Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.
Peace is more than the absence of war, it is about healing the heart, right always winning and the kind of love that never ends. I would guess that if asked most of us would wish for this type of peace above anything else. I have to tell you though, this is one Christmas wish that Santa can’t give. So how do we find peace? Finding peace is an individual search that ends when we accept for ourselves the love of Jesus in our hearts. Peace comes when we are right with God through Jesus Christ.
This time of year is filled with people having hope. Kids are hoping Santa will bring them exactly what they want. People are shopping hoping to find just the right present for the special people in their lives. Store owners and manufacturing companies are hoping we will buy their products. Families are hoping to see children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles…extended family that they haven’t seen since last Christmas. These are all ways the world sees hope, is it different for those whose hope is in the Lord?
Advent is a season of anticipation and preparation! We are busy planning, shopping, baking, and wrapping. This Advent we will be pausing from these busy activities and focusing on the Hope, Peace, Joy and Love that are foundational for truly celebrating the reason for the season – the coming of Christ, our Savior!
We should give thanks even for the smallest of blessings. Jesus gave thanks for the simple offering of 5 loaves of bread and two fish and in turn fed 5,000 people. Those things for which we give thanks can seem as insignificant as the fish and loaves or as amazing as Jesus giving his life. Giving thanks is about acknowledging the blessing we have been given.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry he taught his disciples and followers to be more about serving others. The disciples didn’t always understand and once when they were arguing about who would be first among them, Jesus sat down with them and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35 Because we too often have a negative image of serving in mind we become leery of serving but Jesus didn’t call us to be slaves but to serve out of love.
As a member of just about any group – whether it is a sports team, a community group or United…
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