Day 25: He is WITH US!

ISAIAH 7:14

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

                  

                There is something about the outdoors that tugs at my heart. I spend most of my free time in the summers hiking and backpacking. I can’t help it. There’s a beauty in creation that can’t be matched. The stars in all their brilliance humble me before my creator, and to think, the God who created all that we see is WITH US. He is personal.

                  On this day let us not forget this. He gave us his son, as a gift. What a wonderful truth this is. Let us rejoice and give thanks and praise to our Father in heaven who came down to us to give us new Life in Him! God Bless!

-Jordan Schaller, CYM Leader, Team Noiz

Day 24: God uses everything.

Esther 5:14 "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Esther was placed in a position that she didn't ask for and maybe didn't want but she used her position to save the Israelites. It is amazing to me to think about how God places us in situations and uses them, however unpleasant, for His will. Think about all of your relationships, occupations, groups etc. Your being a part of them is a calling. You may never know why you were in that situation but rest assured that God has a plan and can use you and others in every way possible to further his kingdom. How awesome is that?

-Lynae Werner, CYM Leader, Team Hope

Day 23: Fellowship

Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

One of the reasons that I love Christmas so much is that I get to be at home surrounded with wonderful family and friends, eating lots of good food.  Sometimes I feel lazy over break though, as if I should be doing something for school instead of lounging around, but it’s important to remember that being in fellowship with one another is an important part of our faith.  The believers in Acts devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.  Don’t forget to keep those things a priority, personally and with your families, as we remember one of the most important events to our faith, the birth of Jesus Christ.

-Kyle Salesky, CYM Leader, Team Hope

Day 22: He loves us.

'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel' is a well known and well loved advent hymn, and the antiphon for today is:

"O King of the nations, the ruler they long for, the cornerstone uniting all people; Come and save us all, whom You formed out of clay."

Jesus is the King, the Word, the Cornerstone, and the Creator talked about here. He has been with God since before the world began, was there when we were all created, and he came down to meet us as we are to save us. As we get closer to Christmas and the celebration of His birth, let us remember that Jesus became human to save all people. As we long for and prepare for His coming, make it a point this Christmas season to show your gratitude for Christ's saving love by showing love to others.

-Allison Dodgers, CYM Leader, Team 7:12

Day 21: Give.

It's that time of year again...Christmas. All over the world, kids are preparing letter to send to Santa, teenagers are showing their parent commercials about the latest gaming systems, and grown-ups are telling each other what they want for Christmas. Many people focus their attention on what they are planning to receive; people buy gifts because they are expecting a gift in return. But what if we start to focus our attention on what we can GIVE this holiday season? Make giving the motivation for our actions and attitudes, not because we expecting something in return, but solely just to give.


There are plenty of ways to give this holiday season. You could give your time by volunteering. You could volunteer at a local soup kitchen or food pantry, you could volunteer your time by caroling around your neighborhood, or by simply volunteering your time to your mother by helping her to prepare Christmas. You could also give your talent as a gift. By volunteering your talents you could participate in your church's Christmas pageant or you could bake treats to sell at a local bake sale or instead of buying gifts, make them yourself! Sometime original and unique gifts from the heart mean more than buying something flashy from a store.


Remember this holiday season, that maybe it isn't so important to receive gifts, as it is to give them. Just like God gave us His son, Jesus so that we all would receive the forgiveness of sins and the promise of heaven. 


"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'". Acts 20:35


-Taylor Stone, CYM Leader, Team Rejoice

Day 20: He is always there.

Psalm 28:7
 "The LORD is my strength and my shield;
  my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
 and with my song I praise him.

"

In hard times, God is always there for you, through family, friends, and others.
 What are some ways God keeps your head up in tough times throughout your day?
 God Bless!

-Nat Pearson, CYM Leader, Team Koinonia

Day 19: John 1:29-34

John 1:29-34

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

Think about this with Christmas coming up. He is the one coming - for us! To take away the sin of the whole world, your sin and mine.  And for that we have a wonderful holiday to celebrate - both now during this Christmas season and everyday beyond that.

-Jake Hawthorne, CYM Leader, Team 7:12