Overflowing Love

CENTERING PSALM

O gates, lift your heads!
Ancient doors, lift them high!
The great King of glory
to enter draws nigh!
This great King of glory,
O who can he be?
The Lord God of hosts,
King of glory is he!

–Psalm 24:9-10 (2009 Reformed Presbyterian)

Suggested tune (Müller):

The psalm should be recited or sung until it becomes today's mantra.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

–Philippians 1:9-11

MEDITATION

Let me not wrap, stack, box, bag, tie, tag, bundle, seal, keep Christmas. Christmas kept is liable to mold. Let me give Christmas away, unwrapped, by exuberant armfuls. Let me share, dance, live Christmas unpretentiously, merrily, responsibly with overflowing hands, tireless steps and sparkling eyes. Christmas given away will stay fresh—even until it comes again.

– Linda Felver

TODAY'S PRAYER

O God, the One who comes in your Name comes again, overflowing with love and grace, forgiveness and strength, truth and imagination, gentleness and power. May the coming One enter the hearts of all who wait with quiet expectation. Amen.

Allow the psalm, scripture passage, meditation & daily prayer to guide you in your own prayers of praise, confession, petition & intercession; then close with the...

LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowèd be thy Name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

The Joy of New Beginnings

CENTERING PSALM

O gates, lift your heads!
Ancient doors, lift them high!
The great King of glory
to enter draws nigh!
O who is the King
that in glory draws near?
The Lord, mighty Lord
of the battle is here!

–Psalm 24:7-8 (2009 Reformed Presbyterian)

Suggested tune (Müller):

The psalm should be recited or sung until it becomes today's mantra.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster.

–Zephaniah 3:14-15

MEDITATION

The only joy in the world is to begin.

–Cesare Pavese

TODAY'S PRAYER

O God, may we, your people, who look forward to our Savior's birth, experience the joy of salvation and celebrate Christmas with love and thanksgiving. Amen.

–traditional

Allow the psalm, scripture passage, meditation & daily prayer to guide you in your own prayers of praise, confession, petition & intercession; then close with the...

LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowèd be thy Name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.