advent - day 4

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with
the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the
fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze;
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like an ox.

The nursing child shall play over the
hole of the cobra,
and the weaned child shall put his
hand on the adder's den.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the
knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.

In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples - of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

Isaiah 11:6-10

advent - day 3

There shall come forth a shoot from
the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear
fruit.
And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest
upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and
understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of
the LORD.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears
hear,
but with righteousness he shall judge
the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek
of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod
of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall
kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt of his
waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

Isaiah 11: 1-5

advent - day 2

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his
shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and
of peace
there will be no end.,
on the throne of David and over his
kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do
this.

Isaiah 9:6-7

advent - day 1

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. The LORD will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah -- the king of Assyria. 

Isaiah 7:14-17

follow

I follow Him who helps me exchange a path of fear and hesitation
for a road to skate down, Walter Mitty-style,
the sun beaming on my back.

I follow Him who makes breakfast on the beach,
feeding stomach and restoring soul.

I follow Him who welcomes this elder-brother,
three-year-old-tantrum-thrower
into the party,
out of the cold, into the warmth.

I follow Him who sheds His grace
on me even when I tell Him
I don't like him much. 

I follow Him who will one day make
everything right and good and
beautiful in its time.

I follow Him who will one day help
these dim eyes see the new city and eternal glory.