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Following His Transfiguration, Jesus "set His face toward Jerusalem" where He would be betrayed into the hands of sinners, killed and on the third day rise again. The Season of Pre-Lent teaches us to prepare for the time of Lent when we contemplate the sufferings of Jesus. Pre-Lent turns our faces toward Jerusalem with Jesus and yet, we do not go there to find Him, but receive Him where He has promised to be: in His Word and Sacraments given to us in His holy Church. 

To turn our eyes upon Jesus and to call our attention to His salvation delivered in His gifts, Higher Things presents these Reflections for the Pre-Lent season written by the Rev. George Borghardt, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Conroe, Texas.  Pr. Borghardt will be one of the speakers at the upcoming Higher Things Retreat, "Salvation: Won and Delivered" in Denver, Colorado this February.  Pr. Borghardt is also the original writer of Higher Things Reflections, we're very grateful that he's still writing them three years later!  

“So, how is it that you have favor with God? How is it that heaven is truly and most assuredly yours? How is it that you can stand holy and righteous before God the Father? How can all this can be? Jesus! Jesus is the Righteous One Who stands before God the Father for you. Jesus is the Righteous One, Whose coming in the Flesh you now anticipate during this Advent season.” (Advent Reflection - December 4, 2006)

For three years, Higher Things has provided free Gospel Reflections for youth and congregations for each day of the season of Advent.  Families have gathered around the table, lit advent candles, sang hymns, read the Scriptures, and had devotions together. Moms have forwarded emails to their college students to spread the Word: Jesus is coming! His Advent is near!

A Blessed and Happy Advent Preparation to you and your family! INI.

Rev. George F. Borghardt III
Internet Services Executive
Higher Things, Inc.

"Blessed are you..." our Lord says to us.  And blessed we are once again to receive the gift of the Gospel delivered to us for our daily devotion in another season of Higher Things Reflections.  We thank the Rev. Carlton Hein (Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Loveland, CO) and the Rev. Jeffery Grams (St. John Lutheran Church, Scottsbluff, NE) for writing Reflections for these final weeks of the Church year.

The booklet of All Saints' Tide (November 1-December 2, 2006) is available in pdf-format for download here.  You can receive the Higher Things Reflections in your e-mail box today! Subscribe by sending any e-mail to: Reflections-on@lists.higherthings.org. You can find an RSS Feed and Podcast for the Higher Things Daily Reflections here.  Listening to podcasts requires iTunes.  Our Podcast is updated daily.

Sandra Ostapowich
Assisitant Editor, Higher Things Reflections
Minneapolis FOR YOU Conference Coordinator
Secretary, Board of Directors
Higher Things, Inc.

"On St. Michael and All Angels Day, we see the Archangel Michael and his angels battling Satan and his angels. In his rebellion against God Satan took with him one-third of the myriad of angels. What a battle! But Satan and his angels couldn’t defeat Michael and his angels. They weren’t strong enough, so they were thrown down to earth.” (Reflection for St. Michael and All Angels)

Our Lord Jesus continues to bring us through the season of Trinity as we go through the beginning of the season known as "St. Michael's Tide."  Higher Things would like to thank the Rev. Joel Fristche for writing this season’s Reflections.  The Rev. Joel Fritsche has served parishes in Wyoming and Texas. He is currently an Admissions Counselor at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.