It is a very natural feeling for me to always think about Advent this time of year. As I sat at my desk the first part of this week, I was overwhelmed with the thought of how important it is, and how I wanted to blog about it but wasn’t quite sure where to begin…
The first thought that came to my mind was, “Tis the season…”
The season for busyness, chaos, shopping, tight finances, overly excited kids that tend to stress me out. There are so many different factors that can play a role in “tainting” this time of year. My thoughts become preoccupied with how can I possibly get everything done and purchased before December 24th gets here? Not to mention that the people in my life have become more and more difficult to shop for as each year passes…
The word HOPE has resounded within me for the past several weeks, and yet with all that I’ve mentioned above, it momentarily slips out of my vocabulary.
This is the season of HOPE.
If there ever is a time throughout the year that we should hold onto this truth, that time is now…
Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing. There is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the world… It is the cry of those who have experienced the tyranny of injustice in a world under the curse of sin, and yet who have hope of deliverance by a God who has heard the cries of oppressed slaves and brought deliverance!
It is that hope, however faint at times, and that God, however distant He sometimes seems, which brings to the world the anticipation of a King who will rule with truth and justice and righteousness over His people and in His creation. It is that hope that once anticipated, and now anticipates anew, the reign of an Anointed One, a Messiah, who will bring justice and righteousness to the world. www.cresourcei.org/cyadvent.html
This is the season of HOPE.
For the hurting…
For the broken…
For the sick…
For pain to be removed…
For broken relationships to heal…
For miracles to happen…
It is impossible to take a look at this world and the ones we love and not have HOPE.
Monday began with the thought of a blog.
As I was sitting at my desk today, a gentleman who appeared to be homeless, walked in to my office and introduced himself. He lost his job. He has no money. He has no home. He’s hungry. He wanted to earn some money for food and offered to clean or do anything that he could for a few dollars. Today was a day that I wished I actually carried cash on me. Instead, I pointed him to our shop to see if there was anything he could help with out there. It’s been two hours and he’s still “earning his wages.” In those two hours, I haven’t been able to get him out of my mind. I had to leave to run a few errands for work, and as I was driving I thought about how I didn’t even remember him telling me his name. I know he did…why was I not more attentive?
I stopped to grab a few pizzas and came back to the office. Walking up to him, he was startled. I apologized, introduced myself and asked him his name. I explained that there was hot food in the break room and he could help himself to a soda in the fridge. He was very appreciative and replied with a “Thank you, Miss Angie.”
I can’t believe how much I stress about whether or not I should buy an iPod for my son for Christmas when there are so many people that don’t have a roof over their head, a penny in their pocket, or a hot meal to eat. They have what’s on their back and nothing more. They probably don’t even know what an iPod even is…
It’s a bittersweet feeling knowing that you’ve bought someone lunch and then have to leave them on the street as you lock the door to head home to your warm house and comfy bed.
HOPE. Not only should we look for it ourselves, but we ought to find ways to offer it to others. It may be all they need…
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. –Romans 15:13
The first thought that came to my mind was, “Tis the season…”
The season for busyness, chaos, shopping, tight finances, overly excited kids that tend to stress me out. There are so many different factors that can play a role in “tainting” this time of year. My thoughts become preoccupied with how can I possibly get everything done and purchased before December 24th gets here? Not to mention that the people in my life have become more and more difficult to shop for as each year passes…
The word HOPE has resounded within me for the past several weeks, and yet with all that I’ve mentioned above, it momentarily slips out of my vocabulary.
This is the season of HOPE.
If there ever is a time throughout the year that we should hold onto this truth, that time is now…
Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing. There is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the world… It is the cry of those who have experienced the tyranny of injustice in a world under the curse of sin, and yet who have hope of deliverance by a God who has heard the cries of oppressed slaves and brought deliverance!
It is that hope, however faint at times, and that God, however distant He sometimes seems, which brings to the world the anticipation of a King who will rule with truth and justice and righteousness over His people and in His creation. It is that hope that once anticipated, and now anticipates anew, the reign of an Anointed One, a Messiah, who will bring justice and righteousness to the world. www.cresourcei.org/cyadvent.html
This is the season of HOPE.
For the hurting…
For the broken…
For the sick…
For pain to be removed…
For broken relationships to heal…
For miracles to happen…
It is impossible to take a look at this world and the ones we love and not have HOPE.
Monday began with the thought of a blog.
As I was sitting at my desk today, a gentleman who appeared to be homeless, walked in to my office and introduced himself. He lost his job. He has no money. He has no home. He’s hungry. He wanted to earn some money for food and offered to clean or do anything that he could for a few dollars. Today was a day that I wished I actually carried cash on me. Instead, I pointed him to our shop to see if there was anything he could help with out there. It’s been two hours and he’s still “earning his wages.” In those two hours, I haven’t been able to get him out of my mind. I had to leave to run a few errands for work, and as I was driving I thought about how I didn’t even remember him telling me his name. I know he did…why was I not more attentive?
I stopped to grab a few pizzas and came back to the office. Walking up to him, he was startled. I apologized, introduced myself and asked him his name. I explained that there was hot food in the break room and he could help himself to a soda in the fridge. He was very appreciative and replied with a “Thank you, Miss Angie.”
I can’t believe how much I stress about whether or not I should buy an iPod for my son for Christmas when there are so many people that don’t have a roof over their head, a penny in their pocket, or a hot meal to eat. They have what’s on their back and nothing more. They probably don’t even know what an iPod even is…
It’s a bittersweet feeling knowing that you’ve bought someone lunch and then have to leave them on the street as you lock the door to head home to your warm house and comfy bed.
HOPE. Not only should we look for it ourselves, but we ought to find ways to offer it to others. It may be all they need…
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. –Romans 15:13
