Sabbath Keeping ~ Love Came Down at Christmas

Today, the second Sunday of Advent, reminds us of God’s love for us.

“O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou has beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light above me.

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

For thou has possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.”

~ Psalm 139 1-18 ~

“Love is the only reality and it is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation.” ~ Rabindranath Tagore ~

“We love life, not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving.” ~ Nietzsche ~

“Love is the beauty of the soul.” ~ Saint Augustine ~

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”          ~ Lao Tzu ~

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. ~

“Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” ~ Mother Teresa ~

“Love came down at Christmas (here)

Love all lovely; love divine

Love was born at Christmas,

Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,

Love incarnate, love divine;

Worship we our Jesus:

But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,

Love shall be yours and love be mine,

Love to God and to all men,

Love for plea and gift and sign.”

~ Christina Rossetti ~

“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. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” ~ John 3:16-17 ~