Advent Devotional for December 21st

"Then Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and He send them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, 'Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money - not even an extra tunic.'" - Luke 9:1-3

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"As you pass from the tender years of youth into harsh and embittered manhood, make sure you take with you on your journey all the human emotions! Don't leave them on the road, for you will not pick them up afterwards!"

(Nikolai Gogol, Dead Souls, translated by David Magarshak)

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"Lord God, when Thou grantest to Thy servants to endeavour any great matter, grant us to know that it is not in the beginning but in the continuing of the same until it is thoroughly finished which yieldeth the true glory." - prayer attributed to Sir Francis Drake