Thankful and Blessed

Good morning everyone. Days after the Thanksgiving festivities is always a time to gather your thoughts and approach the upcoming celebration of Jesus's birth with a whole new perspective. Christmas is just right around the corner, the ads remind me, the songs already on the radio. I wish they would wait until at least after Thanksgiving before they began, but that is not the case. I started hearing them long before that this year. Maybe it's just me, I do not think so. I believe others may be experiencing this too. It is a feeling of being rushed. Shop more, buy more, you get the drift. To me it's supposed to be a time for preparing for the birth of Jesus, and showing more care and love to others right? My Thanksgiving was a quiet one. I was home alone with the flu, it seems I get sick at the darndest times anymore. I am 70 so perhaps it comes with the territory. I was not able to see my family, or friends but they were in my heart and prayers. I gave thanks to God the Father, Jesus, my Lord and Savior and Holy Spirit. I have been blessed so much this past year. The list of things is long so I will not bore you to tears, but I will say God is Faithful! So many times I prayed, cried out to Him and He came through, not always in my timing but His. So what I would like to express to you to day is to stay faithful in your obedience and trust Him. Stand on His promises that He tells us in scripture, believe that He loves you and only has your best interest at heart. Know that He is always with you no matter what life is throwing at you, He cares for you. I hope this is comfort to your souls during this very busy and exciting season we get to experience. Also remember to not go into debt for gifts you cannot afford, I used to do this, until God showed me how to give from the heart, they will appreciate and love you more for it. So now, let's get busy in our lives showing our neighbors and friends more love and compassion. Giving a little more to those in need if you can. Just calling someone who is home alone to check up on them will be such a blessing. Then on Christmas we can rejoice and celebrate the birth of that little baby Jesus who came to this earth so we could have eternal life through Him. It's the best story in the whole world. God Bless you all and may God's face shine upon you each and every day. Mary