A beloved son is given: Advent Daybook 17

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An Advent daybook for these weeks of prayerful expectation.

Pray: Heavenly Father, make me more like Jesus and more like the true self you've created as I welcome your loving presence today. Please guide my thoughts and impressions by your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Look: Esmaeel and his son Juan. Lincoln, Nebraska 2017. - Source 

Text and Photos by Asher Imtiaz for the exhibit "From Captivity to Freedom"

Published in The Living Church in November 2017 issue

Artist's statement: "One of the first photographs I've taken of a Yazidi living in the US. Yazidis are an ethno-religious minority with total population around 900,000 in the world. Most of them are based in Northern Iraq. Around 3000 Yazidis live in the United States."

Listen*:  Baby Son, John Mark McMillan -  Spotify | YouTube w/ lyrics 

Read**: Psalm 45, 47, 48; Isaiah 9:1-7; 2 Peter 1:12-21; Luke 22:54-69 

Excerpts:

"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness."

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"Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah"

*

"We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!

Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever."

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"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."

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"For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

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"Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, 'Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?' And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 'If you are the Christ, tell us.' But he said to them, 'If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.' "

- Psalm 45:6-7a * Psalm 47:1-4 * Psalm 48:9-14 * Isaiah 9:1-7 * 2 Peter 1:16-21 * Luke 22:63-68 (ESV)

Pray: adapted from 2 Peter  

"He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain." 

 2 Peter 1:17–18, NIV

Lord Jesus Christ, to you we may lift our eyes, for you have broken free from our world of death and live in the glory of life, and you offer your life to us on earth. Let the power of your life be revealed today in us and in many others who want to celebrate Christmas. Send your Spirit to move our hearts so that we hear, see, experience, and understand what you and your gift of eternal life truly mean for us. So watch over us in these days and strengthen us in faith. Shed the light of your grace over us and within us. Protect us as your disciples. Lead us into communion with our Father in heaven and into community with you, O Jesus Christ, for all eternity. Amen.

Do: Welcome stories from friends and strangers.

Call an elderly friend, stop in the driveway to talk to a neighbor, or schedule a Zoom call with far-away family. Ask good questions, listen with gentle attention, and refrain from jumping in with your own story.

Here are 5 great questions to invite a simple story:

1. What's something you enjoyed as a child that you still do as an adult?

2. What are you known for?

3. What was a time when you came close to throwing in the towel, but now you're glad you didn't?

4. What's one of your happiest memories?

5. What's one of your family's classic stories?

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For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook Explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.

* Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify: Advent 2020: Gracious Invitation. Add it to your account by clicking right clicking on the three dots and selecting "Save to Library".

** Sunday Scripture readings are taken from Year B of the Book of Common Prayer 2019 (Anglican Church of North America). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and include both Morning and Evening Psalms (Year 1).