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Advent Preparation, Pt 2


Yesterday I wrote of spiritually preparing – the interior preparation of repentance, or a daily desire to make sure my heart, soul, mind are indeed committed wholly to God. Spiritually, I need to make sure Advent is about God, first and foremost. It is his “coming”, his “arrival” that signify the reason for our celebrations.
Today, a bit lighter version of preparation – let me share some thoughts on preparing for Celebration. I’m thinking of decorating the exterior around us.

Now before you switch off to something “more deep”. Think with me as I “muse” a bit.
I love decorating the house for the Advent season as it leads up to Christmas Day. Our tree is cut on the day after Thanksgiving and in our living room, decorated in all its splendor by last Saturday evening – the evening before Advent began. The lights outside, the village on the mantle, the candles in the window, the Advent candles and wreath on the dining table, and wooden Santa’s around the house clearly demonstrate our love for “preparing” for Advent. The music in our house these days is usually classical and choral Christmas cd’s. The decorations don’t include such things as plastic Santas, or lawn reindeer (although my wife bought a lighted penguin to put outside that drove the dog nuts for a long while last year). If decorations include bigger, better every year then I wonder what the motive or desire in decorating really is. For me, decorating is a visual reminder of what this season of Advent is about. It’s not a display of material wealth, or gaudy tastes.

Some wait until much later to begin all of this; and that is a choice that is personal for them. Yet, some, unfortunately, do nothing at all. I muse that for some the idea of decorating strikes them as “not very spiritual”. I’ve heard people of faith speak disparagingly about decorating for Christmas, calling it nothing more than capitulation to pagan traditions, or commercialism, etc… I refuse to succumb to the “bah, humbug” of these whose faith has become so affected by the world around them.

Consider this…God decorates the world in His own way:
• When His son was born, He sent His angels to roll back the night and fill the sky with glorious, blazing light.
• He took those same angels and created a heavenly choir to sing forth joy to a lowly group of shepherds watching their sheep at night.
• He placed a star in a prominent place to guide the Magi from the east to come looking for the newly born King.
• Finally, it was He who had his son born in a manger stall with animals as his parent’s guests.

God did not hide the celebration of His Son’s coming and neither will I. Trees aglow, wreaths and candles, gifts to wrap, cookies to bake, gifts and cookies to give, music to hear, lights and symbols all around to remind me how joyous and special this season of welcoming Christ is – all is consistent with God’s own celebration of His Son’s coming.

NOW, since this is right to do, Sanctify the decorating and Christmas festivities and preparations to the Lord as a tribute to His Son. Pray, worship in singing those great songs of celebration.

“Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let earth receive her King…”

“O Come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him born the King of angels.”

“King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and He shall reign forever and ever…Hallelujah”.
It is a great season to give my adoration to my great Lord for all that he has done. I’m not worried about “too much” when I focus my decorating on a desire simply to honor his arrival on this earth that first Christmas season.

Reading:
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

May the Spirit of Christ direct you in all your decorations and celebrations. May he fill you wisdom and faith as you “prepare” the home for Christmas.

Ask: How Lord can I prepare my heart as well as my home to celebrate your presence?

A Prayer: “O Lord, stir up, I beg you, your heart of joy and celebration—and come. Come even now into this season of your Advent, that with Joy I may enter into this season to celebrate You. I ask you to receive these decorations as a token of my affections for you. I want to look forward to your coming with a joy that cannot be stolen from me. I pray for your love, grace, mercy and power to flood over me, through your Holy Spirit, who lives with you and your Son, one God now and forever. Amen”

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