Hopefully your Advent has been peaceful and productive so far. Hopefully your Advent has brought you closer and more deeply in touch with Our Jesus. If you have not been using The Little Blue Book that our parish has provided for us, I encourage you to spend a few moments each day praying with it. If you have not prayed with it yet, start at the beginning and disregard the date on the page. Start at the beginning and just ask the Spirit to speak to your heart through the messages it contains each day. I have found that it has spoken to my heart, encouraging and challenging me this Advent. May I share a few of these messages with you?

When I don’t receive MY desired answer to my prayer, how does my faith respond? Could there be some-thing that I don’t know, but God knows? Do I TRUST Him?*Like the disciples were called by Christ, God has called ME also!*Simple deeds reveal the reign of God and change the world for the better (sound familiar?).

*It is time to take a look at what foundations I have built MY life on.

*Let it be done for you according to YOUR faith—(that’s a challenging one!).*Who is Jesus to ME?

*Think times are difficult these days, look back at what the times were like when Jesus became human (thought provoking!).

*Jesus forgives MY sins—do I truly believe that? Or do I hold on to them?

*Jesus came into this world for ME!!! Yes, ME!!*Do I have a sense that God has been specially at work within ME?

*Am I helping to bring about the kingdom of God with MY life? How am I doing that?

*As Mary said yes to God, how am I doing with MY YES? Am I offering my life over to God’s will?

*The Lord tells me to do what I can in the LITTLE things in my life—it does make a difference in the world.

*What can I do to ease dissension in those I am at odds with?

*What is God’s plan for ME—my life, my career, my family, my faith?

AND….that’s only half of the book so far! Those prayerful challenges can strengthen our faith, our hope, and our love through Jesus. May we all reach out to Jesus for His words and guidance.

May this 4thweek of Advent be a blessing for you as you complete your final preparations for Christmas 2021. May the peace, faith, trust, and holiness of the Holy Family surround you and your loved ones as you gather to cele-brate the memory of the birth of Christ. Merry Christmas!

Alvera Bell