In the spirit of God’s love at Christmas, I share with you a reading from The Book of Common Prayer:
1 John 4:7-16 King James Version (KJV)
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him
May you be blessed with much love and joy today, and every day.
The Unexpected Advent
Thanks, Tamela!
I was not well enough to make it to a service either last night or today – but here is my “sermon”, given in the form a what I think is the best Christmas song ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-kHleNYIDc&spfreload=10
Please give it a listen, if you have about three minutes to spare.
And God bless you, and everyone at the Steve Laube Agency. You guys are fun, and add value to the lives of everyone who reads this blog.
Andrew, what a wonderful song! Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful. One of my favorites. It always fills me with peace. Thank you, Tamela.
Such a beautiful way to close this evening and celebration of the birth of our Savior. Thank you. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Tamela. Thank you for the wonderful reminder of God’s love.
I did not think I’d be here for another Christmas, Tamela…but God disposes. I’m glad He’s disposed this way, fro in the past year, I’ve found my writing traction.
That said, the part of the BCP that runs through my mind of late is the Nunc Dimmitis…”Lord, lettest thou now thy servant depart in peace.”
I’m not ready to go, but am prepared.
Thank you for all that you’ve done for the writing community, Tamela. You have my deepest gratitude, and if I may say so, my love.
Andrew, thank you so much for your message. You have touched my heart. Merry, Merry Christmas!
Tamela, you’re most welcome. I’m glad we have met through this medium. You make the world – MY world – a far better place.
Your kindness and grace has lent me the courage I have needed on some pretty bad days. I’ll never forget.
Thank you, Tamela, and may you and everyone at the Steve Laube Agency have a very blessed Christmas. 🙂
Andrew, I am praying for you. May the Lord keep His arms around you and give you strength and peace.
Patti, thank you…He is here, now…and His arms,, the arms of my dear friends, have borne me when strength failed.
Andrew, God has blessed us all by leaving you with us longer than you expected.
Thank you for bringing to remembrance the Nunc dimittis, which is the Song of Simeon (Lk. 2:29-32), spoken when he saw the baby Jesus in the Jerusalem temple at his consecration to the Lord as the firstborn son. From the New King James version:
Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which you have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.
As one of the Gentiles who has seen the light and been saved from my sin by Jesus, I rejoice beyond words as we celebrated God taking human form to live and suffer on Earth to save all who choose to believe.
Feliz Navidad and a blessed Christmas to everyone sharing in this writing community and many thanks to Tamela, Karen, Dan, and Steve for sharing so much of their time to help us all.
Carol, thank you for taking the time to put up the full Nunc Dimmitis – it means a lot tome.
While I haven’t seen the baby Jesus, I see His hands and heart every day, in this wonderful family whom I shall only meet, in person, in Heaven.
I’m Asian, and in this life not a hugger; but I surmise that there are no racial predilections in Eternity, in which case you may be assured I shall be making up for lost time.
Thank you all so much for sharing your thoughts, prayers, and good wishes today. Have a joyful Christmas! Warmly, Tamela