Prepping?

(12.15.21– Christmas coming – Isaiah 40:1-11)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Are we content to risk God asking us if we are brushing up on His Word and flossing between the hurts in our lives?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

I needed to go to the dentist recently for a cleaning. So, I did what anyone serious about presenting a clean mouth would do; I thoroughly brushed my teeth, twice; then, administered an intense mouth washing. Finally, after a good flossing, I was ready to go. There was a sense of pride in that preparation. The last thing I wanted to hear from the dentist was, “Are we brushing and flossing regularly?” It may have seemed like overkill, but it was worth it to avoid the comments.

As Christians, are we this fastidious about preparing ourselves spiritually? Are we willing to take the time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ and do it with the same attention to detail and finish that we give to our bodies? Or, are we content to risk God asking us if we are brushing up on His Word and flossing between the hurts in our lives?

Advent is the perfect time, God’s time for us to examine who and what we are spiritually. In a way, it’s God’s annual exercise workshop for the soul. Each year He draws us into His presence and reminds us that being a Christian means being prepared to receive the Christ Child into our hearts on a daily basis. Each day that we awake, God is telling us that it is time to go to work, to spiritually grow and mature this day. God knocks at the doors of our hearts daily beckoning us to open them and welcome Him in to do the new thing that He most certainly will do this day. As Christians we need to be sure that our hearts are daily prepared to receive Him. Are there things in your life today that are preventing you from opening that door? Perhaps it is a pet sin that you have kept hidden in the corner of your heart or a grudge that you bear a family member, a fellow worker, or a friend. Advent is the perfect time to strip away these obstacles to the workings of God in your heart; to confess our sins, forgive our neighbor, and lay our faults, weaknesses, worries and cares at the foot of the cross where our Savior died for us; suffering the humiliation and death that we deserve.

There is no need to store this in our hearts anymore. Jesus took it upon Himself. As we approach Christmas, we need to prepare the way for Him by emptying our lives today of the things that separate Him from us. And, don’t worry about overdoing it; where Christ and our hearts are concerned, no amount of brushing and flossing can be too much!

We pray. Heavenly Father, help us to be fastidious about preparing ourselves spiritually. Make us willing to take the time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ and do it with the same attention to detail and finish that we give to our bodies every day. Forgive us Lord when we are content to risk not being prepared. Help us by Your Spirit to prepare the way for Him by emptying our lives today of the things that separate Him from us. May we never worry about overdoing it; where Christ and our hearts are concerned, no amount of brushing and flossing can be too much! In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Prepping?

(12.15.21– Christmas coming – Isaiah 40:1-11)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Are we content to risk God asking us if we are brushing up on His Word and flossing between the hurts in our lives?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

I needed to go to the dentist recently for a cleaning. So, I did what anyone serious about presenting a clean mouth would do; I thoroughly brushed my teeth, twice; then, administered an intense mouth washing. Finally, after a good flossing, I was ready to go. There was a sense of pride in that preparation. The last thing I wanted to hear from the dentist was, “Are we brushing and flossing regularly?” It may have seemed like overkill, but it was worth it to avoid the comments.

As Christians, are we this fastidious about preparing ourselves spiritually? Are we willing to take the time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ and do it with the same attention to detail and finish that we give to our bodies? Or, are we content to risk God asking us if we are brushing up on His Word and flossing between the hurts in our lives?

Advent is the perfect time, God’s time for us to examine who and what we are spiritually. In a way, it’s God’s annual exercise workshop for the soul. Each year He draws us into His presence and reminds us that being a Christian means being prepared to receive the Christ Child into our hearts on a daily basis. Each day that we awake, God is telling us that it is time to go to work, to spiritually grow and mature this day. God knocks at the doors of our hearts daily beckoning us to open them and welcome Him in to do the new thing that He most certainly will do this day. As Christians we need to be sure that our hearts are daily prepared to receive Him. Are there things in your life today that are preventing you from opening that door? Perhaps it is a pet sin that you have kept hidden in the corner of your heart or a grudge that you bear a family member, a fellow worker, or a friend. Advent is the perfect time to strip away these obstacles to the workings of God in your heart; to confess our sins, forgive our neighbor, and lay our faults, weaknesses, worries and cares at the foot of the cross where our Savior died for us; suffering the humiliation and death that we deserve.

There is no need to store this in our hearts anymore. Jesus took it upon Himself. As we approach Christmas, we need to prepare the way for Him by emptying our lives today of the things that separate Him from us. And, don’t worry about overdoing it; where Christ and our hearts are concerned, no amount of brushing and flossing can be too much!

We pray. Heavenly Father, help us to be fastidious about preparing ourselves spiritually. Make us willing to take the time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ and do it with the same attention to detail and finish that we give to our bodies every day. Forgive us Lord when we are content to risk not being prepared. Help us by Your Spirit to prepare the way for Him by emptying our lives today of the things that separate Him from us. May we never worry about overdoing it; where Christ and our hearts are concerned, no amount of brushing and flossing can be too much! In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.