We are entering the first week of Advent, the week of HOPE. It is a season of looking forward with expectant hearts, walking in hopeful anticipation. Isaiah paints a picture of the world as God desires it to be: a place of love, peace, and unity.

Isaiah 2:4–5
“The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes.
They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.”

This hopeful vision begins with each one of us, in the small moments of everyday life, a shared smile, a warm greeting, a simple word of encouragement. If each of us offered just one small act of kindness, imagine how different our world could look.

As we continue our earthly journey toward our heavenly banquet, may we begin, in our own quiet ways, to hammer our swords into plowshares.

Keep supper easy in these busy days of Hopeful anticipation with this recipe:

Easy Pasta Bake

Ingredients:

1 lb. of hamburger

4 cups cooked pasta,

1 jar of spaghetti sauce

½ cup Parmesan Cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.

Directions:

Preheat oven 3530°F

 Brown hamburger until crumbled and browned, drain,

IN a mixing bowl add cook pasta, spaghetti sauce, and Parmesan cheese stir until all pasta is covered with sauce.

Pour into a 2-quart baking dish.

Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.

Cover and bake for 15 minutes and uncovered for another 10 minutes.

Serve with a tossed salad and a loaf of peasant bread or loaf of garlic toast.