Advent

Joy of Anticipation God of majesty and power Who spoke and this world was Who breathed and this world lived Who counts the hairs upon our head Who sees our thoughts and reads our hearts Who loves [...]

Longing for Love Restore us, O Lord, we pray, bring us back to that place where we once met, as shepherds to the stable after hearing angels sing. Bring us back to that place when our love was [...]

Promise of Hope God of hope, who brought love into this world, be the love that dwells between us. God of hope, who brought peace into this world, be the peace that dwells between us. God of [...]

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been [...]

  16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this [...]

Isaiah 7:14 — 14 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 9:6 6 For to us a child is [...]

The theme of faith runs through the Christmas story; the extraordinary faith of seemingly ordinary people.  A teenaged mother from a little town, a blue-collar dad, some simple shepherds tending [...]

  Capture Teachable Moments Give hints about Christmas gifts that your children will be receiving to build anticipation in their hearts. Remind them of the “hints” God gives us in Scripture [...]

Anticipation Anticipation literally means expectancy with excitement, and it is certainly one of the central themes of the Advent season.  Just like promise and longing, anticipation can be found [...]

 Create Intentional Time Make a set of Christmas ornaments to remind you of the prophecies of Jesus’ birth and their fulfillments. Spend time imagining what the “glory of the Lord” shining down [...]