Today is the beginning of advent, the season to prepare for Christmas. I love advent. The word means coming and advent traditions help me focus on Jesus rather than the busyness of gifts and parties. I like to use an advent wreath.

There’s something about a glowing candle that flickers and shines. It always amazed me to see my children settle down around the table when we lit that first candle each year.

There’s a lot of symbolism associated with the advent wreath-the evergreen of God’s love, Jesus the light of the world, and names or attributes for each candle. The first candle is the Prophecy candle associated with Hope. The possibility that anyone could fulfill just 8 of the most known prophecies is 10 to the 17^th. It’s a great time to look up some of the prophecies the birth of Christ fulfilled:

• Jesus would be born of a virgin, fulfilled in Mary—Isaiah 7:14 and Luke 2:1
• Jesus was promised as far back as Adam and Eve- Genesis3:15 and Galatians 4:4Matthew 3:38
• A king in the family of David Isaiah 9:7 and Luke 1:32

Light the candle this week and sing, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” as a reminder that Christmas is coming.

Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas Season,
Karen