In Praise of Our Lord, Savior, and True Hope: Advent Season

Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord -- Philippines 2:11

From there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. -- Deuteronomy 4:29

When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. -- Titus 3:4-6

Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. -- Daniel 2:20-22

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. -- Romans 8:38,39

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GOD BLESS THE USA

"It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” -- Patrick Henry [May 1765 Speech to the House of Burgesses]

“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” - Patrick Henry

"The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His Apostles.... This is genuine Christianity and to this we owe our free constitutions of government." -- Noah Webster from public school textbook, 1831: "History of the United States"

“The policy of one age may ill suit the wishes or the policy of another. The Constitution is not subject to such fluctuations. It is to have a fixed, uniform, permanent construction. It should be, so far at least as human infirmity will allow, not dependent upon the passions or parties of particular times, but the same yesterday, today, and forever.” -- Joseph Story, U.S. Supreme Court

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Advent Season

The Advent wreath represents eternity upon which five candles are arranged to depict the Light of Christ. Light Candle

During the season of Advent,

one candle each Sunday is lit to show a gift of spiritual preparation

for the coming of our Lord.

Three purple candles and one rose-colored candle. In the center of the wreath sits a white candle.

On the first Sunday of Advent,
the first purple candle ("Prophecy Candle") is lit.
This candle represents hope in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Micah 5:2
But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

On the second Sunday of Advent,
the second purple candle is lit. This candle ("Bethlehem Candle") points out the love.God has shown us.

On the third Sunday of Advent,
the rose-colored candle is lit. This candle ("Shepherds' Candle") represents joy.

On the fourth Sunday of Advent,
the last purple candle is lit. This candle ("Angels' Candle") represents peace.

On Christmas Eve,

the white center candle ("Christ Candle") is lit. It represents purity in the life of Christ the Savior who has come into the world.
Those who receive Him are made whiter than snow.

Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." (ESV)