Celebrating Advent
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WHILE YOU WAIT...
By Chelsea Bailey
You’re going to ascend and see
from a higher angle — aerial, eternal.
You’re going to run your race with endurance.
You’re not just going to talk.
You’re going to walk the walk
with exuberance, not weariness.
You’re going to sing,
SHOUT,
Cry out.
Your praise and your words
and your whole, holy life will prophesy:
He keeps his promises!
The King has come.
The King is coming.
Look!
Live!
Celebrate
while you wait...
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Isaiah 40:27-31
Hope
by Wendy Gerdes
Luke 1:28-31 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.”
Luke 1:45 “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
(Excerpt from Mary’s Song) Luke 1:50-55 “His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm, he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Dimming hope of promises fulfilled held in hearts growing weary. For some, daily rhythm of life and oppression leading to cynicism and forgetting. Hearts hanging between promised hope and hope promised. In the space where faith lies, some holding, seeing and believing, breathing daily and rhythms steady, looking for a glimmer of hope. Generations ending and others beginning, one giving hope to the next, “Keep believing. Hope is coming.”
Girl in her village daily working; quietly to herself singing, “Hope will be coming.” Angel appearing proclaiming, “Now is the time, Hope is coming and it is Hope you will be carrying. Do not be afraid. His name is Jesus.” Hope is NOW coming. God’s word is never failing. God is with you! “Blessed is she who has believed the Lord would fulfill His promises to her.” Mercy eternally extending. Loving arms lifting the low. Hope filling the hungry with good things. The deep parts of man satisfying. Hope fulfilled. He will be coming.
Humanity caught between hoping and despairing. Beloved mankind in this life daily working, hoping against hope that Hope will be coming. Now is the time, Hope is coming. Do not be afraid, His name is Jesus. Hope is NOW coming. Keep believing! God’s word is never failing. God is with you!
Blessed are you who believe God will fulfill His promises to you. To you, mercy extending. Loving arms lifting the sad, the hurting, the despairing. Hope filling the seeking. The emptiness of man satisfying. Hope fulfilled. He has come. Jesus.
Link to Wendy's blog