Celebrating Advent: Christmas Wonder!
Wonder can be defined as being present with the glorious. A first-time grandmother shared the sense of wonder she witnesses with her one-year old grandson. He would pick up everyday items, like a sock or keys, a box or a small toy, and each time he picked up an item he would say, “Oh boy!” with a heart full of wonder. The simple things brought wonder to a child’s eyes. The grandmother remarked that she is seeing “all things new again” through the eyes of her grandson.
Wonder is more accessible when we are in new situations and one-year olds are in a LOT of new situations! For the grandson, wonder isn’t surprising, but for many of us it’s sometimes harder to experience that delightful awe-filled wonder of being present with the glorious. Maybe we have gotten so familiar with certain seasonal Christmas activities that we have begun to lose the true wonder of Christmas. 2020 has brought so many new situations, perhaps this Christmas when all things seem different and new, maybe, just maybe, we can experience the honest wonder of Christmas.
Advent means coming. It marks a season of preparing our hearts to celebrate the first coming of Jesus, while awaiting His second coming to establish His kingdom. As we prepare our hearts for Jesus, we look to God’s word to awaken the wonder of who Jesus is and to deepen our relationship with Him. This advent season, let’s experience the wonder of the Light of the World! Let’s embrace the season of the newborn King and prepare our hearts and minds for His arrival every waking moment.
The four weeks before Christmas we take time to focus on preparing our hearts, lighting a candle each week as we await the newborn King. May we each experience the Hope of a new day, the Peace of being in His presence, the Joy of wonder, and the Love everlasting.
This advent we’ll look at 4 ways to find Christmas Wonder as we move toward Christ’s Birth on Christmas Day.
Wonder is more accessible when we are in new situations and one-year olds are in a LOT of new situations! For the grandson, wonder isn’t surprising, but for many of us it’s sometimes harder to experience that delightful awe-filled wonder of being present with the glorious. Maybe we have gotten so familiar with certain seasonal Christmas activities that we have begun to lose the true wonder of Christmas. 2020 has brought so many new situations, perhaps this Christmas when all things seem different and new, maybe, just maybe, we can experience the honest wonder of Christmas.
Advent means coming. It marks a season of preparing our hearts to celebrate the first coming of Jesus, while awaiting His second coming to establish His kingdom. As we prepare our hearts for Jesus, we look to God’s word to awaken the wonder of who Jesus is and to deepen our relationship with Him. This advent season, let’s experience the wonder of the Light of the World! Let’s embrace the season of the newborn King and prepare our hearts and minds for His arrival every waking moment.
The four weeks before Christmas we take time to focus on preparing our hearts, lighting a candle each week as we await the newborn King. May we each experience the Hope of a new day, the Peace of being in His presence, the Joy of wonder, and the Love everlasting.
This advent we’ll look at 4 ways to find Christmas Wonder as we move toward Christ’s Birth on Christmas Day.
Advent Week 1 - Experiencing the Wonders of His Hope (The Wills Family)
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! (Luke 1:39-45)
Our hope is certain. It is something for the soul to hold on to. It is strong and secure. It goes all the way into the Most Holy Room behind the curtain. (Hebrews 6:19)
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! (Luke 1:39-45)
Our hope is certain. It is something for the soul to hold on to. It is strong and secure. It goes all the way into the Most Holy Room behind the curtain. (Hebrews 6:19)
Advent Week 2 - Experiencing the Wonders of His Peace (The Jackson Family)
"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79)
The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79)
The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Advent Week 3 - Experiencing the Wonders of His Joy (The Schafer Family)
You always show me the path of life, you will fill me with joy when I am with you. You will make me happy forever at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11)
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. (Psalm 37:4)
You always show me the path of life, you will fill me with joy when I am with you. You will make me happy forever at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11)
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. (Psalm 37:4)
Advent Week 4 - Experiencing the Wonders of His Love (The Dewyea Family)
Show me the wonders of your great love. By using your great power, you save those who go to you for safety from their enemies. (Psalm 17:7)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)