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Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday December 11TH 2022, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

It’s the 2ND Sunday of December, and it’s the 3RD Sunday of Advent. Next Sunday is the 4TH and final Sunday of Advent – the last Sunday before Christmas.

Some of you reading this have a Catholic background (including me when I was a little kid almost 50 years ago). The 4 Sundays of Advent are not unique or restricted to just the Catholic church. Protestant and non-denominational churches also observe and celebrate Advent with ceremonies, and prayers, and Scripture, and teaching moments.

Today is Gaudete (GOW-day-tay) Sunday – the day when we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath (if we have one). Gaudete means “rejoice”. This day reminds us of the joy that is to come. We recall the hope we have because of the coming of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ – our King of Kings.

As the Bible says in Paul’s Letter to the Philippian church:

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice ! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember – the Lord is coming soon. (4:4-5)

(And those 2 verses come right before these 2 memory verses. You know them.)

Don’t worry about anything. Instead – pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace – which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (4:6-7)

So Happy Gaudete (GOW-day-tay) Sunday. It’s Rejoice Sunday ! Rejoice today ! Rejoice every day ! Everyone say “rejoice” ! You are not guaranteed the next day, so if you wake up tomorrow – REJOICE !

This is the day that our LORD has made. Let us – do what ? – rejoice. Let us be glad in it.

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2022 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday December 04TH 2022, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

It’s the 2ND Sunday of Advent, and a common reading on this Sunday is the start of Isaiah 40:

“Comfort – comfort my people” – says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone, and her sins are pardoned. Yes – the LORD has punished her twice over for all her sins.”

Listen ! It’s the voice of someone shouting – “Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD ! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God ! Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The LORD has spoken !”

Our God’s Glory came in Jesus Christ, and He will come again !

Today on #SundayScripture it’s the conclusion of my September 18TH 2022 sermon – “Good & Evil” – in its original written form. It’s based on 1 Peter 3:8-4:8, and it effectively wraps-up my First Peter message series which I began in 2021. Here’s Part 8 of 8:

Peter closes this part of his letter with some words of wisdom, and this is where I’ll close my message for you today:

The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore – be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all – continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:7-8)

The “last days” are here. Christ will return. We must be ready for Him. We must be patient as we eagerly await His return. We don’t know the day or hour of judgment. Only the Father knows.

In red letters:

“Look – I am coming soon – bringing My reward with Me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega – the First and the Last – the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:12-13)

Each of us will be judged on that final day. Is our faith in God for real, or is our faith in God for show. We will be judged on faith and deeds – not just on faith alone – and not just on deeds alone. Faith will show itself in actions. Faith without works is dead and useless. If our faith is for real based on our good deeds – then we will receive His reward. If our faith is for show based on our evil deeds – or no deeds at all – then we will receive His punishment.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people. (Revelation 22:21)

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and God’s holy people said – AMEN.

Go forth. Go in love. Go with peace in your heart.

(The End)

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2022 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday November 27TH 2022, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

It’s the first Sunday of Advent, and a common reading on this Sunday is the 122ND Psalm. I occasionally greet my church family with the first verse of that Psalm – I was glad when they said to me – “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” It’s an appropriate verse for me this morning especially, as I return to my church family after a week away. I’m looking forward to celebrating these next 6 Sundays with my church family – the 4 Sundays of Advent, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.

You know my church family also includes you. Some of you are loyal readers of #SundayScripture, and I appreciate you. I am honored to bring you God’s Good News each Sunday morning, and I hope that it is an inspiration for you to open the Bible and read it for yourself. In this 17TH year of salvation for me I am reading and studying the Bible more now than ever before. It goes where I go (via iPhone app).

After a one-week break last #SundayScripture I continue presenting my September 18TH 2022 sermon – “Good & Evil” – in its original written form. It’s based on 1 Peter 3:8-4:8, and it effectively wraps-up my First Peter message series which I began in 2021. Here’s Part 7:

You can’t repent your sins after your natural life here on earth is done. Those who didn’t know God – those who didn’t accept Him while they were still living and breathing in this world – that’s the end of it all for them. It’s too late for them.

But those who repented to Him, and those who were born again while they were still living and breathing – they will live forever with God in the Spirit.

My Dad passed on 12 years ago in 2010. He was never close to God. He didn’t really know God. He wasn’t really sure if He was real. But in his final days – on his death bed – in the hospital – consumed by the slow but deadly effects of Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) – he finally acknowledged our God. He accepted our God into his heart. He repented to our God. He was born again – shortly before he passed on. It was not too late for my Dad. Now he’s living forever with God in the Spirit. I believe that he’s cheering me on today.

There you go again Chris – talking about repentance and salvation. Yeah – guilty. Eternity is at stake here. I want to live forever with God in the Spirit. I want you to live forever with God in the Spirit. I want everyone out there to live forever with God in the Spirit.

I’m reminded of Christ’s words – in red letters – as told by the Apostle John – when He predicted His death. He said “Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be My disciple must follow Me – because My servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves Me.” (John 12:25-26)

(End of Part 7)

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2022 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Bible Blogging Christian Church God Holidays Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday November 20TH 2022, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

This #SundayScripture I’m taking a one-week break in presenting my September 18TH 2022 sermon – “Good & Evil” – in its original written form. Parts 1 to 6 have already been presented. I’ve got 2 more parts to go, and I’ll do that on November 27TH and December 04TH.

After that I’ve got some interesting non-sermon posts that I’m planning for the rest of December and into the new year.

As promised last week I’m presenting the transcript for Communion which I led a couple of Sundays ago. It is a Thanksgiving-themed Communion. For those of you reading here in the U.S.A. or serving the U.S.A. in a foreign country – I wish you a very safe, secure, happy, and healthy Thanksgiving week. I hope that you get to spend it with those who you love.

(Begin Communion)

It’s the first Sunday of a brand-new month – November – and we continue our tradition of observing and celebrating Communion on this first Sunday.

In 18 days Americans will be observing and celebrating Thanksgiving. It’s the modern day set aside each year on the 4TH Thursday of November to reflect on what we have – and give thanks for it – alongside family and friends – with food and fellowship – and football. For most Americans it’s a day of rest – right before that Friday when we begin preparing and shopping for that next big commercialized holiday – Christmas.

You know on this fantastic journey that our God has blessed us with – every day should be a day of Thanksgiving. We should give thanks to our God – every day – for what He has given to us – for what He gives to us – and for what He will give to us – past, present, and future – constantly and abundantly.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi – he began, “Every time I think of you – I give thanks to my God.” Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth that “as God’s grace brings more and more people to Christ – there will be great Thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

Whenever God’s Kingdom expands – whenever God gets all of the glory – the enemy is defeated.

And so on this day of glory – on this day of victory – I present the 100TH Psalm – “A Psalm Of Thanksgiving” – and as the Bible says:

Shout with joy to the LORD – all the earth !  Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before Him – singing with joy. Acknowledge that the LORD is God !  He made us, and we are His. We are His people – the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with Thanksgiving. Go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, and praise His name. For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.

Let’s observe. Let’s rejoice. Let’s celebrate – this believer’s Communion – this agreement – of Creator, Christ, and Spirit as One God. It’s open for everyone who hears me – everyone who believes – that we ourselves no longer live, but Christ lives in us – so we live our life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God – who loved us and gave Himself for us. (Galatians 2:20)

You know our God always comes to where we are. Today – something a little bit different. I’m coming to you – where you are – to serve you these elements. As you receive them from me – you may carefully peel back the two wrappings to reveal the wafer, and to open the juice. We will accept these elements together as a church family.

[Distribute elements.]

Let us take this bread, and know that it represents the sacred body of Christ that was given up for us on that cross. We take this bread in remembrance of Him.

Let us take this juice, and know that it represents the precious blood of Christ that was shed for us on that cross. We take this juice in honor of Him.

Let us pray. Thank You God for loving us, and giving Yourself for us. We love You Lord. We need You Lord. We are nothing without You Lord.

Thank You Lord for Your awesome presence in our lives – and Your intentional purpose for our lives. May all of Your beautiful blessings and marvelous miracles constantly strengthen our faith in You, increase our love towards others, and unify our hearts and our souls. We honor You Lord. We praise You Lord. We worship You Lord. And all God’s people say – AMEN.

And the angels and the elders and the living beings all fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. They sang:

“Amen !  Blessing and glory and wisdom and Thanksgiving and honor and power and strength – belong to our God – forever and ever !  Amen.” (Revelation 7:11-12)

(End Communion)

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2022 Christopher M. Day, CountUp