Advent, easily my favorite time of year, is almost here!! I don’t know if it is because I just read the Bible in 90 days, but there is a heightened anticipation for all things to be made new bursting from my soul. From the very beginning of time God has exhibited infinite patience and grace in regards to His creation. The whole biblical narrative He has been longing to make us His treasured possession, to be our God and us to be His people. We were made to sing ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ standing in His presence in full awe of Him! This is what we celebrate and expectantly look for during Advent.
We are in that seemingly awkward ‘already, not yet’ of God’s Kingdom. His Kingdom has already begun with the coming of Christ and His death and resurrection, but it has not yet fully come. When Christ returns the fullness of His Kingdom will be ushered in. He will make all things new. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. This exciting day is our hope not just during Advent, but it carries us throughout the year.
So how are you going to observe Advent this season? What space (Maybe clutter is a better word for what often fills our Holidays?) needs to be cleared so you have room for Him to move in your life and in your heart? I will post some devotional material and ideas on how to observe Advent in my next post, (We still have over 2 weeks to prepare!) but first we all must take inventory of our hearts and lives and see what needs to go to make room for Jesus.
Just a thought for parents… I wrestle every year with longing for my kids to know what Christmas is really about…Jesus/the coming of our one true king, not Santa/gifts. At this point, with great humility, I say it is about my heart being about first things during this holiday season.
Put first things first and second things are thrown in. Put second things first and you lose both first and second things.
C.S. Lewis
It is a great hope that our kids would see and experience Jesus at Christmas, but it is a second thing. First we must make room to encounter Jesus ourselves, then with great natural ease they will see Jesus in us. So parents let’s join hands, trust He loves our kids more than we do, take a deep cleansing breath, and turn towards our Abba Father.
How can we prepare ourselves for this Advent season? Grow in us a desire to be with you. Help us to get outside of our ‘norm’ and see what you are calling us into.
The Road We Are On 