AWAKE

https://treasureboxmy.blogspot.my/2016/02/seekers-god-promises-to-you.html

What I say to you, I say to all: Keep Awake. Mark 13:37 (NRSV)

Have you ever felt you have missed something when someone said or did something that ultimately affected you? Did you feel as if you had sleepwalked through an event?

               

During the season of Advent, we find ourselves having certain realizations about God. The morning I wrote this I had to sleep in and get some more rest before starting my day. Hubby had some business to take care of. He couldn’t find out information he needed over the phone. He believed he would have to drive all over town in order to find what he needed. As he departed our home, I said a short, simple prayer. Shortly, he returned and told me he discovered he could get what he needed at a neighborhood store. I automatically praised and thanked God. He asked me what I was doing and I told him. He relaxed a bit and smiled. God is present for us in times we don’t think about. Because of this experience, I am aware that God hears all our prayers and chooses to act on our requests as He sees fit, always in our best interests.

May we all try to be more awake to God during this season as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth?

Open

Warner Sallman Painting.

Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking, if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come into you and eat with you, and you with me Revelation 3:20 (NRSV) 

When we hear the Gospel message we may or may not be receptive to it.

As God works in our hearts we realize the need to receive Him into our hearts and give Him control of our lives.

In the focus verse, we see Christ standing at a closed door. He knocks and continues to knock. Then, He tells us something that surprises us. if you hear my voice and open the door.

We have to open the door to Him.

 I have seen the painting showing that the door where Jesus knocks has no knob on His side of it. I have also seen a home décor piece depicting this verse. The first time I saw it, it set my heart to thinking.

God, in His wisdom, created each of His children with a free will. He chose to make us not like robots who always do as they are commanded because His desire was for each of His children to choose to love Him.

Let’s all proclaim the message to others to be open to Jesus and to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Prepare

In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD. Isaiah 40:3 (NRSV)

During Advent, we prepare our homes for Christmas. Do we also prepare our hearts?

At the last session of a Lay Witness Weekend at a church, I was in there was a time when those who participated in the activities shared their feelings about what they heard God say to them.

An older woman who was like a spiritual mother to me said she realized anew that we should prepare to worship Jesus. She pointed out that we prepare to take a trip, to have company, to go shopping, and to go to the grocery store.

She also reminded us that as we prepare to attend church we tend to our clothing and that of our families. She then stressed we also are to prepare our hearts to meet the LORD. 

How can we prepare our hearts for worship?

We can:

   · Try to get a good night’s sleep.

         · Find a time to pray a short prayer.

         · Give God anything in our hearts that bothers us or what we don’t understand.

         · Put a smile on our faces.

         · Greet those we meet with kind words.

Let us all prepare our hearts as we prepare our homes to celebrate the birth of our LORD, Jesus Christ.