Advent

By |Published On: December 2, 2018|Categories: Joni's Posts|
A lit candle sitting on a table with tree sprigs, holly, and a pinecone surrounding it.

Today is the first Sunday of the Advent season. I grew up in the Reformed Episcopal Church, a small Bible-believing denomination that followed the church calendar every year. Advent involves the four Sundays leading up to December 25th, a time of preparing for the coming of Christmas. Oh, I don’t mean we prepared by wrapping gifts or making sure we had enough flour to bake all the treats—though we did that, too. Rather, we prepared our hearts. Advent means “the arrival” or “the coming,” and all December long, we would read the Old Testament prophecies about the One to come. We would reflect on scriptures about our need for a Savior to rescue us from sin, as well as God’s promises about the coming Messiah. It really helped us get ready to truly celebrate the birth of the Christ Child in our hearts – Advent taught us why we needed a Savior so that we could rejoice in having One!

In years past, I have often worked hard to carve out space in the hustle and bustle of the season in order to slow my heart down and reflect. But this year, my recent cancer surgery was a big help in slowing things down (it feels like I’ve taken everything off my schedule 😊. Yet what better season to slow down, than this Advent? What unexpected things are slowing you down right now? Whether it’s a weather front keeping you at home, a line at the grocery store ten-people deep, or the extra traffic forcing you to crawl down the highway, see it as an invitation from a good God to pause all the rush and honestly reflect on his coming.

–Joni Eareckson Tada

O Holy Night Christmas Card cover

O Holy Night Cards

Joni loves sending Christmas cards and singing Christmas hymns! This year her new Christmas card brings the two together. Featuring Joni’s rendering of Mary cradling Jesus, set against a background of “O Holy Night” sheet music, this elegant card will bring the joy of the season to your friends and family members.

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