This world is full of the sorrow of
Christmases without loved ones...
My son-in-law and his family are mourning the
sudden loss Grandmother/mother
My prayer is that the love and comfort of God
will be their strength and peace in the days ahead.
(will you pray too?)
and for my son-in-law as he travels home for four days to be with his family?
I'm running a bit behind on my Luke reading's reflections
Such a treasure trove of Scriptural wealth
makes it difficult to choose just one or two gems to share...
this post is inspired in part by Luke 17,
in part by our music and message this morning
(click link then click Sunday Service Dec.19)
and in part by this week's advent theme of love
We sang this breathtaking song this morning
(a new one for me!)
“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep.
Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field,
‘Come along now and sit down to eat’?
8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready
and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’?
9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?
10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say,
‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Luke 17:7-10
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
9 This is how God showed his love among us:
He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another,
God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1 John 4:7-12
Unto earth’s span of toil and test
Where trouble takes its toll
God gave to man His utter best
The Saviour of the soul
Soon vanishes away
God’s gift of salvation and grace
Succeeds faith’s cup of clay
Imagine if time’s trifling toast
Was all that we could win
But love robbed the grave of its boast
And broke the curse of sin
The love of God did not withhold
His Son from suffering
But saw the joy that would unfold
As Death loses its sting
Life’s bitter brunt of grief and loss
Is but triumph’s prelude
Servanthood’s blood and tearstained cross
Unworthy gratitude
To He who came, by Heaven sent
The Prince of Peace whose government
Will increase without end
Did not refuse the call
Humility and love unflawed
Obeyed. Death, once for all
From heaven’s throne the Savior stepped
Bethlehem’s Baby Boy
While surely heaven’s angels wept
With perfect grief and joy
© Janet Martin
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I hope you enjoyed your pause on this porch and thank-you for your visit!