It hit me today that it is December 2nd. Yes, folks, somehow, I missed December 1 entirely. Not quite sure how that happened. In the running around of this past week, it just clear blew past me. Every year, I do an Advent study starting on December 1. For the past four years, it’s been one on the names of Jesus. I decided to do something different this year. (Not because of boredom but because, well… I lost the book when we moved. Oops.) If you use the YouVersion of the Bible on your smartphone or iPad (or you click here), then you have access to the “Rediscovering the Christmas Season” Advent devotional that I’m doing. Now, since I’m in need of a whole lot of accountability (see the fact that I forgot December started), I thought it might be fun to do it here. Anyone want to join me? Fortunately, the plan is not linear, and you can jump in any time or even skip a few days if you need to.
Ready? Here is day one, based on Luke 2:1-40…
How can your life reflect the anticipation of Anna and Phineas? Jesus is coming again, and that coming is sooner every day. Do we even realize the urgency of when we live? I wonder how Phineas felt as he grew older, having been told he’d see the Messiah before he died. Did he wake up every morning thinking this could be the day? And Anna… She intrigues me. Rather than cry over her early widowhood, she dedicated her entire life to fasting and prayer and praise. Every day in the Temple. All of her life. What would it be like to live even a portion of my life that way? It seems like way too much of my life is devoted to anything BUT God.
How much of your excitement about Christmas is centered around the arrival of Christ? How much of my Christmas is focused on Christ? If I wanted to be honest, the bulk of my excitement is about a break from school so I can write. And while writing is my ministry, I’m certain God never meant for it to overtake my feelings for Him. Every year, we bake a birthday cake for Jesus. I want this to be more than an action. I want it to be my everything.
Pray for God to open your eyes so you can have a clearer vision of Jesus than ever, to make you more aware of what it means to live life in expectation of the Advent of Christ.
-JB
:Donna says
Hi, Jodie 🙂 I came upon your blog through a post on Chip MacGregor’s site. Just wanted to compliment you on the beautiful look/design of your page! 🙂
Jodie says
Thank you, Donna! It’s so funny. Every time I think I need to change it, someone says something about it. 😉
Dawn Lucowitz says
1. I don’t think I could imagine fasting and praying over anything for even a week, let alone most of my life! I often wish I had that kind of devotion to anything, especially our great God. I know I live far too comfortably in this world and don’t look toward the kingdom nearly enough. I still try to plan out my life instead of really following where God wants me to be and do what he wants me to be doing. I want to follow he leading, but can’t manage to be quiet enough to hear what that is.
I have an image in my head of a pastor I heard once talking about being ready for Jesus to come. He talked about sitting out on his front porch just waiting! He didn’t actually do this, but it was an awesome image for me. The other thing I think about a lot when I focus on Jesus return is what I am going to be doing when that moment arrives. How awesome to be fasting and praying when you see Jesus!
2. I am excited about Christ’s arrival, but that has not been my sole focus. I have actually been excited to spend Christmas with my niece who will be 2 on the 21st. My parents and sister now live in Florida (we are from NY), so we really get to start entirely new Christmas traditions. It is exciting to think about and plan how we will be celebrating and the memories we will get to start making in a few weeks. I want us to be so intentional in our celebrating (without stepping on my sister and brother-in-law’s toes). I want her to be excited about the coming of Jesus at an early age, so it’s not such a tough “rediscovery” like it has been for so many of us.