What happens when life does not go as planned? What does life teach you in those moments? Notice the pattern of service set by a priest in today’s text. Keep serving God because help is on the horizon.

Today starts the Advent season. Today, through music and Scripture reading, we will spend time praising and thanking God for giving us a Savior, Jesus.

“It’s always darkest before dawn” the proverb tells us. Israel’s national history unfolded that way. Instead of finding the light of God’s presence and blessing they experienced metaphoric darkness. Isaiah gave God’s promise of true light. This true light would come in the person of God’s Messiah.

Mark records the arrival ceremony of two great individuals. Far from being filled with pomp and circumstance, their arrival is almost archaic in its nature. Nothing indicates position, popularity, or prominence; yet the arrival of these two persons marks a turning point in history. Mark tells us in the Great Servant has arrived.