25 days to Christmas. Monday, Nov 30, 2020.

The first week of Advent is underway!  Yes, it’s a Monday and that is always difficult.  But, guess what?  After today we only have three more Mondays until Christmas.  Yes, even on Monday, we can have HOPE!

It’s rather fitting that we mention “HOPE” today.  HOPE is the first of the four Advent themes, yet it’s the one that encompasses the entire season.  This year, HOPE might be the one thing that everyone wants to receive at Christmas.  Those who are alone, separated from their loved ones, and those directly impacted by the COVID virus are especially challenged this Holiday Season. 

It is specifically because of our current challenges that God directly intervened in human history.  God saw that we needed a real, tangible HOPE that could be offered to everyone.  God had sent prophets, special servants, and even kings, but God knew that we needed more.  Therefore, God himself came down in the form that we could understand.  Namely, God came as a baby, born of a woman, just like you and me.

Christmas represents more than just religious themes.  Christmas is more than cultural traditions, online sales, and special meals.  Christmas is the true HOPE that we can choose to receive - and then give - to anyone and everyone else.  Yes, Christmas is so much bigger than you, me, and our loved ones!.  Christmas is the true HOPE for all the world, and, if we’ll give God a chance this year, we might discover that God delivers something special with our name on it.

Let’s make this Holiday Season special.  Let’s focus on the HOPE of Christmas and be willing and ready to give it to everyone in our lives.  It will make all the difference.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with HOPE.”  (Jeremiah 29:11, NRSV).

 26 days to Christmas.  Sunday, Nov 29, 2020

Ahhhh.  The Holiday Season has finally arrived!   The season traditionally begins with Advent, which represents the time of preparation for the arrival of Christmas.  Of course, we all know that Christmas really begins on Black Friday which occurs two days earlier, but it doesn’t really matter, especially this year.  COVID-19 has created a mass confusion that would rival the rush on Cabbage Patch dolls in 1983.  Remember that?  People rushed in masses to stores, stepping over each other, engaging in small-scale military conflict just to get their hands on one.  Was that you?  Haha!

We must laugh at those memories because this year is so different than any year before.  However, different doesn’t need to be a bad thing.  In fact, if we approach this Holiday Season with a healthy perspective, we might discover some hidden treasures that we didn’t know existed.  This year, Advent can become a springboard into something wonderful, but we’ll need to take care of a few things to make that happen.  Yes, we need to prepare.

How do we begin?  Let’s start with this:  Commit to making this Season a blessing for you and those around you and ask God to help.  Only God can truly change people’s hearts and minds, and if we want this Christmas to be special, we must start there.  Make a commitment to God, praying that it’s going to be different for you this year.  Yes, you can do this.  It’s not difficult and it’ll take just a couple of minutes.  You don’t even need to tell anyone!  Although that’s helpful (because it keeps us accountable), this really can be just between you and God.  COVID has made it’s changes; now we can make our own.

Are you ready?  Is your tree up and decorated?  Are your stockings hung by the chimney with care?  All of it helps but none of it helps as much as a new commitment to The LORD.  Don’t let this opportunity escape!  This is yours.  This is God’s.  This will be a blessing to everyone around you.

“A voice cries out:  ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’ “  (Isaiah 40:3, NRSV)