Advent is a time of waiting. Are you anticipating the celebration of Christ's birth? Someone has promised that He is coming. God is faithful to His promises. Jeremiah said, "This is the name...The Lord Our Righteousness." In a time of trouble God gave Jeremiah a message of hope. What we do really does matter to God. Is justice "just us," or true justice? You and I have been waiting all of our lives for this King. The days are coming when justice and righteousness will prevail. Jesus is coming down the lane of your life. Will you welcome him in?

Advent is the period of preparation before the Christmas season. The time of Thanksgiving and Christmas seems to be a time when blessings abound. No matter your situation there are blessings around you. Have you been thanking God for all His blessings? Are you blessed to be a blessing to others? God blessed you and He needs us to be a conduit of those blessings to others. Blessings are revealed to us every day if we are paying attention. Everything around us is created by our loving God. God's blessings can be multiplied, so go and help His people and be a conduit of blessing.

There is something healthy about giving thanks. It should be more than a "once a year" event. Do we give thanks in the ordinary, the everyday aspects of our lives, not just the big things? "Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One," not just for everything but in everything. Being thankful everyday gives us a whole different attitiude to our lives. God is first. God is in charge. God wants us to focus on the abundance of everyday. Set aside some time to give thanks for the small blessings from God.

Why during election season do we show such disrespect to each other and why do we put up with it? Somebody is watching! Why do we wink and nod at the distortions? What do our children think of all of this? What did the candidates really win or lose with their actions? The Bible says to put our hope and trust in God, not man. The widow put her trust in God when she put her two coins in the offering box. Jesus knew the real value of those two coins. To the Pharisees and Sadducees she was worth little. To Jesus she was of great value and power. What do we sow during election time?

Why is there so much chaos? Where is God? Why do innocent people suffer? Where is God in all of this? In Revelation there is a vision of a new Heaven, earth and Holy City. Eye has not seen and ear has not heard what God has prepared for us. We have hope of an eternal promise and assurance from God. Jesus said to the thief on the cross, "This day you will be in paradise with me." It is the hope to rest your life on. Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood. We cannot see the divine presence of God but we know He is real.

Many who have disabilities, especially blindness, see more clearly than we do through our eyes. Are you truly seeing through your eyes? One of the signs prophesied in Isaiah about the coming Messiah was that the blind would receive their sight. Have you allowed Jesus to open your eyes to the needs of others? Can we help others in some way? We all come to a point in life when we are out of answers and out of hope. None of us are immune to hardship, heartache, or suffering. Have you asked Jesus to stop? God knows your every need and someday He will stop and you will feel that you are His child.

We are stewards in this world of all the things God has given us. If we think we are the center of the universe, then we are not good stewards. I, me, and myself are words of selfcenteredness. God owns the whole universe. Sometimes we have to consider the whole universe to understand how small we really are. In what priority would you rank these words: work, family, God, sports, travel, others? The truth is God loves us. You are a child of God. He has made you a steward of His creation. Are you a good steward? What will you do for Christ?

God asks us to support his church by our prayers, presence, gifts and service. Your prayers, gifts and service reach out from his church to people across our community, country and world. Where is God calling you to serve? What will God be doing through you? How will what you do effect future generations? What is the spirit path you are on?

Like a tree planted by the water we shall not be moved. A tree's roots planted by the water grow deep to the river's water. We are like that tree. With deep faith we produce fruit for others. We produce fruit by the overflowing blessings of God. Jesus said, "The greatest among you will be a servant." Giving liberates the soul of the believer. Servanthood over sermon-hood wins hearts. Serving can be done in silent ways. Silent servanthood becomes a fruitful witness for the service of Christ. We are all called to be servants.

The book of Psalms is full of words of salvation. The concept of salvation is a cry of the human heart. Salvation equals completeness. God is wholly there for us. He has become our wholeness. Mathew 1:21 says, "...you shall call him Jesus and He shall save His people." Salvation has a name and that name is Jesus. Christ holds the structure of our lives together. He is the cornerstone of life. Salvation is the message of scripture from beginning to end.