An Invitation

On Thanksgiving little Jimmy sat down at the table with his mommy and
Daddy, grandpa, grandma and relatives and Jimmy was asked to pray 
before they ate. 

Jimmy prayed, Thank you God for mommy, daddy, and my sister. 
Thank you God, for my friend Joey, my dog Skippy, grandpa and 
grandma, everyone who is here. Then Jimmy started praying for 
the food, Thank you God, for the turkey, the dressing, the fruit, the 
apple jelly, and the pies and the Cool Whip which I really like God! 
If I thank you for the peas even if it is Thanksgiving I would be lying 
God. I had a hope that we would have M & M’s instead. Amen

Today is the first day of Advent and the first candle, the candle of Hope 
has been lit. As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior that 
happened over two thousand years ago, and prepare for the celebration 
that will happen, the celebration of Jesus Christ’s return. 

God’s children amaze and sadden me with their perspectives on hope. 
It’s always easy to tell who has asked Jesus Christ to be their Lord and 
Savior and who has not asked Jesus into their life.

One is at peace in the worse of times for they know God is with them
and their love one is safe in His arms. The other often is angry with God, 
angry and wanting to give up for there is no reason to live. LIFE IS OVER! 

Do you approach the season of Advent with a shopping list, credit cards
and or money worrying about getting the best present at the best cost? 
Arguing if someone steps in front of you at the store.

It seems in this day and age that many look at Advent as a countdown to 
how many more days one has to buy the perfect gift. Worrying if they will 
like what they receive.... Saving the receipt in the event the gift has to be 
returned.

The prophet Isaiah thought about the advent of God, not of Christmas 
gifts, but of the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ. Isaiah envisioned a world 
in worship to God and committed to peace for he knew by the vision God 
had given him that the time was coming.

Isaiah 2: 1-5

The word which Isaiah the son of Amos saw concerning Judah and 
Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain
of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the
mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations 
shall flow to it, and many people shall come, and say; “Come, let us
go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of Jacob; that he 
may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out 
of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD towards 
Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for
many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and 
their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against 
nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, 
come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

What types of images comes to your mind as you read this passage of 
Isaiah’s vision? Do you see Christmas Trees, the Rockettes, hot 
chocolate with marshmallows as the snow falls outside? 

Are you preparing to open lots and lots of gifts or are you preparing for 
the  greatest gift of all?

How one makes the choice to approach Advent and Christ-mas will affect 
their approach to the season for Jesus, not Christmas sales. Remember, 
Jesus is the reason for the season.

Put up the Christmas tree with the lights and decorations. Put up the 
Christmas decorations and have guests over to exchange gifts but 
remember. Remember we have been given an invitation to the 
greatest  gift of all. It isn’t from our neighbors, it’s from God….

Matthew 24: 36

“But of the day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of
heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

Matthew 24: 42-43

“Watch therefore, you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the
night the thief was coming, he would have watched his house and 
would not have let the his house be broken into.”

The scripture does not say that Santa Claus is coming to town, 
the scripture says that the Son of man is coming at an hour you  
do not expect.

Whether you like it or not, whether you are ready or not, Christmas is
coming. Christmas is coming with or without you on board. 

Whether you like it or not, whether you are ready or not there is going 
to be a homecoming unlike anything ever seen when our Lord and 
Savior, Jesus Christ comes to walk with fellow believers as we ascend 
into heaven.

In my life there is something I know and believe. Listen closely: 
People get ready, Jesus is coming, soon will be going home, 
People get ready Jesus is coming to take from the world his own, 
soon we will be coming home. 

Advent is here, an invitation to remember the past and to look forward, 
to the future. A time to celebrate the birth of the Christ child, a time to 
celebrate that which is happening in the life of a believer. To celebrate 
the testimony of those whose life has been changed by asking our Lord 
and Savior, Jesus Christ to forgive them of their sins and asking Jesus 
to enter into their heart and soul.

A time to celebrate that which is yet to come, what a joyful day it will be 
for those who believe. When you look into the night sky do you see the 
star and complain that it is too bright or do you see the star and begin to 
prepare? 

Prepare for Jesus light to be around you, surrounding you and within you 
today.

Prepare for the spirit of Jesus to be dwelling in your heart and in your 
mind at this very moment.

Prepare for His living presence to be seen in all that you say and do, in 
all that you see and hear second by precious second.

This Advent of 2004 are you a living Christmas tree or is Christ living 
within you for others to see? Gaudy and standing out or at peace with 
His love within you?

Jesus is coming is not the complete story that can be summoned up in 
a cliché. The season of Advent challenges us to hear and believe the 
promise. 

Matthew 24: 44

“Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming 
at an hour you do not expect.

Do you hope for that of this world or do you hope for Jesus coming? 
You have been given an invitation by God. Now that you have received 
the invitation is your house completely ready for his arrival? 

Will Jesus feel accepted and comfortable when he is with you?

Are you ready to invite Jesus to live with you and to allow him to see 
and to live in every nook and cranny in your home?

Will you allow Jesus to come into your room? You know the room, the 
room where you keep your sins and weaknesses. 

The room where one may disappear into when they realize it may take 
more time than they expected for life is not going their way.

On this the first Sunday of Advent may we cherish an invitation from 
God to celebrate. Celebrate that of the past and in preparation for that 
which is to come. Do you have an open heart, open ears, open mind, 
open arms, and open doors? Advent speaks to us about the homecoming 
that is going to happen for those who believe. All the nations shall go to 
the house of the Lord, and we will walk in his paths, and God will pass 
judgment on those who have sinned and decide where one spends 
eternity. Swords will turn into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks. 
Nations will not fight against each other, neither will they be at war 
anymore. 

Advent is a time to remember, and for all believers to walk in the light 
of the LORD. 

May we be in an attitude of prayer? 

Father, 
May the light of hope shine within me like the star in the sky. May I Father, 
celebrate in remembrance and prepare for the joy that is to Come, for those 
who are believers. This Advent, may I sing the song with happiness, hold 
onto the words in my heart, JESUS IS COMING, JESUS IS COMING 
SOON. WE WILL BE GOING HOME. JESUS IS COMING TO MAKE THE 
WORLD HIS OWN. HALLELUJAH, FATHER, JESUS IS COMING. 
Hallelujah Father, may your light shine within me so 
that others can see the good news is at hand. 
Hallelujah Father, Jesus is coming.
Amen





11/28/2004 JWM



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