“Picture this: It’s midnight. In the darkness of their cell, Paul and Silas—after surviving the severe beating—aren’t moaning and groaning; they’re praying and singing hymns to God. The prisoners in adjoining cells are wide awake, listening to them pray and sing. Suddenly the ground begins to shake, and the prison foundations begin to crack. You can hear the sound of jangling chains and the squeak of cell doors opening. Every prisoner realizes that his chains have come unfastened.”  -Acts 16:25-26 [Voice]

A Time to Act…
“A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes – and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Lutheran pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident

A Time to Think…
What prison-cell are you still in? What is holding you back? In this time of Advent, remember what God has done for you—he has given his only Son sent on that first Christmas Day, so we can break our prison cell door and rejoice in our Savior’s love and forgiveness. Don’t let the rat-race of Christmas in our society capture you. Let Jesus capture you now and forever.

A Time to Pray…
O Jesus, precious baby in the manger that we celebrate every year, but every year I find myself caught up in the trappings of Christmas instead of enjoying the gift of you! Calm me, speak to me, keep my mind on you and my heart beating for you this season and every day of my life. AMEN.