To me there is not a more welcoming place to be than in the presence of God. From the time I was young, I have always loved church, loved God’s people and loved serving God in any way. When Jesus came to live inside of us, we can have His presence with us everyday, not just when we go to church. Our hope is fulfilled in knowing that He is always with us. So, my encouragement to you is to make God feel welcome in your life everyday! God takes attendance daily! He notices if you notice Him! Even though the song says that Santa knows when you are sleeping and knows when you are awake, God knows everything about you. He counts the numbers of hairs on your head, and knows the thoughts and intents of your heart. Nothing escapes Him. So we should lay out the welcome mat to God permanently. He wants to be involved in your life moment by moment. My hope is that during this season, that you realize that God’s hope and dreams for you are more than you can even believe. He says your future is filled with good! Jeremiah 29:11 He places great value on you and wants you in His close circle of friends. Friendship with God is wonderful and rewarding. Getting to know God up close and personal bring us hope for tomorrow. Knowing that God wants that for us, and was determined enough to make it happen through a baby in a stable, makes the Nativity story come to life. It is more than a story, it is God revealed to us, to live with us, and reside within us as our Emmanuel, coming to stay forever.
Jeremiah 29:11 I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, “plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future
#6 Today is St. Nickolas Day. Our family tradition is to have appetizers as we set up our main family Christmas tree. Everyone gets a new ornament, and we usually watch a movie or play a game when we are done decorating. It is also our daughter Chantel and her husband Chris’ anniversary. They had red velvet cake at their wedding, so we always have red velvet cake on St. Nickolas Day too.