2021 Advent Day 8

Hey friends!

Today is actually December 8th! WOOT WOOT! We have gotten on a really bad sleep schedule, so we're not waking up until late. We need to work on it, especially with Kaitlyn coming tomorrow and us going back to Hattiesburg/Mobile on Sunday. We're actually going to be gone until after the new year. Matt's going to be working some at a prosthetic clinic in Jackson/Hattiesburg. It's where he was working when we lived there. I will be working at a formals and alterations place in Hattiesburg as well. We will finally be able to make some money that we need to, just to be able to pay rent and buy food. 😅 Kaitlyn is coming tomorrow (or technically Friday due to time...)

Today's advent calendar told us to make and decorate Christmas cookies, so that's exactly what we did! I had some sugar cookie dough in my fridge still, so we thawed that out and used cookie cutters on it! Then, we made some royal icing and decorated them! We also decided to make some chocolate crinkle cookies! We made the cookie dough, but it is actually still in the fridge. We'll bake them tomorrow morning though! I have heard great things about these cookies, but this is the first time I have had them, or even tried to make them! Although... I have the HARDEST time reading and following baking directions apparently... I forgot the instructions and just went off of the ingredient list, so I am hoping that they still turn out well! I will link the chocolate crinkle cookies, sugar cookies, and royal icing recipe at the bottom of this page.

Today's Bible devotional was a devotional and Isaiah 53:3-5. The devotional picture for today said, "As Jesus chose to be born into a world where He would be bruised and crushed, He brought us peace and healing." Jesus came to earth to give us the the gifts of acceptance, peace, healing, and forgiveness. We could not ever afford the price of those gifts, thankfully we did not have to. Jesus completely paid the price for us! He was able to was away all of our transgressions and iniquities (sins) and make us whole like He is. Jesus chose to endure pain and suffering, so we would not have to. Jesus knew the cost of Christmas, especially what He would have to face, but He still chose us. As you celebrate this season of Christmas, remember that we can only be forgiven, healed, and set free because Jesus chose to come to earth and die for us.

"Jesus, I can never thank You enough for paying the price that covered my debt. I would truly be lost without You. I worship You as my Peace, my Healer, and my Savior! Thank You for choosing Christmas. Help me to receive all You came to give me, and help me then share those gifts with the world around me." - Prayer

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised and we didn't value Him. Yet He Himself bore our sickness, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds." - Isaiah 53: 3-5