Luke 1:78-79 :Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace." NLT
A sweet video about the true meaning of the Christmas Season
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| one of my Advent "wreaths" |
Rather than spend most of my blog on the history of Advent, I decided to link you to an amazing source that i found that will pretty much leave you with no questions. Pastor Mark Roberts, a huge fan of Advent, has written a book and a blog that will leave you wanting to bring this wonderful celebration into your life. Like me, if you are looking for ways to bring the reason for Christmas back into your family life, this simple weekly event can bring such joy and anticipation back into your holiday mood. How much greater is a tradition than one that ends with the celebration of the Birth of Christ? Just click here to go to here to go the Pastor Roberts series on Advent.
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| our nativity scene outside |
As I pondered the Advent season, I came upon many scriptures that opened my eyes to what these days and weeks leading up to the Nativity really meant. Psalm 40 is full of references about joy. The joy of believing, the joy of giving, the joy of knowing. John 14:27 reminds us that Christ came to give us peace. Philippians 4:7 also tells us that through Christ we have "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding". Romans 5:1-5 reminds us that Christ has given us hope. The biggest reminder is John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son". And there you have it. The four Sundays of Advent. Love, Peace, Joy, Hope. Four simple yet profound words. Four simple yet profound actions. Four simple yet profound gifts.
Sometimes, in this crazy world, we are made to feel guilty for loving the "trappings" of Christmas. Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, the gifts,the lights, the tree, the silly songs. (who in their right mind would want a hippopotamus for Christmas) Personally, I would not want to give up all those things. They are part of what makes Christmas magical. I am, without a doubt, the world's biggest Christmas "trappings" lover. I would go out every night, looking at lights, playing Christmas carols, buying Starbucks eggnog latte. (again, it's my magic Christmas, not yours) I love seeing the lines of giggling children waiting to see Santa, listening to the music playing in every store, looking at the beautiful tinsel and garlands that decorate practically every light pole in our city. The key is to not let these "trappings" cover up the meaning of Christmas. There is a way to have balance in your celebrations.
Tomorrow let's get into ways we can celebrate the Advent. I was amazed at the creative ways we can incorporate this tradition back into our lives. Together let's bring hope, joy, peace, and love back into our homes, into our families, into our world. Our most wonderful Abba did not make us to grinch our way through the Christmas holidays being mad at the world. Psalm 139:14 reminds us that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" in order that we might share His love with everyone, living a life of praise to Him. Show the world how blessed we are as we celebrate His coming to earth to save us all.
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| A house in our neighborhood |
Sometimes, in this crazy world, we are made to feel guilty for loving the "trappings" of Christmas. Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, the gifts,the lights, the tree, the silly songs. (who in their right mind would want a hippopotamus for Christmas) Personally, I would not want to give up all those things. They are part of what makes Christmas magical. I am, without a doubt, the world's biggest Christmas "trappings" lover. I would go out every night, looking at lights, playing Christmas carols, buying Starbucks eggnog latte. (again, it's my magic Christmas, not yours) I love seeing the lines of giggling children waiting to see Santa, listening to the music playing in every store, looking at the beautiful tinsel and garlands that decorate practically every light pole in our city. The key is to not let these "trappings" cover up the meaning of Christmas. There is a way to have balance in your celebrations.
Tomorrow let's get into ways we can celebrate the Advent. I was amazed at the creative ways we can incorporate this tradition back into our lives. Together let's bring hope, joy, peace, and love back into our homes, into our families, into our world. Our most wonderful Abba did not make us to grinch our way through the Christmas holidays being mad at the world. Psalm 139:14 reminds us that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" in order that we might share His love with everyone, living a life of praise to Him. Show the world how blessed we are as we celebrate His coming to earth to save us all.
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