Morning Reading: Psalm Ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17

Psalm Ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17

baby jesusO God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king’s son; He shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment.

The mountains shall yield peace for the people, and the hills justice. He shall defend the afflicted among the people, save the children of the poor.

Justice shall flower in his days, and profound peace, till the moon be no more. May he rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

May his name be blessed forever; as long as the sun his name shall remain. In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed; all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.

Zephaniah 3.17 – “He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” (YouTube)

Zephaniah 3:17 NLT

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

When the night is falling Click on pic for link to MP3.
When the night is falling
Click on pic for link to MP3.
When the night is falling, when the day is done – I can hear you calling, Come – I will come while you sing over me

When the night surrounds me, all my dreams undone – I can hear you calling, Come – I will come while you sing over me

When the night would hide my way – I will listen until I hear you say

How I love you child I love you… How I love you

When the night surrounds me, all my dreams undone – I can hear you calling, Come – I will come while you sing over me

When the night would hide my way – I will listen until I hear you say

How I love you child I love you… How I love you

Hallelujah, Hallelujah….

When this life is over, and the race is run – I will hear you calling, Come – I will come while you sing over me

Advent Hymn: “O little town of Bethlehem!” (YouTube)

Manger Square in Bethlehem

“O little town of Bethlehem!”
Phillips Brooks (1868)

O little town of Bethlehem! How still we see thee lie; Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth, The everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, And gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth! And praises sing to God our King And peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven. No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, The dear Christ enters in.

Please read this last verse written by Brooks, and make it your prayer today:

O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us to-day. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; Oh come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!

Amen.

Morning Reading: Matthew 17.10-13 NLT

Matthew 17.10-13 NLT

ElijahThen his disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”

Jesus replied, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.” 

Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.

Morning Reading: Psalm 1.1-6 NLT

Psalm 1.1-6 NLT

Psalm 1
Psalm 1

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.

For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.