{"id":8888,"date":"2020-12-19T00:51:44","date_gmt":"2020-12-19T00:51:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org\/?p=8888"},"modified":"2020-12-19T00:51:44","modified_gmt":"2020-12-19T00:51:44","slug":"advent-2020-reflection-day-nineteen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org\/?p=8888","title":{"rendered":"Advent 2020 Reflection \u2013 Day Nineteen"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Day 19 \u2013 \u00a0Matthew 1 22 \u2013 23<\/h3>\n

22\u00a0<\/sup>All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cThe virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel\u201d (which means \u201cGod with us\u201d).<\/p>\n

Reflection<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>God is with us. This is one of the most comforting truths for us as Christians. God is with us and promises never to leave. He is intertwined in our lives.<\/p>\n

However, we are given the free will to choose whether to live with or without an awareness of God\u2019s presence. Earlier in the year I started to read and reflect on the Psalms and this is the key theme of Psalm one. Whether we choose to be in the assembly of the righteous or of the wicked, to use the words of the psalmist or perhaps how I would put it, with or without an awareness of the love of God soaking into every part of our lives.<\/p>\n

Although we clearly have to live our lives in the reality of the world, we can choose to keep an awareness of the presence of God in all we do. We do this as we read our bibles and turn out thoughts to God in praise, prayer and worship remembering his promise to be with us.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Many of you will know that John Wesley\u2019s last words were \u201cThe best of all, is that God is with us\u201d. \u00a0In this time of Advent we reflect on what we consider to be “what is the best of all” for us. What it is that we hold onto, to get through each day? \u00a0The best news of everyday is that, in Jesus, God has come to us, to live with us and in us. God has promised to be with us even in the worst moments of life. \u00a0God\u2019s presence is not a guarantee that difficulties will not come, but we travel through those difficulties knowing that God will never leave us.<\/p>\n

Silence<\/h3>\n

In our silence today we think of what is \u201cthe best of all\u201d for us in our lives at this moment.<\/p>\n

Carol<\/h3>\n

I have chosen for today another Graham Kendrick carol \u2013 Emmanuel. It is a very short song but packs much meaning into its few words. It calls us to respond to God\u2019s promise by worshiping him.<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org\/wptest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Emmanuel-O-Emmanuel.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Prayer<\/h3>\n

Loving God we thank you that you are with us and ask that you make your presence known in our lives. Help us to grow in our awareness of you. Take away the distractions from our lives. Those things that keep us from Your presence. We want to worship you and walk in your footsteps. Give us joy in your presence and help us to bring joy into the lives of others.<\/p>\n

We want to worship only you we want to know you more. Take us deeper in our prayer life and in our knowledge of you. Help us to walk in your light and holiness. Give us joy in your presence and help each one of us to bring joy into the lives of others.<\/p>\n

Help us to know that. in our words and deeds we bring awareness of your presence into the lives of people around us. Amen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Day 19 \u2013 \u00a0Matthew 1 22 \u2013 23 22\u00a0All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23\u00a0\u201cThe virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they...<\/p>\n

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