We continue our Advent journey to the manger today.
You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.
Psalm 89:26
One of the many things this pandemic has taught us is just how powerless we are! We seem to be dragged into situations and predicaments we feel helpless to change. Working and schooling from home, or mandates of what will or will not be open (and the loss of livelihood that may follow!), and other things can make us feel, well, weak. But we have a God who is mighty and nothing that is or can happen is too big for Him! His is over all of this and, because He loves and cares for us, we know that His power is exercised in a way that will work out for our good! That’s His mighty promise – and He always keeps His Word! The Incarnation is proof of that! So rise up, mighty child of God! Your Savior has come!
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21 [niv]
Hail the heav’n-born Price of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned.
Isaiah 40:1-2b
Jesus’ incarnation means that we have a God Who not only knows what we’re going through because He made us and knows everything, but also because He became like us in the flesh! So when we are down or going through a difficult time, we can go to Him and know He not only knows what we’re going through, but can empathize with us and do something about it! And His counsel is always best, right, loving, and caring! What an awesome God we have with us in Jesus!
“Truth. Love. JESUS!” That has been our theme these past many weeks.
John thought those themes so important he repeated them throughout this book.
As we draw to a close, may we must never forget the TRUTH that Jesus died and rose for our sins and eternal life; the LOVE that is God and exhibited through that sacrifice; and the One who all history and salvation centers around, JESUS HIMSELF!
May we always hold to this TRUTH and LOVE, found in JESUS!
“This is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
This passage from the prophet Isaiah tells us that God is going to send Someone who would rule, save, and be everything we need.
This, of course, was fulfilled in the Person of Jesus – God’s Son.
As we prepare for His coming during this Advent season, we are going to take a look at four specific ways that Jesus would fulfill this: as a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace!
These are wonderful descriptions of both who Jesus is and what He came to do!
Below highlights more specifics of the weekly themes and what we will cover.
I hope you’ll join us as we prepare for this Savior, Jesus, who came to and and for us!
God bless your preparation!
WONDERFUL COUNSELOR: God With Us When We’re Down
November 29
Jesus’ incarnation means that we have a God Who not only knows what we’re going through because He made us and knows everything, but also because He became like us in the flesh! So when we are down or going through a difficult time, we can go to Him and know He not only knows what we’re going through, but can empathize with us and do something about it! And His counsel is always best, right, loving, and caring! What an awesome God we have with us in Jesus!
Isaiah 40:1-11
Romans 8:26-27
Hebrews 4:15-16
MIGHTY GOD: God With Us in Our Weakness
December 6
One of the many things this pandemic has taught us is just how powerless we are! We seem to be dragged into situations and predicaments we feel helpless to change. Working and schooling from home, or mandates of what will or will not be open (and the loss of livelihood that may follow!), and other things can make us feel, well, weak. But we have a God who is mighty and nothing that is or can happen is too big for Him! His is over all of this and, because He loves and cares for us, we know that His power is exercised in a way that will work out for our good! That’s His mighty promise – and He always keeps His Word! The Incarnation is proof of that! So rise up, mighty child of God! Your Savior has come!
Psalm 89:1-29
Jeremiah 23:5-8
EVERLASTING FATHER: God With Us Beyond Temporary Hardships
December 13
Our lives are temporary. By extension, so are all our hardships and troubles. Every difficulty we are going through will end! We often forget that. We also forget that, through Jesus, we have an eternity to look forward to where there will be no crying or hardships or pain. Those will have passed away forever! When we backup and look at our current challenges through that lens, it is a lot easier to endure them and see them for what they are – a very small, very temporary setback that will be forgotten!
John 8:58
Romans 8:18
Revelation 21:1-6
PRINCE OF PEACE: God With Us Through the Chaos
December 20
“Peace” seems pretty fleeting in our current world, country, and culture. Yet that’s what we’re called to! We are to be the ambassadors of God’s peace in our families, our communities, and our culture. That doesn’t mean there will be no hostilities around us, but that in and through them, we are sharing the One who brings peace amidst and through the chaos. We share the coming Jesus as the One through whom chaos and hostilities have been conquered. We share Jesus, Who blesses the world with hope through the peace only He can – and has – given! Bring it, Lord!
John 14:27
Matthew 5:9
A CHILD IS BORN! A SON IS GIVEN! To Us & For Us: The Savior Jesus
Everyone struggles with something, and every struggle has its origin apart from God. That is, every sin comes from our love of the world instead of our love for God and His ways.
We have talked about our love of the world. Today, we go further in our work to put those loves aside and focus on the Love that really matters!
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
With the Holiday’s around the corner help is needed in many Departments. Special projects in Gift Wrapping, Ceramics, Painting, Campus Decorating as well as Retail Store and Cafe assistance are available. If you have a few hours or a whole day to spend on Campus, we can use your support!
If you would like to Volunteer please visit the link below or call Karen Pollard at 281-375-2220 for weekly project updates.
Horticulture needs your help to deliver our beautiful Poinsettias. We will need driver shifts from 7:15am – 4:30pm each day. If you can drive a stick please note on your registration.
Click on the link below for available dates. Sign up link: Poinsettia Drivers
Christmas Open House
December 3, 4 & 5
Brookwood will host our annual Open House on December 3, 4 & 5.
Due to Covid-19 we will be changing the way we invite friends and families to enjoy our Campus. We are currently working on all the areas that we need Volunteers to help us. If you are interested please sign up and we will contact you soon with all the details.
During the Holiday Season we get very busy selling and stocking our beautiful Poinsettias. We are in need of two volunteers a day to work from 8:30am-2:00pm.
Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at thousands of additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.
For direct donations, make checks payable to “Sealy High School c/o Student Council, 2372 Champion Dr., Sealy, TX 77474. Include “Wreaths Across America, Sealy” in memo line.
