Advent: Prepared
Advent (noun):
-The arrival of a notable person, thing or event
-The first season of the Christmas church year, leading up to Christmas and including four preceding Sundays
Christmas comes with a lot of preparation: the dinner, the presents, the travel plans, etc.
Christmas is about being prepared, but it’s about preparing for the coming of Jesus. Preparing our heart. Preparing a home ready to welcome Him.
My hope is that if Mary and Joseph found me at the time of His birth, that a place in my home would have been ready and open for them. It just would have changed the manger story a bit I guess.
I think what we can do without having to transport through time, is recognize that God made and loves each of us. So welcome your brothers and sisters in this season. To church, in your hearts and your homes.
“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.”
I love this verse. I recently watched a video where the author of Pastrix and Lutheran Minister, Nadia Bolz-Weber, talks (use the link to check it out) about how if The Lord comes like a thief in the night, what would we want him to take?
Take my insecurities, my fears, my doubts and my selfishness.
I challenge you to reflect on what you want Him to steal and how you've prepared a place in your heart and home for Him.
Be prepared by getting into and learning more of His word this season. Be prepared by praying and telling Him the highs and lows of the past year and just inviting Him into the conversation. Be prepared for the twists and turns that you may face in 2018. Be prepared in knowing you can handle anything with God’s help.
Most importantly, be prepared to lose it all and give it all—as He did for us.
My prayer for you and I today:
Dear Warrior, Peacemaker and Friend,
I pray that we can open up our hearts and homes to all of Your children. I pray, Lord, that we take time to reflect and prepare our hearts for all You have set out for us in this season and in 2018. Help us to prepare a way to You--so that those who need you most may find you easily in us.
Amen.