Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Advent!

I pray that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Take time to reflect on how  the Lord has  blessed you this past year. If you are traveling I pray for safe travels for you and your family.

Also, prepare for Advent. This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. On this day we will light the candle of Hope. This candle also reminds us of the Prophets of the Old Testament who announced God’s coming Savior. Advent means coming or arrival. Advent reminds us that God has sent us a Savior and that He is coming again. Jesus is our Living Hope. He is the Hope of the past, present and future for all people.

Just as the people of old waited and prepared for the Savior to come, we also are to wait with hope, expectation and preparation. The Prophet Isaiah said “ A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3). John the Baptist quoted this scripture in referring to Jesus in Luke 3:3-4.

Advent is a time to prepare our hearts and lives for His coming. If Jesus were coming to your house for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner how would you prepare? Let’s make way, make room and prepare our lives to let Jesus come in.

I am thankful to serve as your pastor.

Abundant Grace

My wife Laurie and I used to live in Ormond Beach, Florida before moving to Bismarck. We would sometimes go to the beach and enjoy watching the waves. The waves came everyday, 24 hours a day there was and endless supply. You could say the waves were abundant.

In Romans 5:20 God's grace is described as "abounding." The word abound means "great in number, fully supplies or an overflow." Wow, what wonderful grace the Lord Jesus has given to us.

This Sunday we will study Romans 5: 12-21. Our key verse is verse 20: "...where sin abounded grace did much more abound."

Think about his abounding grace to you this week and extend his grace to others.

It is an honor to serve as your pastor.