We began our daily advent reading and crafts on November 30th this year. We read a passage each day that pointed us to our need for a Savior. The 22nd and 23rd we read the accounts of Jesus' birth in the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Luke. Today we read from John 3 ... and we all said the parts together that we already have memorized. So, we concluded our advent readings with the reason that God gave us the precious gift of His Son. We need a Savior to save us from our sins! Each of the children colored and cut out a cross and they were all placed in the middle of the banner.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
We have spent the past month trying our best to keep our children focused on the gift that God gave us. That is not the easiest task when the rest of society is focused on other things. Things that take the focus away from Jesus. Things that have no eternal significance.
Sometimes, though, my focus gets messed up too. Sometimes I get so frustrated with the "things" that people do around this time of year that they call "Christmas", that I find myself focused on all the frustration ... and not focused on the Savior. I am no different than anyone else. I need a Savior. I need His grace and mercy. I am chief among all sinners.
We need to focus on our need for a Savior and our need for the grace and mercy of a loving God and Father every day of the year. I am thankful for each of you. I pray that if you don't know the God, who sent His precious Son into the world to be our Savior ... that you will know His love, grace, and mercy. There is no greater gift.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
We have spent the past month trying our best to keep our children focused on the gift that God gave us. That is not the easiest task when the rest of society is focused on other things. Things that take the focus away from Jesus. Things that have no eternal significance.
Sometimes, though, my focus gets messed up too. Sometimes I get so frustrated with the "things" that people do around this time of year that they call "Christmas", that I find myself focused on all the frustration ... and not focused on the Savior. I am no different than anyone else. I need a Savior. I need His grace and mercy. I am chief among all sinners.
We need to focus on our need for a Savior and our need for the grace and mercy of a loving God and Father every day of the year. I am thankful for each of you. I pray that if you don't know the God, who sent His precious Son into the world to be our Savior ... that you will know His love, grace, and mercy. There is no greater gift.
Love your advent calendar! Merry Christmas!
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