Preparing

The decorations are up... most of them.  Presents are bought... most of them.  Plans are made... most of them.

 

Preparation is an interesting thing.  Preparation itself is an expression of faith.  We are behaving in faith that the end of the month is going to be here.  We are counting on the repeat annual event.  The calendar page has been turned and we can see the 25th coming.  Planning.  Faith.

 

How do you prepare for Jesus to revive your soul through this Christmas season?  How does our church plan for the Spirit of God to demonstrate Himself in a new way?

 

1. Looking Forward.  As this is being written we are getting regular calls from Nathan and Lynsee about them coming home.  Monday they will be on their way back to Michigan.  We're looking forward to it.

 

Somehow we need to find the hope to look forward to the good thing that God wants to do in and through us.  We don't manipulate God into action; we know enough about Him to look forward to what He longs to do without us even knowing what that is.

 

I'm excited about what God is going to do in our lives this month!

 

2. Be Willing.  This is a willingness to participate not a just a willingness to witness. "God, I will take my place in what You long to do and make myself available to You as You see fit."

 

Sometimes we are only willing to know what we have already known and do what we have already done.  The problem with that is God may have something new in mind.

 

3.  Pray. 'nuf said.

 

Ask God to do more than we could ask or imagine.  Not because He has something to prove to us, but because that's His will for us.  His will for us is greater than what we can understand.

 

Let's prepare.  That's what Advent is all about.

 

Pastor Dave