Celebrating Advent Well Part 1
Christmas is finally upon us and for some, this represents just another layer of stress on top of other stressful realities in our lives. Others of us (I include myself in this category), Christmas stands as a kind of signal to step back and evaluate. Admittedly, this is not always easy to do, in fact I feel the challenge this morning of making this transition only to keep running the rat race of life faster and faster. This was my Christmas last year and I have to work to make sure that is not the case this year. Take the time sucks in our daily and weekly routines and compound that with this idolatry that wars for our hearts and we can see why it is so easy to let yet another Christmas season pass quietly with little regard for the things that matter the most.
It is for the reason that I thankful for the pastors, friends and family who have encouraged and modeled for me the importance of observing Advent during this time of year. Advent and Christmas are often considered one in the same. In reality, they can be very different things. I have listed several helpful resources below that will aid you in your pursuit of Christ this Christmas but more than that, my hope is that you will find that fullness of the incarnation is far more beautiful, nuanced, and mysterious that you could ever imagine. Yes, let this be a season filled with wonder but let our be filled with the wonder of the coming of Jesus. Let us celebrate with joy his first coming but also long for his coming again with power and might in the 2nd Advent.
Good Blog and Articles to Read:
What is Advent? – Mark Roberts
This History of Advent – Ryan Reeves
Christ-Centered Silence in the Noisy Advent Season – Gabriel Statom
Devotional Books and Guides
Dawning of Indestructible Joy – John Piper
Counting the Days, Lighting the Candles: A Christmas Advent Devotion – Elyse Fitzpatrick
The One True Light: Daily Advent Readings from Gospel of John – Tim Chester
Peace: Classic Readings for Christmas – Stephen Nichols
Inn Keeper – John Piper
