Advent is the beginning of the Christian Year. It is the first of seven seasons in the Christian calendar. It is about spiritual preparation for Christmas. It is a four week span for building the right expectation.
We usually spend the weeks leading up to Christmas busy “getting ready for Christmas.” The only anticipation we experience is the desire for it to be over! We can end up so stressed and exhausted by December 26th! We are obviously getting ready for Christmas the wrong way.
What we need to do is prepare our hearts each day leading up to Christmas. After all, that is what we do in most situations that are important to us. We prepare our hearts and minds.
This is why we are providing you these Advent devotions. In the days to come you will find four major themes of Hope, Faith, Joy and Love. Each day you will be guided to read a scripture passage and then you will read the insights and stories of what Jesus means to members of our congregation. They have done a wonderful job.
I hope you will read each one in a spirit of prayer and allow God to prepare you for the celebration of the coming of Christ this Christmas. May He be glorified during this season and may we love Him and love each other like never before… after all, Jesus is coming.
