Advent 16- Comfort Promise

December 12

Read Isaiah 40:1 – 5 and Luke 1:5 – 25

The story of Gabriel bringing the promise of the birth of John the Baptizer to Zachariah is the New Testament repetition of a very old promise. However, this New Testament promise is given with a specific time line. There can be no doubt in Zachariah’s mind. This promise is the promise of a miracle, a promise from God. Zachariah is also given a sign that God’s word is true. With a lovely twist, the sign of the coming voice in the wilderness is the loss of voice until the promise comes true. We hear this promise again as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s first coming and wait joyfully for the promised second coming. Now it is our task to prepare for that second coming by speaking peace to the world.

‘Comfort, Comfort Ye My People’ paraphrases Isaiah and applies it to the hearts of the church today.

Comfort, comfort ye, My people, Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;

Comfort those who sit in darkness Mourning ‘neath their sorrow’s load;

Speak ye to Jerusalem Of the peace that waits for them;

Tell her that her sins I cover, And her warfare now is over.

For the herald’s voice is crying In the desert far and near,

Bidding all men to repentance, Since the kingdom now is here.

O, that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way!

Let the valleys rise to meet Him, And the hills bow down to greet Him.

Make ye straight what long was crooked, Make the rougher places plain;

Let your hearts be true and humble, As befits His holy reign;

For the glory of the Lord Now o’er earth is shed abroad,

And all flesh shall see the token That His Word is never broken.

For the Family:

A straight road through mountains with the word ‘Peace’ inscribed on it reminds us that Christ has won the peace for us by defeating the power of the devil. Now it is our task to share that peace with others. Hang this symbol on your Tree of Promise and pray that God would use you to share the same word of peace with others.

Bible Journaling:

Advent 16 

Comfort Promise 

Bible Journaling

 Connie Denninger

From the Kitchen:

Some cookies are classic comfort food, so easily recognizable that the punch line from the commercial, “I do what I can” and a gesture that mimics throwing flour on the face is instantly recognized.

Marshmallow Treats

¼ Cup butter

10 oz regular or 4 C miniature marshmallows  

5 C GF Rice Krispies

• Melt butter in 3 quart sauce pan. 
• Add marshmallows and continue to cook, stirring constantly until marshmallows are melted and mixture is syrupy.
• Remove from heat.
• Add Rice Krispies and stir until well coated.
• Press warm mixture evenly and firmly into buttered 9 X 13 pan. Cool
• Cut into 2” squares.  Yield 24 2” squares..

Alternatatives recipes  include the following ingredients:

Chocolate chips or Butterscotch chips added just after the cereal is well coated with the marshmallow syrup.

Or 

2/3 cup peanut butter after syrup is removed from heat but before cereal is added. Stir to mix well before adding cereal.

Alternates include:Adding chocolate chips or butter scotch chips after cereal is coated with marshmallow syrup.

Tree of Promise Devotions
Natalie Grace Hartwig