My Sweet Tooth & the First Sunday of Advent

It seems unholy to talk about my sweet tooth AND the First Sunday of Advent in the same blog but hear me out. I’m going somewhere with this! Over the last few weeks my insatiable love for sweets has come out in full display. My cravings included ice cream, chocolate-any-things and an assortment of this and that. In fact, my breakfast yesterday morning included the last slice of my family-famous chocolate cake! I admit I’m carrying around a few extra pounds because my sweet tooth went out of control. I have many containers of cookies and candy i spent hours making to give away, but, I’ve been indulging in them like there is no tomorrow! It’s a good thing that the new year is coming when I get a grip on my eating habits. Because I will. When I get back to resisting my “sweet” cravings and renewing my commitments and cravings for good health to me and my good Lord Who gives me the strength to refrain from those cravings – life gets sweeter and my clothes fit so much better! Let me reel my sweet cravings back in because today is the First Sunday of Advent! Joy-filled, hope-filled, heaven-and-earth-filled Advent. The wonderful season of waiting and preparing our hearts for the marvelous gift of Emmanuel. The season we CRAVE our Lord and King’s presence and when we renew our insatiable love for Him once again. He Who came from perfect heaven to imperfect earth. ALL because His Father loved us so much that He sent His beloved Son to earth to rectify our wrongs and to give us the promise that He is with us as Emmanuel (God with us) – not just here on earth, but, God Who said in John 3:16 “whoever believes in Him will have eternal life with Him". Our Lord gets us. He gets our cravings and our human nature that falters at times and He helps us get the true message – that He is preparing a place in heaven for us as we prepare for His coming as a baby during Advent. Speaking of sweets and cravings, there are many scriptures that compare the Word of God to sweetness. When we crave God's Word and really let it enter into us, we will be as insatiable for holiness as we may be for sugar. The Psalmist wrote: “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.” (Psalm 119:103) And, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8) More than sweets, I purpose to crave the sweetness of Advent and God’s Word. I suggest my plan to you. Beginning December 1st, read Luke 1 and then read the next chapter each day through December 24th. There are 24 chapters. By Christmas Eve, we will have read all 24 chapters – an entire account of the birth, ministry, sacrifice on the cross, and resurrection of Jesus. We will wake up on Christmas day knowing WHO and WHY we crave Him. Instead of relying on sugar and caffeine for our morning fix – may our energy boost come daily from praying and reading God's Word. May we indulge deeply in what the Lord offers us, focus on Him and crave He who changed everything when He became one of us. Emmanuel. God with us!