GOD OF OUR FATHERS

2 Chronicles 20:6.  “O Lord God of our fathers—the only God in all the heavens, the Ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth—You are so powerful, so mighty. Who can stand against You?” The Living Bible

FROM PSALM 7

"O Lord my God, in You do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers & deliver me . . . Arise, O Lord, in Your anger; lift Yourself up against the fury of my enemies . . . The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness & according to the integrity that is in me . . . My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart . . . I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His righteousness, & I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High." (Ps. 7:1, 6, 9 10, 17)

RENOUNCING SIN

"Every baptized Christian is obliged by his baptismal promises to renounce sin & to give himself completely, without compromise, to Christ, in order that he may fulfill his vocation, save his soul, enter into the mystery of God, & there find himself perfectly in the light of Christ." Thomas Merton, Men's Devotional Bible

TURNING TO CHRISTMAS

"As our thoughts turn to Christmas, despite its tawdry commercialization by the modern world, there is still something beautiful about an undeserved gift. It reminds us that while we have done everything possible to make ourselves unworthy of God's gifts, He sent the ultimate gift, His Son, to die for us (Rom. 5:6-8). We need not depend on our own evaluation to determine our worth--thank God! We look to God's evaluation in Christ. That is where we find dignity." Dr. Angus Menuge, The Lutheran Witness, Dec. 2022

AN ADVENT PRAYER

"O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, King of kings & Lord of lords, the Son of the living God & Son of David, come. Come now to Your Church that You have purchased with Your blood. Come with Your gracious presence, that we may rejoice in You. Come & rule over us, that we may serve & follow You. Come with Your love, humility, & perfect obedience, & let Your lowliness become our glory. Come into the midst of Your people & bless us, for we are Your heritage. Forgive us our sin, & do not angrily cast away Your servants, for You are meek & gracious. Clothe us with the garment of Your righteousness, for You are the only righteous one & our helper. Satisfy us with the abundance of Your mercy, for You did become poor for our sakes, that by Your poverty we might be made rich. Hear us, Lord Jesus, for the sake of Your holy name. Amen.

AN ADVENT HYMN

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

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 Emanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!