Preparing Our Hearts

Advent. Paper door calenders filled with chocolate morsels? A religious holiday? A calendar? A countdown? No, yes and kind of......

From Wikipedia: In Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure for the second coming of Christ.

I was brought up in a tradition of Protestant Christianity that yes, focused on preparing our hearts for Christ's birth. Now we belong to a tradition with the same focus, but in addition, advent is presented as a conscientious celebration, a four-week season, focused upon each week in corporate worship and as a means for individual meditation, as well. This season is full of traditions, with the aim of affirming Christians in faith by remembering God's promises in the Old Testament, relating to the prophecy of Christ's birth...and in the New Testament by prophecy of Christ's second coming.

Each year I grow to enjoy and anticipate the season of Advent more and more. Dan received an advent devotional book as a gift from Gordon-Conwell this year. It contains a daily devotional and scripture passage. There are many other Advent-related devotional books and even daily e-mails available online. Tools like these are excellent at helping to keep our family focused on Christ during this season of Advent. There are many resources available like this one and this one that our family has enjoyed working through together.

This year, I decided to bring the tradition of the Advent wreath "home". I picked up some little votive candles and placed them in some sand on a plate.

*The wreath (or circle in this case) represents ongoing, everlasting life

*Five colored candles:

1. The 1st purple candle, or the "Prophecy Candle" represents the HOPE or expectation of the coming Messiah
2. The 2nd purple candle, or the "Bethlehem Candle" represents the LOVE of God in sending a Savior...and in his provision of an empty manger awaiting the Christ-child
3. The pink (or rose in this case) the "Shephard's Candle" represents the JOY the shephards had upon receiving the news of Christ's birth
4. The 3rd purple candle, or the "Angel's Candle" represents PEACE and is lit on the 4th Sunday of Advent
5. On Christmas Eve, the white center candle is traditionally lit. This candle is called the "Christ Candle" and represents the life of Christ that has come into the world. The color of white represents PURITY. Christ is the sinless, spotless, pure Savior. Also, those who receive Christ as Savior are washed of their sins and made whiter than snow.

*The candle flame represents comfort of light in darkness, or in a time of waiting

Once a week, we will light the appropriate advent candle and read and discuss a passage of scripture (I'll list them below) together. I really like the website I mentioned above, because it contains activities and coloring pages that help extend the scripture lesson.

Here are the scripture passages we'll be reading each week of Advent:

1st week: Luke 1:26-38

2nd week: Luke 2:8-20

3rd week: Luke 2

4th week: Matthew 2:1-12

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On a different note, I'm going to try to post every day in the month of December....as a way of documenting this season of our lives during the celebration of Advent. I did this last year and spent a LOT of time making a special book to hold these memories. This year I plan to simplify the process somewhat and document our days with a digital scrapbook album, in hopes that it'll be less time consuming.

I can't believe it, but as of today, we are FINISHED Christmas shopping and (very simply) decorating. I still have a few little crafty projects to finish like Graham's teacher gifts and gifts for the women at my table for MOPS. I tire easily these days...it seems like it should be the third trimester already...I'm feeling so worn out! I'm actually only 23 weeks along today. Maybe that's just how it goes with the third pregnancy...not enough energy to go around. ;) Lord, give me strength and the ablility to prioritize what's important and needed.

My hope and prayer is that this season will be enjoyable and reflective of the HOPE, LOVE, JOY and PEACE that Christ intends to manifest in our hearts!