Love is the theme of the second Sunday of Advent, in which we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ.  I like that we celebrate the love of God–both His love for us, and in turn, our love for Him.

Really try to be conscious today of His love for you. He loves you. Oh, my military wife sister, how He loves you.

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)

First Sunday of Advent: Hope

photo courtesy of Mark D. Roberts.com.

Today marks the first Sunday of Advent, a season in the liturgical church tradition in which we anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ to Earth as our Messiah, our Emmanuel–God with us.

I love Advent. I first learned of it in high school, and my family of origin began this tradition. In college it was mentioned, but not really celebrated. For years during our early married years in ministry we did not recognize it formally either, as it was not really practiced in our denomination. But since having children, our family has each year kept an Advent wreath as a physical representation and recognized the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.

You can google Advent and find a wealth of resources about Advent from Catholic and liturgical Protestant resources and choose from among those for your family’s needs. There are many books on the subject available as well.

But the most important part, by far, is looking into our own hearts and preparing them for the coming of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

During Advent we are invited . . . to clear away all that entangles us and open a space in our hearts, our homes, our relationships and our lives, for Love Incarnate to be born again.

– Keith Fournier

Photo Credit: Deaconsdiary.blogspot.com

At the beginning of the movie, there is a scene where Buddy and the other elves are reciting the “code” they live by.  As they were reciting their “code,” it occurred to me that this is what our life in Christ should look like.

The Code of the Elves:

1. Treat every day like Christmas.
2. There is room for everybody on the nice list.
3. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

#1 in the Code of the Elves says, “Treat every day like Christmas.”   At Christmastime people love like no other time of the year.  Everyone makes an effort to be pleasant and love family and forgive easily.  In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus told us to love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  This can be easily witnessed at Christmas, but should be witnessed by believers every day of the year.

#2 in the Code of the Elves says, “There is room for everybody on the nice list.”  John 3:16 says “For God so loved the WORLD that he gave His only son that WHOEVER believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”   There is room for everyone IN CHRIST.

#3 in the Code of the Elves says, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”  Acts 2:46-47 says, “ They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.”  We can share Christ and the true meaning of Christmas through our joy and praise to God.

Every day can be like Christmas in our hearts, in our lives, and in the way we share Jesus with the world.  When you follow Him, you will live by the Code of Christ, and share CHRISTmas everyday.

The Twelve Blessings of Christmas, written by author T.J. Mills, is a book designed to most assuredly increase the Christmas festivities in your home.  Published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, this cute little book is full of activities sure to fill your home with Christmas celebration throughout the month of December.

Dividing the book into twelve sections of “Blessings,” author T.J. Mills has filled the pages with recipes, activities, anecdotal stories, lyrics from Christmas Carols, and scripture.  Blessings include the blessings of “Warmth,” “Music,” and “Love,” just to name a few.  There are activities you can develop into lessons for your children like making Pomander or Spice Dough ornaments.  Recipes include Friendship Tea, Homemade Rolls, and Gingerbread Men which are sure to make your child smile.  The most important story, the account of the birth of Christ, is included in the pages along with several scriptures all pointing to a life of love and peace in God.

I really like this book.  There are so many things in this book you can do with your children to create memories.  Some of my favorites include the list of children’s Christmas books you can read with your child, the recipes for Sand Art Brownies, and a Brisket recipe to cook as part of an “Old Fashioned Dinner.”  The author has even included some ways you can serve the people in your community and get involved in a very important aspect of Christmas, which is the act of giving.

On a personal note, I received this book from a student while I was doing my student teaching and pregnant with my first child.  It is very special to me because it always makes me think of that time in my life.  I recommend this book to anyone who would like to give a Christmas book as a gift to someone special this Christmas.  If you want to create memories with your family, and would like to have lots of information you can refer to year after year, then this book is a good choice.  If you are a homeschooling mom, then this book would be a good resource for you as well.

The Twelve Blessings of Christmas is a beautiful book with lovely illustrations that will be a treasure on your shelf and that you can refer to for many years to come.

The Twelve Blessings of Christmas can be purchased at christianbook.com, mardel.com, familychristian.com, lifewaychristianstores.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

This review first appeared at The Way I See It.

Fast forward many years to my husband’s deployment to Iraq.  As December rolled around, our circumstances were very different than those years when there were lots of little children around our tree. One son had married and moved into the city with his wife.  Another son had graduated from college and moved to the West Coast.  Only our teenage daughter was left at home while her daddy served an unexpected overseas tour instead of beginning his anticipated military retirement.  To add to the already present challenges, I was battling an illness which left me unable to perform my regular duties and sapped my energy on a daily basis.

When my husband would Skype or email and ask what I wanted for Christmas, it was all I could do to not scream, “I want you to come home!”  Was this Christmas going to hold any gifts for me that I would really want?  How much harder was it going to get?  It was in just this hard place that God pulled out a hidden gift for me.

As my illness worsened, I realized I could no longer care for things at home alone.  A phone call to my West Coast son quickly brought about a new plane ticket and in just a couple of days I had extra help and encouragement in our home.  Since our West Coast son came home early, my older son and daughter-in-law rearranged their plans and came out from the city to spend a night with us.  Adding plans for a Skype call with my husband to the mix, it almost began to seem like we were going to have some form of a holiday together.

And then it happened.  Snow!   Not just a little snow.  Fifteen inches of snow, breaking records for December in Washington, D.C.  The city shut down, schools were closed, activities were cancelled and suddenly my children and I were locked in our home together for the whole weekend.  Being children who had been raised in Florida and Texas, they ran back and forth between every window in the house squealing with delight over the snow.  We opened presents with my husband over Skype and the boys even set it up so we could play a game with him.  It was a glorious weekend.

I will be honest – missing my husband, watching my daughter struggle with my illness along with her dad’s absence, missing my adult children, and being sick had just about convinced me that God had forgotten me that Christmas.  But just like my son’s aircraft carrier, God had a gift hidden for me that I had yet to discover.

Do you feel forgotten this Christmas?  May I encourage you?  God has not forgotten you. You may not have fifteen inches of snow coming your way, but please keep searching for the hidden gift.  Don’t stop looking until you find all that God has for you this Christmas.

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)