Vineyard Fullerton

The church itself is not made up of natural friends. It is made up of natural enemies. What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality,common accents, common jobs, or anything of the sort. Christians come together, not because they form a natural collocation, but because they have been saved by Jesus Christ & owe Him a common allegiance. In the light of this common allegiance, in light of the fact that they have all been loved by Jesus Himself, they commit themselves to doing what He says – & He commands them to love one another. In this light, they are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus’ sake. ...Christian love will stand out & bear witness to Jesus because it is a display, for Jesus’ sake, of mutual love among social incompatibles. — D.A. Carson

I think God sometimes uses the completely inexplicable events in our lives to point us toward Him. We get to decide each time whether we will lean in toward what is unfolding & say yes or back away. The folks who were following Jesus in Galilee got to decide the same thing each day because there was no road map, no program, & no certainty. All they had was this person, an idea, & an invitation to come & see. …Maybe God is doing some inexplicable things in your life. Each of us get’s to decide every time to lean in or step back–to say yes or no, to ignore it, or tell God why He has the wrong person. ― Bob Goff

Romans 8 : 27 . 30 God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet He also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, His holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan & our destiny. So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are His lovers who have been called to fulfill His designed purpose. For He knew all about us before we were born & He destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of His Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers & sisters who will become just like Him. Having determined our destiny ahead of time, He called us to Himself & transferred His perfect righteousness to everyone He called. And those who possess His perfect righteousness He co-glorified with His Son!

The holiest moment of the church service is the moment when God’s people – strengthened by preaching & sacrament – go out of the church door into the world to be the church. We don’t go to church, we are the church. — Canon Ernest Southcott

Home Improvement

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right & stopping the leaks in the roof & so on -- you knew that those jobs needed doing & so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably & does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come & live in it Himself. -C.S. Lewis

Growth & transformation is the long & sometimes painful, but always glorious process of God’s renovation project of our lives. God renovates our hearts, minds & wills, giving us new desires & new life, in order that we might be bearers of His presence in our broken world. He renovates us in order that we might engage as workers in His great renovation project of the world.

1 Peter 2 ...Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a home vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God... ...But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do His work & speak out for Him, to tell others of the night-&-day difference He made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the locals so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side & be there to join in the celebration when He arrives.

Advent J O Y // 1 Peter 1 : 3 . 9

The Joy of Eternal Life All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, & we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure & undefiled, beyond the reach of change & decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests & purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise & glory & honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him—& you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.

Advent J O Y / Everlasting Joy. Even in the Wilderness

Jesus was anointed by God with ‘the oil of gladness,’ –that He might give us ‘the oil of joy.’ In all our efforts after holiness, the wheels will move heavily if there be not the oil of joy; this alone removes all strain & friction--& makes the onward progress easy & delightful. Study to understand the Divine worth of joy. It is the evidence of your being in the Father’s presence, & dwelling in His love. It is the proof of your being consciously free from the law & the strain of the spirit of bondage. It is the token of your freedom from care & responsibility–because you are rejoicing in Christ Jesus as your sanctification, your Keeper, & your strength. It is the secret of spiritual health & strength, filling all your service with the childlike happy assurance that the Father asks nothing that He does not give strength for--& that He accepts all that is done, however feebly, in this spirit. True happiness is always self-forgetful: it loses itself in the object of its joy. As the joy of the Holy Spirit fills us, & we rejoice in God the Holy One, through our Lord Jesus Christ, as we lose ourselves in the adoration & worship of the Thrice Holy, we become holy. This is, even here in the wilderness, "the Highway of Holiness: the ransomed of the Lord shall come with singing; the redeemed shall walk there; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy & gladness." -Andrew Murray

Isaiah 61 / The Good News of Deliverance The Sovereign Lord has filled me with His Spirit. He has chosen me & sent me to bring good news to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to announce release to captives & freedom to those in prison. He has sent me to proclaim that the time has come when the Lord will save His people & defeat their enemies. He has sent me to comfort all who mourn, to give to those who mourn in Zion–Joy & gladness instead of grief, a song of praise instead of sorrow. They will be like trees that the Lord Himself has planted. They will all do what is right, & God will be praised for what He has done. They will rebuild cities that have long been in ruins. My people, foreigners will serve you. They will take care of your flocks & farm your land & tend your vineyards. And you will be known as the priests of the Lord, the servants of our God. You will enjoy the wealth of the nations & be proud that it is yours. Your shame & disgrace are ended. You will live in your own land, & your wealth will be doubled; Your joy will last forever. The Lord says, “I love justice & I hate oppression & crime. I will faithfully reward my people make an eternal covenant with them. They will be famous among the nations; everyone who sees them will know that they are a people whom I have blessed.” Jerusalem rejoices because of what the Lord has done. She is like a bride dressed for her wedding. God has clothed her with salvation & victory. As surely as seeds sprout & grow, The Sovereign Lord will save His people, & all the nations will praise Him.

Advent J O Y // Love to Christ is EVERYTHING

What a wonderful description of the Christian life! People who had never seen Christ, & yet truly loved Him & believed in Him, so that their hearts were filled with unspeakable joy. Such is the life of a Christian who really loves their Lord. We have seen that the chief attribute of the Father & of the Son, is love to each other & love to men & women. This should be the chief characteristics of the true Christian. The love of God & of Christ is shed abroad in their hearts, & becomes a well of living water, flowing forth as love to the Lord Jesus! This love is not merely a blessed feeling. It is an active principle. It takes pleasure in doing the will of the beloved Lord. It is joy to keep His commandments. The love of Christ to us was shown by His death on the cross, our love must be exhibited in unselfish, self-sacrificing lives. Oh that we understood this– In the Christian life-- love to Christ is everything! Great love will beget great faith. Faith in His love to us, faith in the powerful revelations of His love in our hearts, faith that He through His love will work all His good pleasure in us. The wings of faith & love will lift us up to heaven, & we shall be filled with joy unspeakable. The joy of the Christian is an indispensable witness to the world of the power of Christ to change hearts, & fill them with heavenly love & gladness. O ye lovers of the Lord Jesus, take time daily in the inner chamber with Him anew to drink in His heavenly love. It will make you strong in faith, & your joy will be full. Love, joy & faith, these will be our life each day through the grace of our Lord Jesus. -Andrew Murray

Advent J O Y // Psalm 94 : 17 . 19

Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said — “My foot is slipping,” Your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.

Love Has Come to Us. His name is J E S U S .

All of heaven leaned over the rails in anticipation — love was about to get a new name. (BG)

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Matthew 1 : 21 She will have a son, & you will name Him Jesus—because He will save His people from their sins.