Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.
-by Kathi
Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent season is meant to be a time of celebration; celebrating the birth of Christ and the anticipation of his return. May this Advent season bring peace, love, and joy to you.
Scripture for the next four Sundays is taken from the Book of Common Prayer, Readings for Year 2. If you are interested, a daily reading devotional may be found here.
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Psalm 146
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them — he remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
The Lord reigns your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5: 1 – 11
Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Luke 21: 5 – 19
Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”
“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
“But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life.”
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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you from the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.
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Feel free to join the discussion.
You can share your church struggles and concerns.
Let’s also use it as a time to encourage one another spiritually.
What have you found spiritually encouraging lately?
Do you have any special Bible verses to share, any YouTube songs that you have found uplifting?
Photo credit: Markus Grossalber A row of tea candles via photopin (license)
Spiritual Sounding Board 
“What have you found spiritually encouraging lately?”
I didnt know this page was here and i read it and it was actually very encouraging!
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What wonderful Scripture verses you posted here Kathi. My faith is edified in Jesus Christ, and my soul is nourished with the “good stuff!”
“The LORD sets prisoners free…..” Indeed! “For My yoke is light and My burden is easy.” Matthew 11:30 Jesus’ promise to us!
You have added overwhelming love, peace and contentment to my day. Blessings to you and yours.
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sandy c – Welcome! I’m glad you found us. We are all at different points in our faith, thoughts, and belief. I hope you feel comfortable to pull up a chair and join us!
Katy – Thank you for your kind words. Peace and joy to you as well.
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Kathi,
Those verses were very encouraging. Thank you! 🙂
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Trigger alert
This is kind of random, but today a memory came to mind that I hadn’t thought about in years. I was using my butter knife at the dinner table tonight, and it reminded me of something that happened years ago. I was about 5 or 6 years old. My abusive father had done something to me — I don’t even remember exactly what. Afterwards, I was angry, and I ran into the kitchen and got a butter knife out of the kitchen drawer, and said the most threatening thing I could think of to him.
Understandably, he was not particularly intimidated by an angry little girl with a butter knife, and he just laughed at me. My mom was also in the kitchen, and since she had no idea at that time of the horrific abuse that was going on in her own home, she did what most parents would do — she firmly told me to put down the knife and not to threaten people with weapons, not even butter knives.
In a way it is such a sad memory. But in some odd way, it is a comfort, because it is one of the few times that I remember trying to stand up for myself. It also helps me understand why I did not tell and why I did not stand up for myself more often.
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Wary Witness – Thank you for sharing with us. I’m sorry that this happened to you. It’s good that you’re able to look back and see that little girl in a different perspective. I wish she would have been in a safer environment. (((Hugs to you)))
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