Advent-ures Part 4: Love

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." (John 15:13)

The theme for the 4th week of advent is love. God showed his extreme love for us by laying down his son, twice! First, he laid him in a manger. Gross, smelly, and not ideal for the son of God. But also vulnerable, weak, needy, dependent. It's amazing to look at all three of my kids and try to imagine Jesus at those ages. They need me for so many things. 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." John 3:16. We often think of that verse in conjunction with calvary and the cross, and that is it's context. But the cross is intricately tied to the manger.

My favorite Christmas carols are the ones that not only involve the event around the nativity, but carry them out all the way to the cross.

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth.

I hear not only Christmas in "Hark the Herald angels sing" but also Easter! And here is where your Advent-ure begins. We love because he first loved us! (1 John 4:19) Our ability to love one another comes directly from God's ability to love us. It is not only inherit in our nature because we are created in His image, God inspires us to love. So when you gather with extended family, love. So when you walk into work, love. When you wake up with your family, love. This time of year is either great for love, or brings out the worst in us. Either way, love. Love because God loves you!

Humbly,

Dave

Advent-ures in Joy

True Joy is not dependent on anything external. No one can steal your true joy. No one can diminish it. It is a vital part of who you are and your perspective. Joy is the theme of the third week of advent, the first week that we celebrate the first coming of Jesus. It's the first meeting we have where God thrusts himself into our situation, putting on flesh, becoming man. And because he did so we can find the source of Joy. I am amazed at the stories in the Bible when people met Jesus and they left rejoicing. In other words, with their joy streaming out of them. There were others who left Jesus upset because they failed to really see Him, they missed out completely.

So who are you? Are you filled with Joy because you meet with Jesus and understand more everyday what impact Jesus, God incarnate, has on the world and on you? Or, are you constantly frustrated because you want to fit Jesus into your plan? There is a huge difference. When we truly encounter God, Jesus and His Holy Spirit we can't help but rejoice. So if you don't have Joy, and I pray that isn't true, it's time to start asking some big questions about how you, how we, encounter God.

So here is your advent-ure for this week. Let your Joy out! A good sign of this would be if people notice your Joy and say things like, "What's the deal with them, they seem so joyful?" Robert Murray McCheyne says, "Joy is increased by spreading it to others." It's backwards, I know. But you can only increase your joy by giving it away. Give it away. Make it noticeable. After all, God, the source of true Joy, sent His Son in the form of a baby for you! If that's not reason for rejoicing, I don't know what is!

Advent-ures in Peace

Are you still being mindful of your preparation for Christmas? That is what Advent is all about. This week’s Advent theme is Peace. When I hear the word peace so many things come to mind. Peace conjures up all sorts of images and ideas in my head. I keep hearing people talk about the need for peace, but these days it seems that it's more about America not being at war, rather than real peace. Some talk about a peace that they desire, for our country not to be in war, but that is a selfish kind of peace. Now listen, I am not making a case for war, just pointing out that just because I may not be at war, does not mean there is peace. Think about it. But I don't think that's at all the kind of Peace God offers.

Remember that the first two weeks of advent are more about the second coming than the first. When Jesus comes again, riding on the clouds, trumpet sounding, people shouting (both in exuberance and fear), a forever type of peace will follow shortly. I imagine that at first it may be chaotic, but then, peace. No more war. No more crying. No more pain. Heaven on earth. God's palpably tangible presence enveloping every nook and cranny of existence. It's a reality in which sin cannot survive. Peace to the fullest extent.

So what does that mean for us now? We can live in peace knowing that peace is coming. We can seek peace in every situation, as far as it depends on us. We can be at peace with God, He is the peacemaker, the Prince of Peace. And so, here is your assignment, your Advent-ure for week 2 of Advent. Make peace. If you are in a struggle with someone, a family member, co-worker, friend, or anyone else, make peace with them in light of God's mercy. If you are close to a "war-torn" situation, pray for peace and direction. God may want you to help make peace. "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12:8) But ultimately, live at peace with God. Follow His will, His pleasing and perfect will. It is the precursor to all peace.

Advent-ures in Hope

I don't know what Advent means to you. I don't know if Advent means anything at all to you. It can bring with it many connotations, good or possibly even bad. Or it can make you run to Google to even know what I'm talking about. Let me save you some internet time. Advent is the season in the Church year that we are in right now. It literally means "the Coming." Historically the church has ended the liturgical calendar with the first two weeks of Advent and begun the next year with the last two weeks of Advent. They all help us to prepare for the coming of the Lord.

When celebrating advent we typically light candles and maybe even use some sort of advent calendar. Growing up we didn't really celebrate advent in my family. I'm not even sure I was aware of it until later in life, but we did practice anticipation. Advent is full of anticipation. My favorite Christmas decoration growing up was a golden ball with scrolly plastic on the outside. we would put this in our tree and when plugged in it sounded like chirping birds. I thought it was cool, but everyone seemed really annoyed when I insisted it be plugged in all the time. I don't know what that was all about! But my second favorite decoration were long ribbons made of some sort of velvet-y plastic with a bell on top. I'm pretty sure the bell was there to alert mom and dad when we would try to sneak a piece of the candy that was stapled to it. 25 assorted pieces of Christmas candy was attached, one for each day and the belled ribbon was hung on the wall. My two older siblings and I would anticipate each day when we could get that day's piece and count down to the day we celebrate Christmas. And now as our family grows into Christmas traditions we use a calendar with a little door to open each day revealing a magnetic figurine to place at the nativity. The light of anticipation is clear in the eyes of my children.

But it isn't just about anticipation. It's about hopeful anticipation. Sure you can anticipate and be anxious for something bad to happen, but Advent is about anticipation the incredible goodness that God brings in the person of His son Jesus. Those of us who have faith have something to look forward to, something to set our hopes on. Those who don't, well, they don't.

So go on an Advent-ure. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to give someone hope. Help someone else hope this Advent season. It may be as little as giving them a glimpse of the hope you have, or it may be helping them find the ultimate hope, salvation through Jesus Christ. This Christmas, this Advent, give hope. That is your Advent-ure. That is who we are in Jesus.