Jesus24365 Weekly #6 | Founder's Reflections #21 - The Freedom and Joy of Advent | Jesus24365 Ministry | Friday, December 13, 2024

Founder's Reflections #21 - The Freedom and Joy of Advent

Jesus24365 Weekly #6

Jesus24365 Ministry | Friday, December 13, 2024

Blessings Beloved Jesus24365 Community,

✨ Have you ever felt like life is just too much—like you’re one harsh word, one failure, or one disappointment away from everything unraveling? For years, I lived there. I tried to prove my worth, chase meaning in success, and find joy in things that never lasted. But it was never enough.

Maybe you’ve been there, too—running on empty, questioning your value, and longing for peace.

Then Jesus spoke into my striving. Through His Word, through His love, and through two simple commandments:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).“And love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

This truth didn’t just change my perspective—it freed me. It’s reshaping my life and Jesus24365 Ministry, and I pray it inspires transformation in you, too.

🌟 The Greatest Commandment in Advent: Matthew 22:37

Advent is a season of waiting, but it’s also a season of preparation—a time to realign our hearts with what truly matters. In Matthew 22:37, Jesus gives us the Greatest Commandment:

At first glance, it sounds simple. But if we’re honest, how often do we chase value and meaning in the wrong places? We look to approval, success, and comfort to give us worth—and we’re left fragile, empty, and dissatisfied.

💡 As Pastor Joel Krieger so powerfully explains:

🎥 Watch Pastor Joel’s powerful message below and reflect on where you are finding your value this Advent.

Those words hit me deeply. Advent invites us to stop running, to stop striving, and to look to Jesus. Loving God fully means trusting Him completely—surrendering our hearts to the Lamb on the throne and finding everything we need in Him.

✝️ From 613 Laws to 2: The Comfort and Joy

Before Jesus, God’s people carried the weight of 613 laws. Can you imagine the burden of trying to live perfectly under all those rules? 😓 I don’t know about you, but I’d have failed every time.

Then Jesus came, fulfilled the law, and gave us this gift of simplicity:

✨ Two commandments. Infinite freedom.

As Pastor Ron Kelly beautifully put it:

The burden of perfection is gone. The weight of striving is lifted. Instead of worrying about what we need to do, we focus on who we are called to be—people who love God completely and love others deeply.

That realization changed everything for me. The freedom, comfort, and joy I found in these two commandments continue to guide me as I build Jesus24365 Ministry. It’s not about following a checklist; it’s about embracing the relationship God offers and living out His love—Every Moment, Every Day!

❤️ Every Moment, Every Day: Building Jesus24365 Ministry on Love

When I started Jesus24365 Ministry, I knew it had to be grounded in these two commandments:

• Loving God fully.

• Loving others as ourselves.

These two principles are transforming me as much as they are shaping the ministry. They’ve simplified my focus, energized my faith, and ignited a passion to share God’s love with the world.

At Jesus24365, this is our mission:

• 📢 Spreading the Good News: Loving God means proclaiming His truth. Through reflections like this, we help others see the depth of His love.

• 🌍 Growing God’s Kingdom: Loving God transforms us—and when we share His love, we invite others to walk closer with Him. Together, we build a community of faith.

• 🤲 Serving the Needy and Poor: Loving our neighbor means showing up for those in need—feeding the hungry, encouraging the brokenhearted, and reflecting Christ’s love through action.

  
  

This Advent, I challenge myself—and you—to ask:

• Am I loving God fully today?

• Who can I love and serve as if I’m serving Christ Himself?

When we live out these two commandments, we don’t just celebrate Advent. We live Advent. We carry the light of Christ into a world that desperately needs it.

🎶 The Joy of Advent: Julie Meyer’s “Joy”

Last Sunday, in Jesus24365 Weekly #4: Art of Grace #2, we reflected on Julie Meyer’s beautiful song “Joy.”

If you haven’t listened yet, I encourage you to take a moment now. Why? Because Advent is more than a countdown to Christmas—it’s a season of waiting with expectation and preparing our hearts to receive the fullness of Jesus’ love, peace, and salvation.

In the busyness of this season, it’s easy to let the noise drown out the meaning. But Julie Meyer’s “Joy” is a powerful reminder of what Advent is truly about: the unshakable joy we have in Jesus Christ.

• When the world feels uncertain, He is our constant.

• When life feels heavy, His joy lifts us.

• When we’re tempted to find happiness in fleeting things, He points us to something eternal.

  
  

This song captures the heart of Advent: the anticipation of Christ’s arrival and the reality that His presence brings true, lasting joy. It’s not joy rooted in our circumstances, but joy rooted in Him—the One who came to save us, walks with us now, and promises to return to reign forever.

🎶 Take a moment and let the words of “Joy” fill you with gratitude and worship this Advent season.

As you listen, I encourage you to reflect on this:

• What areas of your life are stealing your joy?

• How can you turn back to Jesus as the source of your unshakable joy?

  
  

Let this song lead you to pause, breathe, and refocus. This Advent, we don’t have to manufacture joy—we simply need to receive it. He is here.

Watch and listen below, and let your heart be reminded of the deep joy we have in Jesus.

Advent reminds us:

• Jesus came to save us.

• Jesus walks with us now.

• Jesus will return to reign forever.

  
  

As it says in Nehemiah 8:10:

⏭️ What’s Next

Here’s what’s coming up next week to deepen your Advent reflections:

• 🎨 Sunday: Art of Grace #3 - We’ll explore Isaiah 9:6 through artwork and music, reflecting on Jesus as our Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace.

  
  

• 📖 Wednesday: Spiritual Nourishment #3 - We’ll dive into four Psalms that connect to Isaiah 9:6, offering strength, comfort, and peace as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s coming.

Each reflection is an opportunity to pause, realign, and experience Advent in a deeper way.

🙏 A Call to Action

This week, I encourage you to:

1. ❤️ Love God Fully. Spend intentional time in prayer, Scripture, and worship. Surrender your heart fully to Him.

2. 🤝 Love Your Neighbor. Look for someone in your life who needs hope or practical help. Be the hands and feet of Christ.

3. 😊 Live in Joy. If you feel empty or overwhelmed, stop and look to Jesus. Let His love and presence restore you.

   
   

💬 Thank You for Being Here

I want to thank you for being part of this Jesus24365 Ministry community. Whether you’ve been here from the beginning or are joining us for the first time, I’m so grateful to share this journey with you. Your presence, prayers, and engagement mean more than I can say.

If this message spoke to you, I’d love to hear from you:

• How is God speaking to you this Advent?

• What’s one way you’re choosing to love Him or others this week?

💬 Share Your Thoughts: If this reflection blessed you, scroll down to the comments section below and leave a simple "Amen" or share your testimony—it could inspire someone today!

And if you know someone who needs encouragement, don’t keep it to yourself—share this with them.

Together, let’s live out God’s love—Every Moment, Every Day! ✨

For His Kingdom,

Jeff Neubauer ❤️

Founder, Jesus24365 Ministry

P.S. Don’t miss next week’s reflections as we continue through Advent with Isaiah 9:6. Subscribe to the Jesus24365 Weekly Newsletter for encouragement, devotionals, and ways to grow deeper in faith this season.