Sunday Scripture

 

 I'll be posting  Sunday Scriptures on both of my blogs this December, taken from an Advent study I did in 2013 with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

This week's verses are focused on Love.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this (interestingly enough) is the one from December 14.

S= "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod, the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

"Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him."  (Matthew 2:1-2)

O= The Gospel of Matthew, as C.I. Scofield explains, "was written originally for the Jews" and "presents Christ as the Son of David and the Son of Abraham.  Because He is portrayed as King, His genealogy is traced to King David; and the place of His birth, Bethlehem, the home of David,  is emphasized. 

Verse 2 is considered the key verse in the book of Matthew.  It emphasizes Jesus as King -- and King of the Jews, at that.  It's interesting to me, also, that these wise men, obviously Gentiles, came "to worship" this King.

As one scholar noted, "They had come to bow down in adoration and reverence to the King of kings. How is it that these Gentiles recognized what His own people refused to accept?"

A= Is Jesus King of my life?  Am I acknowledging Him as sovereign over every aspect?   I think of the hymn which begins, "King of my life I crown Thee now; Thine shall the glory be".  Is that my mindset?  It should be!

Someone has written, "Jesus is King of our lives, so we must serve Him all of our lives."

P= "Lord, I thank You for the amazing way in which Your Word fits together, the way in which You inspired the various writers to share information that would target different aspects of the Bible for specific purposes.  It's also a blessing to see how accurately prophecy has been fulfilled.  

I praise You for the privilege of owning multiple copies of the Bible in my own language.

And Lord, You know the desire of my heart that I would have You to be King of my life.  Thine shall the glory be!

In Jesus' name, Amen."

That's the very simple Sunday Scripture for this week!

December 13

 Today has been a busy day -- our annual tradition with four of our local grandkids.  It has evolved over the years but now is essentially a three-part day:  (Photos are all from previous years.)

1.  Breakfast at our house, using Christmas dishes.  This year's menu was breakfast sliders, hash brown casserole, cinnamon apples, eggnog coffeecake, and hot spiced cider.

2.  Hours of crafting fun with all kinds of materials.  Ornaments were made, also gift tags, a charming Christmas tree, an amazing reindeer, and a Santa dragging a pack made of walnut shells.  I failed to get photos, but hopefully their mom will.

3.  Ice cream sundaes at Kellerhaus, a place we took our own kids to every Christmas season.  Such fun to be able to carry that on with the grandchildren.  

I also worked a bit on a small crocheted gift project.  Tonight my hubby and I cleaned up the kitchen and I prepped a main dish for tomorrow's fellowship meal at church.  

And that was our day!

December 12

 

Today is another busy day with lots of Christmasy plans, preparations, and events happening.  

After our quiet times this morning we headed straight to the grocery store.  I think that this trip has caught us up to date on components for cookies and kitchen gifts.  I haven't calculated how many pounds of butter we've bought this season, and it's probably just as well not to know.

After putting the groceries away, I made a schedule for the rest of my day, and my hubby went to the kitchen and started making cookie dough for a new kind he wants to try: Maple Thumbprints.  We'll see how they come out.  If we like them I'll link to the recipe.

Then I added a ribbon and tag to my gift for tonight's Ladies of Grace Christmas party.  

After lunch I plan to put together breakfast sliders for tomorrow's breakfast with four of our grandkids.  This breakfast is a tradition every December and is followed by crafting and possibly candy making.  In the afternoon we'll head out for ice cream sundaes at a favorite destination.

The breakfast menu will include the sliders (with sausage, eggs, and cheese), a hash brown casserole, cinnamon apples (I'm trying a crockpot recipe this year that's different from my usual skillet but sounds scrumptious!) and a simple coffeecake.  (Not sure yet if I'll bake that tonight, or in the morning.)

There is likely to be a plate of Christmas cookies to snack on during their crafting endeavors.  I don't have specific crafts planned; I'll just get out the totes and boxes of Christmas craft materials and the kids will take it from there with their endless creativity.  I may even get to make an ornament or two myself!

I'm hoping to do a little more Christmas decorating and possibly some cleaning this afternoon.

I'll be bringing lasagna and a cookie plate for tonight's party, which is always a lovely time.  

It looks like my hubby will be wrapping up his cookie baking soon.  It will be nice to have that all done!

December 11

 Today has been busy with all kinds of things, including a dental appointment for me and putting snow tires on our car for Mr. T.

In addition, he baked the apricot-filled Sacher torte cookies and the lemon spritz cookies shown above.

I made a lasagna for our Ladies of Grace Christmas party which is tomorrow night.  It's an easy make-ahead, so I prepared it today and will bake it just before the event.

I also made a hash brown casserole for a breakfast we'll be doing on Saturday with some of the grandkids.  Very helpful to have that done ahead.  I will try to do more components for that meal tomorrow.

Another Christmasy  thing I did was to wrap my gift for tomorrow night's gift exchange.  

And worked on posts for my Christmas blog ... that may be about it for today.

December 10

 Lots of Christmasy happenings here today!

Mr. T baked and frosted another batch of Eggnog Logs.  He also baked a batch of Lemon Shortbread Thumbprints and made a batch of Special Holiday Fudge.

I finally got around to baking Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies from Ambitious Kitchen.  They involved a lot of work but are beautiful and delicious.  There was an option to make them a peppermint mocha flavor so I did that.

I listed a few more Christmas cards in my Etsy shop and worked on more posts for my Christmas blog.

We got the lights on our Christmas tree and then between us we mostly got it decorated.  There are a few more things I want to add, and a few more decorations to go up in the house, but mostly we are in good shape for our annual grandkids breakfast and craft time which will be Saturday.

It snowed all day, which was another Christmasy thing, and I had Christmas music playing as we worked on our various projects.

December 9

 

Let's see,  I feel as if very few Christmasy things happened today.  On my part, at least.

My hubby baked a second batch of the Gingerbread Coffee Cake Cookies because he had streusel topping left from yesterday's batch and wanted to use it up.  

He also baked a pan of the Cranberry Cheesecake bars.

I was going to try a new chocolate candy cane cookie recipe and even softened the butter for it, but it was after 2:30 by the time I could have started, and that just wasn't happening.  Tomorrow!

He is currently working on putting up the Christmas tree, and he restrung the lights on our little outdoor fir tree to make them look better.

I had soooo many computer tasks to attend to; things to order, customer service people to communicate with, emails to send on my hubby's behalf.  I had an Etsy order to prepare and send.  I did send several Christmas cards to friends, and a birthday card to a Nevada granddaughter.

Tonight I need to compose some more Christmas emails to missionaries.  We may get a start on decorating the tree, but we'll see what happens!  Tomorrow is supposed to be snowy, so we will be happy to stay in and enjoy our Christmas preparations.

December 8

 

So yesterday afternoon we were able to go to the Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra's Christmas concert, titled North Pole Playlist.  Our granddaughter and several of our friends play in this orchestra and the Christmas concert is always a fun one. 

Today my hubby has been baking cookies and stringing up outdoor lights.  I think he also is thinking of bringing in the Christmas tree this afternoon too, but we will see!

He is currently working on Christmas tree spritz

and earlier finished Gingerbread Coffee Cake Cookies.

 
I've been cleaning, doing laundry and just a bit of decorating, working on Etsy listings too.  I just scanned the little 1950s Rust Craft card, below.  Isn't it fun?

 
And soon it will be time to think about supper!  Another busy December day, but I am seeking to do every bit of it in a celebratory spirit, as to the Lord.