Advent

This weekend marks the first weekend of Advent.  Jaret and Kirra were asked to light the advent candle at church.  Kirra was really nervous and was stressing about it a bit the night before so I wasn't even sure she would want to go up with Jaret to light the candle at the beginning of the service.  But, she was brave and together with Jaret they lit the candle.  It was precious to see them up there partaking in the service.  Afterward, they were to go to Kid's Church.  I took Kirra but Jaret decided he didn't want to go but chose to stay in the church service with us to listen to Pastor Trigg.  A bit of a grown up choice.  But I have to say, it was nice having him in church with us.

The theme of hope was continued as Pastor Trigg spoke.  The hope we find in Christ Jesus.  But he challenged us that - perhaps we are blind when it comes to Jesus.  Christmas shifts from being a celebration of Christ to a crazed pursuit of gifts and decorations.  But Advent is a time to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

We need to understand who Jesus is to understand the foundation of what we believe and to celebrate Christmas.  Jesus was God become flesh and the Word is God's Word.  We search our whole lives for meaning in life but needs to stop and know that the voice we need to hear is Christ's and it is He who brings a message of hope.  That hope came in the form of Jesus being born.  Christianity is a person - "logos" - Jesus became flesh.  He revealed himself to us, full of grace and truth.  

Pastor Trigg went on to talk about the different ways we react to who Jesus is, with relative indifference, intentional avoidance, and personal belief in Jesus.  The world did not recognize Jesus when He was born or in the life He lived and that is still true today.  We are caught up in our own agendas and show indifference as to who Jesus is as a person and who he is in our life.  Way back in Jesus' day, Jesus' own people ignored Him and tried to silence Him.  That reality still exists today as we avoid the true meaning of Christmas and get caught up in how materialistic the season has become.  We live in a broken world, but the hope and good news is that God wants to redeem us from our brokenness.  It is up to us...our personal belief.  Jesus is The Great I Am!  He came to touch our lives and restore our broken hearts.  

Considering all of that, what is your understanding of Advent?  What is going on in our lives that has us too caught up to stop and celebrate Advent and the true meaning of Christmas?  What hurts are you carrying that are preventing you from loving God with your whole heart?  Have you taken your hurts to Him?  Pastor Trigg read many hurts from people from our own congregation.  Real hurts of real people who are living with brokenness.  But, we live in a world where there is HOPE.  Hope that is found in Him.

 

Remember, wherever you are in the journey...He is near...He is there.  God came near.  God comes near.  And we were reminded not to forget the importance of prayer as it can be the matter of life or death or the difference in living or really living.  As Pastor Trigg was speaking about prayer and how we need to uplift one another in prayer, as prompted by the Holy Spirit, Jaret, who was sitting in between Terry and I, was writing on a prayer card.  When I saw what he was writing, it had me crying - tears streaming down my face.  His prayer was for his Auntie Lisa.  I love Jaret's heart and the compassion he has for others.  That we should all have the faith of a child.  I learn so much through raising my children and seeing life through their eyes.

So the questions: Do you need to have a fuller understanding of Advent?  How do you plan to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas?  Is God placing someone on your heart that you should be praying for?

I have been eagerly anticipating Advent, and more so after Pastor Trigg's sermon this weekend.  I am excited to celebrate with my kids though our advent activities and through our devotion time where we can refocus on the true meaning of Christmas.  Happy Advent!