Sunday, December 2, 2012



Today begins the Advent Season! I am so excited about this! Zeke and I are doing our own Advent family worship times and I just wanted to share what we did tonight for the first night. I am hoping to share what we do for each Advent Sunday, maybe some in between too! The whole purpose for this season is to focus our attention and affection on Jesus Christ our Savior. That is my prayer in posting this.



"Lighting a candle is a simple yet profound act. It is a testimony to the power of light over darkness. Even the light of one candle can reveal our faces as we stand near the candle. As we light the candle, we begin our journey to Christmas, a day of joy and celebration. 
The first candle on the Advent wreath is called the Prophecy candle, it opens the period that anticipates Christmas and remembers those who first spoke the promise of the coming Christ child."
      -http://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-1995/lighting-advent-three-sets-scripture-readings


For 400 years the people had no one who came to them bringing a message from God. Think back through all the prophets God had sent to them over the years, then for 400 years He seemed to be silent! 
Then, just like lighting even the smallest flame expels darkness, Jesus came and through the cry of an infant, they heard from God once again. And this time not through another man, but from God in the flesh.
Just as with the prophets, there would be some who would reject what He said, but others who would believe and follow. 
The first candle is a reminder to us that God is who He says He is and does what He says He will do! 
Prophecies had been made about this great King who would come one day, but then silence fell, and with silence, probably some hopelessness, but praise God He always keeps His promises! So on that dark night, just as He had spoken through the prophets, the Savior King came! 
One light. It may not seem like much. Just like one infant crying doesn't seem like much, but with God all things are possible, and we can have confidence that He will complete what He has started.
So as we look back, we also look forward. One day, that infant, our Savior King, will come again, but this time as our conquering King! We may not know all the details surrounding His return, but we know that just as sure as He aid He would come before and He did, He will do it again! We can celebrate with Hope! Not wishful thinking hope as our society knows it to be, but absolute certainty Hope, based solely in the fact the God is who He says He is and does what He says He will do!


"But there will be no  gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he  brought into contempt the land of  Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he  has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people  who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of  deep darkness, on them has light shined. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with  joy at the harvest, as they  are glad  when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as  on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us  a son is given; and the government shall be  upon  his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful  Counselor,  Mighty God, Everlasting  Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the  Lord  of hosts will do this." (Isaiah 9:1-7 ESV)





Layne

No comments:

Post a Comment