All My Life You Have Been Faithful

Advent Reading

Andrea Southmayd shared with us on Sunday morning about her personal journey through 2020, as a parent, a teacher, and as her family’s business was destroyed in the fire. While the challenges have been monumental, the way she has moved forward with renewed hope and joy is by constantly recalling God’s faithfulness. Even in “the struggle is so real I’m crying in the shower” moments, God has met her, especially through the song  “All my life you have been faithful”.

Recalling the faithfulness of God is vital in the difficult times we are in! He is for you, with you, and working in unseen ways around our lives. We must unapologetically, and fiercely cling to the reality of His GOODNESS that is seen throughout our lives and trials in His FAITHFULNESS to Jesus, to His body, His Gospel, and His sons and daughters! 

Advent Activation

Today’s Advent Activation is two parts .

1. Let this song minister to you today:

“I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In the darkest night
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Father
I’ve known You as a Friend

And I have lived in the goodness of God
And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God…

2. Meditate on this prayer that Niesje prayed over us on Sunday, and the encouragement she gave us: “If we know the heart of God, we don’t misunderstand what He says…” – May you know the heart and voice of God afresh today!!!  

“Thank you for being the God of restoration, and that You ARE the rest we need.

We ask for our hearts as a family. Open our eyes to see you, open our eyes to see the undercurrent of what you’re doing. That thrill of hope in every moment, beyond what we see circumstantially! We want to be lovers who see what you’re doing. 

We pray for those of us who have felt burdened, felt like 2020 kicked the wind out of their sails, who feel like 2020 has stolen something they  will never get back. We replace that lie with that truth of Jesus that He is breathing hope into you. And even when you can’t reach for Him, He’s reaching out to you!

I ask for deep rest, that divine rest that Jesus spoke about that You asked us to enter, God would we see it this Christmas season. Even with the freeze going on in Oregon right now, let our hearts wouldn’t be disgruntled and frustrated and focused on what is being taken away, but that our hearts would actually seek to know the undercurrent that Your Spirit is inviting us into as a body…so we say Yes to that rest, and we pray that over our family…In jesus name!”

Thank you for engaging our Advent Readings this week! Don’t forget to mark your calendars for Episode 2 “The Thrill of Hope”, Sunday at 11:00am and 6pm on our Facebook or YouTube page.