3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

God

Sunday, Third Week Advent: 3rd Sunday Advent Joy and Blessings

by

3rd Week of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday and the rejoicing and blessing the Lord Jesus Christ gives to us.Blessing in the 3rd Sunday of Advent

The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. It’s when the Pink Candle of Advent is lit. Just like I described in my Advent colors post and yesterday this is a day to rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:4-5)

Rejoice because we receive God’s blessings. Where? In church, from Jesus during multiple times during the service.  Don’t believe me, let’s count.

When do you receive blessings in church service?

  1. In the opening of the Lutheran Service the Salutation “The Lord be with you.”,
  2. The apostolic greeting “Grace, peace and mercy to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
  3. At the end of the sermon, before the Lords Supper,
  4. Another after the Words of Institution “The peace of the Lord be with you always”
  5. During communion after receiving the Lords Supper
  6. Finally, at the end of service during the Benediction.

Six times that I can count, and many times after I hear a blessing during service I take a deep breath, breathe it in and I feel myself relax. Just like when you receive counseling from someone and it soothes your soul and centers your mind. Now does the title Wonderful Counselor make sense?

So REJOICE, for the Wonderful Counselor is coming!

Weekly Advent Readings: Saturday, 3rd Week Advent

Today’s Reading Matthew 11:2-11

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 33: 1-24;  Revelation 5: 1-14 


Saturday, Second Week Advent: Pink Candle of Advent

by

Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. Find the meaning of the pink candle of Advent? Rejoice!Time to Light the Pink Candle of Advent!!

What does that mean?!! 

It means Christmas is getting closer!! Tomorrow is the 3rd week of Advent.

Hurry, get ready. Is your tree decorated, are the cookies baked? Are the presents wrapped?

The pink candle of Advent is about to be lite? Are you ready!!!??? Can you ever be ready for Christmas?

I know there is always ONE more present to buy, gifts to wrap and one more recipe to add to Christmas dinner. Did someone say stuffed mushrooms?

Oh yes, I digress. It’s a tangent habit of mine.

The Lord is not trying to add one more burden to your Christmas.

Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:45)

Tomorrow is Gaudete Sunday when the “rose” or pink candle on the Advent wreath is lite. During my Advent daily readings, I explain the meaning of the candles on the advent and what the colors represent.

Gaudete is the Latin imperative, “Rejoice!” Rejoice because the Lord is coming. Rejoice because the birth of the baby Jesus is near.

The light on the Advent candles lights the way to Christ. They glow brightly at the front of the church to remind us Jesus, the light of the world is coming who will bring light into the darkness.

Relax, Jesus the Light of the World is Coming

If we want to take time to do anything else this season REJOICING should be at the top of the list!

When we take time out to rejoice and praise the Lord it soothes the soul. It causes us to pause and contemplate what the Advent season is all about. You can almost feel the stress starting to fall away, you can feel the pain fall away when you put your trust in this newborn baby Jesus.

Don’t believe me? Try it. 

Eternal God, Your Word has been sent forth into the world to the joy and edification of Your holy people. Grant that Your Word may encourage, comfort and strengthen all who hear it. Grant faith to those who do not know You, both here and abroad, that all peoples may sing to Your name and extol Your goodness. By the power of the Holy Spirit, fill all who hear Your Word with all joy and peace in believing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.”

Weekly Advent Readings: Saturday, 2nd Week Advent

Today’s Reading Introit for Advent 3

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 32: 1-20;  Revelation 4: 1-11 


Friday, Second Week Advent: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Hymn

by

Come Thou Expected Jesus to the Earth

The Advent hymn, “Oh Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” pleads for the baby Jesus to set thy people free. Free us from our fears and sin. During this Christmas season, we don’t want to hear that we are imprisoned and need setting free.

But we are captive. Captive to sin. Temptation surrounds us every day. We daily struggle in our minds with fear. Fear of not having enough money, fear of gossip that surrounds us. Fear of not being accepted. Listen to the words to Come Thou Long Expected Jesus. Really listen.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dmO8UPlWoo[/embedyt]Come, Thou long expected Jesus, 

Once we are free of our sins they cannot hurt us any longer. Like the title Everlasting Father, God rebukes us. We don’t like discipline. But we need it. What happens when parents don’t discipline their children? They don’t learn right from wrong. It’s not because parents like punishing their children. Trust me, we don’t, it often hurts us more. God corrects us out of love. Christ Jesus the Everlasting Father serves as an example of a kind, loving Father.

Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. Learn the symbolism and meaning of advent candles . Listen to Come Thou Long Expected Jesus and sing along with the lyrics.Words to Come Though Long Expected Jesus

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, 
Hope of all the earth Thou art,
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver;
Born a child and yet a  king!
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit 
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.


Weekly Advent Readings: Friday, 2nd Week Advent

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30: 15-26;  Revelation 1: 1-29 


Thursday, 2nd Week Advent: Music and Lyrics, Hark The Herald Angels Sing

by

Pentatonix: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

By now you know I LOVE Christmas carols and Christmas music of all kinds. I’m also a fan of the acapella music group Pentatonix. I also play piano during Advent and Lenten services on Wednesday night services. On Wednesday our closing Advent Hymn was “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!”

It is a congregational favorite and voices rang out in the church as I absorbed the Christmas joy into my heart and soul.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaOGqEadTsM[/embedyt]

Did you enjoy that? Pentaonix also sings Mary Did You Know, Away in a Manager, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen all of which I will write about this Advent season. So make sure to subscribe so you won’t miss a single day.

Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. Learn the symbolism and meaning of advent candles . Listen to Pentatonix Hark Herald Angels Sing and sing along with the lyrics.Lyrics: Hark Herald Angels Sing

The words of Hark the Herald Angels sing tell about the Advent birth announcement of the baby Jesus. The Angels announced the coming of not just a baby, but a wonderful Counselor, a Mighty God, and eternal Father. This year don’t just sing the first stanza of but sing all the words to Hark the Herald Angels Sing in all three verses.

Hark! The herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King:

Peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations, rise, 

Join the triumph of the skies;

With the angelic host proclaim,

“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

 

Christ, by highest heav’n adored,

Christ the everlasting Lord, 

Late in time behold Him come,

Offspring of a virgins’ womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, 

Hail the incarnate Deity!

Pleased as Man with man to dwell,

Jesus, our Immanuel!

 

Hail, the heav’n born Prince of Peace!

Hail, the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings,

Risn’ with healing in His wings,

Mild He lays His glory by, 

Born that man no more may die,

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth

 

Hark! Herald Herald Angels Sing Sheet Music

When I play this popular Christmas carol on the piano I normally add my own style, chords, and incidentals to the original version in the Lutheran Hymnal. But if you have not reached the comfort level experiment with various sheet music for your skill level.

Advent Devotional Readings: Thursday, 2nd Week Advent

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30: 15-26;  Revelation 1: 1-29 


Wednesday, 2nd Week Advent: What is the Meaning of Gifts at Christmas

by

Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. Learn the symbolism and meaning of advent candles .Why do we give gifts: Christmas meaning of giving

Right now many people are scrambling and rushing about trying to get the “perfect” gift for that special someone for Christmas. Expectations are high and everyone wants to find unique gifts at Christmas time to outdo, outspend and impress other people.

What if we stopped?

What is the meaning of gifts at Christmas anyway?

Gifts are given and not deserved. They are never earned. On Christmas, you receive the gift of the baby Jesus despite how naughty or nice you were during the year.

Parts of a Gift: The giver, the receiver and the gift itself.

A true gift is given without any expectations from the receiver. The receiver doesn’t expect a gift and often doesn’t deserve it. The giver gives without expecting anything in return. No payback, no bribes are intended, no quid pro quo.

There is nothing for the receiver to say or do other than thanks. Get it, nothing.

Isn’t that wonderful!!!

A true gift gives back with the thanks received and the joy returned by the receiver. Think about it.

What was the best gift you ever gave to someone? It probably was a surprise, unexpected, something you thought about long and hard. You gave it at the right time, at the right place, you didn’t expect anything in return and it was accepted with pure joy. A smile, a hug, and sincere thanks made it all worth worthwhile.

God gave us that one very big, impressive, one of a kind gift.

Jesus Christ is HIS gift to the world. He is God’s gift to us and all we have to do is accept it. We don’t have to do anything for it, we don’t have to “repay” one gift with another.

That is how we should give and receive Christmas gifts this year.

Advent Devotional Readings: Wednesday, 2nd Week Advent

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 29: 15-21; 14  Revelation 1: 1-20