The day was turning into night when my phone dinged, alerting me to a new message. As I opened the message, a beautiful photograph appeared. My granddaughter home from college for Christmas was running in the neighborhood when she spotted an amazing sunset. She quickly snapped the picture and said, “Such a pretty sunset right over your house! I know we can never see them from our side of the lake.” While the sunset was indeed stunning, I wonder how many times I have missed God’s glory when it is “right over my house?”

In a world which appears to be plagued by violence, war, and insecurity, is humanity more focused on the darkness than on God’s glory? Satan wants nothing more than for you and me to be all consumed by the noise we hear rather than see with our eyes the truth of God’s presence among us.

During this Advent season, I invite you to join me in a simple exercise of the heart. The meaning of the word, Advent, is “The arrival of a notable person, thing, or event” (Oxford Dictionary). A heavenly angel announced the physical arrival of Jesus on the night He was born. But God’s Word from the beginning of time, through the appearance of His glory has prepared humanity to live expectantly for Him. At Christmastime, during Advent, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ into the world over 2000 years ago. Scripture also tells us of a future Advent that we should expect. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3, emphasis mine).

Jesus is coming again! His glory is all around us. Keep your eyes open and live each day expectantly.

Jesus often spoke of things that confounded His listeners. When He told the Pharisee, Nicodemus, that “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3), the learned teacher understandably asked, “How can a man be born when he is old?” (4). Again, Matthew in his writing quotes Jesus as if He is suggesting one should act like a child instead of an adult. Really? Is Jesus telling us to “go back to our childish ways?” Taking a closer look, Jesus is not telling us to act childish, rather “child-like;” there is a big difference!

Picture the scene: Jesus is surrounded by His disciples. The topic of discussion is philosophically deep… “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” someone asks (1). Thinking Jesus will declare one of them the deserved recipient, instead He “called a little child” standing nearby, saying, “one who makes himself humble like this child” is the “greatest person in the kingdom of heaven.” Ego’s deflated, the Halleluiah Chorus ringing in their self-righteous ears silenced,Jesus once again demonstrates to His followers both then and to His followers today, that heaven is not a place for the proud and haughty.

Humility is the absence of self-awareness, not its building up. Human beings are prone to the desire for greatness. Our culture celebrates greatness and individual recognition, and if you do not believe this, check out social media platforms. We want to be “liked.”

Faith in Jesus is simple enough for a child to grasp and profound enough to confound the most intellectual individual. This is a paradox where every human heart must begin the journey to eternal life. Humility is something we should all desire, but once we think we have achieved it, like grabbing at soap bubbles in the air, it is gone.

Human beings have a bent toward things that are forbidden. For example, if the speed limit is 25mph, we think we can safely do 30mph without getting a ticket. Right? Ask me how I know… Our disobedient tendencies are simply part of our human nature. Adam and Eve were the first people to disobey God but not the last. From birth until death, every human being since that heartbreaking incident in the Garden of Eden carries the defective gene God calls “sin.” Before you get upset with our ancestor’s, please know, if you or I had been the first humans in the garden, we would have gone “apple picking” just like them!

According to a recent news article, an apparent standoff between two opposing groups of people in Texas got heated. One group gathered in support of a local “church” who were promoting views deemed very controversial in the current social war, while the other group, many who professed traditional Christian values knelt in prayer. Individuals from both groups held signs suggesting that those who did not agree with their grievances were “going to hell!” Sadly, I wondered if the declaration was more wishful thinking than being grounded in biblical knowledge? You see, only God can determine one’s eternal destiny because God alone is all-knowing. Only God knows the intentions of the human heart.

For certain, our actions on earth will always have earthly consequences, many of them resulting in pain. History is proof alone of this fact. Some consequences involving pain are self-inflicted, other’s result in collateral damage. But the Bible is very clear about how to enter heaven, and it has nothing to do with what we have done, neither good nor bad, rather it is about Who can save us. That “Who” is Jesus Christ. If sinlessness by human effort were the criteria for entrance into heaven, hell would be overcrowded and heaven empty, except for the Triune Head, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Today, will you invite Jesus into your heart? He is waiting to hear from you.

From the earliest age, parents begin teaching their child the way to maturity. Of course, each milestone has an appropriate approach. No one expects a newborn to read, write, or understand the same level as a six-year-old. And no one expects a six-year-old to reason in the same way a sixteen-year-old might. I especially remember my grandchildren as they came along, each one amazing me with their abilities (okay, I know…what grandparent is not amazed with their offspring?).

Jesus often spoke of things that confounded His listeners. When He told the Pharisee, Nicodemus, that “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3), the learned teacher understandably asked, “How can a man be born when he is old?” (4).

Views on conflicting and contentious topics in the modern world are not lacking in quantity; one need only read or listen to the news to agree on this one truth. Being able to decipher the facts and understand whatever topic is being addressed, I sometimes think requires a scholarly education! The irony must not be lost, however, when Jesus uses a little child to demonstrate the “requirements” for entering the kingdom of heaven, something I think to which most people aspire. In contrast, He highlights one of the most educated and respected religious leaders of the day to explain, that it is not about what you know, rather who you know that opens heaven’s door.

Faith in Jesus is simple enough for a child to grasp and profound enough to confound the most intellectual individual. This is a paradox where every human heart must begin the journey to eternal life.

My daughter and I have needed to travel to New York City over the past year for personal reasons. If you have ever had the opportunity to spend time in this “city that never sleeps,” then you know the perpetual sound of honking horns, emergency sirens, the bright lights of Broadway, and the people…oh, the people! Diversity is one word that seems to sum up all that is necessary to define all aspects of “The Big Apple.”

I am sitting outside my hotel room looking at the landscape and taking in all the descriptions of the city mentioned in the previous paragraph. Constant noise is literally in the air, and everywhere I look are concrete buildings so tall, that the sunlight can barely make its way through the narrow streets. I cannot help but ponder the parallel of how our lives in the 21^st century is but a microcosm of the many aspects of being in a large city like New York. You and I may not actually live in such a city, nevertheless, our senses are constantly bombarded by the “noises” of the cell phone, media, and internet. We wall ourselves in by the world, which frankly feels like it has shut out the light and lost its way taking all of us with it.

Do not be fooled! The scripture in Psalm 24 is clear. Ownership of “the world, and they that dwell therein” belong to the LORD. Even the inhabitants of a big city get lost from time to time and need help finding their way. The bright lights can be distracting, promising the glitz, glamour, fame, and fortunes of the flesh, only to deliver disappointment and despair. But God is jealous for you and me (2 Corinthians 11:2). In the poem, The Hound of Heaven by Francis Thompson, the author wracked by the guilt of sin writes about his effort to flee from God. Finally, exhausted from running, Thompson envisions the outstretched nail scarred hand of Jesus as he writes, “Rise, clasp my hand, and come.”

Jesus is pursuing you. Do not let the “noise” of this world deceive you. You are loved beyond measure. Reach up and take the hand of Jesus.

“Performance may be affected until completed.” This message popped up on the computer screen when I updated to the latest software version. Every time new software is installed, I know it will take time, causing any current projects to be put on hold. Anyone who works from a computer experiences this message from time to time and knows, that sooner or later, if not followed will cause problems, such as sluggishness, program freezing, or even possible hacking opportunities by nefarious outside actors. Updating is just a technical necessity if we want our computer working at its best capacity.

Like our computers, you and I are in constant need of “updating.” The apostle, Paul, wrote in his letter to the church in Philippi, that He, God is doing a “good work in you” until Jesus returns to the earth one day. Jesus Christ was the Son of God and the only human being to be perfect in every way! When He came to earth, Jesus modeled perfection through everything He said and did. Being created in God’s image, we have been “programmed” by Him to accept the changes necessary to become more like Him in the example set by Jesus. Without these “updates” (changes), we will not be at our best. Our vulnerability to the elements of this world, such as fatigue, stagnant growth, and even the attempted high jacking of our faith by Satan will be a constant threat.

Keeping our computer working at the best capacity is to check it regularly, particularly when prompted by the message, “Updates Available.” God, through His Holy Spirit prompts us when changes are necessary, and these changes take time. Billy Graham’s wife, Ruth on her gravestone requested the following message be written, “End of Construction. Thank you for your patience.” Our earthly “performance may be affected until completed,” but the result will be worth it. “Remain in me, as I also remain in you…” (John 15:4, NIV).

This morning, in my email feed a video appeared showing a mama duck with seven babies swimming in a backyard home swimming pool. The storyline was about how the mother duck decided to exit the pool, but when the ducklings tried to follow her, they could not make the leap up and over the edge. Realizing her babies were not behind her, the mama went back into the pool to gather her family. Again, she hopped out with little effort, while her babies struggled over and over to join her with no success.

Then, the video revealed a human coming to the rescue! With a skimming net, the person scooped up the babies and delivered them safely out of the pool.

Wait…What? Those rascally chicks turned right around and jumped back into the pool! You see, the mother duck, to demonstrate what she wanted them to do, had gotten back into the water; therefore, her “kids” followed her, even to their potential peril.

Well, the story has a happy ending because the human rescuer created an escape for this little family by stacking a couple of items on the step, where they could gently climb up and make their way out of the pool. Together, they all waddled to safety.

Like the chicks, you, and I are encouraged throughout the Bible to follow Jesus, no matter what. One verse that stands out, states, “We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete” (Hebrews 12:2, CEV). If the mama duck was in the swimming pool, this is where her babies wanted to be, also. When you and I keep our eyes on Jesus, we may look foolish to the rest of the world as He sometimes leads us through what may appear as an untraditional approach to a challenge. God never leaves us stranded in our circumstances. He will always direct us if we keep our eyes on Him. Where is God asking you to trust and follow Him today?