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   AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and ANNOUNCEMENTS!   
      
   1 (Mt 11:11; 16:14) In those days John the Baptist came, preaching   
   in the wilderness of Judea,   
   2 (Mt 4:17; Da 2:44; Mt 6:10) and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven   
   is at hand." MATTHEW 3:1-2   
      
   Today's Gospel lesson announces to us that John the Baptist was one of   
   the best "announcers" of all time . . . even better than Ed McMahon or Ryan   
   Seacrest! He captured people's attention( wouldn't anyone wearing camel's   
   hair and eating locusts?). he knew his "product,' he was proud to be a   
   spokesperson, and he articulated his "mission statement" quite well:   
   "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near... prepare the way of the Lord!"   
      
   And so it is with us AH-Ha people of Advent! We are announcers for   
   the Lord in all that we do, say and think. John's mission was to introduce   
   Christ and point people to the Lord. So is ours. How are we doing?   
      
   A little girl was playing the role of the head angel in the Christmas pageant   
   She took control, as head angels do, and made sure all the junior angels   
   stayed in their places. But all the energy arid excitement were too much   
   for them as they scurried in front of the manger scene. blocking out Mary,   
   Joseph and even Baby Jesus. It became too much for the head angel to   
   handle and she shouted to the overly eager angels, "Get out of the ways   
   Nobody can see Jesus"!   
      
   Sometimes l block people from seeing Jesus also. l get caught up in   
   telling my story, and I fail to tell his story.   
   Sometimes I do not take the time to   
   introduce people to the Lord. Sometimes my winging it doesn't help either.   
      
   And yet, the Lord continues to woo us all back to being announcers of   
   his story of love and forgiveness. What an announcement--from the Lord   
   himself! Enjoy being an AH-HA of Advent as we announce that Christ is   
   coming, is here now and will come again. But ... maybe drop the locust idea!   
      
   Lord, forgive us when we do not allow Jesus to be seen through what   
   we say and do. Forgive us when our story is not your story. Thanks for   
   continuing to cal us as your announcers of the best story of all--a baby   
   called Jesus ... in a manger ... foe us! In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!   
      
   Read Matthew 3:1-12   
      
   Matthew 3   
      
   The Preaching of John the Baptist   
      
   Mk 1:1-8; Lk 3:1-9, 15-17; Jn 1:19-28   
      
   1 (Mt 11:11; 16:14) In those days John the Baptist came, preaching   
   in the wilderness of Judea,   
   2 (Mt 4:17; Da 2:44; Mt 6:10) and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven   
   is at hand."   
   3 (Isa 40:3; Lk 1:76) For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah,   
   saying:   
   "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:   
   'Prepare the way of the Lord;   
   make His paths straight.' " [Isa 40:3].   
   4 (Lev 11:22; 2Ki 1:8) This same John had clothing made of camel's hair,   
   a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.   
   5 (Mk 1:5) Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region   
   around the Jordan went out to him,   
   6 (Ac 19:18; Mt 3:11) and were baptized by him in the Jordan,   
   confessing their sins.   
   7 (Mt 12:34; 23:33) But when he saw many of the Pharisees   
   and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them,   
   "O generation of vipers, who has warned you to escape from the wrath to one?   
   8 (Ac 26:20; Jer 36:3) Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance,   
   9 (Lk 3:8; 16:24) and do not think to say within yourselves,   
   'We have Abraham as our father,' for I say to you that God is able   
   from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.   
   10 (Mt 7:19; Jn 15:2) Even now the axe is put to the tree roots.   
   Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down   
   and thrown into the fire.   
   11 (Ac 1:5; Lk 3:16; Isa 4:4) "I indeed baptize you with water to repentance,   
   but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy   
   to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.   
   12 (Mal 4:1; Mt 13:30) His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly   
   clean His floor and gather His wheat into the granary,   
   but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."   
      
   From  On Eagle's wings Day 3   
      
   Vessels of Light   
      
   7 (2Co 5:1; La 4:2) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,   
   the excellency of the power being from God and not from ourselves.   
   2 Corinthians 4:7 (MEV)   
      
   [7] But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the   
   power may be of God, and not of us. (KJV)   
      
   We were an hour from beginning our day at Bible Camp, and the   
   anticipation was growing. Although we were excited, we were   
   starting to get nervous. It was our very first time leading a Bible   
   Camp, and we were really hoping that everything would go   
   smoothly.   
   I thought that my experience as an elementary school teacher   
   would be enough to settle the anxiety, but it wasn’t. We quickly   
   realized that we needed to depend on God to calm our hearts, we   
   couldn’t do this on our own.   
   Turning to the Father, we began to pray and worship. Bringing our   
   concerns to him, we worshipped in song, and thanked him for his   
   character revealed to us in the Bible. He transformed our hearts.   
   The uncertainty didn’t disappear, but God gave us a truly hopeful   
   perspective. We went from thinking it all depended on us, to   
   remembering that it was never about us in the first place. This camp   
   wasn’t ours - it was his. And he was right there, dwelling with us. We   
   were simply vessels, called to reflect his light and truth to the   
   children he brought there.   
      
   Lauren Abrol   
   Bible Camp Volunteer   
      
   Conclusion:   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to know the spiritual battle around you and   
   for discernment.   
      
   Pray to the Lord: "Dear God, You know me best and love me most.   
   I'm so grateful for Your hand on my life."   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to put full trust in the Lord.   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to cleave to the Lord.   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to know the compassions and mercies of the Lord.   
      
   Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse and the Yukon to come together,   
   and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.   
      
   Pray for Muslims and believers in Yellowknife to come together,   
   and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.   
      
   Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach   
   their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.   
      
   - Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you   
   - Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving   
   Christ among Muslim people -   
   Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."   
   - When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims   
   throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!   
      
   Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin   
   and Canadian to faith in Christ.   
      
   Pray: God Almighty, may we willingly endorse, as Mary did, your   
   outline for our lives. Amen.   
      
   Pray: Lord, we pray today:   
   "Lord, forgive us when we do not allow Jesus to be seen through what   
   we say and do. Forgive us when our story is not your story. Thanks for   
   continuing to cal us as your announcers of the best story of all--a baby   
   called Jesus ... in a manger ... foe us! In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!"   
      
   Pray: O God, we give thanks for how you continue to come to us. As   
   we await the birth of your Son this Advent season, teach us how   
   to love one another as you have loved us. Help us to be present   
   with others to share your gift of love. Amen.   
      
   Jesus, you came to the earth to conquer sin and death, and   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)