Isaiah 9:6 -7a For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end.
The four Sundays of Advent, beginning today, each have a specific theme or focus. The purpose of each theme is to spend time reflecting on the true meaning of the season - the life of Jesus Christ. The goal should be to come before God with a sincere heart and to worship Jesus Christ.
Many families and churches celebrate the Advent with a wreath of 4 candles plus a large center candle. Each Sunday a candle is lit and finally, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the center candle is lit as well. Each candle represents a different theme.
The first candle symbolizes hope and is called the "Prophet’s Candle." The prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, waited in hope for the Messiah’s arrival.
Isaiah 7:14 "...Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us')
Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.
The Prophecy of Simeon is found in Luke 2:25-35. Read this short story about how the Lord revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Simeon met baby Jesus when Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple
