It's the first Sunday of Advent. This photo of the Advent Candle wreath is from my church in Tulsa. The first candle (the HOPE candle) will be lit today. The word "advent" means a coming or arrival of something or someone extremely important. In biblical terms we speak of the Advent Season, referring to the four weeks before Christmas when we celebrate the Lord leaving Heaven and coming to earth to be born of a virgin and dwell among man. It's when we reflect on God's promises and prophecies to His people. And, it's a time of preparing our hearts in anticipation of the special day when we remember the birth of our Lord and Savior.
While enjoying the festivities -- sleigh bells, carols, chestnuts roasting, my Hallmark Christmas movies, parties, visits to see Santa, baking Christmas goodies, gift giving --pondering ADVENT, keeps us remembering that there is such greater reasons for this glorious season. It's about a better day, a better life, it's about HOPE.
The word, HOPE, means “the exciting expectation that something GOOD is about to happen”. Charles Dickens is well known for his book, “Great Expectations”. I love that optimism, but I love the reality of the absolute possibility that HOPE and expecting something good to happen, is a much better way to live than saying "Don't get your hope up, because you don't want to be disappointed if it doesn't turn out alright!" Ugh! What a dismal outlook. I prefer to live with hope, with GREAT EXPECTATIONS, for today and tomorrow.
Do you have your hope up and do you have great expectations for your life? It's like waiting for the birth of a child. We know it’s a process, and if we patiently wait for “the appointed time” of delivery, we’ll be blessed with a precious bundle of love and joy.
The beautiful season of Advent is about expecting and waiting. The birth of Christ gives us the hope, and possibility, that we can live life in a radical way – the way of trusting, believing, and expecting that all He’s promised us will be ours if we patiently wait for His perfect plan for our lives.
During this beautiful season, may we find that place of loving, caring and deepening our relationship with God – delighting in Him. It’s a radical way of living, but the infant in the manger, as sweet and mild as He seems, is really our triumphant King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That precious baby grew up, and He sacrificed His life so that we can live a life of hope and GREAT EXPECTATION.
Don’t give up! Keep your hope up! Get your EXPECTOR expecting! Remember ….. it’s a process! Your “baby” (your hopes, your dreams) will get here….and you’ll soon be blessed with God’s bundles of love and joy.
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
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