March 28, 2024

The Church Mouse: Advent!

Advent! 
Let me tell you a little story. 

“A man approached a little league baseball game one afternoon. He asked a boy in the dugout what the score was. The boy responded, “18 to nothing….we’re behind.” 
“Boy,” said the spectator, “I’ll bet you’re discouraged.” 
“Why should I be discouraged?” replied the little boy. “We haven’t even gotten up to bat yet!”

Now I’ll bet you are trying to figure out what what that baseball story has to do with advent. Well Advent and that little story are both about hope. 

The church divides the year into different seasons that emphasize the life of Christ and the church. Beginning on Sunday, November 28, 2021, this year we will enter the season of the church year called Advent. 
Advent is the season of preparation and hope leading up to Christmas. 

Advent is to prepare us to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world as both God and Man so that our sins might be forgiven. We also hope for the day when Jesus will return to Earth and bring an end to this world. Those will be scary days, but we can look forward to the end of the world with hope because through faith in Jesus, the end of this world will mean the beginning of a new life with Christ for eternity.
Advent, then, is a time for us to repent and believe. Knowing that Jesus was born to forgive our sins, we repent and believe that we are forgiven because of the death and resurrection of Jesus on our behalf. Also, knowing that Jesus is coming back, we repent and believe that when He returns, He will give us eternal life. That’s hope. 

Heavenly Father, we ask you to kindle the small spark of hope we have to become a bright light of Jesus shining in this dark sinful world. Help us to prepare our hearts and lives to bring hope to the lost and dying world. Give us your blessed hope so that we may live with you in your eternal kingdom. We give you, Father God all praise and thanks. Amen 

the Church Mouse
Work hard, Pray harder!