“And blessed is she who believed there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” Luke 1:45-46
How do you respond in soul and spirit?
Fulfillment
The risk of Christmas
When is the time for love to be born?
The inn is full on the planet earth,
And by a comet the sky is torn–
Yet Love still takes the risk of birth. ~ Madeleine L’Engle
When is the time?
When…
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among people,
To make music in the heart.
~ Howard Thurman
What is your first step?
I will light candles
I will light candles this Christmas,
Candles of joy despite all the sadness,
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,
Candles of courage for fears ever present,
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,
Candles of love to inspire all my living,
Candles that will burn all year long. ~Howard Thurman
What candle will you light?
How silently, how silently
How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
O come to us, abide with us…
How do you receive Immanuel ~ God with us?
With the Eyes of the Heart 