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.
How To Fill Your Barns
Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10
How are you and I honoring God with our wealth this week?
Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community. Hop on over here to see what I’m talking about.
Autumn
‘We should fear the Lord our God,
who gives us autumn and spring rains in their seasons,
who makes sure we have the harvest at the right time.’
Jeremiah 5:24
How did you see God working this week?
Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community. Hop on over here to see what I’m talking about.
Community
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47
I witnessed this on a smaller level this week. It’s amazing what can happen when a group of believers unite together for something good.
How did you experience community this week?
Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community. Hop on over here to see what I’m talking about.
The Ultimate Construction Manager
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Psalm 127:1-2
What are you building? Is God in charge of the construction? Or have you left Him off the construction team?
Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community. Hop on over here to see what I’m talking about.
Looking After Widows And Orphans
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27
How are you and I living this out today?
this world?
Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community. Hop on over here to see what I’m talking about.
Be Generous To The Hungry
As I was looking at this picture, I thought about feeding others. As Christians, we are called to feed the needy. This doesn’t start with our political vote (although you may think that will make the ultimate difference). It starts with each one of us taking action. Here’s a passage from the book of Isaiah that expands on this thought:
“If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people’s sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You’ll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.
Isaiah 58:9-12 (The Message)
How are you and I being generous to the hungry? How can we bring light to the dark and shadowed areas of this world?
Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community. Hop on over here to see what I’m talking about.
Run For The Son
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
I Corinthians 9:24-27
What are you training for? How do you discipline yourself to keep going?
Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community. Hop on over here to see what I’m talking about.