DAY 5 – Mary’s Kinswoman

Elizabeth, you tried for a long time
To have a child but you were
past your prime?
Was there no hope left in you at all
before you received this special call.

Your husband and you were both devout
you trusted God with never a doubt.
Our trust gets weak for us today
but you had a faith that wouldn’t stray.

What did you think when it came to you
that you’d have a son before
you were through?
You knew he’d be special
but did you know
the new direction his life would go?

Did you know John would look so odd
as he became a messenger for God?
And did you know his life he would give
to prepare the way for a relative?

We still have a chance late in life
to help lead others in a world of strife.
We might not be the main one who acts
but we can contribute to the facts.

DAY 4 – Joseph’s Dream

Joseph, we’re told you had a strange dream
with an angel telling you of a scheme
to let you know things were okay
with all the news Mary had to say.

How comforting that must have been
and how helpful to clue you in
to the strange events that would come to you
so you would know what you should do.

Do you think you’d have done what was right
if it was not for the dream that night?
It would be great to have those dreams today
to help us do thing the correct way.

Tell us your decision was hard as ours
and it was like scaling up tall towers
so we can’t use you as an alibi
no matter how cleverly we try.

With your new ease I’ll bet you could cope
waiting for the birth with much hope.
I guess when we find what we should do
we can have a great hope like you.

DAY 3 – How did Joseph Feel?

How hard was it to tell Joe the news
you knew he had to know?
You weren’t married yet to this nice guy
but you couldn’t live with a lie.

Joseph was much older than you
but his commitment was very true.
He could have just sent you away
but he knew God wanted you to stay.

He treated you with the greatest love
knowing your mission was from above.
I wonder how did you feel
knowing Joseph’s love was real?

It’s good you weren’t living today
dealing with what nosy folks would say
They wouldn’t give you a second look
before posting it all over Face Book.

As we begin the days of Advent
help us to look for what God has sent
and ready ourselves for Christmas Day
so we can find special times to pray.

DAY 2 – Mary How did you feel?

O Sweet Mary you’re only a child.
Your outlook is so gentle and mild.
At a time when your life’s just begun
you’re told you will give birth to a son.

A messenger came out of the blue
and said God had special plans for you.
You couldn’t believe your ears or eyes
at news that was more than a surprise.

Did you feel unworthy of this call?
Were you tempted to try to stall?
Why not draw up with an excuses list
to remind God of the things He’d missed?

You must have know this change in your life
would fill you with abundant strife.
When we’re faced with great struggles too
we pray we’ll try to follow you.

Advent is our time to prepare
just as if we were standing there
hearing our own special call
to guide us in life’s long haul.

Advent begins Nov. 27th. I have prepared an Advent devotional guide for my church members and will be sharing it during the season. It begins with thise prayer.

DAY 1 - Prayer for Advent


O God who loved us from the start
we enter the season of Advent
when we look at our troubled world
like the world to which Jesus was sent.

Help us use these next few short weeks
to see things from another view
so when we get to Christmas Day
we’ll feel so much closer to you.

Help us live above the glitter
and the parties with all their fuss
while we read the Christmas story
of what you’ve done for all of us.

Let us think more of other folks
than our own self-satisfaction
and extend our best wishesnot just in words but in action

Making Up With My Car
By larry r linville

Before dawn I snuck out to the car
and sat in the driver’s seat with glee
backed out and put the car in drive
and then the car started speaking to me.

It apologized for its rudeness
when it knew I was feeling depressed
and suggested we had some issues
which really had to be addressed.

I could tell my dear car felt some guilt
at the cold fender it gave to me
and sense I’m a forgiving fellow
I took steps to make it guilt free.

Then the radio began to play
sweet music which comforted me well
then my turn signal was on too long
and I had to listen to a bell.

When I drove the car back in drive
and thanked my car and got out the door
and we agreed we’d never argue
since now we had settled the score.

My Car’s Not A Good Counselor
By larry r Linville

I’ve been confined to my house a week
and cabin fever was getting bad.
I’ve been fighting a case of shingles
and the itching gettin bad.

Today it got the best of me
so I went to talk to my car
to tell it why I’d deserted it
but I don’t think my talk got me far.

I don’t think my car had missed me.
It seemed to enjoy all its rest.
It rolled it head lights and shrugged
so now I was feeling more stressed.

I thought it would make me feel better
when I stood there with feelings to share
but it seemed to have no compassion
at least not enough it could spare.

I’ll soon be feeling much better
and I’ll climb in that car with a grin
and I’ll back it from the garage
and drive out for a good long spin.