FULL MEASURE 2021 ADVENT CELEBRATION READING DAY 3

ADVENT CELEBRATION DAY 3

Tuesday, NOVEMBER 30, 2021

Scripture Reading: I Thessalonians 3:7-13

READERS: Dr. Sylvia, Dr. Julie, and Leah Rousseau   

THEME: Week 1 of Advent, is HOPE 

CANDLES: Light one purple candle for each reading The Hope Candle from Day 1 through Day 7.

1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 New International Version

7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

THIS IS FOR EVERY PARENT, GRANDPARENT, FRIEND, MENTOR, APOSTLE, PASTOR, TEACHER, PROPHET, EVANGELIST … THAT HAS INVESTED THEIR LIFE IN GOD’S PEOPLE AND ASK THE QUESTION: “IS THERE ANY FRUIT OF MY LABOR——WAS IT WORTH IT”

READING:

(Matthew 21:18-19 and Mark 11:12-20)  In your personal study read These gospel scriptures. Remember that Jesus cursed the fig tree and drove the money changers from the temple, because they both made a show of having Godly fruit, but did not. The lesson of the fig tree is that we should bear spiritual fruit not just give an appearance of religiosity. God judges fruitlessness, and expects that those who have a relationship with God will “bear much fruit.”

The Fig Trees Have Figs

We work by faith, we labor by love, we endure by hope

Even apostles, those anointed, appointed, and sent can fall prey to doubt.

Lock-up, prison life, suffering, though assigned, poises the human to rise above spirit and wonder if all is for naught.

Was the Word impotent?

was our labor unfruitful? 

Were lives, houses, bread shared not near enough?

Was your holy kiss a betrayal?

Your deference a farce?

Hope seen is not hope, so we wait patiently, for what we pray for day and night.

Christ formed in you, under our nurture is the end, the purpose of our lives.

Our hope’s not in effort, power, or might.

Rather, in the one who leads, and comforts in distress.

Oh, blessed Christ our Savior thank you.

We now clearly see, the fig trees have figs. 

Prayer:

Dear God, 

Reaffirm in us that it is you working in us to do your good pleasure that gives our lives meaning.  It is truly not by power nor might but, by your spirit that we offer up our gifts to edify your body the Church and to bring your kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven. Christ in us the hope of glory.  Strengthen us in hope.  And, thank you for hope manifested, and allowing us to see the bud and the fruit of our labor in this life and the next. Amen.