Advent Again, Advent Always

Advent is a season before Christmas where we prepare and remember the incarnation of Jesus and all that it means. (for more info, here is my post from 2010 all about Advent)

Last year I was so blessed by the focus and the introspection that the Advent readings brought, and will be embarking on the journey again. This year, my Advent guide is from the Village Church, and can be linked HERE. It is a weekly reading along with some personal questions to think through and answer. There is also a family devotional section. It is a great resource for anyone, and would be a great tool to do with a roommate, spouse, or friend.

This year, my heart is battling restlessness and unsettled yearning. As I expectantly enter into this Christmas season, this quote from an article by Sally Breedlove really resonates with me:

I need the reminder that for the rest of this life I have a choice: try to make this world enough, or receive the unsettledness of my heart as a gift. If I don’t yearn for more, I will miss the One who both entered time and lives beyond it. It is hard to learn patience. But good waiting clears the air; it helps me find out what I really, really desire. When I learn to wait for the truest things, endurance moves past a grit-my-teeth trial to hope and strength. Year by year I have the opportunity to live into Advent. If I listen, I will hear the truth: I’m part of the exile, a woman heading home. Advent coaches me to wish for, to long, and finally to expect and even glimpse what lies ahead.  (Advent: Putting the Brakes on Christmas Insanity)

 Resources:
What is Advent? by Noel Piper
A Season to Look Back and Look Ahead by Noel Piper

An Advent Guide from The Village Church

Mini Expeditions: Love Came Down on Christmas

Here I am, chillin in New York with my family. It feels great to be back and see everyone. My "little" dog is laying by my side, chili is on the stove, hoorah.

Anyways, here are some GREAT articles and links about Christmas that I have really enjoyed this year.

• What We Tell Our Kids at Christmas: Reject, Receive, or Redeem Santa
• By Mark Discroll
 

• Disturbing Christmas
• By CJ Mahaney
• "Only those who have been profoundly disturbed to the point of deep repentance are able to receive the tidings of comfort, peace, and joy that Christmas proclaims."

• Santa Claus with the Baby in Bethlehem (Part one)
• Santa Claus with the Baby in Bethlehem (Part two)
• By Kevin De Young
• a quick history on who Santa really was

• Favorite Christmas Traditions 
• from GirlTalk blog
• Christmas Notes, investigative work, and cinnamon rolls

• Christmas is For Those Who Hate It Most
• by Matt B Redmond  (from Gospel Coalition)
• "We have it backwards. In the irony of all ironies, Christmas is for those who will find it the hardest to enjoy. It really is for those who hate it most."

Any other Christmas tidbits you'd care to share?

Christmas Card Crafts!

My sister and I loveee crafts. During any given day during the holidays, I await picture text messages from her showing the latest craft delight! I thought I would post some pictures of Christmas cards we both made recently, and maybe they will inspire you!

 

All the cards are made out of easy to acquire scrapbook paper, ribbon, buttons, and glue!
(And you never know, one might arrive in your mailbox!)

Do you make Christmas cards?

Advent?

Having heard of Advent many times, but never really understanding anything about it, this year I decided to dive right in. There are a lot of reasons, but the main one being that I really want Christ to be the driving force of my Christmas celebrations, and I want to get into the meaty concepts behind the incarnation of God himself.

According one resource, the word Advent is from the Latin adventus for "coming" and is associated with the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. 

Taken from a Noel Piper article, Looking Forward: Preparing to Meet Jesus Face to Face, this is a great brief on Advent and its purposes:

"Advent is a time of looking back, remembering the faithful people who were waiting for the salvation God had promised, as 1 Peter 1:10-12 tells us.

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,inquiring  what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted  the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Then the very next verses continue by turning our eyes forward in Advent, looking toward the return of Jesus.

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:13-19)

There will be another advent of Christ; he will come again. This makes Advent a season for introspection. Peter gives us God’s high standard as we contemplate our standing with him: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16)...."

Awesome Resources:

• Journey to the Manger, an Advent devotional from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
• Go sign up HERE, for daily emails. So far I have really enjoyed it.
• Daily Scripture Reading from CRI Voice for Advent 2010
• check that out HERE
• What is Advent?  by 
• Noel Piper, from Desiring God.org
• A Season to Look Back and Ahead, by Noel Piper from Desiring God.org 
•  The Jesus Advent Celebration: The Jesse Tree Journey
• a free Jesse Tree Advent book 
• from aHolyExperience.com    Click HERE to download it now!
• (pretty cool illustrations as well)