Sunday, December 16, 2018

Advent Words: Q is for Quiet


Q is for Quiet

“Be still, and know that I am God;" Psalm 46:10

"It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:26

"The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing." Zechariah 3:17


As we draw closer to Christmas it seems that the busyness, rushing around and noise seem to increase and work to drown out the quiet reflecting of Advent. But God can often be found and heard in the stillness and quiet, in the slowing down and in the waiting. In the quiet He calms us and soothes our soul with His love. In the stillness and quiet we come to know God for who He is.


"In the silence of the heart God speaks." ~Mother Teresa


It takes intention and patience to slow down through this busy season and simply spend time knowing God through His Word. When we slow down we find God all around us. We find Him in His Word. In the soft glow of Advent candles and twinkling Christmas lights. In the quiet of reading bedtime stories to children. In the soft glow as light breaks the dawn and night becomes day. In soft snow falling and covering the evergreens with white. 



This is the third Sunday of Advent. We light the candle of Joy, which is our theme this week. Chris Tomlin has taken the hymn Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee and added a chorus to bring it into the Christmas season. Ponder the words of this song as we quietly reflect on the advent theme of Joy.

 Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee

Opening to the sun above

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness
Fill us with the light of day

Rejoice, rejoice!

Emmanuel
Your love has come
Here to dwell


All Thy works with joy surround Thee

Earth and heaven reflect thy rays
Stars and angels sing around Thee
Center of unbroken praise
Field and forest, vale and mountain
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea
Singing bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee

Rejoice, rejoice!

Emmanuel
Your love has come
Here to dwell
Rejoice, rejoice!
Emmanuel
Your love has come
Here to dwell


Mortals join the happy chorus

Which the morning stars began
Father love is reigning o’er us
Brother love binds man to man
Ever singing march we onward
Victors in the midst of strife
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life 
Hymn of Joy, Chris Tomlin




Share your creative response to the Advent Words challenge in our private Facebook group  Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/

If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.

Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.

Check out my Pinterest board for this challenge and see some of the wonderful and diverse creativity of Advent Words 2018 participants. https://www.pinterest.com/marynbtol/advent-words-2018-challenge/

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