Advent: Remembering And Waiting

Advent began this past Sunday.  Our Advent wreath is out, and the candles are in place. The four candles are labeled promise, light, love, and hope. Since 1976 we have been reading from the same small advent devotional book entitled "We Light The Candles".  Looking through it's pages today took me back to the many times when our family gathered for Advent devotions.  As the kids got older each one would take turns reading devotions and opening a door on our Advent calendar.  There was excitement in their eyes as they opened the tiny door to see what was behind it. 

This was a time we set aside in the otherwise busy home of a pastor with a large family.  Lots of concerts, Christmas programs, services, and of course the usual school events.  The calendar would fill up pretty quickly with 7 kids at home!  But this time right after supper was sacred, where we would gather together, read, open the calendar, sing a song and pray.  I remember it fondly.

The house is quiet now with all the kids grown with families of their own.  Joel and I have our devotions together ~ usually with our dog Levi snuggled up between us!  We still have our advent wreath we had made special when we lived in the Philippines.  We still have candles to light and songs to sing and our prayer time.  Advent still plays an important part of our Christmas preparation as we wait to celebrate the birth of Christ.  For us at this time in our lives, it is not only a time of waiting and preparing for the coming of baby Jesus, but it also a time of remembering.

Come Lord Jesus~

"You shall call His name Jesus.  He will be great and will called the Son of the Most High.  And

the Lord God will give to Him the throne of his father, David."

Luke 1:31-32