For the remainder of this reading plan, we will spend the Sundays before and after Christmas lingering in the longing, waiting, and expectation of the season by reading a short passage from Scripture.
The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”
—Luke 1:35
Thankful the Lord scheduled a day of rest!
Prayer request please for family of long time friend of ours that passed away yesterday from a very recently diagnosed aggressive cancer – the family & friends are in shock.
KELLY (NEO) – Shannon’s mom has been making slow progress. We have not heard from him this week but plan to touch base soon. Thank you
Praying for
KARRIE – relief from anxiety and its triggers
MARI – congrats again, praying for wise decision for son’s car and trustworthy sellers
SAGE KOLODGE – guidance and peace
JULIE ROBERSON – release for your daughter from the hold of alcohol, freedom from depression and PTSD. And thank you to her for her service.
TINA – yep, love meeting here ❤️ lots of hugs and love to you!
Amen
Amen
I had similar thoughts when I went to see a performance of the Messiah at the Philadelphia orchestra this week. A large number of people standing during the Hallelujah chorus- many don’t believe at all. Is that true worship? Maybe not for them, but for me yes. I couldn’t help but consider how someday all will bend the knee to him, believing or not, and how terrible that day is for those who don’t believe. So in the meantime I hold out hope that when Truth is proclaimed in song even by atheists, someone will hear and believe.
I didn’t know O Holy Night was written by an atheist. As I flipped to the song in our study book, I have to consider if this matters? To me, or to God. With the Spirit there is Truth. So if the ink that flowed words from the spirit of antiChrist, I do think it matters. As I consider all of the cries of heartfelt prayers, pleading for God’s grace, mercy and intervention, I think it matters where we go for comfort and what we sing for Divine inspiration. I know the story of the disciples coming to Jesus about outsiders casting out demons. They reportedly acted in the name of Jesus, but did not follow His ways. Jesus told His followers not to stop them because “who is for us is not against us” or something along those lines. God also used a donkey, and many other ways to speak to His people. So, if an atheist writes a song that sounds holy? I am still not sure I will keep singing it. There are so many other songs and poems written by people with true seeking hearts for God that I would feel safer repeating. Sometimes digging unearths truth I didn’t expect to find. But once I know, I know. It won’t stop me digging for the Truth. And I have a choice of what I do next. O Lord, guard and protect my soul. For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, O Lord are kind and good, and very merciful to all who call upon You. (Psalm 85(86)). Hear our prayers Lord, comfort us. Guide us to Your Truth. Protect us. Lead us in the way of Everlasting. Selah. Maranatha. Amen.
❤️
❤️ I have been listening to the SRT podcast each week as they dissect the passages we read each day I highly recommend it. Such great and deep discussion to continue our advent season.
So excited to be going into this 4th week with everyone!