Gracious God, take our minds and think through them; take our hands and work through them; take our hearts and set them on fire. Amen. Blessed is she who believed there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. Today we finally arrive at the doorstep of Christmas.  And our hope, our preparation, and our anticipation…

Gracious God, take our minds and think through them; take our hands and work through them; take our hearts and set them on fire. Amen.     Sing aloud, O daughter Zion,                    Shout, O Israel!            Surely, it is God who saves me;                    I will trust in God and not be afraid.            Rejoice in the Lord always; again I…

  And you child, will be called prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.   Zechariah was silent for nine months.  No word did he utter, no question did he ask, no prayer did he voice. You see, unable to comprehend that his most fervent personal prayer might be answered – the seemingly…