As this season of Advent has given us time to “get ready” for the celebration of Jesus’s birth, and allowed us reflective moments of how we are growing in Christ and how we can share the good news; may it also be a time for your personal renewal.

I haven’t made this in quite some time, but bread pudding is a wonderful example of renewal. ( LOL….that’s me back in the kitchen with my “blog thoughts.” The Holy Spirit always surprises me for these writings.) Stale bread, broken into bite size pieces, covered in yummy cinnamon, butter, eggs, vanilla, and milk, sits in the refrigerator, covered overnight so each stale piece of bread can be filled and plumped up – renewed with freshness and new purpose.

We are human and sinners and daily fall short of God’s plans for us. I guess many times we are “stale” in our faith.  As we await the welcoming advent of our Lord, we have time to prepare and reflect and thankfully, we have to renew ourselves.  We can douse ourselves with His Word, sprinkle in extra kindness, pour out love and forgiveness and be renewed.  The sharp edges to our failings can soften.  Our spirits will lift and we will make room for the Holy Spirit within us to fill our hearts with unconditional love from God. 

Be renewed.  God’s recipe book (His Holy Word) is readily available with the guidelines for making yourself new in the Lord. The staleness can be morphed into a softer but stronger determination to share the Good News.  Let this Advent season of your preparations and reflections and renewal be a season of love.

Jill