Holy Is His Name
Musician Alanna Glover reflects on Mary’s song and the hope we share in Jesus' birth.
REV CHRISTINE MCPHERSON
For our thirteenth Advent 2023 devotional, Rev Christine McPherson reflects on the beauty, wonder, and strength of the presence of Jesus in our broken common home.
For This I Rejoice
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-28
As I walk the bush land near my home in Darug Country I’m in awe of the changing seasons and colours that the bush brings year after year. I also see brokenness and damage from humans from either ignorance or sometimes intent. Yet the bush is resilient. Even after a tree is completely hacked at and broken for its wood it does all it can to stay alive and sends out new shoots of delicate beauty.
May the beauty, wonder, and strength of trees that is common to all of us across our globe remind us of the beauty, wonder and strength of the presence of Jesus in every part of our broken world.
May it remind us of the Holy Spirit breathing life upon us. Of our Heavenly Father remaining faithful to us. For this I am thankful, for this I rejoice, for this I find peace.
Rev Christine McPherson is Senior Pastor at Berowra Baptist Church. She has a love for the vast beauty of Australia and has many stories to tell from the two year trip she took with her husband and four kids exploring this land. Christine has a passion for sharing about Jesus and that He is actually good news to our world! Her preaching extends to sharing who Jesus is, what God is revealing of Himself through the Bible, to being equipped with the Holy Spirit to take action in partnering with God in bringing about restoration in our relationships with God, others and the land.
This devotional is the thirteenth in a series of daily email devotionals for Advent 2023. This year's series reflects on the longing, hope, and beauty of God’s ‘Common Home’ being realised, revealed, and renewed through the birth of Jesus.
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