ADVENT

Last Sunday was the first Sunday of "ADVENT." The word Advent refers to the birth of the Christ child. The focus of the entire season of Advent is the celebration of His coming to earth, as a baby, and our waiting for the return of Christ the King in his second Advent. So, Advent is far more than simply marking an event in history. It is celebrating the truth of God; the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to the Father. That is a process in which we participate when we accept Christ as our Savior. When you read Scriptures for Advent, they should reflect not only about His birth, but also on His Second coming, and should include Scriptures that deal with forgiveness for sin, accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on unforgiven sin, and the hope of eternal life.

In this dual focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey that individuals and congregations take, as they affirm that Christ has come to them, that He is present in the world today, and that He will one day return in power to set up His kingdom. That understanding and acknowledgment provides a basis for Kingdom ethics, ie., for holy living arising from a profound sense that we live "between the times" and are called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to us as God's people. So, as we in the church celebrate what we call the Incarnation, and anticipate a future consummation to that history for which "all creation is groaning awaiting its redemption," it also confesses its own responsibility as a people commissioned to not only "love the Lord your God with all your heart" but, also to "love your neighbor as yourself", by sharing about the saving Grace that Jesus Christ has given so freely to everyone that will accept it.

May GOD truly bless YOU this Advent Season!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! AGAIN!!!

Well, what did you do for THANKSGIVING this year? Did you TRULY give thanks for ALL the blessings you enjoy? I can hear some now as they say "BAH, HUMBUG! I don't have ANYTHING to be thankful for." There are those that like to sing those old favorites: Gloom, despair, and agony on me...." And let's not forget: "The bills are all due and the baby needs shoes, and I'm busted....."

We forget what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:18; "In everything give THANKS: for this IS the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." As we DO what the Word of God teaches us, it allows the Holy Spirit to work the Word of God in our lives.

Now, God did not say that we should give thanks FOR everything, but that it should be given IN everything. There IS a difference. We heard a testimony last week of how, even though a man had lost his job, as he and his wife put God first in their lives, and trusted Him as their SOURCE, they had more money in the bank than ever before.

That is how God works. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said: "Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and ALL these things shall be added unto you." David writes in the Psalms that we are to give thanks in the congregation. As we all God to bless us, we can build other people's faith by "the word of our testimony."

Dee and I went to Palatka, Florida to spend Thanksgiving with her oldest sister. We didn't really have the extra money for the trip, as she is out of work for a month, but we felt that it was God's will for us to go. On Thanksgiving Day, we were able to introduce our nephew's wife to Christ. She told us that she was lost, and headed for hell. We shared some simple Scriptures with her, and led her to Christ. See, as we did what we believed God wanted us to do, we got blessed. Oh, by the way, God supplied what was spent on the trip!