The Kingdom of God is like a treasure hidden in a field.

Just a few short weeks ago, Tony and I attended the European Leaders Summit, led by the European Regional Committee, in Krakow, Poland. I might add that going to Poland in January is not the balmiest time of the year to visit this beautiful city.

However, being with all of our Aglow brothers and sisters was a wonderful and warm experience. I have said it before, but meeting up with the Aglow family anywhere in the world is like having known someone all of your life. You are instant family. Only the work of the Holy Spirit and our mutual love of Jesus could produce such a phenomenon.

There were some 30 nations represented. Worship was led by two women from Great Britain, Sarah White, and Amy Coulbeck, along with a violinist, Ruzanna Torosyan, the National President of Armenia. Again, the expression of our mutual love of God and our desire to exalt His name lifted the atmosphere to a different place.

The speaker this year was Asher Intrater from Jerusalem. Asher spoke four times and each message was filled with revelation, anointing, humor, yet with the seriousness, he carries regarding the preparation of God’s people for the end times and the second coming of Jesus. One phrase that he spoke has continually run through my heart and mind. “It is time to warn people of the evil that is coming.” As believers, I know that we all walk with an awareness of the times in which we live, yet as Asher spoke out these very serious words, something stepped up in my heart. The time is closer and the need is greater than we allow ourselves to realize.

JOY TO THE WORLD

I love the joyous sounds of Christmas. Those sounds fill the airwaves, have you noticed? There are special school events, choir concerts, children singing in the malls and sacred, heart-stirring hymns of the season filling the atmosphere everywhere. It brings the Light that dispels the darkness. It is, “Radiant beams from Thy Holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace…”

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praise:

Glory to God in the Heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please Him. Luke 2:11-14 The Message

"...we are designed to live from Heaven to earth."We live in a world of change.  Life is about change.  Changing global pressures that require new solutions.  Changing social issues that seem to jar our senses.  Changing weather patterns that cause us to wonder about the greater issue of climate change.  Change is all around us.

Then there are the more personal changes that can alter life as we have known it. The death of a spouse.  Changing family dynamics.  Changes in relationships.  Changing health issues…and the list goes on. 

Yes, life is change! 

The very nature of change can be exciting and unsettling simultaneously, depending on the nature of the change.  Change can be a good thing.  It can bring fresh, new opportunities and fresh perspectives that add a sense of liveliness and a feeling of exhilaration and spontaneity to our lives in a healthy way.

There are times when change is forced upon us and it can bring grief, uncertainty and life alterations that are difficult to navigate.  Several years ago, I experienced the death of my husband.  There was a huge sense of loss and grief.  But, it was also disorienting.  I had been part of a couple for years.  Now what was I?  I had been a wife, now I was single.  It seemed that many aspects of my life were now vastly different than what I had known for over 30 years and it would take time to learn how to walk in a different reality. 

 Some have experienced the loss of a child.  I watched my parents experience the loss of their only son when he was just 29 years of age.  The grief was fierce. 

Then there are things like a sudden job loss or a change in your financial stability.  Something life altering has been thrust upon you and you cannot find your footing.  Change
can happen quickly and at any point.