.

But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

Titus 1: 1-3 ~ This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began. And now at just the right time he has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I have been entrusted with this work for him.

Yes, you read right... "proclaim faith to those God has chosen"… those who hear God’s voice as Abraham did. Everyone hears… but few are chosen. Why? Is God being cruel or exclusive. Not at all… God sent His Son because He so loved the world. God saves all especially believers. 

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. Its why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. Command and teach these things ~ 1 Timothy 4:10-11.

Unity in Christ is being a member of the body of Christ. How? When we gather together in His name.  "Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." ~ Matthew 18:20.  All the believers were together and had everything in common ~ Acts 2:44.  All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had ~ Acts 4:32.

Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good ~ Titus 1:15-16.

Some of you may think there is no hope if they have an impure heart… this is true. But, believe me if you are listening to this blog, you are not impure. You are not ‘no longer’ corrupted. You have been delivered from the law of sin and death by the power of God (Father/Son/Holy Spirit). No one comes to the Father except by Him… and you have come. John 14:6. Who is ‘Him’? The Son of God who was at the beginning, was with God and is God. John 1:1

“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.…Romans 10: 8-10.

Always remember, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit ~ Titus 3:5.