advent: the coming of peace.

The other day it snowed here at camp. (I mean, I am sure that it snowed in a few other places too, but nevertheless...) I love snow. I do not love being cold, at all, so I am sure this seems conflicting. But, I figure if it has to be cold sometimes, it had better snow, at least. I just think it makes the cold feel worth it. My favorite is when the flakes are big and fluffy and they seem to lay on the ground slowly. I love how the trees catch the snow in their bare limbs. I love how though the sky is gray and cloudy everything looks brighter with a blanket of white. I get that when you have to drive in it, or shovel it out of your driveway, it is not quite as lovely. But still, I love, love to look at it.

Anyway, the other day at camp when it was snowing I was standing outside in it for a moment with my friend Beth. I told her I loved how peaceful the snowfall was. We both stood for a minute not talking and just looked around. It was silent. Almost eerie. We looked out over the Bay which looked like frosted glass. We saw the snow falling all around us but heard nothing.

It's like the snow absorbs all sounds around you and the snow lays quietly onto itself- not making a sound, unlike rain. I think snow (maybe for some, not all) is so peaceful in that way. For the fourth week of Advent we look at peace. This is the last week of Advent- leading right up to Christmas this weekend! I think peace is an appropriate thought for this week. I know peace can mean different things to different people. For example, I am talking about the peaceful beauty of snow and maybe you cringe at the thought. That's fair. But for Christmas I think that this week in Advent, it is good to reflect on peace.

We know that Advent means the coming of something- the anticipated arrival of Christ. And finally, this week, the waiting is over. The anxiousness, anticipation even nervous excitement that builds as we wait, finally comes to a close. Mary and Joseph, the people who heard of the birth and were anxiously awaiting it- they all finally get to experience it. Finally, the baby comes and great, great things, lie ahead.

We, thousands of years later, of course already know the baby comes, grows and does great things. He is Jesus and we know of his ministry on earth. We can rest peacefully knowing that he came and did what he said he would do. And we have the Bible which tells us of the great peace that Jesus brings.

Jesus says in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Colossians 3:15 "And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful."

Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Isaiah 9:6 "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."

Colossians 1:20 "and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."

So, in this week of Advent, and as we celebrate Christmas this weekend I hope that we find peace in these words. I hope we find the peace that Christ brings. That he promises. I pray that peace, beyond whatever else, rules in our hearts this Christmas. As Christ came, he brought hope, love, joy and peace for us all. And I am thankful.

Through the hustle and bustle, the pain heartache and loss, he offers peace to us today, on Christmas, and always.

posted by: Tara

advent: the coming of joy.

The third week of Advent- we reflect on Joy.

I think we do experience a lot of Joy in the Christmas season. I think sometimes life's circumstances may impede our feelings of Joy- trials don't cease just because it is Christmas. But, I do think that there tends to be a good bit of Joy floating around. It is a joyful thing (albeit stressful sometimes) to buy gifts for those you love- to find the absolute perfect thing. It is a joy to receive gifts- the most perfect gift someone put the thought and time into finding for you. There is something that is joyful about having a tree in your house- covered in lights and ornaments you've collected over many years. There is joy in the three radio stations that play all Christmas music, all the time. There is Joy in gathering with friends and family who travel "home" to visit. And there is so much joy in the coming of Christ. Because (I know, if I've said it once I've said it a thousand times) the Prince of Peace has come to save the world.

We sing Joy to the World over and over this time of year (much to my delight), and I think it does a pretty good job of reminding what really makes this season so joyful:
"Joy to the World, the Lord has come!...  Joy to the World, the Savior Reigns...repeat the sounding Joy... He comes to make His blessings flow... He rules the world with truth and grace... makes the nations prove, the glories of His righteousness... and wonders of His love."

It is indeed a joyful season today because Christ was born. So, I can just imagine the joy felt when He was born in Bethlehem. The Magi, (or the three kings, or the three wise men) followed a star to find baby Jesus. They followed, and followed, and followed until the star finally stopped over where they could would find Jesus. Matthew 2:10 tells us, "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." Maybe they were filled with such joy because they had finally reached their destination... finally they could stop walking. Maybe. But I also think they were able to rejoice exceedingly because they would finally be able to worship, adore, thank, praise & glorify this baby- this Savior of the World. The next verse in Matthew 2 gives me a pretty good idea of this: "After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him..."  

They fell to the ground. I think the joy of their season was found in this child. Their joy was found in being honored and blessed to be able to bow down and worship this tiny little boy- who they knew was the Son of God. How humbling. How joyful. I am in awe sometimes at Christmas when I remember my King, the author and perfecter of life, was born in a manger- and he did it all for you and me. What great love. As I remember that, in this third week of Advent, it brings me joy.


posted by: Tara

advent: the coming of love.

We are into the second week of Advent. Christmas day is fast approaching! In this week of Advent, as we are excitedly anticipating the birth of Christ, we will focus on:: love.

I can imagine that there were a lot of emotions felt by Mary and Joseph as they awaited the birth of their son... the Son of God, the savior of the world... Jesus. I think that there was probably some fear and trepidation, excitement, wonder, and so much more. But I absolutely think there was love.

I am a sucker for Christmas music- mostly the tried and true hymns that we sing year after year, but even in some of the newer Christmas songs, whenever we sing about Mary and her experience I have to tell you, I get a little weepy. I also have a friend who is a fabulous musician and songwriter. She wrote a beautiful song about Joseph- expresses some of the thoughts and feelings he might have had surrounding the birth of Jesus. The idea that this man and woman were expecting a baby boy, a precious tiny helpless baby who needed the care of a mom and a dad. But not just any baby- again, this is the savior of the world we are talking about! Whoa. So, when I think of the parents of Jesus I can't help but to catch my breath. What emotion they must have felt!

I have never been a parent- but I have parents and I have friends who are parents. I have watched friends as they anxiously await the arrival of their baby. As they worry over every little thing, wanting everything to be perfect. Once the baby comes, how overwhelmed they are with love for this child they have only just met. They watch the baby sleep. They touch its face over and over. It is amazing to see how parents love them some babies!

I imagine Mary and Joseph, as they waited for the arrival of Jesus, were somewhat nervous, wanting everything to be perfect. And I wonder what Mary thought when she looked at the stable, the night she was going to give birth to her baby. I don't know exactly what that stable was like. I have had little manger scenes in my house that depict a hay filled barn. But I have also heard from Biblical scholars that it might have been more like a cut out in the side of a hill- like a shallow cave basically. Either way, not a comfy bed and especially not the maternity ward at your local hospital. And I wonder if this mother wanting everything to be perfect, already loving the baby that she has carried under her heart for months, looked at that stable and offered up a quiet prayer to God saying something like, "anywhere but here Lord. I don't want my precious son, your precious son to have to be born here." I don't know. But I do know that she was faithful and she, in faith, had her baby in that stable that night- her child, the king was born.

And I think Jesus' parents loved him. Just loved him. Here is how I know. I think this might be one of the sweetest, most dear verses to me in scripture: Luke 2:16-19 (as always, the emphasis, is mine)...
^"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

Christ had come! The baby was born and this was really, really great news! It had to be shared, with all (and still does) the Prince of Peace had come to the world and the word needed to be spread! But Mary, the mother, the faithful woman who carried this child and gave birth in a stable, I think, needed a minute. A minute to touch the sweet head of her child. A minute to count each of the toes and fingers on Jesus' body. A minute to kiss his sweet cheeks and tell him she loved him. Maybe, a minute to tell him she would love him forever... and to be thankful that this child who had come, would be the perfecter of love, everlasting.


Love had come. Love has come. Christ was born and he loves you. He loves me. So this week as we continue to prepare for Christmas, we prepare our hearts for the coming of love, Jesus Christ.

posted by: Tara

advent: the coming of hope.

Advent means the arrival of something awaited, or the coming. We are currently in the Christmas season (hooray!) also known as Advent. The season of Advent celebrates the arrival of one very awaited, Jesus.

Growing up we always had an Advent wreath with four candles- and we would light another one each Sunday leading up to Christmas day. At home we had three purple candles and one pink candle, because that's what they had in the manger years ago. Just kidding. Sorry... but seriously I don't think that the colors matter that much in the season of Advent- I have seen different churches have four royal blue candles or just four purple even four red candles displayed. Some include a white candle in the middle, the Christ candle. I have heard really nice stories of why the round wreath explains that God's love is like a circle, it never ends. And the wreath being covered in greens is another example of God's everlasting love or enduring life. Nice. But it's a tradition, not necessarily tried and true theology.

That being said- I thought this blog could celebrate a little Advent each week leading up to Christmas. Because, let's not forget that this entire season is, in fact, celebrating the arrival of the awaited and anticipated Christ, Jesus, Savior, King.

As for week 1- hope.
The prophet Isaiah told what was coming... he gave the people of the Old Testament (and even us today) the hope that a child would be born who would be our wonderful counselor, who would reign with peace and righteousness.
"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 from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:6-7

 And indeed, God used Mary... and when told that she would be the one to give birth to baby Jesus, the savior of the world this was her response: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. (Luke 1:38).

And so, Jesus Christ was born, fully God and fully man- born to a girl named Mary. The Prince of Peace had come, just as Isaiah said he would.
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Luke 2:8-11

"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."  Luke 2:20

They hoped for a savior. Something like 700 years earlier the prophet Isaiah promised the Christ was coming. I imagine that people hoped, and they hoped, and they hoped. And it was fulfilled. "...a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." (Luke 2:11)

This week in Advent I pray that we would place our hope in Christ, in the promises of His scriptures. The savior of the world has been born- and we have the blessed Advent season to remember the coming hope. The coming of our hope, Jesus Christ- The coming of Christmas.


posted by: Tara