Friday December 30, 2010

John 1

The Word Became Flesh

. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
 ¹⁴ The 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.
 ¹⁵ (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶ Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and^[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Thursday December 29, 2010

John 1

The Word Became Flesh

 ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.
 ⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
 ⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

Wednesday December 29, 2010

Ephesians 1  3-14

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

 ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he^[c] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. ⁹ And he^[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
 ¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Tuesday December 28, 2010

Psalm 147  12-20

¹² Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem;
   praise your God, O Zion,
¹³ for he strengthens the bars of your gates
   and blesses your people within you.
¹⁴ He grants peace to your borders
   and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
 ¹⁵ He sends his command to the earth;
   his word runs swiftly.
¹⁶ He spreads the snow like wool
   and scatters the frost like ashes.
¹⁷ He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
   Who can withstand his icy blast?
¹⁸ He sends his word and melts them;
   he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
 ¹⁹ He has revealed his word to Jacob,
   his laws and decrees to Israel.
²⁰ He has done this for no other nation;
   they do not know his laws.
 
   Praise the LORD.

Monday December 27, 2011

Jeremiah 31 7-14

 ⁷ This is what the LORD says:
   “Sing with joy for Jacob;
   shout for the foremost of the nations.
Make your praises heard, and say,
   ‘O LORD, save your people,
   the remnant of Israel.’
⁸ See, I will bring them from the land of the north
   and gather them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind and the lame,
   expectant mothers and women in labor;
   a great throng will return.
⁹ They will come with weeping;
   they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead them beside streams of water
   on a level path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,
   and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
 ¹⁰ “Hear the word of the LORD, O nations;
   proclaim it in distant coastlands:
‘He who scattered Israel will gather them
   and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’
¹¹ For the LORD will ransom Jacob
   and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.
¹² They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
   they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD—
the grain, the new wine and the oil,
   the young of the flocks and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,
   and they will sorrow no more.
¹³ Then maidens will dance and be glad,
   young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
   I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
¹⁴ I will satisfy the priests with abundance,
   and my people will be filled with my bounty,”
            declares the LORD.

Christmas

Luke 2: 8-20
 
 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
 ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
 ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
 ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Friday Christmas Eve

<sup>Isaiah 9: 2-7

2</sup> The people walking in darkness
   have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
   a light has dawned.
³ You have enlarged the nation
   and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
   as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
   when dividing the plunder.
⁴ For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
   you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
   the bar across their shoulders,
   the rod of their oppressor.
⁵ Every warrior’s boot used in battle
   and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
   will be fuel for the fire.
⁶ 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.
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace
   there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
   and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
   with justice and righteousness
   from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
   will accomplish this.

Thursday December 23, 2010

Matthew 2 : 13-23

The Escape to Egypt

 ¹³ When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
 ¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵ where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”^[c]
 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. ¹⁷ Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
 ¹⁸ “A voice is heard in Ramah,
   weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
   and refusing to be comforted,
   because they are no more.”^[d]

The Return to Nazareth

 ¹⁹ After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt ²⁰ and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
 ²¹ So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, ²³ and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Wednesday December 22, 2010

Hebrews 2: 10-18

¹⁰ In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. ¹¹ Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. ¹² He says,
   “I will declare your name to my brothers;
   in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.”^[c]
 13 And again,
   “I will put my trust in him.”^[d]
   And again he says,
   “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”^[e]
 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. ¹⁷ For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for^[f] the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Tuesday Decamber 21, 2010

Psalm 148

 ¹ Praise the LORD.^[a]
   Praise the LORD from the heavens,
   praise him in the heights above.
² Praise him, all his angels,
   praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
³ Praise him, sun and moon,
   praise him, all you shining stars.
⁴ Praise him, you highest heavens
   and you waters above the skies.
⁵ Let them praise the name of the LORD,
   for he commanded and they were created.
⁶ He set them in place for ever and ever;
   he gave a decree that will never pass away.
 ⁷ Praise the LORD from the earth,
   you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
⁸ lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
   stormy winds that do his bidding,
⁹ you mountains and all hills,
   fruit trees and all cedars,
¹⁰ wild animals and all cattle,
   small creatures and flying birds,
¹¹ kings of the earth and all nations,
   you princes and all rulers on earth,
¹² young men and maidens,
   old men and children.
 ¹³ Let them praise the name of the LORD,
   for his name alone is exalted;
   his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
¹⁴ He has raised up for his people a horn,^[b]
   the praise of all his saints,
   of Israel, the people close to his heart.
   Praise the LORD.

Saturday December 18th, 2010

Matthew 1 18- 25

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

 ¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about^[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet^[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
 ²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”
 ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”^[g] (which means “God with us”).
 ²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

I Believe in Christmas

I collect Nativity sets. My most precious is an all white porcelain Avon one that goes up high for eyes only.
No little fingers can move Mary along or swipe Baby Jesus off of the hay. No dog's tail can swish a wise man to the floor; no elbows reaching for ornaments can knock an angel from on high.
Axel, who is 12 now, and I, took each piece from it's royal blue box and then from it's white styrofoam block.  We took turns choosing a place on the old mantle piece for each member of the cast. We have a donkey and three cows, camels, sheep and shepherds, wise men and angels and the treasured Holy Family. 
My mantle is small for this Nativity set, so we had to rearrange often as we kept opening boxes. 
Would the Wise Men have stood all together?  Would they have stood next to the shepherds and the sheep? Would the Angel of the Lord have stood back or been front and center? Where would the tired donkey have chosen to rest?  Would he lie down where he could see the new babe, or away from the awestruck crowd? 
For me, putting up the Nativity scenes, is one of the great joys of Advent . This set is very special to me and is the anchor for all of the celebrations in our home.  No matter where I am in the house, my eyes wander toward the sight of it and in an instant I am centered.  The Holy Family.  The Christ Child. In the catch phrase of our time,  "the reason for the season." which is so true and so very easy to forget. 
Over the next several days Axel and I will put out all of my many nativities. Some are made of wood, some are plastic,one is stone.  My house will be adorned with angels and wise men, shepherds and sheep and cattle lowing. My nativities are big and small, short and tall, simple and ornate. There will be many that the little hands of grandchildren can arrange and rearrange to their hearts content. A few will be out of reach brought down only for ooohing and aaaahing, for the story of how they came to be mine, who gave them to me or where I found them myself, what country they came from.  Inevitably, at some point, one of my children or grandchildren will say " I want that one. I want that one! "  What they mean is  they want that one - when I die.
This conversation does not upset me for I will die, but the good news is this.  I BELIEVE in the message of the Christ Child!.  I believe in Away in a Manger and Joy to the World  but I also believe that Christmas is the beginning of the story, not the end.  In the end, we have Christ the Lord is Risen Today and  Amazing Grace. In the end, we will all be rejoicing together, not here, but in heaven - what ever that might be. The songs of Advent give way to the songs of Christmas and Easter, of Resurrection and Everlasting Life. And I am thrilled to know that when I die, my many beautiful nativity sets will grace the mantle pieces and coffee tables of my offspring. When they gather they will talk of angels and babies in mangers and of Gramma Bevy who used to have this one on her mantle piece in the old house on Garden Street.And they will say Gramma BELIEVED .
 I  BELIEVE and so, though I will not always be here to open these boxes and place these porcelain figures of Mary and Joseph and the babe on this mantle piece,  with these children and grandchildren who I love, I will live on in Christmas and other memories and I will not be alone. I BELIEVE and so I will always be with The Christ Child.  For me, that is the true meaning of Merry Christmas.

Friday December17th, 2010

Romans 1

 ¹ Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— ² the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures ³ regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life^[a] was a descendant of David, ⁴ and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power^[b] by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. ⁵ Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from^[c] faith for his name’s sake. ⁶ And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
 ⁷ To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:

Thursday December 16, 2010

<sup>Today's passage is Psalm 80 17-19

17</sup> Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
   the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
¹⁸ Then we will not turn away from you;
   revive us, and we will call on your name.
 ¹⁹ Restore us, LORD God Almighty;
   make your face shine on us,
   that we may be saved.

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

Today's  passage

Psalm 80

    For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” Of Asaph. A psalm.
 ¹ Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
   you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
   shine forth ² before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
   come and save us.
 ³ Restore us, O God;
   make your face shine on us,
   that we may be saved.
 ⁴ How long, LORD God Almighty,
   will your anger smolder
   against the prayers of your people?
⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears;
   you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
⁶ You have made us an object of derision^[b] to our neighbors,
   and our enemies mock us.
 ⁷ Restore us, God Almighty;
   make your face shine on us,
   that we may be saved.

Tuesday December 14th, 2010

Today's passage continues in Isaiah Chapter 7  verses 12 - 16

¹² But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.”
 ¹³ Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you^[c] a sign: The virgin^[d] will conceive and give birth to a son, and^[e] will call him Immanuel.^{[f] 15} He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, ¹⁶ for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 

Monday December 13, 2010

<sup>Today's passage is Isaiah Chapter 7 verses 10 and 11

10</sup> Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, ¹¹ “Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

Friday December 10th and Saturday December 11th

Friday  Matthew 11 2-6 

Saturday Matthew 11 7-11

Jesus and John the Baptist

 ¹ After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.^[a]
 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples ³ to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
 ⁴ Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. ⁶ Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
 ⁷ As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written:
   “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way before you.’^[c]
   11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,^[d] and violent people have been raiding it. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵ Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Thursday December 8, 2010

Today's passage is James 5 7-10

Patience in Suffering

 ⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. ⁸ You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. ⁹ Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
 ¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Wednesday December 8th, 2010

Luke 1:46 - 55

Mary’s Song

 ⁴⁶ And Mary said:
   “My soul glorifies the Lord
 ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
   of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
 ⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
   holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
   remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
   just as he promised our ancestors.”

God's Helping Hands

 As I read today's passage with the blog title of Prepare the Way in mind, I was struck by the fact that we are God's hands in this world. 

At St. John's we have so many opportunities to help God prepare the way for others, the mitten tree, cookies for Devereau kids, the used toy sale, adopting a family member, contributing to the Deacon's fund in  the hopes that those who will not feast surely, will at least, not go hungry on the Birthday of the King.

A friend of mine contributes to the food pantry and she has started bringing in cake mixes and frosting.  She commented that everyone likes a cake now and then.  What a great way to help someone celebrate. 

Many hands make light work is a saying we all grew up with and it seems that at Christmastime we really put that into action as we all open our hearts to the less fortunate.

The scripture says God
⁷ upholds the cause of the oppressed
    gives food to the hungry.
sets prisoners free,
gives sight to the blind,
lifts up those who are bowed down,
   loves the righteous.
watches over the foreigner
   and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
frustrates the ways of the wicked.
and that he
reigns forever,
  
So many ways to help others at St. John's. 
So many ways to be God's helping hands.

Praise the Lord !

Tuesday December 7th, 2010

Today's passage is Psalm 146: 5-10

⁵ Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
   whose hope is in the LORD their God.
 ⁶ He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
   the sea, and everything in them—
   he remains faithful forever.
⁷ He upholds the cause of the oppressed
   and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free,
 ⁸ the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
   the LORD loves the righteous.
⁹ The LORD watches over the foreigner
   and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
   but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
 ¹⁰ The LORD reigns forever,
   your God, O Zion, for all generations.
   Praise the LORD.

Monday December 6, 2010`

Today's reading is Isaiah 35: 1-10

Joy of the Redeemed

 ¹ The desert and the parched land will be glad;
   the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, ² it will burst into bloom;
   it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
   the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the LORD,
   the splendor of our God.  ³ Strengthen the feeble hands,
   steady the knees that give way;
⁴ say to those with fearful hearts,
   “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
   he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
   he will come to save you.”
 ⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
   and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer,
   and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
   and streams in the desert.
⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,
   the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
   grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
 ⁸ And a highway will be there;
   it will be called the Way of Holiness;
   it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
   wicked fools will not go about on it.
⁹ No lion will be there,
   nor any ravenous beast;
   they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
 ¹⁰ and those the LORD has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
   everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
   and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Prepare the Way

Why, in this busiest of seasons, would I choose to add one more thing to my plate?  Why offer to write and moderate an Advent Blog when the hustle and bustle is just about to begin? 
Well, the answer is I know my self well, and,,,,,,,, if I want to stay centered on the Lord this Christmas season, I have to FOCUS on the LORD. 
Prepare the Way is the name of my Focus Phrase course this month.  Prepare the Way.  It is an intentional phrase.  It suggests that the responsiblity to be "ready" lies with us, with me. 
I want to be ready this year.  So much has changed in my life and I just feel too old to wonder why I never do what i say I am goint to do - keep it simple, spend less money, remember those who have blessed my life beyond measure time after time.- sooo, I know that if I want to walk away proud, I have to commmit to the preparation.  Even a pie takes preparation, or soup - that doesn't happen without forethought - you have to set aside time. to prepare it, so I decided, intentionally, to set aside time this Advent, to Focus on the Lord and Prepare my heart for Christmas. 
What about you?  Are you preparing?
Beverly Kipp

Saturday December 4th

Today's Reading is

Matthew 3  !-12

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

 ¹ In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” ³ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
   “A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
   make straight paths for him.’”^[a]
 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. ⁶ Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
 ⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
 ¹¹ “I baptize you with^[b] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with^[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Friday, December 3rd

Today's passage is Romans 15 7-13

⁷ Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. ⁸ For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews^[b] on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed ⁹ and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
   “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
   I will sing the praises of your name.”^[c]
 10 Again, it says,
   “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”^[d]
 11 And again,
   “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
   let all the peoples extol him.”^[e]
 12 And again, Isaiah says,
   “The Root of Jesse will spring up,
   one who will arise to rule over the nations;
   in him the Gentiles will hope.”^[f]
 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thursday December 2, 2010

The Advent Reading for today is Romans 15:4-6

⁴ For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
 ⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Getting Started

Once again, I will be moderating an Advent Blog for everyone at St. John's and all who opt to follow along.
Each Day I will post the Advent Lectionary reading from our little pink daily reading booklets.
Two or three times a week, I will post a reflection. I am hoping that many of you will post reflections as well.
Write about your thoughts as we read God's Holy word together. Write about getting ready for Christmas, the good and the bad, the happy and sad, as the song goes. Write about your favorite things, or your least favorite about Christmas.
Encourage one another, inviting comment. Dig deep for how this journey feels compared to the Journey Mary and Joseph were on, oh, so long ago.
The site will be posted on St. John's web site with a link. It will ask you for a google account in order to log on and comment. To post, you must also sign in.
Give it a try. If you have any trouble, let me know and I will get Paul to help me figure it out.
Blessings on you, as we take this journey together.
Beverly Kipp
@bkipp@frontiernet.net