Christian Reflection and Prayer

(When the Christmas Season gets to be
to much feel free to read this Reflection)

Scripture:

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the
angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the
coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before
the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying
and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered
the ark; and they knew nothing about what would
happen until the flood came and took them all away.
That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the
other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill;
one will be taken and the other left.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know
on what day your Lord will come. But understand this:
If the owner of the house had known at what time of
night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch
and would not have let his house be broken into. So
you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will
come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
(Matthew 24:36-44,) NIV

Advent
The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival."
The focus of the entire season is the celebration
of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent,
and the anticipation of the return of Christ the
King in his Second Advent.
Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most
churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the
fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the
Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas
Eve (Dec 24). If Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is
counted as the fourth Sunday of Advent, with
Christmas Eve proper beginning at sundown.
The Spirit of Advent
Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of
anticipation, of preparation, of longing. There is
a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the
world, first expressed by Israelite slaves in
Egypt as they cried out from their bitter oppression.
It is the cry of those who have experienced the
tyranny of injustice in a world under the curse
of sin, and yet who have hope of deliverance by
a God who has heard the cries of oppressed
slaves and brought deliverance!
(The Season of Advent Anticipation and Hope
by Dennis Bratcher)

Reflection:

You know to be perfectly honest with you, for me
the celebration of Advent is almost as exciting as
the celebration of the the birth of Christ (Christmas).
For me the anticipation of a great event, such as
Christmas, is really exciting. Ask yourself this,
"Are you excited about the birth of Christ, are you
excited about the Second Advent, the coming again
of Jesus Christ? Thats what these four weeks before
Christmas is all about. It is not about rushing around,
being stressed out, being angry, being frustrated, and
worrying about how we are going to get enough money
to buy those Christmas presents. The Christmas season
is about preparation, and anticipation of the birth and
second coming of Jesus Christ. Thats it! Nothing else.
During Advent we are celebrating the fact, as Christians,
we are no longer bound by the chains of the evilness of
the world, we have been delivered from sin and posess
eternal life, we are free in Christ Jesus. And with that
freedom we serve others, with that freedom we love all,
and with that freedom we experience the love of Jesus
Christ. Sit down now, relax and enjoy the Christmas
Season, experience the freedom and joy of serving
others because of your love of Jesus Christ. When you
can do this you are truly celebrating Christmas! Why
don't you start now.

Prayer:

God Bless Us One and All (Tiny Tim)