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Dear fellow alumni,
There are two things I am particularly thankful for this week that I would like to share with you; One is Concordia’s Advent meditations, Advent Anticipation: The Arrival of Our Savior. The other includes some thoughts from the weekly Bible study hosted on campus by Pastor Steve Smith.
The excerpt below is from education professor Dr, Kathleen Kannass, Living in Advent Hope.
“God is with us. This is the promise of the holy Advent season.
“Living in Advent hope is about our daily life in Christ. He is our hope. I love the straightforward directions of I Peter 3:8, Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. God calls us to live these words in our work with each other at Concordia, at home with our families, as a neighbor to all, no matter where we are.”
The certainty of the hope we have in Christ (Immanuel, literally, “God with us”) really came to light this week as the campus Bible study group discussed the miracle of Jesus calming the storm and also the account of Jesus walking on the water. Over the course of the conversation, we discussed the interesting reality that Jesus sometimes intervenes to take charge and calm the storms in our lives. While at other times, He comes alongside to strengthen and equip us to weather the storms we face. How wonderful it is to be reminded of God’s promise to be with us always as we endure the challenges and embrace the joys.
In whatever circumstances we encounter, God is with us, providing hope and confidence through faith. Whether we are in the midst of the storm or we have emerged from the tempest, we can be assured that God is with us, He is at work and He surrounds us with His love.
I pray Advent hope brings you great joy this season and you can be “like-minded” shining the Light as a CHRISTmas blessing to others!
God’s peace be yours,
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