3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

religion

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 


Monday, Second Week Advent: The Christian Meaning of the Advent Candles and Wreath

by

Symbolism and Meaning: Advent Candles

Christians around the world light traditional Advent candles to observe the coming of Christ who is the light of the world. Advent wreaths are found in churches and homes and mark each Sunday in the Advent season.

In the Lutheran church, three purple or blue candles match the liturgical color of Advent. Blue symbolizes anticipation and hope. Violet or purple Advent candles are a symbol of royalty and recognize Advent as a time of preparation and repentance.

Pink is the Christian symbol or joy. Each candle is a step prepares for the celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus. 

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 .

Meaning First Advent Candle: Hope (purple or blue)

This is often called the Prophecy candle, or the Candle of Hope and expectation. Advent is a season of expectation. Our hope comes from God who will fill all with joy and peace. So it is appropriate that the second Advent candle symbolizes peace.

Second Advent Candle Represents: Peace (purple or blue)

Peace on earth, goodwill to men with the love of Jesus and the promise of a Savior who would be born in Bethlehem. So appropriately the 2nd Advent candle is called the Candle of Preparation. 

3rd Advent Candle Means Rejoice and JOY! (pink or rose)

Why is the third Advent candle pink? Pink or rose is a church liturgical color that signifies JOY.

On the third Sunday of Advent, the Candle of Joy or the Shepherd candle is lite.  The shepherds received a message of joy. It is a time to rejoice during this time for the coming of the Lord is coming soon.  The theme of the third Sunday in Advent is “rejoice in joy” and the Latin word is Gaudete and found originally in Phillippians 4:4. 

4th Candle of Advent: Love (purple or blue)

The meaning of the fourth Advent candle is love. It is also referred to as the Angel Candle or Candle of Love and lite on the last Sunday of Advent. With it the Angel’s announce the birth of the baby Jesus.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

5th Candle of Advent: Christ Candle (white)

Many Advent wreaths also contain a 5th candle often referred to as the Christ candle or Christmas candle. On Christmas morning it is lit and completes the season of Advent with the birth of the baby Jesus. The white candle of Christmas stands in the center of the wreath, just like Christ should stand in the center of our lives.

It is white to reminds us that Jesus is the spotless lamb of God. Clean, sinless, without blemish or stain. Jesus washes us our sins and makes us clean and without stains through the forgiveness of sin.

Meaning of the Advent Candles represents the hope, peace, joy, love of Christ.

The meanind of Advent Candles tell the story of preparation for the birth of the baby Jesus. Learn what each color represents and means.

The story of the Advent wreath tells the journey of hope of the people of Israel in a Savior. It represents the peace that comes in the joy of receiving Jesus Christ our Savior and the love of Christ for everyone.

https://www.zazzle.com/nativity_scene_christmas_metal_ornament-175157663005363150

Advent Devotional Readings: Monday, 2nd Week Advent

Reading for the 2nd Week Advent, Monday: Malachi 4: 1-6

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 28: 14-29; 13; 1  John 5: 1-21 


Friday, the First Week of Advent: Why the Promise is Important

by

Why are Promises Important?

The promise is important because it builds trust with the person who is the issues the promise. When their promises are fulfilled over and over you can have faith that future promises will be delivered.

All throughout the Bible is the word “Promise”. God promises Adam and Eve, He promised Noah, Abraham, Issac, Moses, the Children of Israel, Martha, Mary, the followers of Jesus. In almost every chapter there is a promise to an individual or a group of people.

Much of the time God’s promises after suffering or a tragedy. God promised Noah the earth would never be destroyed by flood again. He promised the Israelites suffering in Egypt that he would send them a deliverer. Moses came.

He promised Abraham He would make him the father of a great nation. Abrahams 12 sons became the 12 tribes of Israel that would eventually scatter throughout the world.  We are Abraham’s offspring.

Jesus Christ is the promise born in a manger, given to us for the salvation of the world.

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 why the promise is important from God in your life.Promises Come in Time

What is missing is “when” the promise will be fulfilled. Rarely are God’s promises quick in coming.

But God doesn’t forget about them.  The promise is important in building faith. God gave the promise of His son to Adam, Abraham, Old Testament prophets, Joseph and many others. They must have talked to others. In fact, they did. They wrote down the promise. It’s written in the book of Isaiah.

People rely on promises. They hang onto promises. Your kids hang onto the promises you make. They remind you of them. “Remember, you promised.” Promises give us faith in the future and in God. The promise is important because it gives trust and reassurance.

When we as parents honor a promise to our kids, we give them trust and reassurance. In return, our kids knowing we will honor our promises then are more inclined to honor their promise of honoring their father and mother.

Promised Birth of Baby Jesus

The birth of baby Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises. 

He is our promise that brings His people out of the bondage of slavery to their sins. A promise to heal the sick, forgive our sins and give us salvation. Jesus is our salvation and our eternal life. 

So we can trust in Jesus, true man and true God, to deliver on the promises He makes us. Our trust in Jesus is what causes us to ask for forgiveness because we know they will be forgiven.

Links for Advent Season Reflections: Friday, First Week Advent

Reading for the 1st Friday in Advent: Isaiah 9:1-7

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 24: 14-25; 1  John 2: 15-29 


Tuesday of the First Week of Advent: Prepare the Royal Highway

by

Prepare the Royal Highway

The Lord is Coming! He’s nearer now than ever and he’s closer to you than yesterday. Prepare the Royal Highway, Christmas is drawing near! God loves you and is giving you the Gift of Jesus Christ. His birth is just around the corner.

You can prepare children for Advent by actively teaching them about the importance of Jesus and how he forgives them, even when they think no one else will.

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

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. Prepare the Royal Highway for the coming of the Lord.Jesus is God’s love for all reasons.

He loves you despite what you do, despite what sins you commit. We don’t have to earn God’s love. It is a love that transcends humankind. Isn’t this great?

Man tends to put conditions on love. If you do this, then I will love you. God and Jesus love unconditionally. Even when you can’t love people around you God loves them for you. What gets in the way of God’s love? Sin.

Sin creeps into our daily life, it makes us proud, stubborn and we hurt ourselves. We sometimes feel as though we can’t go to God for forgiveness. That is why he gave us Jesus Christ to forgive our sins.

The baby Jesus is true man, and true God. He is approachable, kind, and leads by example. We can do as he has taught us, we can believe in him, ask for forgiveness and be forgiven.  This is called repenting of sins. When you recognize your sins, put them out there before our Lord and Savior and be forgiven the weight of guilt is lifted. It can no longer hurt us.

So let’s prepare the royal highway for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

During this first week of Advent clean up your life. Put away your secret sins. Stop talking about others. Don’t wish bad on those you dislike. Recognize there are sins you can’t control. Ask for forgiveness for them, ask for guidance in resolution and put a plan into place on controlling your sins.

Prayer for Advent: “Stir up Your powers, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.” (Collect for Advent 1)

Reflections the First Tuesday of Advent

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 23: 5-8

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 10: 8-12:27,3-34;  2 Peter 1: 1-21

Links to follow the First Week of Advent

Tomorrow learn how wonderful it is to be a Child of God

National Day of Prayer

by

The first Thursday of May is designated as the National Day of Prayer and people from all over the country will gather at flag poles for “See you at the Pole” events to pray for our country, our government, and good leaders. At our local school district students will meet in front first thing in the morning to observe the National Day of Prayer. To pray in Jesus name to ask Him to come into our lives, give us peace, hope, unity and strength. 

History of the National Day of Prayer

You might be surprised to learn that it was the United States government under President Truman that enacted the first official Day of Prayer.

The National Day of Prayer (36 U.S.C. § 119)[1] is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked “to turn to God in prayer and meditation”. Each year since its inception, the president has signed a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.[2] The modern law formalizing its annual observance was enacted in 1952; however, days of prayer have been called for since 1775, when the Continental Congress designated a time for prayer in forming a new nation.[3]http://en.wikipedia.org

Prayer and religious freedom is why the United States was founded. People escaped from religious persecution and found a home in America where they could worship freely. Now, more than ever we need to remember this. The Christian faith is being attacked from all sides. The military is limiting outward signs of prayer and faith. However, at least in the Marine Corps, chaplains, faith and God are a cornerstone. A prayer is said by the chaplain during the graduation ceremony.

Marine Corp Champlain leading off the graduation
Marine Corp Chaplain, Captain Johnson, leading off the graduation with prayer

The National Day of Prayer has been challenged over the years by the Freedom of Religion Foundation, but they have lost several times. When such government entities dating back to  1775 and the Continental Congress reaches all the modern day governors from all fifty states, there is support that no many can put asunder. 

Let’s continue to keep God, Christ, faith, and prayer in the United States, our country and out hearts.

 

Listen to “We Pray”, recorded for the National Day of Prayer

How will you recognize the National Day of Prayer? Will you attend a rally, have a small group. Or will you prayer privately, alone with your Father who knows and hears all things. Regardless of how you prayer, just pray, not just today, but every day. If you don’t know what to pray, or how to start, start with the Lords Prayer, which is the perfect prayer.

Links to the National Day of Prayer

National Day of Prayer to Encourage a United Voice

Thursday marks the 63rd annual National Day of Prayer. This year’s theme is “One Voice, United in Prayer.” An estimated 40,000 people nationwide will mark the day with special events, including many at local and national government buildings.
And furthermore … National Day of Prayer

Thursday is the National Day of Prayer. Now more than ever, it is appropriate to offer thanks, ask forgiveness and seek guidance. Private gatherings to offer prayers for our city, state and nation are appropriate. Indeed, they are essential. A local …
Does Fox News Know That Shirley Dobson Sees National Day Of Prayer As …

Fox News, in attacking the Military Freedom From Religion Foundation, provided a warm and affirming platform for the National Day of Prayer. Megyn Kelly interviewed former Focus on the Family head, Dr. Pat Dobson, and his wife Shirley Dobson, both of …
National Day of Prayer to Encourage a United Voice – US …

Thursday marks the 63rd annual National Day of Prayer. The theme this year: One Voice, United in Prayer.
National Day of Prayer 2014 – American Association of …

May 1st marks the 63rd Annual National Day of Prayer Celebration, and we encourage you join the hundreds of thousands of Americans who will be assembling across the nation! From the country’s inception, many of our …