Christmas Advent Reflections 2024

 

The start of Advent for 2024, I am still in a mess stage. 

Special Christmas Tree for you ! 

Tilt the picture to see it.

4 Dec 2024

https://annkroeker.com/2022/12/22/whats-your-christmas-reflection/

Christmas Childhood Memory :-

I remember one of the most special cloth doll my parents bought me when I was 8 or 9 years old. It was such a special gift to hold a cloth doll. 

5 Dec 2024

https://drmichellebengtson.com/christmas-reflection-prayer/

What is my reflection Prayer?

For peace within my heart, to accept what is my portion, my trials, my challenges in this phase of my life. Come what may, the Lord is with me to handle it together !

For peace within my family, the harmony and love to accept one another as we are, that our children will grow to love God dearly, follow Christ nearly, Obey the Spirit closely. May the path of the life they travel on be full of testimonies for the Lord, always overcoming challenges, and always leading back to the way of the Lord.

For peace among my friends and colleagues, may they know God more in their lives, get to experience the true unconditional love, and able to accept this wonderful gifts from God.

For peace within Malaysia as we usher in election for Sabah in 2025, peace among the people and peace among the politicians. Let all strife be arrested in the righteous truth. Let the best leaders come into power, the ones who are willing to serve the people.

For peace within this world, the tension in the middle east, the wat between Russia and Ukraine and the many other conflicts, let there be ceasefire and let the peaceful negotiation begins ! 

223 December 2024

Twas, the eve of the eve of Christmas 2024, 23 December is a crucial day that is weighing on the balance scale, hang in the balance, sense of suspense whether ALL the Wishful To Do List for this Christmas Wish List can be achieved or not. It is a time to drop wishful thinking or good ideas off the list, it is often very sad to take note that important things that got to be let go, while the urgent things got to remain in the Final To Do List. The tension of the days before Christmas Eve ! This is called the time pressure stress ! 

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43171/a-visit-from-st-nicholas

A Visit from St. Nicholas

By Clement Clarke Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Just like that, Christmas comes and be gone in matter of hours and days ! If we do not make the effort to quiet down to reflect, we would not be able to do so. 

The Hope of Hospitality



“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.” And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭7‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.15.7-13.NIV

Ephesians 2:14-16

Romans 15:

Galations 3:28

No longer master or sleeves, no longer

Advent

highlight the fulfillment of God’s Promises

God’s plan is for all people

calls us to reconciliation and unity

reflect His reconciling love by foster unity

teaches us Hospitality

inspires Hopes for all people

hospitality is the heart of the Gos

its all about Welcome



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To follow God’s Instructions with Care

To follow God’s Instructions with Care



Proverbs 2:1-11

Exodus - The Story of Egypt by Moses

Romans 9:4-5

They are God’s Children.

Dwelling Place of God

2 Corinthians 9:7-8

Give cheerfeully as what you have decided innyour heart to give.

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Praise God from A to Z

 https://thepreachersword.com/2018/08/16/attributes-of-god-from-a-z/

GOD IS……

Awesome. “Out of the North he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.” Job. 37:22

Beautiful. “Behold the beauty of the Lord” –Ps 27:4

Compassionate. “The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.” Ps. 145:9

Dependable. “God is not a human being that he should lie, or a mortal, that he should change his mind. Has he promised, and will he not do it? Has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” —Numbers 23:19, NRSV

Eternal. “The eternal God is your Refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms.” —Deut. 33:27, TLB

Faithful. “The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he had made.” —Ps. 145:13, NIV

Good. “For the Lord is good, and his mercy is never-ending; his faith is unchanging through all generations.” —Ps. 110:5

Holy. “Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the Lord our God is holy.” —Ps. 99:9, NKJV

Impartial. “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” —Ac. 10:34-35, NIV

Just. “For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, His work is perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God, without deceit, just and upright is He.” —Deut. 32:3-4, NRSV

Kind. “Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” —Rom. 2:4, NRSV

Love. “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.” —Ps. 103:11, RSV

Merciful. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” —Isa. 55:7-8, KJV

Near. “The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.”– Ps 145:18 (NKJV)

Omnipotent. “It is He (God) who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.” –Jer 10:12

Patient. “The Lord is slow to anger and abounding steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression.” –Ps 145:8

Quickens. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (give life to) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.–Rom 8:11

Refuge. “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed. A refuge in times of trouble.” – Ps. 9:9,10 (NKJV)

Sovereign. “Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it now I, the Lord? There is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is no one besides me. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” —Isa. 45:21-22, NRSV

Trustworthy. “In You our fathers put their trust; they trusted and You delivered them. They cried to You and were saved; in You they trusted and were not disappointed.” (Ps 22:4-5,  NIV)

Unchanging. “You Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands; they will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.” (Heb 1:10-12, NKJV)

Victorious. “I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but You give us victory over our enemies, You put our adversaries to shame.” (Ps 44:60-7, NIV)

Wonderful. “This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom”(Isa 28:19, ESV).

Xristos. (Greek for Christ) “He is the Christ, the chosen of God.” (Lk. 23:35)

Yearning (For Us). “Listen I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in you and eat with and you with me” (Rev. 3:20, NRSV)

Zealous. “His authority shall grow continually and there shall be endless peace…He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness and from this onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” (Isa 9:7, NRSV)

Emile Calliet, in Alone at High Noon, wrote, “He who consciously or unconsciously has chosen to ignore God is an orphan in the universe.” Don’t be alone in the universe. Believe in and embrace the God of the Bible. He indeed is an Awesome God!

“To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 25, NKJV)

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

https://www.happyhealthyandprosperous.com/god-from-a-to-z/

God from A to Z

A

Able, Alive, Awesome, Active, Anchor, Amazing, Artistic, Almighty, Alpha, Abba, Abundant, Amazing grace, Available, Approachable, Avenger, Advocate, Author

B

Beautiful, Blessed, Bright, Builder, Burden Bearer, Brave/Bold, Breaker of chains, Beloved, Breath, Benevolent, Bountiful, Boundless, Bruised

C

Compassionate, Comforter, Conqueror, Creator, Courageous, Companion, Commanding, Covenant keeper, Caring, Confident, Chief, Cornerstone, Constant

D

Defender, Deliverer, Delight, Divine, Dominion, Determined, Delicious, Door, Discerning, Destroyer, Dad

E

Everlasting, Encourager, Efficient, Eternal, Exalted, Extraordinary, Excellent, Enlightening, Essential, Example, Ever…present, loving, etc., El Shaddai

F

Father, Faithful, Friend, Fair, Forgiving, First, For me, Fountain, Forever, Fragrant, Fortress

G

Guard, Good, Generous, Guide, Glorious, Gentle, Gracious, Gigantic, Glad, Guardian, Great, Gate, Gatherer

H

Healer, Hiding Place, Holy, Hears, Hope, Honor, Honest, Helper, Happy, Husband, Hunter, Head, High Priest, Humble

I

Innocent, Incomparable, Intercessor, I Am, Impartial, Infinite, Invincible, Indestructible, Incredible, Instructor, Immutable, Immeasurable, Intelligent, Immortal, Immovable, Incomprehensible, Irresistible, Involved, Immanuel

J

Judge, Just, Joyful, Jesus, Jehovah-Jirah, Jealous, Jubilant

K

King, Keeper, Kind, Knows/Knowing

L

Lord of Lords, Longsuffering, Loving, Listener, Living, Lamp, Light, Life, Lamb, Lion, Last, Leader, Limitless, Lovely

M

Magnificent, Mighty, Majesty, Merciful, Marvelous, Master, Meek, Messiah, Miracle-Worker, Maker, Man, Mine, Mediator

N

Near, Never-Failing, Neverending, Name Above All Names, Night watcher, Noble, New, Nice, Nurturer

O

Overcomer, Omega, Outstretched Arm, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, One, Only God

P

Prince of Peace, Peace, Praiseworthy, Powerful, Patient, Perfect, Perfecter, Peacemaker/peaceful, Protector, Pierced, Potter, Persevering, Pursuing, Precious, Pure, Portion, Personal, Physician

Q

Quintessential, Quiet, Quick, Questioner, Quest, Quickener

R

Ruler, Righteous, Rock, Refuge, Reconciler, Refresher, Restorer, Rebuilder, Redeemer, Romantic, Rest, Real, Reason, Ruler, Restrained, Radiant, Reigning, Resurrection, Reliable, Rescuer

S

Strong, Savior, Sacred, Son, Shepherd, Servant, Salvation, Sovereign, Sabboth, Sacrificial, Singing, Satisfying, Sustainer, Stronghold, Shield, Shelter, Selfless, Sympathetic, Sanctifier, Spirit

T

Trustworthy, Tower, Trinity, True, Truth, Truthful, Triumphant, Teacher, Transcendent, Treasure

U

Unstopped, Unchanging, Unshakable, Understanding, Upright, Universal, Unique, Unlimited

V

Virtuous, Victorious, Visionary, Vine, Voice, Valiant, Vast, Vindicator

W

Wise, Wonderful, Worthy, Worker, Water, Warrior, Way, Word, Winner, Wounded

X

eXtravagant, eXtremely patient, eXcellent, eXceptional, eXtraordinary, Xristos (Greek for Christ)

Y

Yahweh, Yearns for us, Yoke

Z

Zealous, Zion