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God's Words For US
by Cecelia Lester
AWAKE
What I say to you, I say to all: Keep Awake. Mark 13:37 (NRSV)
Have you ever felt you have missed something when someone said or did something that ultimately affected you? Did you feel as if you had sleepwalked through the event?
During the season of Advent, we find ourselves having certain realizations about God. The morning I wrote this I had to sleep in and get some more rest before starting my day. Hubby had some business to take care of. He couldn’t find out information he needed over the phone. He believed he would have to drive all over town in order to find what he needed. As he departed our home, I said a short, simple prayer. Shortly, he returned and told me he discovered he could get what he needed at a neighborhood store. I automatically praised and thanked God. He asked me what I was doing and I told him. He relaxed a bit and smiled. God is present for us in times we don’t think about. Because of this experience, I am aware that God hears all our prayers and chooses to act on our requests as He sees fit, always in our best interests.
May we all try to be more awake to God during this season as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth?
OPEN
Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking, if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come into you and eat with you, and you with me Revelation 3:20 (NRSV)
When we hear the Gospel message we may or may not be receptive to it.
As God works in our hearts we realize the need to receive Him into our hearts and give Him control of our lives.
In the focus verse, we see Christ standing at a closed door. He knocks and continues to knock. Then, He tells us something that surprises us. if you hear my voice and open the door.
We have to open the door to Him. I have seen the painting showing that the door where Jesus knocks has no knob on His side of it. I have also seen a home décor piece depicting this verse. The first time I saw it, it set my heart to thinking.
God, in His wisdom, created each of His children with a free will. He chose to make us not like robots who always do as they are commanded because His desire was for each of His children to choose to love Him.
Let’s all proclaim the message to others to be open to Jesus and to the work of the Holy Spirit. Let’s begin with our thoughts during Advent.
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Cecelia Lester has been serious about her writing for over two decades..
She composes Christian essays and posts them to her blog quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/
She has served in a faith-based organization, Grace In Action by writing two newsletters and searching for possible grants.
In July 2017, she published her first book, 'Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy.'
She and her husband of 54 years live in central Indiana. They have one grown son.
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