hope {advent}

Every year as December rolls around I find myself wishing I had gotten started earlier on the decorating, the gift-buying, the baking, the added elements that make the weeks leading up to Christmas seem full of crazy instead of full of peace.

Something jarred me this week in an article about all of the misdirected frenzy this time of year. That phrase ..."misdirected frenzy"... it gave me a sharp pin prick way down deep. I feel the frenzy coming, and I don't want any of it to be misdirected, especially this time of year.

The word "advent" means an arrival or coming, especially a much anticipated one. This season leading into Christmas is called Advent because we have something wonderful to anticipate, and need to be disciplined about remembering to expectantly await its arrival. Nothing could have changed the world more than the arrival of Jesus Christ.

For the first time I signed up for a daily Advent email to help make the month leading up to Christmas more intentionally focused on the scriptures that speak of the coming of Jesus. There must be a ton of different ways you can do this, but I subscribed to the series at IF:equip. IF is a movement by some key Christian female leaders to provide tools for women to grow Spiritually and to live out their full potential in Christ. Their Advent series of emails basically provides a theme for the week and daily passages of scripture including old testament, psalms, new testament, and gospel passages within the theme. A simple (and free!) way to dedicate some intentionality toward Advent.

I rarely articulate goals for posting here, in fear that I won't actually be able to follow through on my best intentions. However, as a form of accountability for myself, at the end of each week I intend to post a few reflections on the chosen Advent theme .

This week's theme was HOPE.

Hope is what prevents us from being overcome by complete despair over the broken world we live in. Hope is the life we cling to in the midst of the death and destruction all around. Hope is the belief that our tragedies will lead to something glorious and beautiful. Hope is the promise that we will not be stuck in our own junk forever, but will one day have the power to change... if we keep clinging to that Hope.

The ancient Jews hoped in this kind of salvation, that would come from a Messiah. They waited for the advent of their King, in expectant anticipation. Just as we wait, still, in the hope that this life we are living here on earth has a greater purpose than we can know. Hope is a life-giving gift amidst hurt and devastation.

When I am focusing on the blessed promise of Hope, and the much awaited Advent of Jesus, there isn't any room for my misdirected frenzy.

"...and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:15-17