{"id":16100,"date":"2013-12-08T00:01:21","date_gmt":"2013-12-08T06:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=16100"},"modified":"2013-12-07T22:29:47","modified_gmt":"2013-12-08T04:29:47","slug":"come-thou-long-expected-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/12\/08\/come-thou-long-expected-jesus\/","title":{"rendered":"Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"gchcarolsbloggraphic\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The first candle in the Advent wreath is the Candle of Hope. \u00a0This past Sunday my pastor referred to it, interestingly, as the Candle of Waiting<\/em>. \u00a0How are “Hope<\/strong>” and “Waiting<\/strong>” related? \u00a0I think the link between the two is in one definition of the word\u00a0faith—<\/em>we have a need, and we turn to God to fill it. \u00a0In other words, we put our hope<\/strong> in His power and compassion, and we wait<\/strong> for His perfect timing. \u00a0David writes on this often in the Psalms:<\/p>\n

Psalm 27:14<\/b>
\nWait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.<\/p>\n

Psalm 130:5-6<\/b>
\nI wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.<\/p>\n

This is one of the reasons I love the hymn “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”. \u00a0It perfectly describes not a tiny baby in a manger, but instead the Savior’s mission, His whole reason for being: \u00a0to deliver us from our sins, and from captivity (of all kinds). \u00a0All we have to do is wait for Him.<\/p>\n

\n

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,<\/span><\/em>
\n Born to set Thy people free;<\/span><\/em>
\n From our fears and sins release us,<\/span><\/em>
\n Let us find our rest in Thee.<\/span><\/em>
\n Israel’s strength and consolation,<\/span><\/em>
\n Hope of all the earth Thou art;<\/span><\/em>
\n Dear Desire of every nation,<\/span><\/em>
\n Joy of every longing heart.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Born Thy people to deliver,<\/span><\/em>
\n Born a Child and yet a King,<\/span><\/em>
\n Born to reign in us forever,<\/span><\/em>
\n Now Thy gracious Kingdom bring.<\/span><\/em>
\n By Thine own eternal Spirit<\/span><\/em>
\n Rule in all our hearts alone;<\/span><\/em>
\n By Thine all-sufficient merit,<\/span><\/em>
\n Raise us to Thy glorious throne.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus<\/em> ~ Prichard\/Wesley; sung by Ashley Spurling<\/p>\n