Advent - Joy - Faith Journal Update

This week of Advent the topic is Joy.

1Peter 1:8-9
Though you have not seen Him,
you love Him;
and even though you do not see Him now,
you believe in Him
and are filled with an inexpressible
and glorious joy;
for you are receiving the end result
of your faith,
the salvation of your souls.

I think this passage is so beautiful.

How is your Advent journey going?
Are you doing a study?
I'd love to know in the comments below.

I'm enjoying documenting Advent in my Faith Journal. Do you think I overdid the pink this week? I really had fun with it and love spending time with the Lord this way.

The color of the candle we light for this week is pink. In the church, the color pink represents joy. This week's candle is also known as the shepherd's candle. The shepherd's surly knew joy when they found the babe as the angel said they would.

My favorite Christmas songs for this year are:

"Mary Did You Know?"

(My favorite verse is "When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of the God.")

"O Holy Night"

(My favorite verse is "Long lay the world in sin and error pining; 'til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.")

Do you have a favorite Christmas song?

I'd love to know that, too in the comments below.

Gratitude

1. Joy in the Lord

2. Believing without seeing

3. The Gospels

Phil 1:4

In all my prayers for all of you,

I always pray with joy.

Blessings,

Deborah

Advent - Peace - Faith Journal

This week we are studying about Peace.

Other verses I found regarding Peace are:

Psalm 122:8
For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say,
"Peace be within you."

Proverbs 14:30
A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you,
my peace I give you.

Romans 14:19
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace
and to mutual edification.

My Faith Journal for this 2nd week of Advent.

Gratitude
1. God's peace
2. His timing
3. SNOW!!!

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Romans 15:33
The God of Peace be with you all.
Amen.

Blessings,
Deborah

Advent - We Rest & Faith Journal

Matthew 11:28
Come to me all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.

Today in the Advent Study
we rest.
We ponder last week's lessons.
We prepare for next week.

I loved the lessons this week, especially the song I shared in my last post. I have listened to it several times. I hope you listened to it and enjoyed it, also.

This is Week #1 in my Faith Journal.

The two pre-printed verses from Isaiah 9:6 are from Monica. I have shared her links before. IF you would like the link again, leave me a comment and I will post it for you. She has some beautiful files to share to use in your Bible journals. I listed this week's lessons and wrote a few of them down.

Next week's Advent topic is peace. I can't wait to read the lessons.

May the Peace of the Lord be always with you. Amen.

Gratitude

1. The feelings of Hope I've had this week.

2. Rest

3. More rain

Phil 1:4

In all my prayers for all of you,

I always pray with joy.

Blessings,

Deborah

Advent - We Wait

Advent

And so we begin the journey to Christmas.

Advent - a season of prayer and fasting.
A time of waiting.

Wait. - delay - holdup - pause - bide one's time

And so we wait.

We wait to celebrate His birth.
We wait for His re-birth.
We wait.

How easy is it for you to wait?
For anything?
Are you a patient person?
Or do you pace while waiting?
Or chew your fingernails?
Or have anxiety?

Me? I'm somewhere in the middle.
It depends on what I'm waiting for.
This Advent I'm feeling patient.
I'm longing for this walk to the manger and all it represents.
I'm excited to read the next day's scripture to see what it reveals.
This first week in Advent is teaching me about Hope.
It teaches me to put my trust and hope in a God who never fails me.

Today's reading is:
Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
Lord hear my voice.
Let Your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
If You, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
But with You there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve You.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in His word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with Him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.

A reminder that this Advent I am following Sara Laughed's Advent Bible Journaling Study.
http://www.essenceofme.com/advent-illustrated/

Today she suggested we listen to this song, "My soul Waits For the Lord."
It brought me right into the season of waiting. This young girl has an amazing voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG-Q9YhC2Dg&list=PLMnV-hAJigmoD6F0OuT3xC9Q3MgX5PGsS

Gratitude
1. A God who never fails
2. Hope
3. The Wait

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Blessings,
Deborah