CHAPTER 12, PAGE 17

Lord, our God, we praise You

for Your Son, Jesus Christ,

for He is Emmanuel, the Hope of all people.

He is the Wisdom that teaches and guides us.

He is the Savior of us all.

O Lord, let your blessing come upon us

as we light two (purple) candles

and the third (pink) of this wreath.

May the wreath and its light

be a sign of Christ’s promise of salvation.

May He come quickly and not delay.

We ask this in His holy name. Amen.

GOOD MORNING !

In the book of Isaiah, God reminds us, "I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go." You and I can best use the rest of these days of Advent to put to rest our disordered resistance to His will, simply remembering that God always knows best!

Isn’t that the truth. No matter how much we think we are in control or try to take control God always has the last say in the matter.

As I light myAdvent Candles today and say a little prayer forall of you , I am so thankful for this Season of Joy !

I found a very good article on celebrating Hanukkah and would like to share it with you all. I did post it on my Blog Spot blog, but I don’t think it gets read much so here it is for you all to read today:

In the dark days of December comes the wonderful holiday of Hanukkah, celebrated in Jewish homes. Originally known as the "Festival of Lights," Hanukkah commemorates a miracle that occurred in 165 B.C., after Judas Maccabaeus and his followers reclaimed Jerusalem from a Greek emperor who considered Israel a Greek province.

As part of their rededication ceremony (the word "Hanukkah" means dedication) the Maccabees began an eight-day purification rite, only to discover there was barely enough sacred oil to keep the temple menorah - a candelabrum with eight branches - lit for one day.

Miraculously, the temple lamp burned continuously for eight days. Ever since that time the Jewish people have observed Hanukkah in remembrance of their struggle for religious freedom and the miracle of restoration, symbolized by the abundance of oil.

Many who celebrate Christmas believe that Hanukkah is a festival reserved solely for those who practice Judaism. But if it weren't for Hanukkah, we wouldn't be celebrating Christmas. Had the Maccabees not rebelled against the Greeks, the Jewish faith would have faded into Greek culture, never to be heard of again.

No one would have remembered the messianic promises he claimed to fulfill. Without Hanukkah, there would have been no Christmas. Jesus lived his entire life as an observant Jew. He celebrated Hanukkah as a child; the Last Supper was a Passover seder. All the apostles and most of those who became his early followers were Jewish. The crowds who came to hear Jesus preach called him "Rabbi," the Hebrew word for teacher.

Perhaps our similarities and heritage are greater than our differences after all. The Hanukkah miracle was the earliest recorded demonstration of Simple Abundance.

Two thousand years ago there was only enough sacred oil for one night. But all that these faithful, courageous, and grateful people had was all that they needed. Sacred oil in a temple. Loaves and fishes on a mountainside. Miracles are of God, not of any one faith. Miracles are for anyone who believes. That is the heart of Hanukkah and the soul of Christmas.

The more we allow ourselves to recognize the wisdom and truth in other spiritual paths, the closer to Wholeness we become.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

The earth has grown old with its burden of care

But at Christmas it always is young,

The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair

And its soul full of music breaks the air,

When the song of angels is sung.

Phillips Brooks

May your day be blessed with a few SMILES and lots of SUNSHINE to warm your heart !

Peace, dear friends,

Christmas love without end.

MA

 

 

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