SEASONS - THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

PRAYER FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Incline Thine ear to our prayers, O Lord, we beseech Thee; and make bright the darkness of our minds by the grace of Thy visitation.  Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.  Amen.

Today’s candle symbolizes love.  

When we think of love, we are reminded of the joy that is found in the hearts of all those who love God and rejoice when they hear of The Messiah.   

God sent an angel to make the announcement to the Shepherds who were tending their flocks in the fields.  The angel told them where to find Jesus and they quickly obeyed God and joyfully went to look for Him.  They believed in the Word of The Lord and they wanted to see the Savior of the world who had come humbly in the form of a child.  

Are you like these shepherds?  

Do you believe?  

Are you seeking the truth of the words of the Angel of God? 

 Are you looking for the Christ child to come?

It is believing God, seeking His truth and obeying His word that leads us down the path that brings us straight to love and joy.

Why do you think God spoke to the shepherds instead of a king?  

It was the shepherds that He used to proclaim His good news to the world, not the rulers of the nations.  

Are you a shepherd too?  

Do you have the blessing of a shepherd in your life that has helped you to hear the good news?   

We should thank God for all the Good Shepherds out there who are spreading the wonderful news of the gospel, and we all should aspire to do our part - to spread the love of God throughout the land as we continue through the wonderful season of Advent.

Remember!  He is coming! 

SEASONS - THOUGHTS ON THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

This is the third Sunday of Advent.  

I love remembering what this Sunday stands for, and I think of it as we light the pink candle.  

There is so much to ponder.  All of it can be defined in one little four letter word; LOVE. 

 The third Sunday of Advent is all about love.  

It is a time to remember that God gave the glorious news of the gospel first to ordinary shepherds tending their flocks in the fields.  They were the first to hear the message of Christ, just ordinary men, not Kings and greatly known world leaders.  

It is a time to remember that God chose Mary to give birth to Our Lord and Savior, an ordinary young girl living a very humble life. 

It is a time that God chose Joseph, just a simple working man, a carpenter by trade, to watch over His precious son as He grew and fulfilled His destiny.  

For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son and WHOSOEVER believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  Humble little "you" and "me."  We, just ordinary people going about our ordinary lives get to be a part of that great big "whosoever."  Our part is so easy; BELIEVE!  It is that simple.

It is a great time to remember God's wonderful love for all of us, so much that He sent us His greatest treasures in a gift from Heaven.  He sent the greatest gift ever given to all.  Not just to Kings and dignitaries, He sent the love of Christ into the world as a gift for all mankind.  Red or yellow, black or white, ALL are precious in His sight.  He sent the gift to young and old, weak and strong, rich and poor.  He came to save us, and He gave the news first to humble shepherds abiding in the fields at night.  They were tending their sheep right before the coldest part of winter when they looked up and saw the glorious angels and heard them rejoicing over the Great Thing That God had done for all of mankind.  

And what do you think these shepherds did?  

They SHARED the gospel that they had come to know with everyone that they met.  They wanted everyone to know the wonderful news!  

We are shepherds too, just ordinary people walking humbly through life in a strange and sometimes frightening world.  We too, like these shepherds, have heard the glorious news of the baby in the manger that would one day become a King.  Are you telling everyone you know that the King is coming?  He is coming again, but not as a baby.  The next time He will come as The King of Kings.  

Go out, like those shepherds from years ago, and tell the world that LOVE has come down.