Swilor Family

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Week 2 Friday

S- John 12:35-36 "Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them."

O- Oooh, this is good. "Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going." Those who do not know Jesus may not know where they are going, or they do not believe that their destination is Hell. If you don't know, trust, and have a relationship with Jesus, the destination is Hell. If you don't know Him and have questions please ask! If you don't know 100% that you will be in Heaven, please ask someone who does! Darkness can overtake us. Walk in the light! Believe in the light!

A- Jesus is the light! Believe in Him. He will lead you from the darkness and into the light. He is our only way to Heaven. Nothing we can do apart from Him is any good. He offers salvation. Not anyone else.

P- Thank you God for leading me from the darkness. Thank you that you came into my life and changed me for you. Thank you that you are the light! Thank you that I know that I will spend eternity with you! God, I pray that those who don't would seek you and ask questions to those who do know you and know that it is as simple as believing that you sent your son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins so that our sins are erased. Save this world from darkness! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Week 2 Thursday

S- Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”"

O- God is with me! He is the Mighty Warrior WHO SAVES! He takes great delight in me. In His love he will no longer rebuke me, but will rejoice over me!

A- God loves me! How much? So, much that he saved me from eternity in hell! He saved me! He is with me! He takes GREAT DELIGHT in me. How do I deserve this?

P- How big is your love for me, God? Wow! Thank you for showing me what love is in your sacrifice for me. Thank you that you love me so much it is overwhelming. I feel so guilty and just plain ick for the way I show my love back. I am so small when I see how Mighty you are! Thank you for your grace and mercy on me. I rejoice in You! My Mighty Warrior who saves! Thank you!

Week 2 Wednesday

S- Psalm 119:105-106 "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws."

O- God's word lights the path. God's laws are right.

A- I have chosen to follow God's law. His way is the right way. His word is perfect and will light my path.

P- Dear God, thank you for leading my path. Thank you for lighting the way. Thank you for your word that is perfect. Thank you for giving me a guide to my life. Your way is perfect. I trust your plan for me. I pray that I would help me to follow your righteous laws. I know they are good for me. I'm sorry that I often stray and sin against you. Thank you for forgiving me and leading me back to you. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Week 1 Activities

Here are some photos of the fun we had last week.

I made a Nativity Advent Calendar for the kids. And made a couple extra for some of our friends. It was so much fun to make and I am thankful to my Mom and Grandma for their help in teaching me (the unteachable) to tie french knots. Seriously, I was not a quick learner! And for their help in getting the project done in time!

Although we won't be doing the whole Santa thing, I do think it's fun to have the traditional Santa photo. I think I got a successful photo. What do you think? This will be in a frame along with the other yearly Santa photos on display. It nearly matches last year. Two screaming children. The only difference is that Dad is in the photo this year, because he is much nicer than me and didn't have the heart to make Zac actually sit on Santa's lap.

Just a note... We won't be telling our kids to believe in Santa. We want them to place their trust in Jesus and not a make believe man that we would later have to tell them the truth about. Our decision is to not lie about it, rather explain that Santa is fun, but not real. Such as, unicorns and dragons. I don't think we will have much explaining/teaching to do this year and in years to come will teach them not to ruin the fun for other kids.

A friend said it simply. She had done the whole Santa thing and realized that her kids were making a huge deal about a man that wasn't real and not about Jesus who is real. They believed in Santa completely, and she realized they didn't really understand Jesus, and didn't place their trust in Him who is real. She explained to them that Christmas is about Jesus and Santa is for fun. Both of her kids have, by the grace of God, become believers in Jesus and know the truth about Christmas! I pray for the same results with my sweet kiddos! Trust in Jesus!

Checking out the window displays at Trolley Square!

The ladies in my small group made an advent specifically for our husbands! What a great idea, right?! Christmas isn't just about the kids! The cards are full of compliments, scriptures, activities, and ways to serve him.

Week 2 Tuesday

S- Mark 12:28-30 "One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’"

O- The most important commandment is to love God! With everything!

A- Love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love Him! Thank Him! He created me. He loved me first. While I was a sinner Christ died for me! Without God I am nothing. God provides and gives me all I need and more. Love Him!

P- I love you, God! Thank you for giving me life! I'm sorry that I don't show my love for you more or give you thanks more. Help me to see you always. Your love for me is overwhelming. Help me to show you love and thanks as you so deserve. Thank you that your love is steadfast. I pray that I would put you first always. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Week 2 Monday

S- 1 John 4:7-8 "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

O- God is love! 1 John 4:19 "We love because he first loved us." Love one another!

A- How amazing that God IS love?! He loves us regardless of our sin. We need to love others, because he so graciously loves us. Not just others who are easy to love, but even those who are difficult to love. We are all wretched sinners. ALL of us. I need to follow Jesus' example and be loving, gracious, and forgiving.

P- Dear God, you are so good to me. Thank you for loving me when I deserve to be turned away. Thank you for forgiving me for my sins. Please help me to love others as you love me. I pray that I would look at your example when it is hard to love. Help me to be more like you daily. Thank you that you ARE love! I love you!

Matthew 1:18-25

“Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about^[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet^[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”

²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”^[g] (which means “God with us”).

²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”

Luke 2:1-7

“The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ²(This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

Week 2 Question

This week the eBook suggests doing random acts of kindness. How can we bless our neighbors, friends, family, and/or strangers this week? What are some random acts of kindness you have done in the past or plan to do in the near future?

I'd love to hear if you have started any Christmas activities with your family. And feel free to share photos if you have them!

Some ideas I have are inspired by this blog http://lillightomine.com/light-em-up-2012.php.

I had planned on making sugar cookies for the neighbors with a note explaining what the different holiday shapes symbolize, such as candy cane = shepherd staff and delivering those with the kids. We really need to be more friendly with our neighbors. We don't know many of them besides a "hello" from across the driveway!

We live near the fire department. We may walk a plate of cookies down and thank them for their service.

Lucy has a check up this week. We may leave a thank you note for the staff.

We are going to send love notes to our Grandparents.

I may plan a night to double our dinner and surprise a neighbor with a meal.

We may take a thank you note to our HOA office.