Heavenly Father, as we prepare to meet our Messiah, may our hearts be freed from every evil thought, word, or deed, that would stand in the way of His coming to us.
“Prepare the way O Zion, your Christ is drawing near, let every hill and valley a level way appear, greet One who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story, oh blessed is Christ that comes in God’s most holy name. He brings God’s rule O, Zion, he comes from heaven above, lift high praise resounding, for grace and joy abounding, oh blessed ins Christ who comes in God’smost holy name.”
“The King shall come when morning dawns and earth’s dark night is past, O haste the rising of that morn, the day that ever shall last.” What a day glorious day that will be!
“The King shall come when morning dawns and light triumphant breaks, when beauty glides the eastern hills and life to joy awakes. And let the endless bliss begin, by weary saints foretold, when right shall triumph over wrong and truth shall be extolled. ” Oh, Christians get ready to salute the happy morn!
We have so much to be thankful for and we owe it all to God.
“Tell out my soul, the greatness of the Lord, un-numbered blessings make my spirit voice, tender to me the promise of his word, in God my Savior shall my heart rejoice. I will make know his might and the many deeds his arm has done and be grateful that his mercy is forever sure.”
“There is no place where earth’s sorrows are more felt than up in heaven, there is no place where earth’s failings have such kindly judgment given.” That’s because we have a wonderful Savior.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, “The love of God is broader than the measure of the mind, and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind. Oh, there’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea, there is kindness in his justice, which is more than liberty. There is welcome for the sinner, and more graces for the good, there is mercy with the Savior, there is healing in his blood.” Oh, thank you, Jesus, for your mercy and grace. We don’t deserve it but you are good, and your mercy endures through all generations.
“Savior of the nations, come, virgin’s son, make here your home, marvel now both heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth.”
“Redeemer of the nations, come, reveal yourself in the virgin birth, the birth which ages all adore, a wondrous birth befitting God. Wondrous birth, O Wondrous child, of the virgin undefiled, Mighty God and Mary’s son, eager now his race to run.” Come, Lord, Jesus!
Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help, whose hope is in the Lord their God. Psalm 146:4
The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want, because He daily spreads a table before me, in the presence of my enemies, He anoints my head with oil and my cup runs over, therefore I will hope in the Lord, my God, and trust him with my whole heart.
Today is the Third Sunday of Advent, and as we light the candle of joy, let us focus on the joy of the Lord, which is our strength.
“A candle is burning, a candle of JOY, a candle to welcome brave Mary’s new boy, our hearts fill with wonder and eyes light and glow, as joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow.”
“This is the day the Lord has made, He calls the hours His own, let heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad, and praise surround the throne.”
“Blessed be the Lord who comes to us, with messages of grace, He comes in God His father’s name, to save our sinful race.” Thank you, Lord, for saving me!
My brothers and sisters in Christ, the King is coming, make sure that your lamps are burning, and replenish them with oil. Keep watch!
“Rejoice! Rejoice believers, and let your lights appear, the evening is advancing and darker night is near, the Bridegroom is arising and soon He will draw nigh, just watch in expectation at midnight comes the cry.”
During this Advent Season, my hope is for all of us to come to Jesus with humble and repentant hearts, so that we could all be pure and blameless before the King when he comes.
If I have wounded any soul today, if I have caused one foot to go astray, if I have walked in my own willful way, dear Lord, forgive! If I have uttered idle words or vain, if I have turned aside from want or pain, lest I offend some other through the strain, dear Lord, forgive! If I have been perverse, or hard, or cold, if I have longed for shelter in the fold, when thou hast given me some fort to hold, dear Lord, forgive! Forgive the sins I have confessed to thee; forgive the secret sins I do not see; O guide me, love me, and my keeper be, dear Lord, forgive. Amen!