I recently came across this blog post from Bobby Gilles, communiation director for Sojourn Church, titled "What is Advent? Why & How You Should Observe It". I have been trying to figure out how or what to communicate about the Advent seaon. For some of us we have been celebrating Advent for years and have often found it to be a very worshipful time. For others, who might be newer in church celebrations, or the church calendar year, you might be wondering what is this Advent season - I thought we just had Christmas. 

As we begin to enter our season of waiting, I thought I would share his thoughts as I found them pretty insightful. You can click here to read the enitre post. 

"It’s not only okay but appropriate to lend our voices to honest laments that acknowledge our present trials even as we resolve to tune them to praise the God whose Word never fails and has promised to finish His work in us by the restoration of all things. These are the songs we sing at Advent—texts that point to Christ’s first coming but serve to remind us in our present sufferings to continue looking for His promised return. We wait with expectant hope that will not disappoint.

I invite you to join all of creation in the coming Advent season, as we look forward with lament-filled longing for Christ’s return even as we joyfully celebrate His humble incarnation–His perfect life lived, His undeserved death in our place, for our sins. Christ came and Christ conquered sin, Satan and death. And Christ will come again to carry home His Church.

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in darkness a light has dawned . . . For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness form that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:2; 6-7)

“God sent His Son in a human body just like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.” (Romans 8:3)

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, we also groan to be released from pain and suffering. Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently.” (Romans 8:22-25)"

As we long the second coming of our Savior Jesus Christ, I invite you to seriously consider how you will be spending your time, not just this Christmas day, but this Advent season. How will your time, talents, and most of treasures, reflect what Christ has done in your life. Missio Dei Church just recently released a different type of "Black Friday Deal" and this coming Sunday we will be starting our Advent Consirapcy offering. What are you and/or your family doing to take back Christmas and tell the world that the Father has sent the Son?