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Take Us Where Rest Is
And God said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in bondage. I have Read More
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Pamela C. Hawkins | Read Isaiah 9:2-7
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Sign Up TodayIn our time, we have a keen awareness of lurking darkness as close as family secrets and as distant as tribal genocide across the globe. As we approach Christmas and read the season’s scriptures about God’s promised light soon to be revealed, we are often even more aware of many...
Beacon of love, Light of the world, may my heart, on this holy night of your birth, burn with such brightness that I radiate your love and light to others. Amen.
The boy Samuel worshiped and served God from a young age. He grows in stature and favor, the same description that will later be applied to the young Jesus in this week’s reading from Luke. The psalmist praises God for raising up a “horn” for the people. This “horn” is referred to elsewhere in the Psalms as being the True King from the line of David, identified later by Luke (1:69) as Jesus. Paul encourages the Colossians to let love rule in their community and to praise God with songs and hymns (such as the Psalms). The additional readings for this special week focus our minds on the Advent of the Lord, the amazing truth that “the Word became flesh and lived among us” (John 1:14), as the prophets had prophesied long ago.
• Read Isaiah 9:2-7. Where in your world do you see darkness? What lies within your power to dispel it?
• Read Psalm 148. How have you witnessed creation praising the Creator?
• Read Colossians 3:12-17. With what qualities from this list do you clothe yourself daily?
• Read Luke 2:41-52. When has a not-as-usual occurrence generated anxiety in your life? How was it resolved?
Respond by posting a prayer.
While several strategies for reopening the world are being discussed, I encourage you—the people of God everywhere—to allow this season to be a formative one during which you can make new discoveries about God and increase your faith. Use this time to embark on a life of prayer, a life of study, and a life of action—involvement in the community.”
On September 19th, attend Emmaus Ministries International Virtual Gathering.
