Advent Day 10....With a Surprise (again!)

I know if you followed my Advent Calendar last year, (and the year before) you may see that I have repeated a few here and there (more than a few).  But...sometimes it is good to repeat things year after year...because we humans tend to forget and need to be reminded!  So, here is last year's open Advent Window for the 10th day of Advent (and THIS year, 2016, today is the 19th day of Advent!) .  I love this particular window because it has a special surprise tucked into the scripture readings...so be sure to click on the verses when you come to them.  I find as I read from God's Word these particular verses I always break out into singing them the way I've heard them sung so many wonderful times before. I wish I could say that I sound as good as these musicians...but it is the melody in the heart that matters, not the quality of the vocalist.  So, as you read along, please feel free to sing along with me! Might as well practice! Someday we will be in the heavenly choir where we will ALL have voices like the angels! Won't that be grand????

Okay, Open this window and enjoy...
Due to busily preparing for Christmas, (I've been shopping non stop for the past three days...) I've been too busy to write about the preparation!  Oftentimes that is how it goes with us humans...we get so caught up in our whirl of activities that we forget the whole purpose and meaning of the activity we are pursuing.

This Christmas card says it all...This is what Christmas is all about...

I pause in the middle of my hectic pace to remember the true meaning of Christmas...and to reflect on ways that I can be more like the Christ of Christmas...

• More willing to give than to receive...
• To be a cheerful servant rather than expecting to be served...
• Never doing things just to please myself...but to give of myself so that others might have a pleasant life.

Today's scripture readings reinforce these thoughts: (Click on each section of verses for an Advent Surprise:)

"O Zion,

You who bring good tidings,

Get up into the high mountain;

O Jerusalem,

You who bring good tidings,

Lift up your voice with strength,

Lift it up, be not afraid;

Say to the cities of Judah,

"Behold your God!"

"He will feed His flock like a shepherd;

He will gather the lambs with His arm,

and carry them in His bosom.

And gently lead those who are with young."

Isaiah 40: 9, 11

(The above links are compliments of George Frederic Handel and the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus)

I hope you enjoyed this little mini-concert.  For the complete concert, click HERE

May this help set the tone for your Advent mid-season.  Only 17  10 days until Christmas!  Take some time to relax and enjoy...and pass on the blessing to someone else.