simply, Christian
advent quote of the day (3 Dec 2018)
Celebrating Advent means being able to wait. Waiting is an art that our impatient age has forgotten. It wants to break open the ripe fruit when it has hardly finished planting the shoot. But all too often the greedy eyes are only deceived; the fruit that seemed so precious is still green on the inside, and disrespectful hands . . .
advent quote of the day (2 Dec 2018)
Note: Part of our family Advent tradition is reading through a special Advent devotional. This year, we are reading through one of our favorites, "God Is In The Manger," by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. This devotional draws on Bonhoeffer's many letters and other writings during his time in prison during World War II. Each week draws on . . .
"O Emmanuel..."
advent antiphons
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son,
and shall call His name Immanuel.
-- Isaiah 7.14 (NKJV)
Today we pray for Christ's coming:
O Emmanuel, our king
and our lawgiver,
the anointed of the nations
and their . . .
'to you': the good news of Christmas
I am not concerned about a so-called 'war' on Christmas. I am not shocked when people say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." I simply smirk when my atheist or agnostic friends sponsor grandiose Christmas celebrations with their friends and family.
None of these offenses nor a hundred . . .
"O King of the Nations..."
advent antiphons
He shall judge between the nations,
And rebuke many people;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore...
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
. . .
"O Dayspring..."
advent antiphons
The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
-- Isaiah 9.2 (NKJV)
Today we pray for Christ's coming:
O Dayspring,
splendor of light everlasting:
Come and enlighten those
who . . .
"O Key of David..."
advent antiphons
The key of the house of David
I will lay on his shoulder;
So he shall open, and no one shall shut;
And he shall shut, and no one shall open.
-- Isaiah 22.22 (NKJV)
Today we pray for Christ's coming:
O Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel,
you open and no one else . . .