Advent is like Fantasy Island. When I was younger, I remember the show Fantasy Island and how Tattoo (played by Hervé Villechaize) would shout, “De plane! De plane!” Then everyone would scramble into place to help their special guest prepare for and receive a miracle.
Advent comes from Latin meaning to arrive. It is the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. For Christians, we celebrate all three: the arrival of Christ incarnation (in human flesh), Christmas the season celebrating the Holy birth of Jesus, and Jesus promised return. We use cues to help us remember this story, pass it on to our children, and bring others the Good News. These are preparations for us to experience a surprise miracle in some way. These cues include:
- Lighting of the Advent Wreath
- Hanging of the Greens
- Singing of Christmas carols, many of them timeless from our own childhood
- Evergreens
- Opportunities to faithfully participate with your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness
I probably don’t need to explain the first 4 but let me take a moment for the last. As we go through life, we often find ourselves focusing on one thing or another, sometimes to the neglect of something important. Church life can be very similar. When we actively participate in church life, we commonly miss out and fail in one or more of these 5 areas. We all do. This is reality. Few of us are capable of being at our absolute best, of all 5, at all times. Things get in the way. Maybe we fall asleep during a prayer. Maybe we were in a hurry and didn’t take the opportunity to witness when we felt the Holy Spirit’s prompting. Maybe work life becomes busiest during the Christmas season so serving takes a back seat. Maybe money gets tighter than normal or maybe we just forgot to turn in our tithe. Maybe we choose other pursuits instead of our faith.
When we’re reminded, we remember our journey through life is better through learning and growing. Christian life is no different. Every day, we get the opportunity to wake up and do better than the day before. Every day, when you open an email, phone call, text, or message asking for help, take a moment and pray. Ask God for wisdom in knowing how you may help and then take a moment to listen and discern His will. When you go to bed Saturday night exhausted from the day, plan to wake up and worship with your church family on Sunday morning. Start the week with a renewal of spirit and a willingness to serve. Make God a priority!
In Hebrews 10:24–25 we read, “And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds. Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near.” (CEB)
Look around at your church family, who inspires you? Take time to call them and quiz them on how they follow closely to their faith. Let them be a mentor. I suspect you’ll find they make a choice each day and follow it. Sometimes they fail but they always, always begin a new day with a willingness to be a follower of Jesus.
As for giving, join me in praying over the end of year giving. We have done well every month this year but church donations are like all non-profits, we see our highest gifts during the last 3 months of the year. Churches know they will have lower giving during the summer and go into a loss with the expectation that the giving in the last quarter will cover the shortfall. However, this year, we have had a lower than expected October with November being the lowest giving in 6 years. Without this end of year push, we may be at a large operating loss. I pray it is a timing issue and all will be well. But, I ask you all to prayerfully consider an end of year gift.
If you have not given, or are not a regular financial supporter and giver, then I earnestly encourage you to pray about that today. See what God would have you do.
If you already faithfully give, thank you for your generosity! If it is in your heart to do more, do not hesitate to share what God has given you so that others may be encouraged and strengthened, and that God may be honored through Jesus Christ by what you do. (1 Peter 4:8–11)
Let’s all work together to bring peace, joy, and healing to those in our community. Let’s worship together and celebrate the birth of a baby boy to a virgin mother that changes hearts, lives, and the world. Let us pray over one another, lend a hand to those in need, and be present to worship our Lord.
Grace and peace,
Daniel Thueson
