Today, December 1st, marks the beginning of the Advent season. Advent is a Latin word meaning "coming" or "arrival." It's the season to reflect on the coming of our Savior which took place centuries ago with His birth. And it's a season to reflect on the second coming of our King which is yet to fully take place.
When I think of Advent, I think of a big door, like maybe one found on a cathedral, or a monastery, or maybe just an old ancient inn. I imagine Jesus on the other side of it ... knocking. My heart responds, begs even, "please, come." I imagine a key turning the lock ... I hear the lock release ... then I see the knob beginning to turn ... and I know that it is the hand of my Lord turning it from the other side. And I realize I'm about to come face to face with Him. Can you feel the excitement? Can you sense the anticipation?
That's what the advent season is all about! This my Savior, and my King about to greet me.
I'll be posting some short advent readings here through out the season. So if you too want to get intentional about reflecting on the amazing truth that an invisible God became visible to deliver our souls from sin and live among us as our King - join me.
Luke 1:30-33 (New Living Translation)
“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
I'm excited because just the last few years I've heard the word "advent" and have been curious. Does your family do something special each day? I noticed Family Christian book store even has an Advent Calendar.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteCount me in! There is nothing like scripture to help me get in the spirit of Christmas! Of course, the sights and smells of the season are great too, but there is just something about how all these prophecies were fulfilled... It gives me chill bumps just thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteLelia... because my children are very young, we count down to Jesus' Birthday with a Christmas Cookie advent calendar. Then, on Christmas, we have a Birthday celebration for Jesus!
Does anyone have neat family traditions to keep the focus on the true meaning of the season? How old were your children when you started?
Blessings from Somerset, Kentucky
This is a wonderful way to keep our focus on Jesus and anticipating the time when He will return for us-when we will see Him face to face.
ReplyDeleteI love this door picture. It so reflects my heart-is thatossible? Iwant this advent season to reflect how much more I want of Him in my life.
ReplyDeleteIn His Graces~Pamela
A great and special way to remember why we have Christmas, to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior and to remind us that He will return one day (sooner than we think I'm sure) to take us out of this sinful world and give us a time to worship our Heavenly Father and thank Him for the things He has provided for us and done for us over and over again until we get it right. We can "only imagine" what it will be like when we meet our Master face to face. I get excited just thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rachel,
AliceE.
Rachel
ReplyDeleteWhen i read your words with te discription of HIM waiting at the other side of the door......it touched my heart.
And i'm in to join you bc i want to focus this year more than ever on HIm who is the reason for this season.
Thxs Rachel
i love this! thanks rachel!
ReplyDeleteblessings ~
Rachel
ReplyDeleteYou have a gift for making the word come alive. Thanks again for sharing, your wisdom and insight and revelations.
Blessings
Lynn
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI have been running an advent devotional thought each day as well. Hope you are well.
Blessings,
Pearls
I enjoy celebrating the Advent season... the candles lit at church during a specially appointed time for each Advent Sunday; the daily opening of the little door on the Advent calendar with the first of my children to arise that day; and looking toward Christmas. For several years I've put off buying the Advent calendars because they focused on the commercial Christmas scene, but this year I found one to my liking depicting the 3 'wise men' bearing their gifts and behind each little door is a tiny chocolate. Thanks, Rachel, for bringing a good reminder to look forward to Christmas!
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