Walk With me on Our Journey: Our ultimate #AdventWord #Receive! Let's make our hearts glad to #Receive God into our hearts again.

Dear Family of Love,

Happy final day of Advent and Merry Christmas depending upon your time zone is. This is the time where we learn about the art of giving and receiving. Being a giver is what this season is all about and we all need to learn how to give and not fall prey to the the gimme, gimme, gimme. But we also need to learn how to be gracious in receiving. I had another afternoon when I had the honor and privilege to give out lunches to our family members who are homeless and hungry at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. It was amazing to watch how gracious our family members were when they received their lunch, poncho, and blanket. You could see how tender their hearts were. They eyes said it all and the reach back to clasp my hand in thanksgiving! That's right today is Happy Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday. So as we prepare to receive God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit into our hearts yet again as the Christ Child let us never forget to be thoughtful and thankful. Tonight let us take time to meditate upon the word #Receive" As we did a few evenings ago let us explore the meaning of the word;

re·ceive
rəˈsēv/
verb
verb: receive; 3rd person present: receives; past tense: received; past participle: received; gerund or present participle: receiving
1.
be given, presented with, or paid (something).
"most businesses will receive a tax cut"
synonyms: be given, be presented with, be awarded, collect, garner; More
antonyms: give, present
take delivery of (something sent or communicated).
"he received fifty inquiries after advertising the job"
synonyms: be sent, be in receipt of, accept delivery of, accept More
antonyms: send
buy or accept goods in the knowledge that they have been stolen.
"a man convicted of receiving stolen property"
detect or pick up (broadcast signals).
"Turkish television began to be received in Tashkent"
form (an idea or impression) as a result of perception or experience.
"the impression she received was one of unhurried leisure"
(in tennis and similar games) be the player to whom the server serves (the ball).
(in Christian services) eat or drink (the Eucharistic bread or wine).
"he received Communion and left"
consent to formally hear (an oath or confession).
"he failed to find a magistrate to receive his oath"
serve as a receptacle for.
"the basin that receives your blood"
2.
suffer, experience, or be subject to (specified treatment).
"the event received wide press coverage"
synonyms: experience, sustain, undergo, meet with; More
respond to (something) in a specified way.
"her first poem was not well received"
synonyms: hear, listen to; More
meet with (a specified response or reaction).
"the rulings have received widespread acceptance"
synonyms: hear, listen to; More
widely accepted as authoritative or true.
adjective: received
"the myths and received wisdom about the country's past"
meet and have to withstand.
"the landward slopes receive the full force of the wind"
3.
greet or welcome (a visitor) formally.
"representatives of the club will be received by the Mayor"
synonyms: greet, welcome, say hello to
"they received their guests"
be visited by.
"she was not allowed to receive visitors"
synonyms: entertain, see
"she's not receiving visitors"
admit as a member.
"hundreds of converts were received into the Church"
provide space or accommodations for.
"three lines are reserved for special vehicles, and the remaining lines receive the general rolling stock"

Which one of those definitions sing to your heart and apply to you this night. Many Christmas carols have our #AdventWord #Receive in them. Let us take a look at two of them.

"O Little Town of Bethlehem"

O little town of Bethlehem,

How still we see thee lie!

Above your deep and dreamless sleep,

The silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light,

The hopes and fears of all the years,

Are met in thee tonight.

O morning stars, together

Proclaim thy holy birth

And praises sing to God, the King,

And peace to men on earth.

For Christ is born of Mary,

And gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love.

How silently, how silently,

The wondrous Gift is giv'n!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still,

The dear Christ enters in.

Where children pure and happy,

Pray to the blessed child.

Where misery cries out to thee,

Son of the mother mild;

Where charity stand watching,

And faith holds hope wide the door,

The dark night wakes,

The glory breaks,

Joy to the World

Joy to the world! The Lord has come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

3. No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
As the curse is found.

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How do we receive Jesus in our hearts? Let us spend time in reflection!

Let us light our Christmas Candle and receive the Christ Child once again into our hearts!