“So every year I will read through my Advent devotional..and it is leading up to the birth of Christ Jesus our Lord..Amen..but as of yesterday it is up to the part of the Wise men as they were following the prophecy of Balaam, saying there would be a Star out of Jacob..a tangible one that people would know that the Messiah had been born..Numbers 24..and I thought this star must had been a different one to catch the attention of the Wise men who took off following that star that rose up from Bethlehem..but this morning I began to think about one of my dear friends, Austin, that I used to work with..and he was telling me about the stars and the planets..and I remember he saying..do you know the difference between planets and stars?..and he goes on to saying that the stars shine and illuminate there own light..Amen..but planets only reflect the light that comes to them from the stars..Amen..and I begin to think about stars and about how when we look at them with our eyes that they look ever so small..Amen..in my mind and maybe yours too we think planets are bigger than the stars..but in all reality there not..there smaller than the stars..but yet the stars look so small..and yet they carry themselves so ‘BRIGHT’..Amen..and again I find it interesting that God chose a star for a sign that His only Son Jesus were to be born..Amen..but you think about the Lord and you think about how humble and kind He is..how that even at His birth..He was born in a stable..Amen..and yet with all of that He, Christ, shines the brightest for us all..for you see we may at times stumble in the darkness..but as well even in the darkness there is a star that is there just for you and I..Amen!”

“I am reminded of the scripture that says just a little light repels away the darkness..and that we as well carry His light..for one of my favorite things to say to others is this..shine as bright as the stars for all to see for our Lord..Amen..for we are salt and we are light to a lost and dying world that needs a Savior..Matthew 5:13-16..Amen..and more than that we are the hands and feet of Jesus carrying out the promises of our Savior..carrying out His fulfillment that He came to fulfill..and that is this, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulders..And His name will be called..Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace..There will be no end,.Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from this time forward, even forever..for the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this..Isaiah 9:6-7..Amen..so let us all follow the star..that bright and shining star..let us keep our eyes always looking at the eastern sky..Amen..looking for the promise of our Savior at His coming..for yet He came as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes..but He rules the world and the nations..for He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords..1 Timothy 6:15..and His name is ‘JESUS’..so carry your light with you today and everyday that follows and remember why you are carrying it..and what you are carrying it for..Amen..for it is in His name, Jesus’ name, that I do ask and pray..Amen and Amen..Be blessed today my dear sweet friends and remember wherever you go and whatever you do, Be a light for our Father, Much love to you all, Mandi ❤