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Great Expectations


 For many centuries, the Church has identified the beginning of the Christmas celebration with a time of reflection and expectation called Advent.

The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival" and, when used in conjunction with Christmas, reminds us of the anticipation and expectation held over hundreds of years by the people of Israel for their Messiah and promised King.

As we enter the Christmas season, there is an air of expectancy all around us. But it has transitioned from the traditional Advent - to one filled with expectancy of the things the season holds - the beauty of lights and sounds, time with family, gifts. Christmas is coming and we often get lost in the preparations and our expectations fades. 

But Christmas is a magical time, there is a song in the air, if we allow it, the atmosphere changes. Christ has come into the world and we celebrate His birth! 

Luke 1:78-79 " Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace."

When we allow the hope which can be described as ' to wait for God hopefully, expectantly.' to fill our hearts, things change. A spark of light fills the darkness. 

Our world and our lives can have spots of darkness -  trials, death, crisis, sickness, loneliness, fear, betrayal to name a few. These can threaten to overwhelm us. But our God, is a God of Hope. When we look expectantly at Him, Hope Himself will carry you through.


Hope - a confident expectation that God is with us changes everything. If things feel hopeless, look to God, find hope in His Word and allow the expectation that He has good planned for you.

Romans 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." 

 Advent reminds us that our hope is in Jesus Christ, and our hope is not in vain.

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Comments

  1. SusanDecember 3, 2021 at 8:00 AM

    My life's theme is Hope and my life's verse is Romans 15.13. So, this post greatly resonated with me. Our expectation is Hope - the Christ.

    ReplyDelete
  2. marielDecember 3, 2021 at 8:55 AM

    amen. lovely thoughts on putting our hope in Him alone. thank you for sharing this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lisa BlairDecember 3, 2021 at 10:32 AM

    This is so true, "When we 'wait for God hopefully, expectantly' to fill our hearts, things change. A spark of light fills the darkness." ~Lisa, FMF #9

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great-Granny GrandmaDecember 7, 2021 at 11:30 PM

    A good reminder.
    Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete

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