Have you noticed how dark the world has gotten?  Well, the good news is that light only serves its purpose in the dark.  The Breaking News of Christmas is that Light has come to us from God.  We must live as children of light to help others know who He is.

Have you noticed the shelves at the ‘Big Box Stores’ are fully stocked with Storage Tubs?  These things are so big, you’d never be able to lift them if you filled them!  Why are they everywhere now?   People have to figure out how to make room for all the stuff they got for Christmas!  Here’s the real question: Is there any room in your life… for Jesus?

We love to be happy & laugh till our face hurts. We love the energy that comes with a blue sky, sunny day.  And yet, we all know how some people can steal your happy in a second.  Biblical joy is not like that… It’s got the strength of steel & is NOT susceptible to stupidity.

We love to be happy & laugh till our face hurts. We love the energy that comes with a blue sky, sunny day.  And yet, we all know how some people can steal your happy in a second.  Biblical joy is not like that… It’s got the strength of steel & is NOT susceptible to stupidity.

The culture we live in now is similar to what it must have been like in the days preceding David & Goliath.  The narrative describes two enemy armies, positioned on opposing sides of a valley, yelling insults & threats.  Nothing changes, just more tension from threats & intimidation & fear, day after day.  If that’s your story, the Christmas season can be one of apprehension and dread.  But God intends the Advent Season to create the excitement of anticipation.

Each Sunday of the Advent season has a Different Theme: Hope, Love, Peace & Joy Today’s message is focused on one of the hardest things for us to do… Wait. Our willingness to wait is based on hope.  As believers, our hope is based on God, not circumstances.  And Hope creates the Anticipation that something good is about to happen.

In his proclamation declaring a National Day of Thanksgiving, George Washington said:   "It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God,  to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor."  God wants gratitude to be the motivation for everything we think, say, or do.  And He rewards our gratitude with His blessings.

Choosing to Live in Gratitude to God will change the course of our Life.  Gratitude turns what we have into enough. Gratitude helps us stop trying to control the outcome.  We have to remember, it’s not Happiness that brings Gratitude... it’s Gratitude that brings Happiness.

Choosing to Live in Gratitude to God will change the course of our Life.  Gratitude turns what we have into enough. Gratitude helps us stop trying to control the outcome.  We have to remember, it’s not Happiness that brings Gratitude... it’s Gratitude that brings Happiness.

Nicole Van Groningen, MD, is a doctor of internal medicine and assistant professor of medicine at Cedars-Sinai. “There are many benefits of showing gratitude. Gratitude lowers symptoms of depression, reduces stress, improves relationships, and increases willpower and resilience. It also benefits your physical health as well, improving cardiovascular health, reducing inflammation, improving sleep, reduces chronic pain, and boosts your immune system.”  But GRATITUDE is a CHOICE since being Self-Centered comes more naturally to us!  How do we develop this thing called gratitude?