Sunday Words of Encouragement December 22, 2019 Advent Week 4

The Advent Wreath:

On the fourth week of Advent, we light the final purple candle to mark the final week of prayer and penance as we wait for the birth of our Savior. This final candle, the “Angel’s Candle,” symbolizes peace. It reminds us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”

Love is the greatest of all the virtues on the Advent wreath and encompasses Jesus’ entire purpose for being on earth (1 Corinthians 13:13).

John 3:16-19 (NIV)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

Sunday Words of Encouragement December 23, 2012

On the Fourth week of Advent we light again the candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy. Then we add the candle of LOVE.  We seek God's forgiveness, His mercy and grace...and through His Love, He gives us a child who will be our Sacrifice and Redeem us from our sin.

Image found at Creative Communications

A Verse for Today - After searching through some Christmas and Love verses I realized that the best "love" verse has to be:
John 3:16 (NIV)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

An Advent Prayer:
Father, you show the world the splendor of your glory in the coming of Christ, born of the Virgin. Give to us true faith and love to celebrate the mystery of god made man.