Waiting

The reason for the season.  Jesus!  I am enjoying the advent crafts that me and my children have been attempting to do.  The season is all about grace and I am taking a hold of that and not feeling bad about the days that we have missed. 

All the days that we have left to do :)

Growing up I always enjoyed the tradition of advent that my family did.  Every week we would read a section of scripture and light a candle.  It was the way that I learned the prophesy behind Christ coming and who the characters were that made up the Christmas story (our advent tradition and all the Christmas plays that I participated in at church).  

What I don't remember is the meaning behind the word advent, waiting.  Yes we are celebrating Jesus Christ and Him coming to earth so that we could have a relationship with Him.  But we are looking forward to more then that, Christ coming again! 

Church on Sunday the pastor went through Revelations.  Though I won't go through the details what struck me was that Christ is coming back and we need to look forward to that with hope.  In a recent article in World Magazine the story talked about a church in Pakistan that was bombed, killing 84 church goers and wounding 146 others.   We look on these events with horror at the wickedness of man and the world.

"The challenge is to step inside the suffering and grief of this present world with its wars and abuse and hatred of God and men, and there find the testimony the church gives."  What is that testimony?  What are you saying every year in the way that you live your life, talk to others and spread the joy and hope of Christ?  

"In advent season we are waiting.  Mindful of those who wait in darkness for a coming Messiah, we wait for His return, but we wait in the light - the light of His love and the loving example of His incarnation, His willingness to draw near to the hardships and horrors of this world to redeem them.  It's what makes men and women return to a blood-soaked church, and sing."

Do we return to the scene of hardship, hard talks, tough parenting moments and sing with the hope of Christ?  Sing, knowing that He will be returning one day? 

Let us glory in the reason for this season and find joy and hope in Christ, who is still to come.

Sources:
World Magazine, December 2014 Issue.
Truth in the Tinsel - Advent Calender