Wake Up.

Hello Friends,
Hope you are growing in this season of Advent. Each night my husband and I read a little part of the story and light a candle. Last night we read Luke 1:14-17

14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

He in this passage refers to John who has just been promised to Elisabeth and Zacharia. A beautiful story of patience and waiting. John was to make way for the Lord. He was to be the one to go before the one who would save. He was to make known the gospel while Christ was on earth and that calling was put on his life before he was even born. Friends just as he had a calling before his birth: so you and I do to. We too are called to make way for the Lord. We too are called to prepare the people. We too are to help turn the hearts of those who don't believe but friends we are do so in all love and humility. In all kindness and truth. Never be ashamed to give the reason for your joy but friends don't stand on a street corner holding up signs filled with hate. Signs that claim God hates this person or that one. God is Love. God is perfect. God hates sin but he does not hate the sinner. He loves the sinner so much that he sent His only son to die for the sinner. That's not hate that is an incredible love. A love that can't be measured and a love we are to reflect and share with those we meet. 

Friends I write this as one who fails you daily. I fail to have the love and compassion I need to have. I feel to be the kindness that lights up the world. I fail to be salt and light in this world daily. And each day my heart is heavy with how much more I could have shown the light of Christ. How much more I could have showed someone the love Christ would show them. It's that light I fail to shine that keeps people from ever seeing me as different and that lack of difference is the vary thing that makes the world feel the church is asleep. 

Friends. Wake up. 

Church. Wake up. 

Let's not forget that all is for not without God. 

To live is Christ.

To die is gain. 

Friends do you live like that? Everyday? I don't and that vary reality brings me to a heart of repentance in this season. That very reality shows me that I become complacent about the love God has for me but THANK GOD He never becomes complacent about His love for me. So thankful for a God that never forgets me, never forsakes me, never leaves me, never becomes absent minded about me. 

Praying for you friends. Hope all is well. Don't discourage if you too fail. Use this season to pray for God to open your heart and eyes and remind you each day to be His ambassador in the world. 

<3