Advent 2013

I love advent.  It is arguably my favorite holiday, and I love that it's a multi-day holiday!  I love the decorations, the music, the smells, the food, the activities, etc.  I love the idea of waiting for something that I know is coming-- of looking forward to the coming of our Lord Jesus.

Waiting is not easy.  It's one thing to wait for 24 days in December in hopes of Christmas on the 25th.  That's hard enough for me sometimes.  But translated into real life, how do I do?  Well... not so great.  There are a couple things I have been waiting for for many years.  Even using my current example of healing, I hope and wait that the Lord will bring me healing soon.  Come, Lord Jesus, Come!  But I don't have any specific promise that I will be completely healed in this lifetime.  I hope He will, and I believe He can, but He doesn't always... and I want what HE wants for me because I know it will be His best.  What if His best is not healing?  What if it is teaching me to wait and hope and trust and have faith when it doesn't seem warranted?  Lord, glorify yourself in my story-- however you choose to write it. 

And that, my friends, is why I love advent.  It is a "brief" holiday that represents a deeper spiritual truth.  As we wait for Christmas and celebrate the birth of Jesus, we also wait for His return.  When He returns He will judge the world, raise the dead and make all things new.  ALL things.  Me included.  And that is a wonderful reason for hope.

Happy Advent!
JLR