A Savior Has Been Born to You

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  — Luke 2:11-12 

It's now Christmas Eve.

Today we attend two services to celebrate our Savior's birth.

The Messiah, our Lord.

Born as a baby, lying in a manger.

The King of love, my Shepherd and Lord.

A Savior Has Been Born to You

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. — Luke 2:10-11 

The angel told the shepherds not to be afraid.

The good news he proclaimed was joyful.

And it would bring joy to all people.

Our Savior was born in the town of David.

And He is the Messiah, the Lord, the anointed one.

Born for me!

To pay the price for my sin.

With His ultimate sacrifice.

My Soul Glorifies the Lord

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. — Luke 1:46-47, 49

When Mary visited Elizabeth, she greeted her.

At that, the baby leaped in Elizabeth's womb.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Then Mary sang this song of praise to God.

Thanking Him for His goodness.

And glorifying the Lord.

Apart From God There Is No Savior

I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. — Isaiah 43:11-12 

God is our Lord, our sovereign Father.

His Son Jesus, is our Savior.

Apart from Him there is no Savior.

He has revealed Himself to us in creation and in His Word.

We are His witnesses, that He is God.

Each time we sing His praises, we're proclaiming that He is the Lord.

We Eagerly Await Our Savior

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, — Philippians 3:20 

God has told us that we are not of this world.

Even though we are still in it.

Our citizenship is in heaven.

And we eagerly await Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Who reigns in heaven.

A Savior Is Born

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. — Luke 2:11 

Latch-Hook tree skirt by Kirk & Carol 1985

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we focus on the coming of Jesus.

Advent means coming.

And Jesus is our Lord and Savior.

Who was born in Bethlehem, the town of David.

He is our Messiah and Lord.

We worship him with our songs of joy.

Apart From the Lord There Is no Savior

I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. — Isaiah 43:11

God is our Lord.

Apart from Him there is no savior.

He is healing me each day from my weakness.

And I'm able to walk around the block for 20 minutes, even though I move like a snail.

Kirk is very patient.

And God is the great Healer.

He knows just what I need.

Friday night I slept about 10 hours.

This morning I feel even stronger than the day before.

These beautiful roses are from our friends Peggy & Brad.

They're just starting to open up.

God is great.

We Eagerly Await Our Savior

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. — Philippians 3:20

Our citizenship is in heaven.

We are not citizens of this deteriorating earth.

We are simply travelers on a journey through this land.

Temporary visitors and aliens in a foreign land.

The Lord Jesus reigns in heaven.

And we eagerly await His coming as our Savior.

God Answers Us With Awesome Deeds

You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas. — Psalm 65:5 

God our Father answers us with awesome deeds.

His acts are righteous.

He is our Savior.

Jesus is the hope of the world.

The hope of all the ends of the earth.

The hope of the farthest seas.

Happy Birthday, Rudy!

God, Our Savior

God our Savior, wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. — 1 Timothy 2:4 

Monday night it was raining persistently.

We need the rain.

I'm just glad I don't have to drive in it.

Last night I had book club and then choir.

Fortunately, the rain had stopped just in time.

God wants all people to be saved.

He wants all people to come to a knowledge of the truth.

He is our Lord and Savior.

The Father Has Sent His Son

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. — 1 John 14:15 

God has sent His Son to the be our Savior.

Jesus is the Savior of the world.

But if I were the only person in the world, He would have died just for me.

He did die just for me.

And for each of us, even while we were still sinner.

Amazing.

And wonderful!

My Soul Glorifies the Lord

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant." — Luke 1:46-48

This afternoon we held our middle school girls Bible study Christmas party.

We did a gift exchange, made Christmas cards and spiced cider mix, roasted s'mores, lit the advent wreath, and sang Christmas carols.

I made these Santa cookies.

Usually I would make them and have the girls decorate cookies.

This year because of covid, we didn't frost cookies or carol through the neighborhood.

But we still had a fun time worshipping God together.

Magnifying His name with our songs and prayers.

Jesus Has Brought Life to Light

It [Grace] has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. — 2 Timothy 1:10

God's grace has now been revealed to the world.

Yesterday I hiked Mission Trails with friends.

Kirk and Abby went to the beach.

Then Kirk barbecued hot dogs and we sat outside and enjoyed them with a delicious Rose one of our friends gave us.

A beautiful evening.

This is the sunset we saw on Saturday at Mission Beach.

Our Savior Jesus has destroyed death.

He has brought life and immortality to us through the gospel.

Hope in God

To this end we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, that is, of those who believe. — 1 Timothy 4:10

We work hard and focus on what God wants in our lives.

The living God is our Savior.

He is the Savior or all who believe.

We have set our hope on Him.

I had a CT scan that showed that the small lump on my lung has not changed over the past year.

What a relief.

Prpaise God.

To Him be the honor and glory. 

Now and Forevermore

To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. — Jude 1:25

God is merciful to us.

To Him be glory and majesty.

Our friends drove by the old Wonderbread store downtown and took this photo for us.

They were in a line of traffic, waiting to get their COVID vaccine. It took 2.5 hours!

This is where Kirk's dad Gary used to work.

It's right around the corner from Petco Park.

A Savior Has Been Born!

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” — Luke 2:11-12

Merry Christmas!

Today a Savior has been born.

Jesus, the Messiah,  our Lord.

The shepherds found Him lying in a manger.

Then they rushed off to tell everyone of the miraculous birth.

Christ is born!

My Soul Glorifies the Lord

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." — Luke 1:46-47

During this time of year it's so easy to get wrapped up in all the lights and glitter and blow-up Santas.

But the real message was God sending His only Son to earth. 

Born as a baby in Bethlehem.

Come to save us from our sins.

To die and rise again for me personally.

The best gift of all!

Our Citizenship Is in Heaven

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. — Philippians 3:20-21

It is now officially autumn.

And we eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

He will transform our lowly bodies.

When we die and come alive again, our bodies will be like His glorious body.

We rejoice in all that Jesus did for us in dying on the cross and coming alive again.

We give him all the glory and honor and praise.

 

The Hope of Eternal Life

In the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior. — Titus 2-3

God promised us before the beginning of creation that we have the hope of eternal life.

People may not always be able to keep their promises.

But God always keeps His promises. He does not lie.

He has brought to light the hope of eternal life in Christ Jesus.

We worshiped online today, sheltering at home with our family.

It was hot and sunny, but I got out for a walk with a friend at 7:30, before it got too warm.

We saw a small bunny running our way up the sidewalk.

He had no fear.

We can have no fear knowing that God is with us.

He Is Risen!

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. — Matthew 28:6

Saturday the sun was shining after several days of non-stop rain.

I took a picture of the sky when I went out to pick up the paper.

The birds are singing and we are rejoicing that Jesus has risen, just as He said.

God always keeps His promises.

On this holy Saturday, I am reminded of the price He paid for me, giving His life so I could live forever with Him.

What a Savior!