You’re Worth Loving
This year St. Peter’s UCC in Grant Park is providing the book A Love Worth Giving to You at Christmas by Max Lucado for our members to distribute to their families, friends, and neighbors as a small gift. Each book includes an invitation to worship with our church family on Christmas Eve.
Throughout Advent we are reminding everyone that they are worth loving! Lucado writes, “(Jesus) went from commanding angels to sleeping in straw. From holding stars to clutching Mary’s finger. The palm that held the universe took the nail of a soldier. Why? Because that’s what love does.”
Each day, during Advent, join us for a journey to see just how much God’s love for you is evidenced in the story of Christmas.
Patience is a Virtue
We are two weeks away from Christmas.
For some of us it feels like Advent is moving too quickly and we still have a lot to prepare for.
Others feel that it can’t come soon enough.
Patience in any aspect of life can be very difficult. Whether it is waiting for a special day, awaiting results from a medical appointment or test, or whatever it is, patience definitely is, as they say, a virtue.
Do you struggle with being patient?
Habakkuk 2:3 reads, “For still the vision awaits its appointed time. It hastens to the end. It will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it. It will surely come, it will not delay.”
When you are struggling with trusting God to work things out in His time, and in accordance with His will, the Bible commands us to wait.
Here are some other words from God’s Word:
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.Isaiah 40:28-31
These words remind us that we need to rest patiently while trusting in God’s goodness and faithfulness.
God’s promises always come through. While they may not be on our timing or terms, we can be confident in the 100% faithfulness of God.
While we continue to wait for Christmas this Advent season, don’t be in a rush. Take time to unwind, rest peacefully, and seek the things of Christ.
Prayer: God, we ask for patience. We pray that you would deliver us from worry and doubt and help us to not be anxious about anything. Help us to trust in You and rest in You so that we may experience Your peace which passes all understanding in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.