Today is First Sunday of Advent

But on the other hand, many churches react against an over-emphasis on the Spirit by practically ignoring Him. “We tell the story through Scriptures and carols and talk about why we do the things we do – with the Advent wreath, the Chrismon tree and the draping of paraments on the altar table”. Whenever you are hired for a job, you must have the freedom to make certain decisions. What makes someone a someone instead of a something?

To be alert in all things and to be always be mindful as we focus on the present and what is to come.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the LDS Missionary Department are inviting people to “Light the World” this Christmas.

He also mentioned the importance of meeting people at their level.

This year it is crucial that Christians who voted for the president-elect, and those who didn’t, proclaim loudly and clearly that unrepentant racism, misogyny, and hatred are contrary to the teachings of Christ and repellent to God. I may have to vote for someone who does not seem to have the strong conviction to challenge this and that is where my faith leads me to be involved beyond my vote, through advocacy, communication, and even protest. 2 Corinthians 9:15 says, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

We do not know when is the exact time and day that the Lord will come and so we stay awake and keep vigil. The fact that He knows all that God knows – which is everything – also reveals His deity. It was God’s will for Jesus to be tempted and to withstand the temptation. It is his desire that we be holy, very much his own. Maybe you see a time when the kids will be out of school and there will be an extra day off from work. We can not control when or how the Holy Spirit interrupts us. Turn it over to God who can actually do something about it. I thought I was unlovable, but was proven wrong when He loved me. This is the greatest news that we could share with someone. His followers referred to him as the light of the world in several books of the Bible.

God hates sin. The sandwich of our lives He orders is most desirable to Him without sin mixed into the toppings. It means that Isaiah’s vision of the peace of converting weapons into constructive tools and materials is not only possible, but that God is offering us a strategic plan for its accomplishment. These great horizons of our Christian vocation, this unity of life built on the presence of God our Father, can and ought to be a daily reality. Jesus said in Mathew 25:5 that many shall come in my Name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

“The second is about St. John the Baptist and Christ’s first coming, the third gives information on the ways in which people may prepare for the coming of Christ in our lives today and the fourth is about the ways in which Mary and Joseph prepared for His birth”. Notice the identity of the person lied to. What will happen, however, when others discover you’ve lied to them (as they probably will)? Are the Filipinos, too, being punished for hard-headedness and abandonment of God like biblical Israel, thus, it remains an impoverished country deprived of “a land of milk and honey”?

Finally, God releases his grace. The children in the home are to obey and honor their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3). Each member of the Trinity is fully God, yet each member has His own function.

You and I are tempted every day to go beyond our God-ordained boundaries.

Adultery and same-sex marriage, like in Sodom and Gomorrah, was never a divine law but are now proposed in the laws of man. Take note, the first couple was Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve. See if you can put what you learn about the Holy Spirit into categories. The invitation below is to search for a deeper meaning that might amaze you with what you can find. But the thing is, Jesus gives us this time to wait for Him so we can prepare to welcome Him at Christmas. This is a profound message of unrelenting love from Jesus Christ, our redeemer.