Luke 21:34-36

Ecclesiastes 9:7 Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.

We believe in the salvation of Jesus so we can receive,  with a heart of gratitude, God’s love for us shown in  Christ Jesus..

1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Trust God…Father, Son and Holy Spirit to do what we cannot!

Heavenly Father, I know You are in control of all things because Your Word says You are, and Your Word is Truth. Help me to trust what I know to be true about You. Help me to remember You are a good God. Always. Even when I cannot feel it or see it, I can know it because You are the same yesterday, today and always. Help me to walk in faith until I see Your provision on the other side. First5 

And speaking of letting go, it is Lent, and I’ve always been grateful for this (attributed to Pope Francis).

Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with love.
Fast from worries and have trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressure and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent as you listen. SabbathMoments 

Bethlehem reminds us of the most remarkable event in human history: the moment the Savior came to earth clothed in humility and humanity.

Today, centuries beyond that main event, a small chapel marks the probable birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high altar in the church lies a cavern lit by silver lamps. Enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. Enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor notes the birth of the king of heaven. There is one stipulation, however – you must bend down. The doorway is so low that you cannot enter standing up.

The same is true of Christ. You can see the world standing tall, but to witness the Savior, you gotta get on your knees. Max Lucado

Luke 21:34-36

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” The New King James Version

On all of earth indicates the universality of judgment. Faithlife Study Bible

Though the events of the end times may not come to pass for a long time, believers should continue to look for their arrival. The Day of Jesus’ return should not take us by surprise. We should live as if it is imminent.

Jesus encouraged His disciples to be persistent in prayer and faith, looking for the day when the Son of Man exonerates the faithful in the judgment, so that they are able to stand before Him. The NKJV Study Bible

This command is given to all Christ’s disciples, Take heed to yourselves, that ye be not overpowered by temptations, nor betrayed by your own corruptions. For so it will come upon the most of men, who dwell upon the earth, and mind earthly things only, and have no converse with heaven. It will be a terror and a destruction to them. Here see what should be our aim, that we may be accounted worthy to escape all those things; that when the judgements of God are abroad, we may not be in the common calamity, or it may not be that to us which it is to others.  

May we begin, employ, and conclude each day attending to Christ’s word, obeying his precepts, and following his example, that whenever he comes we may be found watching.  Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Mark 4:19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Luke 12:40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.