Category: Advent Series

Only one week remains before Christmas arrives at our doorstep. My prayer is that these Advent devotional thoughts are helping you to get ready for that happy event.

My husband’s birthday arrived again in November. That morning, I looked at his photo and assured him that I loved him and wished him a joy-full day, his second birthday in heaven. I miss Gene but am convinced that he is far happier there in heaven than he ever could be here on earth. Since his death last year, the veil that hangs between this world and the spiritual world seems thinner than ever. I feel the reality of the spiritual world is just a breath away.

Romans 9:22 tells us that God has every right to exercise his judgment and his power. He is, after all, God, and we have all failed miserably in achieving his holy standards. But in his mercy, he has prepared a place in heaven for each of us who have chosen to follow Christ. Romans 9:23 tells us, “He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory.”

Thus far during this season, we have focused on what we need to do to get our hearts ready for Christmas. But today we see another of the blessings of being prepared. When Jesus left heaven for earth, he exchanged his divine glory for swaddling cloths. After he died and rose again, Jesus received back his glory. So too, we who are prepared in advance will shed our earthly clothes and don glorified bodies in heaven. That is something to look forward to! A prepared heart is full of hope.

What films do you and your family watch each year as Christmas approaches? Before you sit down in front of the TV, take a moment to read another Advent devotional.

If you have ever watched a Star Wars movie or been a Star Trek fan, the films may have amazed you with their visual effects created by the animation experts. You may look forward to even better graphics with the release of “Moonfall” next year. At the same time, you know all of this is fiction. When you walk out of the theater, life will go on the same as before.

The wrath of God is nothing like the “Wrath of Khan.” When we read the book of Revelation and hear about God’s judgments, the images within those pages seem like something from a sci-fi film. We have never seen events on the vast scale like those described in the book of Revelation. God’s judgment will be on full display as seven seals break, seven trumpets blow, and seven bowls of wrath pour out on mankind. These affect not merely Earth but involve cosmic events: The sun and the moon and stars will darken. And life will never be the same.

Heb. 11:7 tells us, “It was by faith that Noah prepared a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.”

Noah had never seen rain. He’d never seen a boat of the dimensions of the ark. He probably had never before seen even half of all the animals that soon walked onto the ark. Yet by faith, he prepared for future events he had never imagined.

As you get your heart ready for Christ’s arrival, remember that the most basic step is to cultivate faith in our powerful God.

As we get ready for Christ’s arrival in another week, we also need to remember to prepare for the second advent of Christ. Welcome back as we expand on that idea with another Advent thought.

As a child, did you ever make a paper chain to count down the days until Christmas? Each day, you tore off one more link. You waited with great anticipation, knowing something special and exciting would be coming soon.

Isaiah 64:4 tells us that “since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who prepares a path for those who wait for him!” In the next chapter (65:17), the Lord says “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth – so wonderful that no one will even think about the old ones anymore.”

And again in 1 Cor. 2:9, Paul quotes Isaiah saying, “That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’” We can’t even imagine what God has planned on the road ahead of us!

Did you notice two small words in these verses that give us a hint about examining our own hearts as we get ready for Christ’s return? Isaiah says that God prepares a path for those who wait for him. And Paul uses the word love. As you go about your activities this day, examine your soul and ask if you are truly waiting for that special day when Jesus comes again. Then, prepare your heart by filling it with love for our Savior and others who cross your path today.

Was yesterday’s Advent thought harder to accept? I am glad you came back. Stick with us as we learn more about preparing our hearts for Christmas.

The angels sang in Bethlehem, “Peace on Earth and good will towards men,” but yesterday we saw that God prepares a feast for us in the presence of our enemies. No one likes the idea of facing conflict.

Jonah knew the Lord was gracious and merciful, but he also knew a thing or two about enemies. Jonah had seen people from Nineveh murder Hebrew women and children and burn their towns to the ground. The people of Nineveh were Israel’s archenemies. Thus, when God ordered Jonah to preach in Nineveh, Jonah ran in the opposite direction. The last thing Jonah wanted was to see Jehovah offer mercy to these ruthless people.

Yet there is plenty of evidence that God was at work preparing a path for Jonah. In Jonah 1:17, we learn, “Now the Lord had arranged for (prepared) a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.” God had no intention of letting Jonah drown.

And in 4:6-8, “And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. ‘Death is certainly better than living like this!’ he exclaimed.”

Note how God prepared a whale, a plant, a worm and a wind to teach Jonah. What circumstances are you facing that appear to be negative? Could it be that God has a purpose behind them? Preparing our hearts for Christmas includes cultivating a teachable spirit.

Back for more? Today we can add another helping to our plate as we celebrate our Advent theme of “Preparation.”

Who doesn’t like a Christmas feast with all the trimmings? Ham or turkey, stuffing, cranberry relish, mashed potatoes swimming in gravy, and pies for dessert. And someone pushing it at us, saying, “Have some more!”

We have already seen God’s example of preparing this world for us, and we have learned that our own hearts should respond with humility, gratitude and praise. Today’s thought is a little harder to swallow.

Ps. 23:5 says, “You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.” Actually, this entire psalm is about God preparing a path for us. He leads us beside still waters, he restores us, he anoints us. But preparing a feast before our enemies? Does the Lord really prepare hard times for us?

Read the verse again. The Lord knows we will face conflicts and hard times. His contribution is a feast to sustain us in the midst of those difficult circumstances.

Think back to Jesus when he slept on Peter’s boat during the violent storm on the Sea of Galilee. Mark’s gospel says Jesus was asleep with his head on a pillow. Cushions were not the norm on fishing boats. They would get soggy, mildewed and stink of dead fish. But God, knowing Jesus was tired after a full day of preaching, provided his Son with a pillow before the storm ever hit.

Are you facing difficult circumstances this holiday season? Look around for the pillow God has prepared for you. And after you respond with gratitude and praise, add rest in his care to the preparations of your own heart.

Yesterday we saw that each of us has a responsibility not only to prepare our own hearts for the arrival of the baby in the stable but also to prepare those around us to seek God.

This year, with the help of my daughter, I was able to get all my shopping and gift wrapping done before the end of October. I had fun picking out a special gift for each person on my list, sometimes making the gifts myself. I can hardly wait for Christmas to arrive and to see the faces of those I love as they unwrap my packages. After weeks of shopping and baking and, yes, Advent preparation, many parents find great delight in watching their children discover what is hidden under the bows and gift wrap.

Parents have an important role to play in helping their children understand the true meaning of Christmas. In Luke 1:17, an angel predicted that John the Baptist would become “a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” Imagine the weight of responsibility Zecharias must have felt, knowing his son John would be the forerunner for the Messiah!

Not every one of you reading these devotionals is a parent. Neither was John the Baptist. But we all have the same responsibility as John. We need to teach those around us to be ready for the return of the Lord. The first time, Jesus did not come decorated with bows and gift wrap, but his second coming will be full of glory. Advent offers a natural opportunity to prepare both ourselves and others for the reality of the coming kingdom.

Getting excited about opening those brightly colored Christmas packages hiding in the closet or under the tree? Take time to read one more Advent devotional before going about your day.

Did your parents teach you not to run with scissors? Did they warn you not to put your fingers in electrical sockets? Did they train you to brush your teeth? Did they make certain that you got inoculations for polio and measles? Those are all important lessons for safety and health. But teaching those who follow us to have faith in God is by far the most important lesson we can pass on to those we love.

In I Chron. 22:5,6, King David said, “‘My son Solomon is still young and inexperienced. And since the Temple to be built for the LORD must be a magnificent structure, famous and glorious throughout the world, I will begin making preparations for it now.” So David collected vast amounts of building materials before his death. Then David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to “build a Temple for the LORD, the God of Israel to honor the name of the Lord.”

When we teach the next generation to seek God, we are beginning a project that may not be completed in our lifetime. David died long before Solomon completed the Temple. Those we love may be young and inexperienced, but, just as David taught his son Solomon to honor God, we ought to take time to prepare not only our own hearts but also build a foundation for others who will carry on after us, teaching those who follow us to honor the name of the Lord. How will you honor him today?

We are almost halfway through Advent! Christmas will be here in less than two weeks! Are you prepared for Jesus’ arrival? Here’s a somewhat lighter lesson for you.

One holiday season, a newlywed friend of my mother’s called on the phone. The bride wanted advice on how to prepare chicken using her grandmother’s family recipe.

“What seems to be the problem?” my mother asked.
“Well, the first step says to put the chicken in a kettle.”
Perplexed, my mother asked again where the difficulty lay.
“Well, I can’t get the chicken in past the neck of the kettle!”

With admirable self-control, my mother waited until she got off the phone to burst out laughing. The bride had tried to squeeze the chicken in the only kind of kettle she knew of…a tea kettle!

2 Tim. 2:21 says, “If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.”

By staying constantly vigilant and keeping our hearts clean, we can become a special utensil – perhaps a tea kettle? – to serve exactly the right function in God’s plan. And thus we have one more step in our preparation for Christmas: Stay alert, always ready for God to use us.

You came back for another Advent devotional! Your being here encourages me but also tells me you are anxious to prepare your heart for Christmas.

Long ago, my husband Gene bought a unicycle at a yard sale. He wanted to learn to ride it but never put forth the effort. It sat in our attic, gathered dust, and eventually rusted. It disappeared when we downsized before our move to our retirement community.

In contrast, when our son John invested in a unicycle, he spent hours learning to ride it effortlessly. What made the difference? John was sincere about wanting to master the cycle. Because of his commitment, he succeeded and now he entertains others by performing at public events.

In John 5, Jesus approached a lame man lying by the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, but before Jesus healed him, first he asked the man, “Do you want to be healed?” In other words, “You have been lying here for 38 years, but are you really serious about being healed?” Instead of asking God for help, you see, the lame man had trusted in a legend of an angel who might cure his problem.

The prophet Samuel knew the importance of pursuing righteousness. In 1 Sam. 7:3, he told the people of Israel, “If you are really serious about wanting to return to the Lord, prepare yourselves by getting rid of your foreign gods,…determine to obey only the Lord, then he will save you.”

It is not enough to celebrate Christmas by putting up decorations and buying gifts. We have a role to play. Are we serious about preparing our hearts? Are we willing to get rid of anything that hinders us from following God. Take time today to examine your heart and discard whatever keeps you from obeying God.

Are guests visiting for your holiday celebration? Take a moment before they arrive to read a brief Advent devotional so you will truly be prepared!

What steps do you take to get ready for guests? Planning a menu and setting the table. Making up guest beds, laying out towels, perhaps even putting a chocolate on the pillow. For my part, I always scrubbed, dusted, and tidied the house. My husband laughed and said we should invite guests to come more often!

In the same way, farmers work to prepare their soil before planting seeds. They know that putting in fertilizer and tilling the ground makes the seeds feel welcome and nurtured.

Hosea 10:12 says, “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.”

Is there a lesson in that verse for us as we prepare our hearts for Christmas? Do we need to break up old clods of dirt, loosening the grip that sinful habits have on us? Then let us sow the righteousness of God’s Word in our hearts. As we prepare in this way, God can bless us richly.