​PINE GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
 

When did you last celebrate your salvation?

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When I look up the word wonder in the thesaurus, I see words like marvel, astonishment, and awe. And I can't help but think to myself, when was the last time I truly experienced wonder at the gift of salvation? Though this time of year tends to be busier than normal, it's also the perfect opportunity for our hearts to slow down and consider the kindness of God to send His believed Son to be born for us. 

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The wonder of Advent is simple yet extra-ordinary: The glorious God who created the whole world sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to be born in the humblest of beginnings - to a young virgin woman in Bethlehem. This gift of Jesus's birth was the fulfillment of prophecies made hundreds of years before as God promised the way of salvation to rescue humanity from our hopeless, sinful reality. 

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Rather than staying far from the world that He created and that humanity chose to tarnish through disobedience, God drew near through the birth of a baby boy. This baby grew to be a man - the Son of the Most High - who sacrificed His very own life on the cross to provide rescue and forgiveness from sin. Instead of abandoning people and leaving us dead in our sin, He gave the most precious gift - He gave Himself. 

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This advent season is another gift. It's an opportunity to slow down, see, and celebrate what God has done. it's a time to be reminded of the:

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__ HOPE that Jesus will return and make all things new. 

__ PEACE we experience with God today and we long for our world to experience when it is redeemed.

__ JOY that comes from worshipping Him today and for eternity. 

__ LOVE of a God who sacrificed His own Son to be in relationship with us. 

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May our eyes be open to the glorious gift of Jesus this holiday season. 

May we never take His goodness and kindness for granted. 

And may we embrace the hope, joy, peace, and love of our Father and share it with those around us every day.​​​ 

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Isaiah 8:20-22

20  To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. 

21  And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry; and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. 

22  And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness. 

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​​Isaiah 9:1-5

1  Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 

2  The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.  

3  Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy; they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 

4  For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. 

5  For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 

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​​​​​​​​​​Isaiah 9:6-7

6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God. The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 

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Let's reflect of the names above:

__ WONDERFUL COUNSELOR - He is not too lofty to whisper truths and encouragement to us. He is an ever-present companion with wisdom and comfort. 

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__ MIGHTY GOD. His arm isn't too weak to lift you from the insurmountable weight of your burdens or setbacks.

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__ EVERLASTING FATHER. He's not going anywhere. He was, and is, and is to come!

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__ PRINCE OF PEACE.  He is present and available to bring peace and restoration to every broken relationship. He brings balance and serenity to any discombobulated dilemma we encounter. Chaos is His specialty.

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