LOVE AND CHRIST

       

LOVE

        LIGHT THE FIRST PURPLE CANDLE, “Jesus is our HOPE”

        LIGHT SECOND  Purple CANDLE  Jesus is our  PEACE

LIGHT THE PINK CANDLE “Jesus is JOY”   

Matthew 2:1-2

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem  and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

       

        John 3:16-17

 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.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him

        LIGHT THE Last PURPLE CANDLE

We light this candle to represent LOVE.  God loved us so much he sent his only Son and Christ loved us enough to come to earth and lay down is life so that all people can be saved.  Throughout the year we may love others as Christ loves us.

        PRAYER

        Our Lord God and gracious Father, we thank You for Your Son and the gift He was and is to all

of us.      “Lord in You our hearts rejoice, for we trust in Your holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.” (from Psalm 21-22)

      CHRIST

        Christ Candle  (CHRISTMAS Eve)

"For unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

        Luke 2:11   “CHRIST IS OUR HOPE”

        LIGHT THE 1st  PURPLE CANDLE

"Glory to God in the highest, PEACE on earth, good will toward men” Luke 2:14

        CHRIST IS OUR PEACE       

        LIGHT THE 2nd PURPLE CANDLE

“Behold, I bring you good news of a great JOY which will come to all the people…” Luke2:10

        “CHRIST IS OUR JOY” 

        LIGHT THE PINK CANDLE

But God demonstrates His own LOVE for us in this:  While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8  

        “CHRIST IS LOVE”

        LIGHT THE LAST  PURPLE CANDLE

        Jesus Christ is all of these, He is the Greatest gift.  He makes all these other gifts possible.  

So, we light the Christ candle now, as we think about what His coming means to each one of us.

LIGHT THE LARGE WHITE CANDLE 

1 John 4:9-12

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us

Prayer

Romans 15:13 “ May the God of HOPE fill you with all JOY  and PEACE as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  

We thank you God, for your gift of Jesus Christ to the whole world.  We thank you that His coming makes HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE possible for every person in every nation. Encourage us to do our part to bring goodwill, and peace to our families, our churches and our neighborhoods and the world.

Now, may Your Spirit fill us and our hearts so that this Christmas Day we bring You all the honor and glory befitting our Great and merciful Savior!  Amen       

    

The Third Sunday of Advent JOY

LIGHT THE FIRST Purple CANDLE,  “Jesus is our HOPE”

             LIGHT THE SECOND PURPLE CANDLE “Jesus is our PEACE

Luke 2:10-14    But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

        John 15:10-11

 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

LIGHT THE PINK CANDLE

We light this candle to represent JOY.  The JOY that comes with the anticipation of the birth of a King.  The JOY that comes from knowing and accepting who Jesus is and what He came to this earth to do for you and for me. 

               

Prayer is from Psalm 28:7
“Lord you are our strength and shield; our hearts trust in you, and we are helped. Our hearts leap for JOY and we give thanks to you in song.” Lord may our joy be complete this season and throughout the year as we love others in the same way You love us.

My prayer for you today is that you know His joy deep in your hearts,  and that it overwhelms you so that you HAVE to share it!

Second Sunday of Advent PEACE

December 10th 

Peace   

                        LIGHT THE FIRST PURPLE CANDLE, “ Jesus Christ is our HOPE

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this            Isaiah 9:6-7

LIGHT THE   SECOND PURPLE CANDLE

“We light this candle to represent PEACE.   

Ephesians 2:13-18

 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,  having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,  and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

                       

He came to bring peace, to preach  peace, to be our peace!  His presence gives us peace, a peace that can sustain us day by day and that peace which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:7

                         The PRAYER( is from John 14:27)

Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  Lord thank You for Your peace that is available to all.  Amen

My prayer for you is that you feel HIS peace today, and always!

First Sunday of Advent HOPE

Yesterday was the first Sunday of the advent season.  I did this last year..this years will be similar but not exactly the same so please don't feel your are getting a repeat.

I encourage you (and your family) to do the weekly advent candle to prepare for Christmas...when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child!(for those who don't know and would like to...traditionally the advent candles are 3 purple candles, one pink candle and one larger Christ candle..usually placed in a circular wreath) Doing this at the beginning of each week may help keep us focused on why we celebrate Christmas at all! My prayer for your family and mine is that we see the HOPE, PEACE JOY and LOVE that comes from Jesus CHRIST, not just for 'the season but our whole life through!

Hope  

        Matthew 1:20-23

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”  22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[g] (which means “God with us”).

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

(Jeremiah 17:7-8) 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,  And whose hope is the Lord.

        LIGHT THE FIRST PURPLE CANDLE

    “We light this candle to represent HOPE. The prophecy of HOPE for a Savior to come.

HOPE in the birth of a child .  We have the HOPE of Christ’s coming again. We HOPE for the Savior’s love to be spread through-out the world.

        Prayer

Heavenly Father we thank you for the hope that we have in You.  You were, are and will be forever the HOPE of the world! May all who are here place their hope in You and You alone. Amen