Advent

I love the season of Advent.  It is a season of longing and expectation as we look to the birth of our Savior, Jesus.  It is a time in which we can see God's faithfulness woven through our story and through scripture.  There were promises made, promises fulfilled and still we wait for the final promise to be finally fulfilled.

I feel like my time at Covenant has allowed me to feel and experience Advent and Easter in ways that I never had before.  I can pray, Yes Lord Jesus come quickly and there is a deep yearning and a hope for Christ's return in ways that there never has been before.  I have allowed myself to see and feel the brokenness of this world.  Yet, it isn't all bad.  We have a hope and a longing.  I can look back at these past two years and see the faithfulness and kindness of a Father that loves me, who has gently led me through some dark and challenging times.  He has sustained me just as he has continually sustained his people.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

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O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

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O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

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O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

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O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

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O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.

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O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

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