Welcome! As you set aside time each day for Advent prayer we invite you to use this approach, which works well for individuals and groups of all ages.

Light a candle. Pause to remember the presence of God filling you with Light and Love.

Pray this Opening Prayer:

Radiant Creator, awaken me to your presence.
Jesus, Light of all Lights, kindle love in my heart.
Spirit of Illumination, guide my path today.

Advent Reflection for the Day

The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior. Zephaniah 3:17

On Christmas Eve the angels declared, “Peace on earth!” Jesus is called, “The Prince of Peace.” In our Crossroads Family, we refer to ourselves as “Peacemakers.” God has organized the world with the potential for a peaceful creation. In spite of all this Good News, the world today still needs peace.

Reasons for discouragement about: Greedy dictators in power, war, treatable disease ravaging the globe, families and schools divided over COVID safety, poverty, racial tensions and wars, democracies threatened by political B.S. (does NOT stand for bachelor of science), sexual violence and gender discrimination, kids under the influence of social media and more.

The message of Advent reminds us we cannot give in to despair or allow our hearts to grow cold without hope. The yearning we feel for peace must be put to prayerful and courageous purposes. Acts of faith keep hope alive.

In this season, we intentionally welcome the Light of Christ once again into our lives, knowing we are each carriers of transforming Love. The Christ Child shows us how to daily bring peace and Love into a broken world. Yes. It’s real.

Are you struggling? Is someone you know suffering?

Today I received news of a Crossroads family in pain. Every member in this three generation extended household has been seriously ill, including one COVID case that went all the way to a ventilator. She is currently in rehab. Today, the strong winds blew a tree through their living room roof. Unrelated to the tree, Grandma is once again on the way to the ER. The moment I finish this post, I’ll organize a meal team on our Orange Dots of Hope Facebook page.

Friends, as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, every one of your loving acts will bring peace to someone struggling. Each act of love will generate more goodness. Hope is here.

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Set your intention for the day. Say: Today I will trust that my efforts of kindness are bringing hope to the world’s discouragement.

Pray this Closing Prayer:

Jesus, you are the Everlasting Light.
Help me to bring your love everywhere I go.
Fill me with Light this Advent
that all my life will reflect you.
Shine through me so that that everyone I meet today
would feel your presence in my spirit.
Let them look and see, not just me, but you,
Light of all Lights, Shining through me. Amen

As you blow out the candle and the flame vanishes, remember you have divine light within you that will never go out. You take the light of Christ with you wherever you are.

Together on the Journey,

Katie Martinez