{"id":8691,"date":"2020-12-07T23:45:45","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T23:45:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org\/?p=8691"},"modified":"2020-12-07T23:51:53","modified_gmt":"2020-12-07T23:51:53","slug":"advent-2020-day-eight-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org\/?p=8691","title":{"rendered":"Advent 2020 Reflection \u2013 Day Eight"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Day Eight \u2013 2 John 1-4<\/h2>\n

1\u00a0<\/sup>The elder,
\nTo the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth\u2014and not I only, but also all who know the truth\u2014 2\u00a0<\/sup>because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father\u2019s Son, will be with us in truth and love.
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.<\/p>\n

Reflection<\/h2>\n

Today we move from the Prophets foretelling of the coming of Jesus to the early church and their response to the events of Jesus\u2019 birth and life.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage speaks to me of the joy that we experience when someone we know finds that moment and place \"\"<\/a>where Jesus becomes a part of their lives. It also speaks to me of the moment we ourselves found God\u2019s grace, mercy and peace and those who walked with us and helped us to find that truth.<\/p>\n

As followers of Jesus we are called to be active in his service. We strive both as individuals and as church fellowships to find activities which will demonstrate the importance that we place upon our relationship with God. Those things which will speak of God in our words and actions. Our passion is to make opportunities for God to work through us.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Always we need to have in our minds and hearts that we are not seeking to do good things just for the sake of doing them, for anyone can do that, rather we do them as an expression of our desire that those we meet will be given a space to find God.<\/p>\n

What a joy it is to see someone new in church and to talk with them of the things which have brought them into that place. Both their and our own stories of our walk with God build us up and keep us walking together on God\u2019s path of truth.<\/p>\n

Silence<\/h2>\n

In our time of silence we think of those who have come into our fellowships, especially those who have come from a background where they have had no experience of God and church.<\/p>\n

Carol<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

I have chosen as the carol for today Isaac Watts great anthem \u2013 Joy to the World. It talks to us of every heart preparing room.<\/p>\n

We have a fantastic part to play in helping others to prepare their hearts and in opening up channels for them to experience the wonders of God’s love for them.<\/p>\n

There can be no more joyful event than when the Lord comes into our lives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\nhttp:\/\/www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org\/wptest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Joy-to-the-world-the-Saviour-comes.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

1 Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
\nLet earth receive her King;
\nLet ev\u2019ry heart prepare him room,
\nAnd heav\u2019n and nature sing,
\nAnd heav\u2019n and nature sing,
\nAnd heav\u2019n, and heav\u2019n and nature sing.<\/p>\n

2 Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns;
\nLet all their songs employ,
\nWhile fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
\nRepeat the sounding joy,
\nRepeat the sounding joy,
\nRepeat, repeat the sounding joy.<\/p>\n

3 He rules the world with truth and grace,
\nAnd makes the nations prove
\nThe glories of his righteousness,
\nAnd wonders of his love,
\nAnd wonders of his love,
\nAnd wonders, wonders of his love.<\/p>\n

Prayer<\/h2>\n

Loving God we thank you for the tidings of great joy which the angels brought to the people at your birth. For the joy and peace which fills our hearts knowing Jesus as our Saviour. We delight that you have come into our lives in such a personal way.<\/p>\n

We always give thanks for your disciples who have played a role in our lives, drawing us into your presence so that we can have the joy of knowing you.<\/p>\n

Help us to share this joy of knowing Jesus, with all those who you place in our paths. May those we pray for be called by the joy which is freely available to all who believe in your name.<\/p>\n

Open our hearts to your calling us into places where you have work for us to do. Help us to speak the right words and do the right things showing your love at work in the world. Amen<\/p>\n

Copyrights<\/h2>\n

All images today are from Pixabay.com free for commercial use no attribution.<\/p>\n

Bible passage from the Holy Bible, New International Version\u00ae, NIV\u00ae Copyright \u00a91973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.\u00ae<\/a> Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.<\/p>\n

Joy to the World – Isaac Watts – Public Domain<\/p>\n

Reflection and Prayers: Chris Hancock<\/p>\n

Hatfield Road Methodist Church CCLI: 4955 Streaming: 989812<\/p>\n

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Day Eight \u2013 2 John 1-4 1\u00a0The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth\u2014and not I only, but also all who know the truth\u2014...<\/p>\n

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