illumin8 – Edition 7 – December 2008
illumin8 – Edition 7 – December 2008
In this week of self-discovery we invite you to be yourself in front of God and ask Him to show you things you don’t know about yourself – He is your designer after all. Did you know that your quiet time need not be what everyone else is doing? A quiet time is actually just alone time you set aside in which you focus on God and Him alone. He knows you intimately and doesn’t want you to see this time as a duty but rather as fun, adventurous, challenging and most of all, unique to you.
“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in EVERY detail of their lives” Psalm 38:23 (NLT) One of the reasons people let their quiet times slide in the Festive season is because their routine changes ... so find ways to integrate your time with God into the every day. In the verse above it say He delights in every detail of our lives. So don’t box Him into one time or a place and then carry on as usual...bring Him into your day!
(* Make a list of things you love doing and add them in the blank spaces.)
Monday 1
Tuesday 2
Wednesday 3
Thursday 4
Friday 5
Saturday 6
Sunday 7
If you love music:
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If you love activity:
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If you love writing/reading:
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If you love food:
Pump up the volume!! You can play music (or even carols to get into the Christmas spirit) as a way of spending time with God. Focus on the words and the emotions the music stirs.
Then get OUTSIDE!! Go for a walk, jog, cycle..whatever! Take in the beauty and magnificence of creation.
Spend your time writing to God. Flick through the pages of the Bible – there is SO much inspiration there.
(Great to do at the BIG Christmas meal): At lunch take a moment to taste every flavour of your food instead of guzzling it down. Reflect on the imagination in the creation of the taste and the love of God to make flavours just for us!
Here are some regular activities....think about how you can use them as a means of spending time with God! When you take a shower... ask God Driving you car... Making the bed... Buying Christmas Switching on the Carrying a bag... Feeding the dog... for forgiveness and presents... lights at night... wash off all your sin Your mercies are new every morning! “The God who created, names and numbers the stars in heaven also numbers the hairs on my head... He pays attention to very big things and very small ones. What matters to me matters to Him, and that changes my life!” – Elisabeth Elliot (paraphrased) illumin8 – Edition 7 – December 2008
“Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.” - Eileen Caddy Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Psalm 50:14 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 118:1 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. Ephesians 5:4 *Think of a way you can integrate gratitude into your day and write it in the space provided.
Monday 8
Tuesday 9
Wednesday 10
* Smile when you wake up
Thursday 11
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Friday 12
Saturday 13
Sunday 14
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Donate some money or buy a small gift for one of the many organisations that run charity drives at this time of year
*
Take notice of the world around you
Something I am grateful for today…
illumin8 – Edition 7 – December 2008
“At every party there are two kinds of people - those who want to go home and those who don't. The trouble is, they are usually married to each other.” - Ann Landers Keep track of your social engagements in the space provided. Pray for the people you spend time with this week. Ask God to give you a verse for the person you will be seeing. Write the verse in his or her Christmas card.
Monday 15
Tuesday 16
Wednesday 17
Thursday 18
Friday 19
Saturday 20
This week spend some time with great people of the bible by reading some well loved bible stories… Genesis 22:1-18 Joshua 5:13-6:27 Judges 13:1-16:31 Esther 1:1-10:3 Daniel 6:1-28 Jonah 1:1–2:10
Time What
Where Who Verse
If you have nothing planned…
Do something Christmassy with a friend: bake cookies, make fudge or decorate your Christmas tree. Start a Christmas tradition: organise a game of golf, soccer match or table tennis tournament with some friends. Visit someone who is lonely
illumin8 – Edition 7 – December 2008
Sunday 21 Ruth 2:1-4:15
“Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.” - Mary Ellen Chase “There has been only one Christmas; the rest are anniversaries.” - W.J. Cameron Monday 22 He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8:21
Tuesday 23 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. Philippians 2:18
Wednesday 24 Greet each other with Christian love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ. 1 Peter 5:14
Thursday 25
Friday 26
Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. Luke 2:14
Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise! Psalm 47:1
CHRISTMAS DAY
DAY OF GOODWILL
Saturday 27
Sunday 28
I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. John 15:9
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 1 Peter 1:8
Each day write down your Christmas highs and lows. Thank God for the highs and pray about the lows.
High
Low
illumin8 – Edition 7 – December 2008
No doubt we will all hear “The 12 Days of Christmas” many times during our Christmas shopping, but very few of us know the meaning of the words. There is much more to it then just a silly song…
On the twelfth day of Christmas Christmas My true love sent to me Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree! illumin8 – Edition 7 – December 2008
True love refers to God
The partridge in a pear tree refers to Jesus on the Cross Two turtle doves refers to the Old and New Testaments Three French hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues Four calling birds refers to the Four Gospels Five golden rings refers to the first five books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace. Six geese a-laying refers to the six days of creation Seven swans a-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments Eight maids a-milking refers to the eight beatitudes Nine ladies dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit Ten lords a-leaping refers to the ten commandments Eleven pipers piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles Twelve drummers drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
This week is your time to take a time out from all the hustle and bustle in the world and concentrate on reconnecting with God and recharging for the year ahead. “How completely satisfying to turn from our limitation to a God who has none…For Him time does not pass, it remains…God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. To know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.” - AW Tozer
Some things to think about: When was the last time you spent some time in silence?
Have you spent the same amount of time worrying and talking about your difficult, confusing situations as you have spent in silence, listening to what God might have to say?...Is it possible that you’ve been searching for God in the winds...and the earthquakes and fires and He’s waiting to speak to you in the silence?” – Rob Bell Verses: Read Luke 10:38-42 – With whom do you associate yourself? Luke 5:16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” Monday 29
Tuesday 30
Wednesday 31
Wake up before everyone else (even if this is tough) and find a spot outside. Ask God to still your mind as all you focus on is breathing out your pain, worry and stress and breathing in His peace, strength and life.
Tonight, take a friend, a blanket and some snacks and go look at the stars. Enjoy the display of God’s immense power and just be... enjoying His presence.
As the year draws to a close...take a time out and ask God what plans He has for you in the year ahead.
“Be still in the quiet moments; listen to the voice of your heavenly Father. His words can renew your spirit. No one knows you and your needs like He does.” – Janet L. Weaver
illumin8 – Edition 7 – December 2008