Getting Ready for Advent

Hi friends, 

Are you going into this holiday craziness season already shot? worn out? blank?

Really? Me too!

Some of you have walked through "the valley of the shadow..." of something. Big stuff or small. But even the small, piles up to make a big burden.

Would you like to pause with me these next weeks and reflect? Reflect on the God who became one of us ... not just to save, sanctify, and bring us into His glory (as crucial as that is), but also to experience humanness with His beloved creatures.

Immanuel, God WITH Us ... in every possible way.

So I will be reposting/rewriting my Advent series from the past, plus adding a few more. Join me and breathe deeply of His Word and His Spirit.

And at the same time enjoy the exquisite artwork of my beloved cousin-in-law Marilyn Parente.*

So here we go, friends:

First of all, a definition: what is Advent?

Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is an anglicized version of the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming." It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday.

Advent prepares us to celebrate what C.S. Lewis calls the Grand Miracle...the Incarnation!

The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation...God became Man.  Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this....it was the central event in the history of the Earth--the very thing the whole story has been about. 
Miracles, "The Grand Miracle," C.S. Lewis

So join us for the next four weeks in celebrating, through Scripture readings, songs, and devotional thoughts, the greatest miracle of all...God With Us, our Immanuel!

Amen!

*Advent wreath images copyright PhotoScribblings by MB Parente.  Used with permission.

PS Dear friends,

If you are struggling to feel connected to the Lord, though you may know in your head you belong to Him, please consider reading and exploring The With-ness of our God: Relationship in Every Dimension. This volume reveals a God who is intimately and securely united with us through faith in His Son Emmanuel. In it you will find manna for your heart, not just your head. You will discover there not only simple, practical instruction, but also meditation, stories for application, questions for journaling and just pondering...and more.

Or maybe you aren't struggling but just want to go deeper...this is for you too. You can dive into the deep or stay on the surface...your choice.

Christmas is also a good time to not only read and meditate on this topic, but also to share it with others as a gifts.

And the book is very accessible and affordable.  You can purchase on online at Amazon and other retailers (see links at The Withness of our God). It's available in paperback or hardback. And I've priced the ebook at the lowest possible price, $3.99.

So please take a look and consider walking with us on this journey into The With-ness of our God: Relationship in Every Dimension.

And thank you for your grace!