Advent Calendar Day Eight

On this day, the eighth of December, we found a "donkey" in our box. 

The donkey reminds us of the journey Joseph and Mary had to take to Bethlehem. 

Luke2:4

"He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."

I cannot imagine what it would have been like to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem being very pregnant.   I've always stayed close to home during the last month of my pregnancies with my bags packed and ready to go to the hospital.  Mary didn't have that luxury.  Because of the census that had been ordered (Luke 2:1) Joseph had to go to his hometown to register.  The timing wasn't convenient for Mary, but it was God's timing.  His plan was for the Savior to be born in Bethlehem.  He used a Roman ruler to accomplish His plan. 

For me, I like to plan things out in advance.  But sometimes my planning may not be what God has preordained in His will.  Do I submit to His will, or complain that my plans have been interrupted?  

Advent Calendar Day Four

In the fourth box in the Advent Calendar there is an angel. 

Matthew 1:20
"...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.'"

In the previous verse it says, "Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly."  Joseph was a righteous man.  During his time of engagement to Mary he anticipated their marriage.  But how could Mary be pregnant?  He knew the child was not his and so he sought to "divorce her quietly" rather than the alternative for her - death.  The visit from the angel opened his eyes to the truth.  Mary was chosen by God to carry the Messiah into the world.  

Advent Calendar Day Three

Day Three brings us to Mary's Song...

 In today's box we find some sheet music to remind us of Mary's Song...

Luke 1:46-55

"And Mary said:

'My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham an his descendants forever,

even as he said to our fathers.'"

Mary's life was forever changed by the announcement the angel made.  Her response is one of praise and worship of God.  She knows Who He Is and what He has done and she offers Him her praise.  How can we praise Him this season, not for what we want or what we are expecting, but for Who He Is alone?  

Advent Calendar Day Two

On this second day of Advent, we are one step closer to the Savior.  In today's box we found rings as a symbol of the engagement of Joseph and Mary.

Matthew 1:18

"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:  His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit."

I wonder how Mary felt.  She had been visited by the angel Gabriel and told of God's plan.  But now she would have to walk a difficult road in her love and obedience to God.  Others would talk and question, but Mary trusted God and submitted her heart to His plan.  And I'm so glad she did!

What challenging road does God have you on right now?  Can you trust Him with your heart, as Mary did so many years before?

Advent Calendar Day One

Each year we have looked foward to Christmas with an Advent Wreath.  This year, we have added an Advent Calendar, with each box filled not with treats, but the best treasure of all...the Christmas story. 

Last evening the children looked all over the house for the items needed to fill the advent calendar.  Then we opened box number one to find an angel and the following verse:

Luke 1:26-28, 31

"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you...You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.'"

I hope you are blessed as you focus this advent on preparing your heart for the arrival of the Greatest Gift of all!

*I found the wonderful idea for this advent calendar (and all the instructions for it) on another blog

Here is another spot where you can go to get ideas to celebrate the season of advent!

A Season of Advent

advent (ad'vent) n.

1. arrival or coming into being

2. the coming of Christ into the world

Advent Wreath

Our church has an advent wreath at Christmastime. The wreath consists of 4 taper candles (3 purple and 1 pink) and a white Christ candle in the center. (Our wreath is missing the white candle right now.)

The word "advent" means "coming". The during Advent, the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, we stop to remember that we are looking forward to the coming of Jesus to earth.
Over the years we have used several different Advent Devotionals, some kid-friendly, others a little challenging. One devotional that I have used the past several Christmases is Looking Forward to the Nativity. It isn't an "Advent" devotional that speaks directly to the meaning of each candle, but it is a great devotional that begins with creation, speaks of sin entering the world, and our need for a savior throughout the generations. Another book we have used is Christ in the Carols. It is a great devotional too that tells the meaning and the history of the various Christmas carols. I usually just read one devotional, and then use the other to sing carols with the family. (Courtney and I made the wreath many years ago from a wreath, picks, candle holders and ribbon. She picked out all the pieces as a 2 year old and we've been using it ever since!)