“For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. His mercy is upon those who fear Him. He has shown strength with his arm, He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly, He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich He has sent away empty. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from age to age.” Let us thank God for all his goodness and mercy towards us, for He who has promised is faithful to the end. Thank you Lord!

Enter into His presence with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise, be thankful to Him and bless His holy name, for the Lord is good and his mercy is everlasting. Psalm 100. Therefore, by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name, but do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices, God is well pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16.

Dear God, I am thankful that I am building on your foundation which is Jesus Christ; that I am standing on the solid rock of Christ, for all other ground is sinking sand, any other work will not withstand. We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 3:14, that if anyone’s work is built on the foundation of Christ, it will endure and he will receive a reward. Therefore, it’s required of us servants of God and stewards of his kingdom, to continue on faithfully in the work of the Lord, for in it is a sure reward, for we are God’s fellow workers, we are God’s field, and we are God’s building. Many of us appear devoted to the work of the Lord, but, on what foundation are we building, will our works stand the test of God’s fire?

“Thus said the Lord God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul, I gave you your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And, if that had been too little, I would have given you more. Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? My brothers and sisters in Christ, let us challenge ourselves this morning, let us ask ourselves these questions – What are we doing that is not pleasing to God? What have we taken that God did not intend for us to have? How have we gone out of our way to do evil in the sight of the Lord? Has the Lord not been overly good towards us? Why are we not satisfied with the gifts we have received? Learn to be content with what you have, for the Lord is the giver of all good things, and if he has already given us so much and we are not serving him faithfully, imagine how much more we could receive, if we are content, if we serve him faithfully, and wait patiently on the Lord.

The Advent season is the period of expectantly waiting and preparing, for the celebration of the Holy Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. I am making my own Advent Wreath you could make yours too. All you need is a wreath made of evergreen, four candles – three purple and one rose, some holly and pine for decorating. The evergreen symbolizes continuous everlasting life promised to us by God, the pine and holly symbolizes the crown of thorns, purple candles symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken during the four weeks of Advent. The rose candle symbolizes rejoicing. One candle is lit every week and symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world, and the anticipation of His second coming.

“And Abraham not being weak in faith, did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what he had promised he was able to perform, and therefore, it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now, it was not written for Abraham’s sake alone but also for us. It challenges us to believe in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offences and was raised because of our justification. Therefore, having being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  The just shall live by faith.” Praise the Lord!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, we have spent enough of our past life in doing the will of the Gentiles, in that we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries; it’s time to turn aside from these and serve the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Do not be ashamed to turn to the other side, for we are reminded in 1 Peter 4:4, that in regard to these displeasing behaviors that has been a part of our lives for so long, others will think it strange that you do not run with them anymore, in the same flood of dissipation, and will speak evil of you, but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. The end of all things is at hand, therefore, turn to God, turn aside from evil and be serious and watchful in your prayers. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you. Amen!

1 Peter 3:13-17 – And who is he who will harm you, if you become followers of what is good? But, even if you suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed; and do not be afraid of them, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; for having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” Praise the Lord!

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed: we are perplexed, but not in despair: persecuted, but not forsaken: struck down, but not destroyed, because we carry on in the spirit of the Lord, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our own bodies. Therefore, do not lose heart, for even though our outward man is perishing, yet, the inward man is being renewed day by day, for our light affliction which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight in glory. Therefore, let us not focus on the things which are seen, but the things which are unseen, for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Praise the Lord!