Four Fabulous Phrases Plus a Crazy Fun Fact for You this Christmas…
One verse. Four names. It’s all we need this Christmas Week…
But first, a question:
How’s your memory? You may say, “What memory? My train of thought just left the station…”
I’ve been up a creek without a paddle after numerous grocery runs. Forgetting milk isn’t as big of a deal-breaker as forgetting hamburger when you’re making tacos.
Forgetting names is my strong suit. I meet someone and instantaneously, poof!, their name evaporates. Infuriating. Frustrating. Embarrassing.
Further forgetful, I forgot to order a book in a recent order of gifts and cards from a favorite catalog company known as Bas Bleu. (www.basbleu.com ) The book? Wait for it….
You Can Learn to Remember: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (You Can… (Watkins Publishing)) by Dominic O’Brien
I thought, “Wow, for $9.95, why not?” Excited to open my package a few days later, the memory book was MIA. I looked at my order list. Nope, I did not order it. How can you forget to order a book on remembering?
Well, one thing I did learn this Christmas season, is I can remember one Scripture verse. You can too. Thanks to the fact I’ve written a verse out on several Christmas cards. It’s been my go-to phrase. Repetition helps! (If you think you can’t do this, trust me, if I can, you can.)
Best book for doing so? Obviously your Bible, but add this one to it and you’re in business: 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart by Rob Morgan.
I’d like to give you the verse I learned and recommend simply repeating these four fabulous phrases (names), especially this week, praising our Lord and Savior. He is our gift this Christmas, and every day, as we roll into 2016.
Isaiah 9:6 says,
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be on his shoulder,
And his name shall be called
WONDERFUL COUNSELOR,
MIGHTY GOD,
EVERLASTING FATHER
PRINCE OF PEACE.” (ESV)
These four fabulous names are gifts for us we can give back to the Lord in praise to Him:
1 – Wonderful Counselor:
Jesus told His disciples in John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
Not only is the Holy Spirit our Advocate or Counselor, my favorite gift He offers is when we are so overwhelmed we don’t know what to pray for, He steps in and mediates for us.
Romans 8: 26 tells us, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Remember “Wonderful Counselor”!
2 – Mighty God: Our God is Mighty. Think Mighty Warrior. Psalm 50:1 says, “The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.” (ESV) Mighty is, well, mighty. Praiseworthy. Remember “Mighty God”!
3 – Everlasting Father: Everlasting is forever. Our God is our Forever Father. HCSB says, “Eternal Father.”
Isaiah 63:16b says, “You, O Lord, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your Name.” Always was. Always is. Always will be.
Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Remember “Everlasting Father”!
4 – Prince of Peace:
A prince of anything is someone who’s in charge of something. i.e. Prince Charles. Prince William. Prince Harry.
To learn our Savior is the Prince of Peace should bring us all the peace we can handle. Who doesn’t want peace, especially at this time of year?
Praise Him for giving you and me peace. Don’t forget Jesus’ words in John 14:27…
Focus and allow His peace to saturate your heart. Offer peace to your family this Christmas! Remember “Prince of Peace”!
Finally, I’d like to leave you with a crazy fun fact my friend Pat sent me this Season:
This is a tradition you may wish to start in your own home this year. It comes from the lovely country of Iceland.
Did you know Iceland sells more books per person than any other nation in the world, especially during the Christmas season? They call it Jolabokaflod, or the “Christmas Book Flood”.
Literary Iceland Revels In Its Annual ‘Christmas Book Flood”. Photo courtesy of npr.org. Click image to view article.
The tradition has a twofold purpose:
1 – Each person must receive at least one book for Christmas to take to bed with them on Christmas Eve.
2 – Along with taking the book to bed, each person must have some chocolates to go along with their book reading! How crazy fun is that? (You can bet I’ve shared this discovery with Hubster. )
I pray you and your family have a most memorable (!!!) and blessed Christmas and New Year. I look forward to spending more time with you as we learn about helpful Scripture and books and authors in 2016.
Don’t forget (!!!) the four names: Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace.
These two beautiful songs via YouTube may also help you remember and worship:
In 1741, George Frederick Handel composed a song based on Isaiah 9:6 which you can watch the London Symphony Orchestra perform on this YouTube link:
A more contemporary twist to Isaiah 9:6 came out in 2014, sung by Aaron Shust, “Unto Us”. Both of these are wonderful. Enjoy!
See you next year!
‘Til next time!