“I need help!” These can be the most difficult words to ask another person, and yet also be the echo of our conversations with God. Our Father loves when we come to him in our time of need, but like any Father, he also desires to be so much more! When asked to model prayer life, Jesus begins not with requests, but with adoration of the creator and sustainer of the universe. By having a foundation of adoration, we also gain a better perspective of the one to which we are talking. So, let’s seek to adore Him together!

The great philosopher Tom Petty once observed “The waiting is the hardest part.” No one likes to wait, and it seems we’ve gotten more impatient over time. The value of what we are waiting for will determine how long we are willing to wait. A pizza, maybe 30 minutes. Peace, well, we might be willing to wait just a little longer. Today, we can take comfort in knowing that because Jesus came in His glory, we can now depart in His peace...and trust me, it is worth the wait!

The pursuit of peace is a universal quest. Yet, all sources of earthly peace prove to only be fading distractions. This Advent, we recall the arrival of our long-awaited "Prince of Peace". He came before in the surprising form of a newborn King to deliver us from the source of our conflict, our sin. Now, we anticipate his return, when he will usher in an age of everlasting peace! We can take heart in knowing that our troubles find release with the arrival of the Prince of Peace!”

The pain of the past can often steal our present joy. For some, this time of year can amplify that pain to a boiling point. In the season of Advent, we remember that God has ushered in a new age of joy through the arrival of Jesus Christ. His victory is ours, and our joy is forever assured. No matter what present pain we may find ourselves in we can take comfort knowing that: "Our future hope gives us present joy!"

People can have bold predictions about what the future is going to hold. These prophets often prove ridiculous or outright laughable, but every once in a while, they are spot on! So, what makes a prophecy worthy of our trust? A solid track record certainly helps. The season of Advent is one of anticipation, awaiting the predicted arrival of Jesus, whose track record is spotless! In Advent, we can have faith because Christ has proven worthy of the wait.

“What would you do if money was no object? How you answer that question might reveal a little bit about what is going on in your heart. Did you know that of all the topics Jesus preached about, he spoke the most about money? He even said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Being a good steward of God’s gifts helps us to serve him in the accomplishing of his mission to make disciples. Let’s seek to serve him today by giving with a cheerful heart!

As a creation of God, you have been uniquely and wonderfully made by Him. This means we each also have unique talents that God has gifted to us. To thank Him for these talents, we can use these gifts in service to Him and one another. So what unique talent has God blessed you with? How are you using that talent in a way to bring honor to His name? Let’s struggle with these questions together as we seek to serve Him this day!

Time is the one commodity of which we each have an equal amount. Yet, it is how we choose to spend our time that differentiates our lives and their accomplishments. So, how are you spending your time? The prophet Moses advises us to count our days, promising that in doing so, we will receive a heart of wisdom. He both encourages and models the best way to live out our days, in service to God. Our days are gained by giving them to the Lord. Let’s start here today in worship!