As we begin this season of Advent, I am reflecting upon my word for the year; Faith. We will see God’s continual faithfulness to mankind in the Christmas story and realize afresh our need to walk in faithfulness to Him. Each and every part of this story reflects who God is and why He did what He did. Each day I will be highlighting a portion of the story from Mary and Joseph to the angels, the shepherds and finally to the late arriving Magi. All of these tell us more and more about God’s character and assures us again and again that God is one to be trusted and believed. This miraculous story requires faith. Ephesians 2:8 reminds us “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—” Let us not take the faith for granted but encourage it to grow and develop this year as we seek to see through fresh eyes the story of the arrival of God’s precious Son, Jesus.

December 1 has a special place in my heart as I reflect on the precious gift of a daughter that God gave to me to love, cherish and nurture. She was just 3 months old and weighed less than 10 pounds when she arrived from Korea. What a fragile gift of love that was to our family. We got a call that she was arriving just the night before so we quickly booked flights to LAX and barely slept that night. When we arrived, I was hesitant and almost afraid to hold her. I stepped out in faith and embarked on the new adventure God had for me of being a mother. My fears were quickly gone as she immediately claimed my heart and opened new feelings to me. When we arrived back in Oakland, we were greeted by friends and family all ready to rejoice over the arrival of our long awaited daughter. All the while we were waiting for the adoption to progress, I clung to faith that God had a child for me. As we waited Psalm 37:3 is a good description of how you need to walk each day putting one foot in front of another, relying on God’s faithfulness. “Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. “

Walking in faith is a process of growth and sanctification as we grow more and more like Jesus. God gives us the Holy Spirit to indwell us. He confirms, affirms and assures us that our faith is real. Faith is real and alive to the believer. May you refresh your faith this season and may God increase you love for Him as you journey thought the Advent story with me.

Linda