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Advent. A great
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Advent. A great
Advent. A great time. Great sermons, great candles, great joy...
Preparation and anticipation.
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submitted by S.E., age 11, Woburn,MA
(December 17, 2013 - 3:56 pm)
(December 17, 2013 - 3:56 pm)
Advent is a season of preparation for the coming of the Lord. Right now we are on the third week of Advent, and the color is pink which means joy. It means that Christmas is nearly here! I can't wait! We prepapre our hearts so that they are pure and clean and we anticipate the birth of the Lord!
(December 17, 2013 - 8:16 pm)
I love Advent! My family has an Advent calender that each day, you put a new piece on, so on Christmas day, you place Baby Jesus in the middle, completing the Nativity scene. I love celebrating Christmas, and the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord!
(December 22, 2013 - 6:48 pm)
I can't wait for the candlelight service! I am a greeter, and I am handing out bulletins and candles and, well, greeting people.
(December 22, 2013 - 8:41 pm)
Yesterday, on Sunday, it was the FOURTH Sunday of Advent! Christmas is coming! Can't wait :D
(December 23, 2013 - 8:55 am)
I don't celebrate Advent, but it sounds like a lot of fun!
(December 23, 2013 - 6:31 pm)
i know that this might sound rude, but I must know: Do you guys really, truly believe in God and that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour? I have been wondering this for quite some time now, and I have never been able to "suck it up," as you people say, and ask a religious person whether they actually, genuinely belive in God, or Allah, or Buddha, or whatever god their religion worships.
Thank you.
(December 24, 2013 - 8:24 am)
Yes, I do. Faith is belief without proof. There is so much proof of the Lord's existence, and that is the important thing. You need to be able believe without seeing. If you have made your choice to doubt the Lord, so be it. But you can believe.
(December 24, 2013 - 11:54 am)
@ Anonymous: S.E. summed it up quite well. Yes, I absolutely believe in Jesus Christ and that He is our Savior. Whenever I fear, or I start to struggle in trusting absolutely, God always gives me these little things that remind me to always trust and believe in Him. Everyone struggles from time to time believing and trusting. But if you genuinely love God with all your heart, He will carry you through. I sometimes say little prayers like,
"God, I know you are in control, but I'm having trouble not worrying. I pray you would strengthen me, lead me, and help to soothe our worries, and help us to remember, 'I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me'".
I believe in God, that He sent his only begotten son, Jesus, here to teach us, and to die for us, and I believe Jesus is my Savior.
In other news, it's Christmas Eve!!! This is the time where I love to imagine the sheherds keeping watch over their flocks, the Angels' singing, the star shining. It makes it feel so much more real, ya know? More tangible, and relateable.
(December 24, 2013 - 3:26 pm)
This might sound rude. I apologize.
Why do people believe in God? I don't care if you believe in God. It doesn't affect me. Just...why?
(December 24, 2013 - 6:19 pm)
I believe in God because God is the source of strength, love, kindness, everything. He created all of us, and asks for nothing in return, only that we love and praise him. God is love. He loves everyone, no matter who they are, what they've done, where they come from, or how they're living. He grieves for the lost, and welcomes us back with open arms when we return to Him. I believe in God because He is our all in all. He is my strength, my rock, my foundation. He loves us, cares for us. I believe in God because He loves us, takes care of us. I know if I love and believe in God, and believe Jesus is my Savior, I will live eternally with God in Heaven. I believe this with all my heart, and all my soul.
"God's in Heaven, and all's right with the world." ~ Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables.
(December 25, 2013 - 11:32 pm)
I think that's really pretty how you're able to say that and believe in someone so much. That makes me happy. I don't really believe in Him because Ruby doesn't and it doesn't seem like I have much of a place in the world if God exists. I mean, we know that He could exist but we know that we have a choice in what we want to believe so we choose to not believe in Him.
I think that God must feel terrible all the time. Everything goes through so much suffering and so much pain. Because God loves everyone, it seems to me he must constantly watch while people he loves suffer and sometimes he must hurt them himself. It's the worst feelng in the world to hurt someone you've loved. God must constantly be in pain. I feel very sorry for Him.
(December 26, 2013 - 12:20 pm)
(This might sound rude so I apologize in advance.)
I'm an atheist. That's been established, right? (I have a tendency to be rather assertive about my beliefs because I live in the South and absolutely everyone is religious and....so....yeah) Anyway, I'm an atheist because I, quite simply, can't see HOW God could possibly exist, because everyone I know who believes in God says he's forgiving and helpful and stuff. But really, have you SEEN the news lately? The human race is a train wreck. There could not possibly be a God, because if there WERE a God, the human race would be in MUCH better shape.
(I'm sorry if my opinion is offensive.)
(December 26, 2013 - 7:05 pm)
At church on Christmas Eve, my two little sisters were angels for the Christmas Pagent, and the older kids had the chance to read during the mass. I was a little nervous before my part, but I did it. I read aloud the Prayers of the Faithful. It was very fun. Everyone was answering what I said! It made me feel very happy.
(December 26, 2013 - 10:26 am)
@ Maddie: That is so cool! I could never read in front of the church, so kudos!
(December 26, 2013 - 11:44 am)
@ Red: That's exactly true. God does grieve, and feel pain and sadness, for those who don't follow him. But He does say that not everyone shall know Him. It's sad. I myself almost cry over people who don't know Him. It's honestly devastating.
@ Maggie: That's exactly why God sent Jesus! The world is fallen, the world is corrupt, the world is in sin. This is why we have Christ. Something for the imperfect to turn to. This doesn't imply that Christains are perfect. There are an infinite number of examples of imperfect Christians. I'm sure you've heard this before, but I would recommend reading the Bible, particularly the gospel of John, and then the other three gospels. I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.
(December 26, 2013 - 9:34 pm)