Exodus
Tiffany
All You Need Is Love

Maybe the Beatles were onto something (or on something?) when they wrote All You Need Is Love. But, the love they were referring to wasn't the agape--or unconditional love--our Savior drenches us in. As we conclude the final chapter in Exodus (hooray!) and forge our way towards the Christmas season, there's no more ideal time than this to pause and be steeped in His love. 


All You Need Is Love

fear

A Moment with the Messiah: Day 1

No matter how you choose to celebrate Christ this season, let the Messiah–not the mayhem–reign in your heart. May you be richly blessed in Him!

Read: Luke 1:11—17

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  

Reflect: Merriam-Webster helps us define the word prepare: “to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity.” Just as John the Baptist was sent before Jesus to prepare the hearts of the people for the Lord, we must also prepare our own hearts for His coming and make ready the way for others.

Respond: Gracious Lord, fill me with Your Spirit and prepare my heart this season. Anchor me so I’m not distracted by the noise and the hustle around me. I want my heart to be still so I can clearly hear Your righteous Word and obediently respond.

Tot Time: Holiday baking creates wonderful memories. Talk with the wee ones about a time they baked a cake or cookies with you (or someone they know) and walk them through how all the ingredients were gathered, the oven was preheated, hands were washed, etc. Each of those acts were preparation (getting ready) for what they were about to do. In the same way, we want our own heart to be ready so we can hear His instructions. How can we get everything ready so we hear from God?

--T