Julia Melatis – Author

Sunday Word & Worship
3rd Sunday of Advent

10A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
11For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
12O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.
Psalm 84:10-12 NLT

Better is One Day – Matt Redman

1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. 2I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”
3At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him, 4“This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! 5What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. 6I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!
7“I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

This is the first appearance of God’s name, El Shaddai – God Almighty or the All-sufficient One. God’s covenant with Abraham is also a step in the events and prophecies leading up to the coming of the Messiah, Yeshua/Jesus. As we prepare to celebrate His birthday we also look forward to His second coming when He will make all things new.

El Shaddai – Amy Grant

Father God, thank You for the gift of Jesus! He truly is the one gift that never stops giving! He gave up heaven to live a lowly life on earth

He humbled Himself as a servant to all and then, as the perfect, sinless, Lamb of God He became sin with all of our sins upon Him to pay our debt for us to make us whole and clean. What an indescribable gift that is! Then You raised Him from death to give us eternal life! Amazing!

Lord what can we give You in return? Our love and abiding devotion with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We give You our lives as a living sacrifice with open hands. May we love others as You have loved us and as we want to be loved. Make us useful vessels in Your hands, Our Potter. Prepare our hearts for a Christmas focused on Christ first. Make this Christmas a time of peace and reconciliation in families.

Thank you, Lord! On Jesus’ blessed name, amen.

Blessings of Hope & Joy,

Julia

© 2019 All rights reserved. Please feel free to share the link to this website on your social media accounts. All other copying of this material is protected whether in print, electronic, or otherwise stored or distributed elsewhere.