The Messiah, 8

Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, GOD WITH US.

(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)

The Messiah, 5-7

The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.

(Malachi 3:1)

But who may abide the day of His coming, and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner's fire.

(Malachi 3:2)

And He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

(Malachi 3:3)

The Messiah, 4

Thus saith the Lord, the Lord of Hosts; Yet once a little while and I will shake the heav'ns and the earth, the sea and the dry land: And I will shake all nations; and the desire of all nations shall come.

(Haggai 2:6-7)

The Messiah, 2-3

Ev'ry valley shall be exalted, and ev'ry mountain and hill made low; the crooked straight, and the rough places plain (Isaiah 40:4)

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:5)

The Messiah, 1

I've begun my favorite Advent tradition, which is listening to Handel's Messiah, a lot.

I thought I'd include the words to one piece a day, and see where that takes us. God bless your Advent preparation.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplish'd, that her Iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness; prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

(Isaiah 40:1-3)

New Wonders

New Wonders

by Sandra McCracken

I really enjoy Sandra's music. This is from "In Feast or Fallow" which she calls "new old hymns." You can hear this song and the rest of the album at www.newoldhymns.com

Look again, at the cross

where you are found and lost

Make a new song of praise

Fill you cup, at the the mouth of the spring

and new wonders we will sing

as the Spirit blows the embers of our hearts.

Tell the story, of Jesus, the Christ

and his promises we write

on the doorway of our house

Hold the mirror, and remember your own face,

brother, do not forfeit grace

as the Savior, pleads your pardon with his blood.

Look around, every sparrow, every flower

all creation sings out loud, of a grand design

You are small, but you are filled with breath and life

If you seek, then you will find

as the Father looks with favor on his child.

Oh, the Savior pleads your pardon with his blood.

And the Spirit blows the embers of our hearts.

(c) 2010 Drink Your Tea Music

let me count the ways... to brew good coffee

There are lots of ways to brew a delicious cup of coffee...

Here's cool site brew methods - via one of the brew masters at Coava Coffee in Portland, OR