Advent Week 3....Joy

This week the third candle of Advent represents joy. This week we remember that God sent Jesus so that we would always that God cares for us. We feel joy when we remember the love that God has for us. During Advent, we pray that we may remember again God's gift of Jesus to the world and know the joy that gift brings to all people.

Dear God, thank you for your son, Jesus. Thank you for the joy remembering Jesus' birth brings to us today. Help us to live in such a way that our words and our actions help others to know the joy you give.

Luke 1: 47-55

What does joy mean to you?

Advent Week 2- Love

This week the second candle of advent reminds us of God's love. John 3:16 reminds us of the great love that He has for us. He loved us so much that He sent His son that we might know the height, depth, and width of His love for us.

This week we remember God's love for us and think about how we can show others God's love to other people in our lives. This week think about if there is someone you know who needs to hear the words of God's love. Then think about ways in which you can demonstrate the love of God to them.

Dear God, thank you for your son, Jesus. Thank you for the versus that remind us of your love and care. Help us to see how we bring this love to the people in our schools, at our jobs, and in our neighborhoods. Help us to be messengers of God's love for everyone.

Philippians 1-3:11

Friday's Letters

Dear Friday, boy am I glad to see you. It has been a really long week and I am so glad it is nearly over. Thank goodness for the weekend! Dear Winter, I am not ready for you to come yet. It would be nice if you stayed on the mild side this year. I am not in the mood for cold weather. Dear December, I cannot believe it that you are already here and that it is nearly Christmas. What the heck! Dear Husband, I am so proud of you for how well you are doing in school. I know that what you are doing is not easy and requires a lot of work. But I know it will be worth it in the end. Dear Self, only one more week of school before Christmas break. Whoohoo! You can make it.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

 

The Case of The Missing Husband

 

 

Has anyone seen this man? He has disappeared in his studies and I can't seem to find him. Lately he has been spending so much time at school and with his study group that I was about to put out a missing person report on him.

 

One thing I have learned over the past few months is that having a spouse who is working on a medical degree equals not seeing much of them at all. When my husband decided to get his degree in physical therapy I did not realize how much time and energy it would take. And it seems that as finals are quickly approaching I am seeing less and less of him.

 

I am so proud of him for sticking with it and following through with his goal of becoming a physical therapist. I know that he is going to make a fantastic therapist one day. But the road there has not been an easy one. I am jealous of the time that he spends studying his class material. And I feel selfish wishing that he would spend time with me rather than doing his homework. I am also jealous of the fact that right now his classmates see him more than I do. But I am slowly beginning to realize that this is just a sacrifice that we are both going to have to make in order to have a better future for our family. I just wish that the journey to get there was not so hard. But I know it will be worth it in the end.

 

Until then I will just be patient and know that the end is in sight.

 



Advent...Week 1

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the lighting of the Advent Wreath each week at church. I love the whole meaning behind the lighting of each candle. It is a great reminder of the love that Christ has for us all. Each week I will be posting a devotional from the Advent Wreath Meditations. May we all remember the what this season is all about.

Week One:
Jeremiah 33:14-16
"Behold the days are coming, says the Lord, That I will perform that good think which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved. And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called. The Lord our righteousness."

The season of Advent is an invitation to meditate on the promises of God.
In these verses Jeremiah sees:
....a righteous leader will spring up
....one who will carry out justice and righteousness
....one who brings salvation and safety for the people

How then do we live as those who believe the promises of God will be fulfilled?
....as those who lift up their souls to God
....as those who walk a path of love and faithfulness
....as those who work for justice and righteousness
....as those who live in the light of hope

The days are surely coming, says the Lord when I will fulfill the promises I have made.
To you, O Lord, we life up our souls: In you, O God we trust.
The one who is coming will show us the path of steadfast love and faithfulness.
Teach us your ways, O God of our salvation.