You Gotta Have Faith

Hello Friends,

I can’t believe that this is the last Sunday of Summer. The next time we meet, it will be Fall! And even though Fall will officially begin on Thursday, September 22, 2022, it seems like and looks like people are already moving on to winter, specifically Christmas. While scrolling through social media, I have noticed that people are already posting about Christmas and how many days it us until Santa comes (98 days from today) and what sort of decorations are going to be the most popular this year. Additionally, while going shopping, I have noticed that some stores are already putting out Christmas decorations, wrapping paper, and pre-decorated Christmas trees. I like Christmas, but I also like to enjoy the beautiful colors of fall, the smells of autumn, and the cool morning adventures through corn-mazes and pumpkin patches. What about you…are you ready for Christmas?

During the Christmas Season–whether it be now until December 26th or the Friday after Thanksgiving until December 26th–our faith in people seems to grow. We have faith, we trust, that we will get something off our Christmas list, the very Christmas list that we gave to our parents. So I was thinking about faith and trust this week as a saw social media posts and went shopping. Did you know that the Disney movie Encanto teaches us a lot about faith?

Encanto tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal—every child except one, Mirabel (voice of Stephanie Beatriz). But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family’s last hope. Mirabel reminds us that even when things don’t go to plan, when we don’t get what we want, when something doesn’t seem right, we still need to have faith; and we need to trust the one who gives us our faith. We need trust in Jesus! Because of Mirabel’s faith in her own ability, she was able to save her family. A little amount of faith can change the world.

This week, until we meet in the fall, I want you to say everyday, “I have faith.” Jesus has given you a faith that makes everything possible. Jesus has given you faith that can turn your frown upside-down. And Jesus has given you a faith that doesn’t have to shine only during Christmas: it can shine everyday of your life. Jesus has faith in you so maybe you should have faith in him. With faith and trust in your heart, you, too, can be like Mirabel and change the lives of many people, and you might even help save your family in the process! Remember to say, “I have faith.”

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!

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