As recipients of God’s amazing affection, no matter how little we think we are worth, the God of the universe, the Almighty God, the One who thought us up, and who thought we were such a good idea that He went through with making us – He ascribes the highest possible value to us! He values our lives at the price of His only Son’s life. We are beloved! We are cherished and treasured by the Almighty God of the universe!

You are a living miracle. Experts and mathematicians who are way smarter than me have calculated the odds of all the variables working out to specifically create you are about 4 trillion to 1. How incomprehensibly miraculous is it that you exist!? You are no accident. You are not here by coincidence or by luck. You exist by design. Someone thought you up. From before the foundations of the earth were laid.

This is the season of Advent, when we celebrate Jesus’ birth! When the long wait for His arrival ends – and the celebration of Emmanuel – God with us – begins! It’s Christmastime! And all that goes along with this season is for Jesus!

Jesus’ second coming is actually talked about more in the New Testament than His first. We Christians make an enormous deal out of Christmas – and we should! – the Incarnation of God on earth was the event on which all of human history pivots! But Jesus Himself repeatedly called people to look ahead to His second coming.

We call the season of Christmas “Advent," which is a word that simply means “coming” or “arriving”, and there is a pattern to it every year. There is an annual rhythm to Advent which is also like an annual practice for the second coming of the Savior Jesus to earth – and it begins with Preparation. From the foundations of the earth – from the moment of humanity’s first sin against God – He was making preparations to come to us, to be our Savior...

Jesus is the centerpiece of Christmastime! And all that goes along with this season is for Him! Garlands. Lights. Tinsel. Bows. Wrapping Paper. It’s all for Him! Songs and Symphonies. Parties and Caroling. Ugly Christmas sweaters. Goofy Office Gift Swaps. Classic door decorations. Cheesy Christmas movies. Even when we don’t know it – even when we don’t mean to celebrate Jesus – all of it is in celebration of the Arrival of Jesus!

The worship of God is far more than the activities of humankind. In the natural world all around us, there is a service of worship that is happening all day, every day, around the clock, in adoration of God! The Bible frequently calls our attention to the ongoing worship that exists in the natural world...

We’ve been talking about how to clarify and pursue some dreams for our lives together with the Lord in really practical ways. Today, I want to offer just a few concluding thoughts to help you pursue your dreams together with the Lord – remembering that He designed you, Heloves you, and He knows the good plans He has for you.