Advent Word

Join our community of prayer this Advent season! A ministry of @fwd_mvt. #adventword

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LIGHT

Advent and Christmas are the seasons of light. The collect for the first Sunday of Advent uses the language of Romans 13:12 and asks God to “give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light”... Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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COVENANT

We have journeyed together toward Bethlehem, through all the wonders and worries of Advent. Feet aching, backs bent, head down, we continue walking toward a promise. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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PONDER

Mary receives many confusing messages in Luke’s Gospel: You will bear a child. This child will be our salvation. A sword will pierce your soul. Mary doesn’t understand these messages at the time. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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QUENCH

Do you have your water bottle? Go back to your room and put on some lotion. Where’s your Aquaphor? Growing up, my daughters heard at least one of those three questions every day. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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LAUGHTER

The 8-year-old grandson of a friend of mine once remarked, “You have a funny belly laugh”—which is absolutely true. I laugh loudly and often—even though the biblical references to laughter seem to be associated with foolishness... Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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DREAM

In college I used to dream in great detail about my writing assignments. (Yes, I was that nerdy student!) I’d come up with such inspiring ideas while sleeping–only to wake up and realize they made no sense. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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GIVE

Gifts come in all sizes and types to Forward Movement–from stocks and bequests to stamps purchased from the prison commissary. One donor sends us wrinkled dollar bills... Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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REPAIR

While cleaning my room recently, I encountered many projects I’d set aside that needed repair, including a broken piece of pottery Kaia made–one of her earliest and favorite pieces. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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SPIRIT

The Gospel of Luke presents the Advent narrative in such a way that even before Jesus’s birth, the Spirit is already a main character. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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BEGIN

It feels odd to talk about resolutions in the middle of December. Surely those can wait for the beginning of the year–after we have had parties, Christmas dinners, and stockings filled with treats. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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HASTEN

As a parent of small children, my whole life feels like either hurrying or waiting. Hurrying to church or school. Waiting as my kid, determined to practice his new skill, very slowly zips up his own coat. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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PATIENCE

My daughter Kaia signed up for a pottery class as a graduate student studying to be a landscape architect. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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TRUTH

There are, in the Psalter, over a dozen references to emet (“truth”), and I believe they are all associated with three parts of the body: the heart, the mouth, and the feet. Take, for example, Psalm 15:1-2. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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VALLEY

Armies in valleys are vulnerable. The valleys of our lives and faith bring tenderness. We are pelted with slander from neighbors, barraged with news of war and famine, battling hunger and poverty, and oppressed... Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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HERALD

News traveled slower in Isaiah’s time than it does today. When something out-of-the-ordinary happened, folks didn’t find out about it from a text on the group chat or a post on social media. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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GLORY

We offer glory to God in our prayers; it’s not as often that we hear about receiving God’s glory. Yet, we prepare to welcome God’s glory in the form of a baby. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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AWAKE

The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13) emphasizes the importance of staying spiritually vigilant. In the parable, all the bridesmaids fall asleep; but at midnight, when the bridegroom comes, only the wise... Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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WATCH

Few experiences rival the attentiveness that comes when my children welcome me or their father home after time away. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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GRACE

When my father says grace before a meal, the beginning of his prayer often varies–giving thanks for family and guests, celebrating special moments. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f

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PEACE

Peace is my favorite greeting. I love that I can share it verbally and non-verbally with a peace sign. My favorite way to think about peace during Advent is one of the definitions of shalom - completeness. Keep reading: https://t.co/AbOl6vRn3f