In this second week of Advent we celebrate FAITH in his Coming. Our faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence which is not seen” (Heb. 11:1), and “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6). As we light the first and second candle, we prayerfully ask for faith to see Christ again. When we look at the first Advent story, we see ordinary humans who are surprised by God and have to deal with their own questions and unbelief…just like we do.
Read: Psalm 100:1-5 (NIV)
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Today, hopefully for all of us, we celebrate Advent in worship with our community of faith. Today and tomorrow I want us to think a bit about Advent for others around us. Today, is short in it’s meditation.
Each day of Advent is an opportunity to turn my heart towards God in worship by focusing on the real reason we celebrate Christmas. This is the 2nd Sunday in Advent and it takes our Advent journey away from our own private (or perhaps if you’re doing this with a spouse/family) time of worship and brings it back to our worship in community. Along with many others we “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.”
I want to do that intentionally, purposefully, and excitedly…because He has made me, and those I worship with, for Himself and together as a faith community we declare His worth (worth-ship).
A Prayer of Praise and a Song:
“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Today as you go to worship pray for God’s joy to flood over your own soul, but also to the many other souls around you.
A Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I ask that my worship with others this day be a genuine expression of my heart filled with your name and your joy.”
Read: Psalm 100:1-5 (NIV)
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Today, hopefully for all of us, we celebrate Advent in worship with our community of faith. Today and tomorrow I want us to think a bit about Advent for others around us. Today, is short in it’s meditation.
Each day of Advent is an opportunity to turn my heart towards God in worship by focusing on the real reason we celebrate Christmas. This is the 2nd Sunday in Advent and it takes our Advent journey away from our own private (or perhaps if you’re doing this with a spouse/family) time of worship and brings it back to our worship in community. Along with many others we “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.”
I want to do that intentionally, purposefully, and excitedly…because He has made me, and those I worship with, for Himself and together as a faith community we declare His worth (worth-ship).
A Prayer of Praise and a Song:
“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Today as you go to worship pray for God’s joy to flood over your own soul, but also to the many other souls around you.
A Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I ask that my worship with others this day be a genuine expression of my heart filled with your name and your joy.”
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