A PERSONAL NOTE

Today would have been my dad's 91st birthday. He was a godly man. He & my mother brought my brother, sister, & I up "in the nurture & admonition of the Lord." I will always appreciate how they taught the faith, modeled the faith, & provided for our Christian education. They would have been delighted to know our adult children & grand-children.

CHOSEN

Is. 41:8-10  "But as for you, O Israel, you are Mine, My chosen ones; for you are Abraham's family, & he was My friend. I have called you back from the ends of the earth & said that you must serve but Me alone, for I have chosen you & will not throw you away. Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My victorious right hand." The Living Bible 

HUSBANDS

"Headship means responsibility & initiative:  responsibility to act in love; initiative to act in service. As Christ acted in self-giving love & self-humbling service (giving us a whole new meaning to 'headship'), so husbands take the initiative in building an atmosphere of loving, self-sacrificing service." David Augsburger, Men's Devotional Bible

SANCTITY OF LIFE

"The Scriptures clearly declare the liveliness our Lord brings even when unborn (Luke 1:41). Not only does He bestow this love explicitly upon every embryo, but He makes it a reason for rejoicing (Luke 1:44). Let the whole world think us fools (Ps.80:6)--only let us still leap, delight, & speak loudly in celebration of the sanctity of life!" Life Thoughts in the Church Year, Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin, 12/19

A CONFIDENT CONFESSION

"He confessed, & did not deny, but confessed, 'I am not the Christ.'" (John 1:20)

"To confess is to declare or speak openly. To confess is to speak with a free tongue about the truth--about reality . . . We confess the reality of what happened. And what happened?

"What happened is that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, & was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day, He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven & sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living & the dead.

"All of this happened in real time, space, & history. Therefore, we confess it because it is true. And so, just like John the Baptist, who points away from himself to Christ, we Christians point away from ourselves to Jesus & what He did for us & the entire world."  Matthew Richard, Minute Messages

AN ADVENT HYMN

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, St. 7 (LSB #357)

O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind; Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, And be Thyself our King of Peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!