Advent is a season that gives us the
opportunity to practice something that is
hard for most of us to do: wait. Advent
teaches us to wait for the coming or the
arrival of Christ into our world, not just
way back in Biblical times, but now--in the
places where we long for his presence and
need his movement among us.
Advent ushers us into a special kind of
waiting that is alert and watchful, patient
and yet full of anticipation.
Waiting is never easy, but a necessary and
humbling part of our spiritual journey.
Waiting reminds us that we cannot control
the circumstances we face, that we need to be
yielded to one who is sovereign... The One
who knew we needed a Savior in the form of a
baby born who would fulfill the innermost
needs of our souls.
We are all waiting for something this
Christmas... are you waiting for special
traditions, an expected gift, a planned
gathering? Perhaps you are waiting for
relief from difficult circumstances, for
answers to a medical problem, direction for a
big decision, forgiveness from a loved one,
or perhaps, restoration of a broken
relationship?
These questions usher us into the waiting
room of the soul that we occupy more fully
during the season of Advent. This is the
place where we wait for God to revive us, to
restore us and to reveal himself to us in
ways that we can see and know him. In the
waiting room we are called to hold and to
hold on until we discover that Jesus is
near.
So as the bustle, chaos and circumstances of
these days press against you as we move
toward Christmas morning, remember, the
wait for this child called Jesus, the Christ
child ...Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of
Peace... Almighty God, was worth
it.
"No one has heard, no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you, who orks
for those who wait for him." - Isaiah 64:4
The Birth of Jesus Christ: A Life Most Profound
No other event in history so full of paradox. It is so heavenly yet so earthly. It is profound -- It is God coming to us - reaching into our humanity from his divinity.
When Christ was born in a humble stable,
fulfilling prophecies that announced His
coming,
The Word from which all wisdom comes could
not speak.
The Power by which all exists was a baby
weak.
He whom the heavens could not contain, was
found lying in a manger.
Unto His own he came but was treated like a
stranger.
For Him who made all space, there was no
room.
For Him who made all light, there was a
stable of gloom.
He who wipes all tears away entered flesh and
wept.
He who neither slumbers nor sleeps, became
tired and slept.
He who made the laws of nature became subject
to those laws.
He who cannot be tempted became subject to
temptation.
He who is the bread of life became hungry.
He who is the water of life became thirsty.
He, who offers freedom, became a slave to the
limitations of flesh even to the point of
death.
No life ever lived has been so
paradoxical - yet so profound.
"For unto us a child is born to us a son is given.
And the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called,
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace."
- Isaiah 9:6
