PRAISE THE LORD (Advent 22)

LUKE 1: 67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. (NIV)

“You are the luckiest person in the world!” “Oh wow, am I ever glad I followed my hunch.” “I found a lucky penny today. Life should be great!” “I really worked hard. I deserve it.”

Is God the first one you thank for your blessings? Or, is luck the magical particle that makes things happen? Zechariah praised the Lord when his son John was named because he knew that it was the Lord who had bless him and Elizabeth. What do you know? What do you wish? What do people see when they observe your life: a thankful servant, or a self-serving, self-centered me-person? Let us give true thanks during this Christmas Season, for the great gifts of the Lord and the ultimate gift of his son. Let us pray:

“We love you Lord and we lift up your Holy name, for only you are worthy of praise. May your kingdom come to earth this Christmas so that your joy may finally be received by everyone. We live in a time when hate is trying to blot out the Love you sent to earth. We know that hate cannot win if true believers pass on the Love you shared with us. Sometimes we have tried to decide who deserves your Love. None of us do, so all of us do. We are not to choose, for if we do, the keeper at the gate to Heaven may begin to choose who can get in there too. Thank you for the wonderful gift of Love, embodied in the form of the tiny baby of Bethlehem. In the name of the Christ Child we pray. Amen”
Doris
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2011 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.