The One Who Is Our Peace by ems 12/4/21
8th Day of Advent
Week 1: Hope (or promise) ~ Light 2 purple candles
Advent Hymn: 🎼 O Little Town Of Bethlehem🎶
Written originally for Sunday school children in his Philadelphia Episcopal parish, Phillips Brooks’s vivid verses also captured the imagination of adults in 1868.
He penned them after a pilgrimage to Bethlehem in 1865. The church organist, Lewis Redner added music to this delightful poem.
Verse 1
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Verse 2
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.
Verse 3
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven
No ear may hear His coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive him still
The dear Christ enters in
Verse 4
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
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“2But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now, he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace. ~Micah 5:2-5
Do you protect the Quiet Areas of your life so you may experience God’s peace?
Every day our schedules can be jam-packed yet they lack moments of calm and reflection.
God desires that we have His peace which surpasses all of our understanding.
He invites you to experience this daily through His Son Jesus whose very name is peace!
The One Who Is Our Peace by ems 12/4/2
The details surrounding Christ’s birth are so specific, that there’s no mistaking God sent Jesus to a particular place(foretold by the prophet Micah 700 years BEFORE Jesus’ birth!), at the right time in history, for all of mankind. His ultimate purpose was to provide each of us with reconciliation with God. Why? Because our Heavenly Father saw the ravages of sin which separated us from Him. He saw our turmoil and wanted us to have peace. Lasting peace. Peace which surpasses all understanding, so we can know God personally, enjoy Him thoroughly, and become more like Him each day.
What steals your peace? Is it unexpected events, unmet needs, or incongruent behaviour from trusted friends or family?
And what restores peace in the midst of all of this?
Jesus Christ who came to a lowly, smelly animal pen and slept in a feeding trough. This Child came to restore relationships first with God and then with one another. This God-man was willing to lay aside His heavenly power and position to come down to our level so we would understand God’s matchless grace and undeserved mercy.
The One Who is our peace is present with us, Immanuel.
I can still remember learning my first Christmas carol, Away In A Manger at age 4, and I can still feel the joy of getting it that God sent His very best for all the world. May Christ’s peace rule in your heart each and every day.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your endless compassion and Your unfathomable desire for a relationship with us. Thank You for sending Jesus so I might experience eternal peace today.
Listen to O, Little Town of Bethlehem here:
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Gleanings From Heaven's Gate 