While there are many purposes for fasting found in the Bible, the primary purpose of Lenten fasting is learning to depend more fully upon God and trust him to provide for us in every way. We are learning to discipline our desires and not to be ruled by them.

Within Mary's womb was the one whom the universe could not contain. The embryo she was to name “Jesus” was God's perfect and only way for humanity’s rescue. It is here, in this wondrous thing that happened at the first Christmas, that the most profound, unfathomable depths of God’s revelation to humanity are found. God became man!

We celebrate Advent not so much as a precursor to Christmas, lost in the shuffle of the holidays, but as an invitation to the retelling of the greatest story ever told. It’s a prologue that sets the stage to begin again, to retell a story that’s new every morning.

We try to build up anticipation for the Advent season so people become ready to focus on the birth of Jesus, to make Christmas the celebration that it should be.

Certain causes or issues will flare up for a time, causing us all get all excited. Many of us get onboard, only to jump into the next concern that catches our attention. But there are other issues that deserve our engagement for the long haul. To stay the course, we have to be focused and intentional.

Out of our relationship with Jesus as redeemer and leader in gospel service, we discover the abundance of God’s gifts and the ability to share them for the advancement of his Kingdom.

God has been preparing all of us for this season. No matter what is going on with the world, we are sons and daughters of the King, called to joyfully steward his Church and call all people to his Kingdom of grace and love. And he has given us all we need to not only do this work but to thrive!

Not only do we grow in spiritual authority through fasting and prayer, we also deepen our connection to God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

It is God who binds us together—past, present and future—as his elect, in one communion, one fellowship in one Lord, Jesus. By his grace we follow in this glorious cloud of witnesses “in all virtuous and godly living” and in the end into “those ineffable joys” being prepared for those who truly love Jesus by him who truly loves us.

When we use the gift of prophecy to mine the treasure inside of someone made in the image of God, a major shift begins to take place in him or her. That person is introduced to a heavenly perspective on their life.