On this fourth Sunday in Advent, we are only a few days away from the celebration of Christ’s birth.  It is fitting that we reflect upon God’s great love for us.  Our Maker, the Creator of the heavens and earth, could have left us to our own designs and suffering, but because of His love for us, He created a way for us to be in communion with Him forever.  Rather than being separated by a chasm of sin and evil, He bridged the gap between our brokenness and His holiness with the gift of His Son.

“God showed how much he loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him” (1 John 4:9).

There has never been a greater gift!  Emmanuel – God with us. When Jesus was born twenty centuries ago, true Love came down to earth in the body of an infant.  He lived, died and rose
again to set us free.  Through His sacrifice on the cross, we now know the incredible love of God.  He desires that not one of us should perish, but rather that we all would find everlasting life through Him.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Now is the time to end our exile and welcome Him into our hearts!  Let us rejoice in the gift of God’s true Love – Emmanuel, our God who came near!

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

10 Comments

  1. Beautiful!

    "And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is." (Ephesians 3:18, NLT)



    GOD BLESS!

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  2. Oh yes! That verse from Ephesians is wonderful...may we all truly understand the magnitude of God's love for us!


    Blessings Sharon!


    In His grip, Joan

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  3. Rejoicing in the gift of His true love. Amen!

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  4. Hi Valerie! God is so good...and the gifts He gives us are better than anything we could think up ourselves! What a joy it is to know Him!


    Blessings, Joan

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  5. It is what sustains me during the difficult times! I know that He will never, ever fail me!


    Blessings, Beth!


    In His grip, Joan

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  6. Reveling in the beauty of this unimaginable gift with you this season! So happy you are a part of the Recommendation Saturday family! Heart Hugs and a very Merry Christmas to you!! <3 Shelly

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  7. I am continually amazed at the generosity of our Lord! What a blessing He is! Have a very Merry Christmas, Shelly!


    Blessings, Joan

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  8. Your post encouraged me to write a poem. Christmas is not Easter.

    WHAT CHRIST IS

    The bread and wine,
    salvation fine,
    The Lord is good
    by being food.

    But He is bread
    to corn not dead.
    And He is wine
    to vine divine.

    And that to see
    enormously
    will change your life.
    God wants a wife.

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  9. Joan, what a beautiful Advent reflection! I am so thankful for Him. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. :)

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  10. Thank you, Lyli! What a gift - the gap is bridged by His love for us! I am so thankful, too!


    Blessings, Joan

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