I'm using this blog to process this morning. I read on FB about how much more important it is to focus on the 2nd coming of Christ. And I ask myself , "How important is Christmas, really?"
Got an Advent booklet in the mail. I'm thinking of the old man, Simeon, who waited all his life to see the Savior. When he saw the baby Jesus, he was filled with joy, prophesied over him, and was at peace.
Advent (from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming")
The subtitle of my booklet says, "Waiting in Joyful Hope."
Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy kingdom come..."
When 2 or 3 gather in His name, He is there. He comes. He is in us, but a special "visitation" of His Spirit comes."
In the birth of a child, His coming to us with that gift fills us with Joy.
Isaiah 11:6 says, "... and a little child shall lead them."
Jesus said, "Unless you become like a little child, you shall not enter the kingdom of God."
Our denomination- the Vineyard talks about the now and the not yet..."
As in His kingdom is upon us, but the fullness of that Kingdom, where ALL disease, suffering, etc. is abolished, is not yet here.
Might the looking back on the "Joy to the World" brought by the birth of Jesus, be just as important for what we need now- that Peace on earth in our hearts, that stirring of Good will to all men, and that Joy of a little child over this special Birthday Celebration- as the next coming of our lord?
"THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH.'
May He strengthen you with His joy, that you might enter into a true celebration of Christmas!
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