"You Bear Witness"

This is the Season of the Church Year that is focused on end times.  As Christianity prepares for the Season of Advent, which is that time prior to Christmas the color for the Church is Blue. Prior to Advent the Color is Green.  Today I share several pictures from the Church I attend that display the Christmas Season.  

The Gospel Lesson for November 17th was Luke Chapter 21.  I will quote a portion here:

"Then he (Jesus)  said to them, "Nation will rise 

against nation, and kingdom against

kingdom.  There will be great earthquakes,

and in various places famines and

pestilences.  And there will be terrors

and great signs from heaven.  But before

all this they will lay their hands on you

and persecute you, delivering you up to the

synagogues and prisons, and you will

be brought before kings and governors for my 

name's sake.  This will be your opportunity to 

bear witness.  Settle it therefore in your minds

not to mediate beforehand how to answer,

for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which

none of your adversaries will be able to 

withstand or contradict.  You will be delivered

up even by parents and brothers and relatives

and friends, and some of you will be put

to death.  You will be hated by all for my name's

sake.  But not a hair of your head will

perish.  By your endurance you will gain 

your lives."

Please be aware that I placed the emphasis on the sentence:  "This will be your opportunity to bear witness."  In fact the title of this post is exactly what was placed on the Church Sign Board for the week of 11 November 2013.  No matter our actions we are all in fact bearing witness regarding our faith, or  our own reputation.  Our witness can be positive or negative.  Thus this post.  I would encourage everyone to conduct a positive witness because a negative witness only creates problems.  As regards our faith we need to bear witness that we do indeed love our Savior.

In his message for November 17 our Pastor reminded us all that when we pray the Lord's Prayer we are asking our God to come when we pray "Thy Kingdom Come."  As we celebrate the Christmas Season of 2013 let us all be mindful of our prayer - "Thy Kingdom Come."  While we may not be ready to leave this earthly life, we are actually praying for our "Coming into Heaven."  Certainly something to contemplate and meditate about this day and every day.