Elohim means “Strength” or “Power.”  He is transcendent, mighty, and strong.  Elohim is the great name of God, signifying supreme power, sovereignty, and a covenant relationship that He is ever faithful to keep.

Genesis 17:7-8

“I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.  I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

A little puff of our “wind” can move a cotton ball across a room.  God’s mighty power is shown in His wind, which is greater than any wind we can blow.

Idea from here.

Lord, we praise you for Your power!

Sovereign means excellent and possessed of supreme power.  God’s sovereignty is the attribute by which He rules His entire creation.

1 Chronicles 29:11-13

“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.  Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.  Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.”

1 Timothy 6:15-16

…which He will bring about at the proper time–He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

Psalm 103:19
The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.

While God gives us things like toys and houses to be “in charge of,” God is still sovereign over everything in our lives – even those same toys and houses He gives to us.  The sovereign power of God also shows how He uses sinful people to accomplish His purposes.  No matter how broken apart we are (see the half eaten roof on the left?), He still has the power to use us in His work!

Thank you, Lord, for Your sovereign power!

Glitter craft foam mosaic star. Inspired by Glittering Shards.

“We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2

A recycled egg carton town of Bethlehem. Those black marks are windows. Obviously.

“…he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: ” ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” Matthew 2:4-6

ps…for some awesome info about why Jesus was born in Bethlehem, check out Why a Manger? by Brock and Bodie Thoene!

God’s compassion is infinite and inexhaustible. In His great mercy, Christ took upon Himself the judgment that was due us.  God waits and works now for all people everywhere to turn to Him, not wanting any to be lost.

Deuteronomy 4:29-31

“But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.  When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice.  For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.”

Psalm 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth.

Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

I found a great craft/activity that would be perfect for older children – but it will have to wait a little bit before my boys can do it.  In the meantime, Elias has many opportunities each day to show Donovan mercy, and sharing some actual times that he has shown mercy was a very effective way to illustrate God’s mercy to Elias.

Thank you, Father, for your Infinite Mercy!

We started with a cross, wrote “Immanuel”, “Jesus” and “God with us”…

Folded it up, taped it and it’s a box! The box metaphor is kind of a stretch, but I decided to do it because it reminded me that God isn’t just “out there”, He’s tangible and close and “with us”!

(why yes, that is a walrus decoration on the side…)

:: :: ::

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:22-23

Full of Grace – unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification – Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to grant merit where it is undeserved and to forgive debt that cannot be repaid.

Ephesians 1:5-8

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us…

The story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) is an amazing parable showing us God’s grace.  The message is simple: we should never be afraid to ask for forgiveness.  This parable can give us courage that God is nothing but gentle and loving when we repent.  God has unlimited grace for us no matter what we’ve done.

Lord, we are so thankful for Your grace!

What amazing power the King of kings has!  Lord over every authority on earth – throughout all time!

1 Timothy 6:15
…which He will bring about at the proper time–He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords…

Revelation 19:16
And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ” KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

A crown fit for a king – imagine the crown that the King of kings wears!

We praise you, the King of kings!

Merriam Webster defines peace as a state of tranquility or quiet; freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions; harmony…  Jehovah-shalom means “the God of peace.” God could never give to others a peace that exceeds understanding if He Himself were not perfect, unfailing peace.

Judges 6:22-24

When Gideon saw that he was the angel of the LORD, he said, “Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.”  The LORD said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.”  Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Isaiah 9:6
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

“Freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions” – we pray for God’s peace each time the boys awake with nightmares, each time they see something scary… and a dove has long been a symbol of peace and the Holy Spirit – God’s Indwelling Spirit that gives us His peace!

Thank you, Lord, for Your Peace!

Joseph’s pillow…hand “sewn” by Lydia!

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21