What Are We Waiting For?
As a child I remember anticipating Christmas! I would get so excited that I would physically shake on the outside! And on the inside I thought that my little self would explode! I simply couldn’t contain The expectation of what was about to happen!

From the minute my mom would walk over to our record player, yes you heard me right…Our record player was the size of a dresser and it held the turntable as well as a radio system, and put the Perry Como Christmas album on, my realization of something great coming was out of control! We would dance and we would sing and we would decorate. My mom was simply the best at it! Then we would get out of school for Christmas break and the greatest anticipation would begin!
My sisters and I would lay on our bellies in front of our huge glass window at the front of our house and wait for it.
That large white Buick that would be full of Christmas presents and Christmas cookies and the two most important people in our lives…Our Grandma and Grandpa! The first one to spot it would jump up and scream and we’d all rush out the front door and into their arms. I can still feel the shrill of joy and excitement surge through me now as I write this.

Then the celebrating would really begin. But it was simply a foretaste of what was to come. We would watch Christmas movies together, we would cuddle up in our Christmas jammies, and we would bake and bake and bake some more! We would prepare every dish that would lay on our Christmas table and we would wait and we would wait and we would wait.

Finally it was Christmas Eve. That day would bring such joy and hope of what was to come the next day that we would barely sleep. We went to church, we celebrated with family and friends and we sang happy birthday to Jesus as my Mom and Grandma held the happy birthday cake to him in their hands and the candles glowed in the dark of the night lit only by the Christmas tree lights. Then we were tucked into bed. 

It was all just a foretaste of what was to come, a true realization in advance of something great that was about to happen. That was when I was a child.

Now that I am an adult I still anticipate something great! I still go through some, if not all, of the same traditions I was raised with as a child. but instead of anticipating a day filled with presents, food and fun, I anticipate the Savior!

Anticipation is defined as, “expectation or hope, a realization in advance a foretaste.“

Because I know that God is God and His word is TRUTH, I realize that in advance the promise of the Savior was proclaimed.

“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”   Isaiah 7:14

And again and Isaiah…

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

Friends, talk about ANTICIPATION! Isaiah spoke the Truth I have this prophecy 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ! After the fall of the northern kingdom in 722 BC and then after the fall of the southern kingdom in 586 BC the long awaited and great ANTICIPATION OF THE MESSIAH WOULD COME!

IT HAS COME!

TRUTH BOMB

AS WE CELEBRATE THE FIRST COMING OF JESUS AT CHRISTMAS WE ANTICIPATE HIS SECOND COMING!

Beginning tomorrow on December 1, we begin turning over the numbers on our advent calendar as we countdown to Christmas day. It is good and it is right as adult christ followers to focus on the truth from God‘s word as it clearly spells out the advent of Jesus Christ, The long awaited Messiah, The Savior of the world.

But this year I pray that we also realize that the ANTICIPATION we now hold in our hearts is for His return!

I found a wonderful advent calendar last year on the Names of Jesus. Day 1, December 1, is THE WORD.

“THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US.”  John 1:14

At Christmas time it is important to focus our hearts and minds on the divine miracle of God when He sent His one and only son Jesus Christ to earth! 

But it is vital that we live our lives in

ANTICIPATION of His return!

Happy Advent Season Everyone!

May our focus be on Jesus Christ throughout this season and every season of life He gives us on this earth.

Speak Truth Love