'advent' Tagged Posts
Everyday Incarnation and Waiting on Jesus (Luke 2:22-32 Devotional)
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the…
Advent Hope for the Valley (Christmas Devotional)
We find ourselves now in the season of Advent. It’s fitting, really, that we end our Through the Valley series during this season, for I believe it’s in the promise of Advent that we find hope as we walk through whatever valleys life may bring our way. Some, I suppose, may deem the topics we’ve covered over the last several weeks to be “depressing” or too heavy to dwell on for too long. We’ve waded into some deep waters: racism…
Gospel-Centered Advent Reading Christmas Eve: The Christ Candle
Since the moment Adam took a bite out of the forbidden fruit we’ve all been waiting for a Savior to come and put things right again (Gen 3:15). We waited during the time of Noah and the flood. We waited during the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We waited during the years of captivity in Egypt and the years of spiritual rebellion in Israel. We waited under the good but broken King David and the bad kings who followed.…
Gospel-Centered Advent Reading Week 4: The Love Candle
The big story of the Bible is all about the one true God who chooses to love unloveable people. After Moses brought the people of Israel safely out of slavery in Egypt they came to a mountain called Sinai where God made a special covenant promise to love and care for them. Yet even as God was making this promise they made a golden calf to love and worship. God would have destroyed the people in that moment if Moses…
Gospel-Centered Advent Reading Week 3: The Joy Candle
Can you imagine the joy Adam and Eve must have felt to walk with God in the garden of Eden? They knew and experienced their Creator face to face. We can also imagine the despair they experienced when they were cast out of Eden for sinning against God. Yet in his mercy God began to restore the joy of knowing and experiencing him through a man he named Abraham and his descendants Israel. God often leads people into trial so…
Gospel-Centered Advent Reading Week 2: The Peace Candle
In the beginning we had peace with God and each other. When we chose our way instead of God’s way we traded our peace for conflict and war. Humankind ruled with an iron fist and so God wiped all people but Noah and his family off the face of the earth with a flood. As the waters dried Noah sent a dove from the ark to search for dry land. It returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf. The dove…
Gospel-Centered Advent Reading Week 1: The Hope Candle
Creation began with hope. In the first verses of the Bible God called hope out of the chaotic darkness. Genesis 1:2-3 (NIV) Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. At the beginning there was so much hope. Into this hope-filled world God brought the first man and woman, Adam and Eve.…
Advent Reading Christmas Eve: The Glorious Christ
Please enjoy Cornerstone Congregational Church’s reading for Advent on Christmas Eve, the Christ candle. Thank you Kathy Harwood for writing this reflection. For more advent readings click here.
Advent Reading Week 4: Love in Action
Please enjoy Cornerstone Congregational Church’s reading for the fourth week of Advent, the love candle. Thank you Kathy Harwood for writing this reflection. For other Cornerstone Christmas Advent Readings click here.
Advent Reading Week 3: Joy To The World
Please enjoy Cornerstone Congregational Church’s reading for the third week of Advent, the joy candle. Thank you Kathy Harwood for writing this reflection. For other Cornerstone Christmas Advent Readings click here.
Advent Reading Week 2: Peace Has Come
Please enjoy Cornerstone Congregational Church’s reading for the second week of Advent, the peace candle. Thank you Kathy Harwood for writing this reflection. For other Cornerstone Christmas Advent Readings click here.
Advent Reading Week 1: Christ is the Hope of the World
Please enjoy Cornerstone Congregational Church’s reading for the first week of Advent, the hope candle. Thank you Kathy Harwood for writing this reflection. For other Cornerstone Christmas Advent Readings click here.
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