Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One...

Remember this post? This was the one where I said I'd write down the Advent verses for the day with a prayer and (what was I thinking?) our Christmas activity. Needless to say that did not happen. (Go ahead, scroll down. I have Ten, Nine, and Eight Days.) Instead, I had one of the busiest weeks ever at school. That's the joy of working at a new school--you're never quite sure how long things will take. Live and learn, though; next semester will be better!

This morning, my husband and I did have a chance to read Day 24's verses, and if you haven't yet taken the time to read the Christmas story (Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1-2), today would be a perfect day.

Today's Verses: Matthew 1:18-22

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet^[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[c] because he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet.

Today's Prayer:
God, thank you for your Son and for the miraculous way you brought Him into our world. Thank you for bringing us a Savior who has and continues to save us from our sins. We look forward to His return when His kingdom is fully restored.