Advent – A Week of Sundays – Waiting for the Son

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have a box on my shelf of things that are very precious to me.  They mostly mean nothing to anyone else.  There are two pieces of granite, a snake skin, and a note from my then seven year old son Maxim.  It is a simple note.  In the note he asks that I pray that he finds a friend.

Even then people mattered to him more than anything.  We had conversations about what it was like to have friends and be a friend to others.  Maxim is excellent at being good to others.  He often reminded me when he was little that the friend that was most important to us is Jesus.

Christ did not just come to deal with our sin issue.  He came to establish a relationship with us.  He seeks to turn every enemy to a friend.  My Grandfather always treated Jesus as both Lord and friend.  He would remind me when I was sad that I had a friend who understood it all.

He wishes to carry us through the hard times.  He wants to be that friend that we depend on when things are hard.  When we fail to acknowledge the friendship of Christ we deprive our lives of the richness that he offers. We carry pain that we can share with a friend.  We prolong the solitude of our burdens and grief.

We wait for the return of a dear friend when wait for the Son.  He cares about every sorrow we have and only wishes the best for us.  That is the Son we await at Advent. 

What a Friend We Have in Jesus – Joseph M. Scriven

What a Friend we have in Jesus,

all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,

cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge,

take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield you;

you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised

Thou wilt all our burdens bear

May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to

Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright unclouded there

will be no need for prayer

Rapture, praise and endless worship

will be our sweet portion there.

  

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."