Candle of JOY!

This morning our family did a reading & lit the Advent candle at our church. WONDERFUL! The kids wanted to have "parts" too, so we gave them each a line to memorize...and they by far stole the show!!! My mama heart is still BURSTING over the precious compliments we were flooded with afterwards! Our reading was:

Seven centuries before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Isaiah looked out into the future and saw a day when God would bring unprecedented joy to His people through the birth of a child. According to this prophecy, which was inspired by the Holy Spirit, God would make this child the eternal King of this world. Isaiah 9 describes it this way:

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.”

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.”


[Annelise's line:]Today we light the candle of Joy. God fulfilled his promise and brought this child into the world through a simple peasant girl, engaged to a carpenter, living in a backwater town. Yet the child born to an ordinary family was no ordinary child. The joy felt by the blessed virgin Mary at the birth of her son Jesus is the same joy we feel today as we eagerly anticipate Jesus’ advent on Christmas day. [Will's line:]Joy to the world! Amen!
JB's parents surprised us by showing up for the service - a big deal to drive from normally-45-minutes-away this morning in the heavy snow! - and Sis has walked around the rest of today saying, "Today we light the candle of Joy," over & over & over. :-) Feeling SUPER blessed and glowing in His glory!

I'm also thankful that I didn't feel panicky the rest of today in the snow, (thanks to my awesome husband, who drove us around so we could be out-and-about.) I'm thankful for combating seasonal affective disorder with a freshly baked eggnog cupcake, a pumpkin spice chai latte from Sbux, for our kids having a ball at a jumpy bday party, and for my husband shoveling the driveway! Take THAT, 4-8" of snow!

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