Advent simply means arrival,
in the case of Christmas,
the arrrival of Jesus,
the greatest gift ever given to the world. Louie Giglio
But the waiting for Jesus,
throughout the Old Testament promises were given of a Messiah.
Waiting through judges, kings, and prophets.
Waiting through 400 years of silence.
Waiting with encouragement,
songs, psalms and prophecies
makes the waiting bearable,
sometimes joyful,
but waiting in silence.
Waiting when God seems do far away,
when the ceiling seems as brass,
when even the precious words
read again and again seem dry as dust.
That is the hard waiting.
That is the real waiting.
That waiting produces,
when the waiting is over.
” Fear not: for, behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy,
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace,
good will toward men” Luke 2:10,14
All waiting has an ending.
Not all endings are of our choosing.
That is why we need to choose
to place our waiting in God’s hands
with a sigh of ‘Not my Will’
Our waitings will bring peace and rest.
Our endings will bring contentment and joy.
Galatians 4:4-5
But when the fulness of the time was come,
God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman,
made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law,
that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Hark the Glad Sound
Hark the glad sound! the savior comes.
The Savior promised long;
Let ev’ry heart prepare a throne,
And ev’ry voice a song.
He comes the pris’ners to release,
In Satan’s bondage held.
The gates of brass before Him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
He come the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasures of His grace
To enrich the humble poor.
Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim,
And heav’ns eternal arches ring
With Thy beloved name.
Philip Doddridge 1702-1751
May God bless our waiting.