Prepare

Lay Director

(Each month, one of our Lay Directors will write an article.)

You better watch out! You better not cry! You better not pout. I'm telling you why! Why? Baby Jesus is coming to town.

An old song but with some new words; a new twist. And so… is this a new season, or the same old one, just going through the motions? Or with a new twist, a new outlook?

A lot of us, probably all of us, have had a lot thrown on our plate this year. Experiences that we never saw coming!! Good or not so good. Some of it we wish we never had to go through. And some were good surprises. But you know, God does not give us more than we can handle, even though we think it is too much. God never said life would be easy. Just that He would always, yes ALWAYS be right beside us. Hard to see and feel when we are in the middle of it!!

And now we are starting the season of Advent. The time to prepare our hearts and minds for the celebration of the coming of our Lord Jesus. We light candles to remind us of the 4 virtues: Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.

I’m trying something different this year to help me prepare for Jesus’ coming. I’m reading more, turning off the TV more. Trying to look inside and listen to what God has to offer to me. Some quiet time just to be. When I was younger, I didn’t have time to sit still. I had things I HAD to do. But now I find it is more important to not do a lot of things. And in this world that is hard to do. Not long ago I heard “You have 2 ears and 1 mouth.” God gave us those so we can listen twice as much as we talk. And isn’t it a fact that many people today need someone who will just sit and listen to them? I’m thinking of those who are staying in and away from other people. Not easy to do some days.

Advent, a period of preparation. Time to get ourselves ready. Because..

Jesus Christ is coming to town! He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good. So be good for your own sake!!

Let us prepare ourselves as best we can in these short 4 weeks knowing that if we do take the time to invest in our future, God will gladly fill us with His Love, His Joy, His Peace and most certainly His Hope.

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to help you not hurt you. To Give you Hope and a future!” Jeremiah 29:11

As we prepare let us…. prepare ye the way of the Lord. Prepare ye the way of the Lord!!

May God fill you with every grace and blessing this season!

May the peace of Christ always disturb your life!

John Lyons lyons5876@gmail.com

Kathy Otermat kotermat04@gmail.com