Advent of Love

~~~ First Sunday of Advent ~~~

~~~ Jeremiah 33:14-16 ~~~ Psalm 25 ~~~ 

~~~ 1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2 ~~~ Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 ~~~

In stillness we wait for the Lord.

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love

for one another and for all,

just as we have for you, 

so as to strengthen your hearts, 

to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father 

at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

As we begin this season of Advent 

we strive to love more...

to be more loving.

Now is the time to prepare a place in your heart

where love can flourish...

where the blossom can open completely.

The Lord Bless you and keep you.

Keep Vigilant.

The Lord is coming swaddled in hope and love.

~~~Peace~~~

Be Vigilant at All Times

~~~ Daniel 7:15-27 ~~~ (Psalm) Daniel 3:82-87 ~~~ 

~~~ Luke 21:34-36 ~~~ 

Be vigilant at all times

and pray that you have the strength

to escape the tribulations that are imminent

and to stand before the Son of Man.

It is not easy to find the strength to vigilant all the time...

this is where the power of pray takes precedence.

Whatever tribulations encountered along your path of life,

prayer makes them all more palatable.

We must first withstand our trials and tribulations

prior to standing before Jesus.

We must keep up the good fight.

We must remain steadfast no matter what happens.

We must be on our guard for that which is designed to deceive us.

The empty promises of drugs, alcohol and sex

in excess are designed to make our hearts drowsy.

The anxieties of life do not retreat 

when our hearts are numbed.

It is like wearing a mask to hide your 

real appearance before others.

Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy

from carousing and drunkenness

and the anxieties of daily life...

Jesus revealed to the people their history

 and what was yet to come.

It is understandable for him to caution

 them about becoming anxious.

It is so easy to relieve our stress by raising a glass of alcohol

 or through consuming our favorite foods.

Too much carousing numbs the heart and mind.

Some drunks are happy, some are sad, 

and others become angry and violent.

If we are to remain vigilant we must be at our best.

We must not be under influences

that cloud our conviction to be vigilant.

Be vigilant at all times

and pray that you have the strength...

God alone sees who you truly are in your heart.

Since he alone knows within the depths of your soul;

it is him alone who can strengthen you in your prayers.

As we know all things are possible with God.

Prayer makes us mindful of the presence of God.

He is the one through whom we live, and breathe.

He is the one who sustains our life.

Be Vigilant!

Do not become Drowsy!

Pray to have Strength!

Let the Blessings of Gratitude

flow freely through your heart 

where there will be no space for anxieties.

~~~Peace~~~

Consecrated in the Truth

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 20:28-38 ~~~ Psalm 68 ~~~ John 17:11b-19 ~~~

 

Paul prepares his followers for his certain departure.

He warns them that they will have trials and hardships; that is part of life.

He reminds them to stay strong...

be vigilant

 

Paul gives them over to the Lord for safe keeping.

God has actually always been the one who was providing for them;

it just appeared to them to be coming from Paul.

God was indeed using Paul as his vehicle in spreading his message.

 

I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.

 

Paul is emphasizing the power of the words of Jesus...

words that can inspire, strengthen, heal...

Words they should continue to hold close to their hearts.

Words they should let permeate into the whole being.

If they do as Paul is suggesting,

 they will no longer need him to show the way.

He reminds them of one last important truth...

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

Giving is better than receiving,

 even though we all enjoy receiving occasionally.

 

 

In the Gospel today we see Jesus preparing to leave and praying for the community.

Jesus is praying through the Father for all of us.

This is an intercessory prayer from Jesus for us.

 

Whenever you are plagued with thoughts that you are forgotten;

remember this passage from the Bible.

Jesus prayed for you.

 

In his prayer he states how he protected and cared for the people.

Jesus brought to earth the words of God the Father.

Now he is asking the Father to bless us in a special manner...

to consecrate us...more exactly to consecrate us in truth.

 

Consecrated to be used as God sees fit to use us.

We are no longer here just for ourselves we are here for God's use.

Set apart for truth.

This is overwhelming if we do not allow the words,

his words, to reign in our hearts.

 

'...Consecrate them in the truth.
Your word is truth.'

 

We are given a special consecration

to go forth proclaiming the sacred words of Jesus.

For when we use his words to give to others we are giving him as well.

The Father and the Son are one with the Word.

As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world.

 

Just as God the Father sent forth Jesus to spread the good news,

Jesus now sends us to follow in his footsteps and do likewise.

 

We do not belong to the world;

we belong to God in heaven...Jesus left us the plan to join him there.

 

The Easter Blessing of consecration in the truth.

We have been set apart by Jesus for God the Father.

Let us rejoice and be glad!