Third Sunday of Advent: Joy

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Psalm 5:11

This is a picture of JOY.  Not what you expected?  Let me explain.

This is a picture of our Seeing Eye dog, Irwin.  We are fostering him until he goes to school in another month or two.  This picture was taken after we first got him about a year ago when he was seven weeks old.  Everyone is pretty happy and joyful when Irwin arrived.  But there was another type of “joy” we experienced as he became part of family.

Whenever I came home from work for the first few months, Irwin would run to the door to greet me.  He was always so excited that he would lose control and pee on the floor and sometimes on me.  I’m not sure if animals experience true “joy”, but it seems to me our puppy was experiencing uncontrollable happiness whenever I returned.  I don’t know that we’ll pee ourselves, but I have to believe we will experience an uncontrollable joy when Christ returns.

If you come from a more traditional church background, you probably will be lighting the third candle on the church’s advent wreath.  Today is the third Sunday of Advent.  Many people around the world will be talking about joy.  Today’s verse above talks about an everlasting joy that comes to those who take refuge in God.  When we sing Joy To The World at Christmas time, it’s not about the joy of a new puppy or a new baby. Christmas is about a joy that can only come through a Savior.  May you know joy this season in a new way as we anticipate Christ’s return.

How have you experienced joy this week?

Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community and Fresh Brewed Sundays.  Hop on over here and here to see what I’m talking about.

(To set your mind at ease, Irwin doesn’t pee on me anymore.  We think he’s going to be a great Seeing Eye Guide Dog.)

The Second Sunday of Advent: Love

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13

I shared a similar picture last week, but it fits so well with today’s post that I had to share this one this week.

If you come from a more traditional church background, you probably will be lighting the second candle on the church’s advent wreath.  Today, is the second Sunday of Advent.  Many people around the world will be talking about love.  Today’s verse above expresses an extreme love.  Christmas is way more than presents and a baby in a manger.  Christmas is about a God who loves us so much that He would send His Son to pay the penalty for us on the cross.  May you know God’s love this season in a deeper way.

As we go through this time of preparing for Christmas, may we also share God’s love with those around us.

How have you experienced God’s love this week?

Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community and Fresh Brewed Sundays.  Hop on over here and here to see what I’m talking about.

The First Sunday of Advent: Hope

We wait in hope for the Lord;

he is our help and our shield.

Psalm 33:20

If you come from a more traditional church background, you probably will be lighting the first candle on the church’s advent wreath.  Today, is the first Sunday of Advent.  Many people around the world will be talking about hope.  We can have amazing hope because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.  We have hope in His second coming.  We have hope of spending eternity with Him in heaven.

As we go through this time of preparing for Christmas, may we be hopeful for what is to come.  May we share the hope we have with a broken world.

What are you hoping for today?

Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community and Fresh Brewed Sundays.  Hop on over here and here to see what I’m talking about.

Do Unto Others

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:31

 

It seems appropriate to post this picture taken at Thanksgiving Square in Dallas, TX this week following the Thanksgiving holiday.  When our family was visiting my folks at Easter this year, we had the privilege of visiting Thanksgiving Square.  This mosaic in the square grabbed my attention.  As we continue through this holiday season, may we especially remember to look after others.

How will you flesh this verse out today?

Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community and Fresh Brewed Sundays.  Hop on over here and here to see what I’m talking about.

Persevere

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3

How is your race going this week?  How have you persevered this week?  How could perseverance change things in your life next week?

Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community and Fresh Brewed Sundays.  Hop on over here and here to see what I’m talking about.