Somebody's Coming!
Last year our small group really felt like life was too busy in December to do an Advent study together. There are parties, ball games, decorating, shopping, baking and the list goes on. Then the Spirit spoke and I felt He was telling us THAT IS THE VERY REASON WE SHOULD DO OUR STUDY! That study changed the way many of us looked at Advent. It truly prepared our hearts for Christmas by helping us rediscover Christmas! So this year, we all grumbled about the busyness and laughed and said, “we are doing it.” After all, Somebody’s coming!
More important than all we have to do is that somebody is coming! As Pastor Tim said, advent means “coming” or “arrival.” As we wait and expect we long for Jesus’ coming! We want to celebrate His birth. 2021 has been a tough year for most of us. Added to the worldly issues, between my mom, husband, daughter and I, we had six surgeries since February and have the biggest yet to come. Mike and I moved, a good thing, but a lot of work. My daughter is on her fourth move since February. We lost someone special. 2022 has brought even more uncertainties and has been tiring! But we do not go through those times alone. We can have hope that God is with us. Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” I thank God that I see hope beyond whatever my circumstances are! That is what Advent is all about and I am ready to soak up the hope!
Habakkuk 1:2, “How long, LORD, must I call for help…” This was the cry of the people who had seen God’s covenant broken and the consequences were bad. I think of this world and how we have a bad year and we start crying out! Maybe your year has been bad, on top of the worldly things. A loss of a loved one, a job loss, COVID, tough times, financial hardships, etc. Romans 8:24-25, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Hope is having that feeling BEFORE it comes to pass. Pastor Tim talked about Anna and Simeon, in his sermon, and how they were able to see beyond and carry one. Many of us will look back at these tough times and remember Romans 5:3-5. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”