Advent 19- Prepare the Way

December 15

Read Luke 1:1-56

Think of Elizabeth and Mary, both carrying within their own bodies the living proof that God was keeping the promise to send the Messiah. Elizabeth’s pregnancy could no longer be concealed and she was glad to show in herself the evidence of God’s blessing. Mary’s pregnancy, while not yet obvious, was no less real. So it is when Christians of various ages gather together. Each bears within the faith worked by the power of the Spirit, a gift of God, the evidence of grace and sure hope of new life, eternal life with God. For the more mature Christian that faith and grace is obvious to all, for the younger Christian, perhaps not so much. But both can sing joyfully the spiritual, ‘Soon and Very Soon, We are Going to See The King.’ Not so many ancient hymns speak of the pregnant state of either Elizabeth or Mary but Luke is not shy and we can well imagine the preparations that the women made. Thinking of that preparation we can sing ‘Arise, O Christian People’ and prepare not only for Christmas but also for His second coming.

Arise, O Christian people! Prepare yourselves today; 

Prepare to greet the Savior, Who takes your sins away.

To us by grace alone The truth and light were given; 

The promised Lord from heaven To all the world is shown.

Prepare the way before Him; Prepare for Him the best. 

Cast out what would offend Him, This great, this heav’nly guest.

Make straight, make plain the way: The lowly valleys raising, 

The heights of pride abasing, His path all even lay.

The humble heart and lowly God raises up on high;

Beneath His feet in terror The haughty soul shall lie.

The heart sincere and right, That heeds God’s invitation 

And makes true preparation – It is the Lord’s delight.

Prepare my heart, Lord Jesus; Turn not from me aside,

 And help me to receive You This blessed Adventide.

From stall and manger low Come now to dwell within me; 

I’ll sing Your praises gladly And forth Your glory show.

For the Family:

A crescendo of hearts marked by the cross represents the irrepressible expression of love and joy that springs from the very core of faith that knows without a doubt that God keeps His promise of salvation. Christ has come and Christ will come again and we will see Him! Hang this symbol on your Tree of Promise and pray that your advent faith and joy become ever more obvious to others

Bible Journaling:

Advent 19-
Prepare the Way
Luke 1:1-56
Connie Denninger

From the Kitchen:

Cookie Press cookies were among the cookies only made at Christmas time. They make a uniform sized cookie that looks nice even without decorations. My sisters and I enjoyed selecting the form through which the cookie dough got pressed. Beata has mom’s cookie press now.  If you do not own a cookie press you can roll the dough into small balls and then cross press the balls with a fork dipped in sugar. 

Chocolate Spritz

Dora Pfitzer Meyermann- Mother of Natalie Hartwig

½ C shortening

2 C sifted cake flour

1 C sugar

1 egg

2 TBS milk

2 squares bitter chocolate, melted & cooled

• Cream shortening; and sugar and cream thoroughly
• Add unbeaten egg
• Alternately add milk and sifted dry ingredients.
• Mix in cooled chocolate
• Fill cookie press. Form cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet. 
• Decorate with sprinkles if desired.
• Bake at 400 for 8 – 10 minutes. Yields about 3 ½ doz.

These were the first of the “cookie press” cookies that Mom made. They are not sweet and have a dense chocolate flavor. I wonder what they would taste like if you sprinkled them with instant coffee?

Tree of Promise Devotions

Natalie Hartwig