Do You Hear What I Hear? Advent 2024

               "Silent Night" 1 Day Away "Silent night, Holy night,  All is calm, all is bright." Hopefully, we have all had the experience of a quiet Christmas Eve church service that features the individual lighting of candles and the singing of this special hymn. "Christ the Savior is born." Music:  "Silent Night" Meditation: "T he Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."  John 1:14 "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." ~John 19:30 "With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.  The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."  ~Mark 15:37-8 "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Pace by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through t...

               "The First Noel" 2 Days Away A beautiful newborn baby. A few simple needs. Keep the baby bundled, dry, and fed.  Whether the baby is nestled in someone's arms, in a fancy crib with a vibrant mobile, or in a manger bed. Life slows down for a precious newborn's life. Music:  "The First Noel" Meditation:  "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!'     'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed--or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'"  ~Lu...

               "O Holy Night" 3 Days Away It is so close! Cookies are baked. The program has been performed. Most of the packages are wrapped. We are weary.  We are so weary.   It is time.       It is time to be still.  S.T.I.L.L. Slowly     Take     In     Lavish    Love Music: "O Holy Night" Meditation:  "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,  the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary,  and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary  and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary,  and young men stumble and fall;  but those who hope in the LORD  will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles;  they will run and not grow weary,  they will walk and not be faint."  ~Isaiah 40...

               "O Little Town of Bethlehem" & "We Three Kings" 4 Days Away Today is about worship. "Sweetly singing." Who is doing that singing?  Angels.  Many of the details surrounding Jesus' birth are, well, not normal. In order to be more kind, I could say, not typical, but I really do mean not normal.  The announcement of Jesus' birth is certainly  not normal . Angels announced Christ's arrival. Angels. While we can quickly conjure up images of Christmas pageants past with our littlest children donning white sheets, wings, and halos, the reality can be much more complex to fathom.  Angels? Heavenly beings?--Yes! Yes! Yes! With the glory of this realization comes the sobering fact of the presence of evil on the other side. Let us glory in Jesus AND let us put on the full armor of God in order to face each day prepared for our spiritual battles. Music: "O Little Town of Bethlehem" "We Three Kings" Meditation:  ...

               "What Child Is This?" 5 Days Away "This, this is Christ the King!" Jesus is the King! Jesus is worthy of all the fuss and so much more! However, we spend so much time fussing over everything but Christ the King! This Christmas let us not spend more time baking goodies, wrapping gifts, and decorating trees than we spend worshiping our King.  Let us ask ourselves each day: What Child Is This? and then truly answer the question. Who is Christ to us or in Jesus' words to His disciples: "Who do you say I am?" Music:  What Child Is This? Meditation:  "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."  ~Isaiah 9:2 "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did...

               "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" 6 Days Away The news of Jesus' birth brought peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. We could all use more peace in our lives; Jesus knew that and offers us that peace. Let us choose to accept His Perfect Peace.  Music:  "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" Meditation:  "For to us a child is born,  to us a son is given,  and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  ~ Isaiah 9:6 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  ~John 14:27 "'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,'  says the LORD, who has compassion on you."  ~ Isaiah 54:10 What beautiful promises...