Christmas has come, and though it is actually still here, many have quickly flowed past the 12 days of Christmas and have soared into 2021 hoping something different from 2020 awaits them.

If I were to ask you, what is the greatest gift you gave to someone in 2020, what would it be.

Last Sunday, I thought about this and then on Thursday I was watching Fr. Comforted lead morning prayer and was reminded of the this again.

Fr. Comforted used a tag line, not great but grateful to describe 2020 and then shared a story of spending time with his grandkids.  This caused me to think about the things I am grateful for.  One of the things that I most grateful for came to fruition on Thursday night and it wasn’t the end of 2020.  It centers around a gift that I was forced but privileged to give.

I can tell you as a father, there is no greater gift on earth besides my own faith, than seeing your children embracing and stepping into a living faith on their and traveling down an unimaginable road that I could have never dreamed they would go but know God has for them.

 If my heart can see this now, just try and think how your heavenly Father longs to see you receive all that He has for you.  If you will truly treasure what God has given you in Jesus, you will see the unimaginable take place as Jesus grows in you by the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory and praise of God.  Amen.

 I was reminded of the value of alarms and the noise things make to give you a heads up, a warning that something is happening that needs your attention.

How would you describe your 2020?  Most people I hear seem to be describing 2020 from the vantage point of the world.  Seeing dark and gloomy moments, hopes dashed against a stone or virus we might say, dreams crushed, and isolation becoming overwhelming.  People are looking forward to 2021 but the only problem is that we are being told 2021 will be much of the same.  

Could it be that God has been sounding the alarm intending for people everywhere to hear His warning so that we might finally pay attention to things that need attention. 

What if? What if?  What if we were to accept God’s invitation and take the journey we are experiencing as Holy Journey so that we can receive all that God desires for us?  Are you on this journey?

How many of you remember that game show, Let’s Make A Deal.  As a kid, it was always one of my favorites to watch if I was home sick for the day.  

This game show was always fun to watch because people would squirm all over the place not knowing what to do.  Wanting something greater, but scared to let go of what they had, even though just seconds before they had nothing, no prize at all.

You would think that it would be an easy decision.  I came here with nothing so why not give anything I might win back in hopes of gaining the greater prize.  

Instead it was almost always a tough decision for the contestants to make because not knowing what promise of the next gift might be left them so uncertain about was what they had better than what they might get. 

What do you think you would do if you were given something that you really did not deserve and then were given an opportunity to give it up in order to receive something even greater?

Some of us probably would and others probably would not give it back under these conditions.  

 But what about this, would you be willing to give away what you had if you knew that the prank was not going to be played on you?  In other words, if you knew for certain that what you would receive back would be of greater value than what you gave up?  Would you give up what you holding onto so tightly?

This would be an easy decision to make when thinking about it related to a game show.  However, many people struggle to make this decision as it relates to their lives and trusting God with all that they are and with all that they have.   Honestly, we struggle to do this in regard to our faith, in listening to God's Word, and responding with what He has place in our hearts and in our minds to do.

Today, Advent 3 in 2020, what are you holding onto that has you tied up in knots, what has squirming around wanting to give it to God but nervous or scared that once you let it go you don’t know if what you are going to get?

Will you trust the God who is holy, who covers you with His righteousness, who has called you by name and shared with you the Messiah foretold so many years ago?

Will you today, lay down the uncertainty to take hold of the promise of what God has for you?

Will you come to the altar today and experience that Divine Exchange, were you lay down what you are holding onto as comfortable as you think it might be or as painful as you know it is, as controlling as it has become, has costly as you know it to be, will you come today and lay it down at the foot of the altar and take hold of Jesus and find the fulfillment of God promise for you as you take hold of him.  

Pay attention:  What does God give you as you lay it down?  What does living with that promise mean for you today, tonight, tomorrow, and into the rest of your life?  It is okay to take it one day at a time, but don’t loose sight, his promise is forever.

 Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen

His Grace is sufficient and He is mighty to save.  Say yes to Jesus, and welcome the promise of healing, hope, restoration, and glory.  The only way you don’t receive it, is to hold onto to what you have instead of giving it up for His glory.

Have you ever thought about how much of your life is being lived out of focus?  

Maybe this morning you will think, how much you might be missing out on by living, experiencing, and processing life through a belief or understanding that is out of focus from what it was meant to be?  

 What are some preconceived thoughts and ideas that you have or some ways of life that live that perhaps God wants you to see differently but in order to see clearly you will have to put on God’s eyes instead of your own? 

 Where do you need to trust God and ask for his help to see things through with His Word as your lens instead of the context of the world in which you know so well?

 What has God allowed to be in your life that doesn’t make since?  Could it be that God might have plans to bring salvation to somebody else as they hear or see of your faithfulness as you hold onto His word of truth?

 How has God instructed you to live through His Word, by the Holy Spirit that you have ignored, given up on, or chosen to disregard because it did not seem to fit what how you were conditioned in life?  

Do not forget this one thing, dear friends:  God does not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  “I used to think I was right, until God showed me I was wrong”  That is repentance.  Amen.