The Advent season is upon us once again. Thanksgiving has passed. Well, all but the leftovers. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have ushered in the rush of purchasing gifts.
Even the Hallmark Channel is now focusing on Advent with 24 hours of Christmas movies from now till the end of the month. I only know because “a friend told me” or I may have spent some time watching a few over the weekend 🙂
My mind began to swirl with thoughts and I turned to the “experts” on definitions and looked up ‘advent’ …
- the arrival of a notable person
- the 4 Sundays preceding Christmas
- derived from the Latin meaning “coming”
Advent has come to be a time to stop and wait. But what exactly are we waiting?
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.” (Isaiah 9:6, NLT)
We wait for a child born into poverty. Can it be?
“For while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” (Luke 2:6-7, NLT)
Luke makes sure we know our Savior had no home, no clothes, no bassinet. No comforts. He who was rich became poor so that we who were poor could become rich.
And yet He came.
Advent …
Time to prepare as we wait.
Time to ready our hearts.
Time to welcome Jesus.
Time for change.
We wait for salvation.
“And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21,NLT)
Today I am joining … #SmallWonder and Playdates With God and Inspire Me Monday .
I love this season of the year, so full of wonder and waiting. Thanks for spending some time soaking in it with your words.
Michele, it is a time of year which truly falls fresh & new every year. I think that is what continually amazes me.
I hadn’t prepared ahead of time for Advent this year so I thought it would just slip by me, but thankfully God has other ideas! So many wonderful Advent posts today, including this one, that reminds me that GOD always prepares for me to come to him, even when I don’t feel prepared for his coming to me. My church started a new Advent series yesterday with a list of daily readings. So I have no excuses, prepared or not, I can now participate. 🙂
Lisa, I think it is beautiful that God was preparing for you even when you weren’t aware of it. I hope you share some of what He has in store for you through those readings. I have a hunch, they will be very meaningful!
Thank you for the reminder that this season is all about the waiting and preparing–not the shopping and the rushing!
Anita, may we be mindful not to miss what He has prepared special for us this year as He knows exactly what we have need of. Blessings!
what a great reminder that this is a time to prepare our hearts and remember it isn’t about gifts and things. advent is about the heart. it isn’t even about whether people say, “merry christmas.” i realize even more how much i need that kingdom mindset of being poor in spirit…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
best wishes for a delightful advent season:)
May this time be special for you & yours, Martha. It really is the wait which makes the arrival even more significant. Blessings!
I love your words, “He who was rich became poor so that we who were poor could become rich.” Beautiful and inspiring, Joanne!
Beth, as I read the verses in Luke, I realized how little He truly had. We prepare so well for the arrival of our little ones and yet, our Lord came into this world to so little. It struck me deeply this time round.
“Time to ready our hearts,” I’m thinking on that this season and how that doesn’t mean making my heart pretty, but rather exposing my brokenness and need for the One who is coming. Thanks for linking, Joanne.