Julia Melatis – Author

Sunday Word & Worship
1st Sunday of Advent

Happy Christian New Year! Advent is the beginning of the Christian (seasonal) calendar. I thought since this is the beginning of a new year it would be appropriate to start with this song as our opening prayer. Really think about the words as you sing along. May it be your prayer and heart’s desire.

Keep Making Me – Sidewalk Prophets

14But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.
15My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.
16With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
17O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.
19Your righteousness, O God,
reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?
20You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again.
21You will increase my greatness
and comfort me again.
22I will also praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23My lips will shout for joy,
when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have redeemed.
24And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.
Psalm 71:14-24 ESV

Amazing God – Anthony Evans
[Click the down arrow next to the title under the video to see the lyrics]

14“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’
Jeremiah 33:14-16 ESV

NOTES
Yes, God is truly amazing! He created Adam and Eve full knowing the fall would come and what He would do to redeem us. This passage from Jeremiah is just one of the many passages foretelling the coming of Christ. God’s heart is to restore relationship with those whom He created in His image. He has done all that is required to make that happen. We only need to agree that we need to be saved, repent, and receive His saving grace. That is the process that was set in motion in the Garden of Eden with the first Messianic prophecy…

14The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
Genesis 3:14-15 ESV

…and was completed on thst first Resurrection Sunday.

Advent means coming or arrival. It’s supposed to be a time of anticipation and excitement! When you’re preparing for Christmas is that how you feel? Or do your preparations cause you anxiety? If so, let Jesus change your attitiude to focus on whay is truly important and let everything else go.

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:3 NLT

Can we anticipate and celebrate Advent and Christmas with a child-like heart and eyes?

I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy

Father God, thank You for keeping Your promises. Your Word never comes back empty or void. You promised a Savior the day sin happened. Over the centuries and millennia you gave Your Word, You gave the Law, promises and prophecies that You would redeem what was lost. Us. Relationship with You. Holiness. Jesus willingly chose to come to us as a babe and leave all His privilege and glory behind in heaven, so He could become the final sacrificial Lamb to finally fulfill every prophecy, promise, and feast. You raised Him up again on the third day in power and glory to break the final curse of eternal death and hell. We recommit ourselves to You today, this New Year day, as we anticipate the glory that awaits us at Your second coming, Lord Jesus! Your birth at Christmas is just a foreshadow of the joy that awaits us when You come again! In Your name we pray, amen. Hallelujah!

Blessings, Joy, and peace,

Julia

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