Are You Ready?

So, we found out that our little Suzie is not so very little.  According to the veterinarian, Suzie is 15 weeks and weighs 40lbs.  The vet called Suzie a monster.  Makes me wonder if I am ready for when Suzie is going to be full grown.  But I guess when we first got Suzie, I had that same question of whether I am ready to have a puppy/dog in my life. 
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If you think about it, how many times have we thought that we were ready for something or not?  How often do we think whether we are truly prepared for what is ahead in our life?  You can probably count more situations of feeling unprepared than the number of fingers and toes on your hands and feet. 

It doesn’t expose our doubt in life, but more enhances our awareness of how unpredictable and uncontrolled life can be.  Only more the reason that our dependance on God becomes ever more vital.  Just because you are a Christian does not mean that everything that happens in life will make sense, and that suddenly worry, and fear just goes away.  Following God does not mean that you are immune from sin and sinful behaviors, and that you will never make a mistake, or that nothing painful in this world can penetrate your faith in God. 

But what being a Christian, following God, recognizing Jesus as your friend, brother, and Savior of eternal death, and acknowledging the Holy Spirit acting around you means is that when you come into situations that you question whether you are ready or not, it is about having the confidence that God will somehow give you the necessary tools and answers to help you be and feel prepared.  You may not see what the possible stressful situation can be beneficial, but maybe God has a plan and that only by going through the rough times in life, the stressful circumstances, is the only way that we become smarter, stronger, more confident, more courageous, and more compassionate. 

Do not forget as we are approaching Christmas, Jesus Christ is born.  That is God coming down as a human, makes Himself known to our world.  Christmas is a time to understand that there is a God who truly wants to be with us.   Too be with us, in our world, in our life circumstances, to share in our joys and also our hardships.  God really wants to be with us!  God wants to be with us, even if He is not even recognized.

God quietly entered our world through a young peasant girl, not a woman who has millions of social media followers, and the father to be an insecure, doubting, but loving, and considerate, blue-collar labor worker, not a real estate tycoon, or wall street icon.  God was born in a manger, not at a fancy hospital or palace, and the only people to fully recognize God’s birth were wisemen that had to journey for 2 years to find the King.  It only took intervention of angels to even get ONLY shepherds to notice.  Yes, think about it… a CHOIR OF ANGELS FILLING THE NIGHT SKY and the only people to recognize this phenomenon was shepherds in the field.  Heck, not even the innkeeper came to check on the holy family and newborn!  The birth of God; Jesus, was largely unnoticed to many people. But regardless, God chooses and gladly wants to be with us… whether we recognize His presence or not.  That is an amazing God we worship.

So, Christmas is fast approaching, let’s make this Christmas even better, with more lights, more celebration, more gifts, more family, more friends, more cheer, and more Jesus!  Jesus is our Immanuel, that is God with us!  And if any time this week you question your preparedness of anything or that you wonder if you are ready for what is to come next, or worried about the future, just remember God is with you!  God was with Mary, Joseph, and Wisemen, and the Shepherds.  God was with them in all their uncertainty, worry, wonder, stress, and confusion.  You are not alone in feeling unprepared, unsure, confused, and stress.  With God’s help you will find peace, hope, joy, and love.  Just remember, God is with you, really with you. 

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