People become willing to consider Jesus when they like and trust the people who call themselves Christians. 




This is my "kinda" niece Robin.  She rides this horse, as far as I can tell, a lot.  The horse's name is Tommy... I love the name and especially this cheeky picture.  Robin has a special place in my heart, she loves horses, as I do, and when she visited us this past summer, arranging the perfect horse ride for her in the mountains, became an exciting time for me.  I went and checked out several trail riding companies and picked the best one.  That is the kind of relational love that families have, wanting the very best for each other.  

There is little sense in me telling someone about my relationship with Jesus unless I practice, in my life, this kind of relationship.  People need to be attracted by my relationship with Jesus and to want what I have (peace and joy).  I always say love, faith, hope are all verbs...they are the "doing things" like checking out the best trail ride or driving a family member through "mountain snow storms" to get to a doctors appointment.  That's what I call love....  Practicing "the doing part" of our faith isn't always easy....sometimes we have to "just do the right thing" even when it is inconvenient or costly.  

It seems to me that If we aren't prepared to follow (faith, hope and love)  the way of Christ...........all the way to the Cross, then what is this "Christmas thing" all about?   It is easy to talk about and study faith, it is easy to talk about hope and it is easy to choose who we love....but to practice it...to have faith that the way things are, is where we are supposed to be in life....to bring hope to others....a phone call down the road a few months from a friends loved one's passing....yes and even loving that "crusty" old person with a hug...  Loving isn't hard and the rewards of being loved right back are amazing.  On November 29th., another "Advent" begins.  How will you prepare?  Who will want the faith, hope and love that you have?  These are the questions that advent shakes in me.  What will my Christmas be like?  How will that birth (the Christ) in me inspire that birth in others.... 

Christ didn't tell us to talk about him, but to "be" like him....