Advent Week #3: Once again, please read the disclaimers first!

walking in the truth during Advent

Disclaimer #1:  The theme of my Advent devotionals continues to ride on the results of the November presidential election. Disclaimer #2:  Although I will once again reference the results, this is a non-partisan devotional . . . Promise!

Today's Truth from Scripture

"The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom . . . say to those with fearful hearts, 'Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you.' Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy . . . and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."  Isaiah 35:1a, 406a, 10

Today's devotional thoughts

As I've mentioned before, the news that greeted people early on the morning following Election Day caused despair for many but also gladness & rejoicing for many.

• Gladness & rejoicing like the wilderness blossoming? That would be . . . No.
• Gladness & rejoicing like the blind having their eyes opened? That would be . . . No.
• What about the deaf hearing? Again . . . No.
• Or the lame leaping like deer? The mute shouting for joy?
• My humble yet resolute opinion is once again . . . No . . . and No.

The Advent of our Lord is greater than any advent of a new president. 

And the wonderful thing about so many Old Testament prophecies? Not only do they proclaim the Advent of a Messiah to be born in the 1st century A.D., they also proclaim the singing . . . the everlasting joy . . . the TRUE gladness when our Savior returns to take His "ransomed" to be with Him into a new "Zion."

Isaiah is talking about Heaven, you know.

That will mean TRUE rejoicing for all believers!

That will mean a TRUE end to sorrow & sighing!

A Prayer for Advent *

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art,
Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver; Born a child and yet a king!
Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

* SOURCE:  "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus," Lutheran Service Book, #338.

More more disclaimer:  This is a devotional that I adapted from one that I wrote for The Headliner, a weekly e-newsletter, published by Orphan Grain Train.

Missionary News *

* Some major revisions have been made since the original post.

Pastor Stuart & Debra Freese are the two missionaries that Lois & I have adopted. They are preparing to serve in West Africa; it looks like they are on track to begin their mission & ministry over there soon after the 1st of the year. They are spending their time now getting ready for this assignment, which includes traveling to spread the word about the mission work in Africa & raising support with the help of Gary Thies. Some of you know Gary from his work via Mission Central. [http://missioncentral.us/missioncentral/welcome] I have Stu & Deb's permission to share the following information with you.

"Change of plans--serving in Burkina Faso, West Africa. God has changed our plans. We will no longer be serving in Ghana, West Africa, but in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Through prayer & careful consideration it has been determined that God is leading us to this mission calling . . . God will continue to bless the work in Ghana through the capable hands of the missionaries & national pastors living there.
Specific prayer requests:  That we are able to learn the French & Moore' languages . . . For our transition from the Ghana mission call to the Burkina Faso mission call . . . For the mission work in West Africa . . . For the people of Burkina Faso so they are willing to hear & share God's Word . . . That God would provide men who want to be trained as leaders in Burkina Faso.

• Email: debra.freese@lcmsintl.org
• Email:  stuart.freese@lcmsintl.org
• Facebook:  www.facebook.com/FreesesinAfrica/ (NOTE:  You don't need a Facebook account to view this page.)
• Website:  http://debrafreese.wix.com/freesesinafrica
• Giving Page:  http://www.lcms.org/freese