{"id":1584,"date":"2011-12-15T11:50:50","date_gmt":"2011-12-15T16:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lovingchristmas.com\/blog\/?p=1584"},"modified":"2017-12-18T01:29:37","modified_gmt":"2017-12-18T06:29:37","slug":"advent-day-nineteen-john-the-baptist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lovingchristmas.com\/blog\/2011\/12\/15\/advent-day-nineteen-john-the-baptist\/","title":{"rendered":"Advent Day Nineteen: John the Baptist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Precious Truth: God is still speaking.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Today’s Reading from The Word<\/h3>\n

Luke 3:16
\nJohn answered them all, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Thoughts:<\/strong><\/div>\n

In the transition between the two covenants that God has made with man came the last of the Old Testament prophets.<\/p>\n

It had been such a long time since God had spoken to his people Israel. Scholars still argued among themselves, but a fresh living word from God? It was no where to be found.<\/p>\n

How surprising it must have been to hear John the Baptist speaking in this desert environment, calling men to come and be baptized in Jordan as a visible sign of their return to the God of their Fathers.<\/p>\n

One of my favorite passages in the gospel is that of the reaction of John, still in utero, to the coming of Christ, also yet unborn. He leapt with joy.
\nIt reminds me of the life of an unborn child, full of potential, with senses yet untrained, but responsive to its world already. There is so much mystery in this part of our lives, in questions of how early we may know and understand spiritual things.<\/p>\n

The spirit has a language of its own, one not circumscribed by education or brain capacity or experience. It hears from God and responds to God, and age or ability simply does not limit it or its capacity for peace and joy.<\/p>\n

God still speaks, is your spirit listening? Quiet yourself and listen expectantly for God just now. <\/p>\n

The ornament symbol: a shell<\/b><\/div>\n
\"Jesse<\/a>
Jesse Tree Shell Ornament #1<\/a> by ilonagarden<\/a><\/div>\n
The carol for today: “O Holy Night”<\/b><\/div>\n