Jesus was lost. What could Mary do? What had Mary done? Except, we find the comfort and encouragement in this event because we see, Jesus is never lost.
Walking into the temple nothing made Mary, Joseph, and Jesus nothing seemed astonishing about them, but Simeon and Anna saw them by the power of the Holy Spirit. What they show us and tell us still gives us astonishing joy.
Christmas songs are filled with longing which no Christmas can truly fill, but Jesus does.
Jesus is the the most valuable gift ever given, and God gives him to you.
John is weird, the kind of guy we don't want to be connected with us. But we are blessed to join John's confession, Jesus is in our midst to save unique people like us.
God is with us to help and save.
The Christ we expect doesn't always align with the real Christ we see at work. May we not stumble when we see our Savior, but hear John's call, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.
We are willing to spend our time and money to prepare for a day which will come and go in a moment. How much more to Christians look with expectation and prepare for the day that is coming and the season which never ends.
For all the energy new parents spend choosing a name for a child, it is the child that is the reason to celebrate and the source of joy. But when God reveals the names he has given to his Son in human flesh, the names themselves are a source of comfort and joy, they tell us who he is. They give us God's promises. Jesus is a name of comfort and joy.
Advent means "Coming". For us that means a reason for joy. It means a reason to prepare our hearts and lives because our King comes in the name of the Lord.
This world is not an easy place to live, but God says, "Watch this!" Then he is going to create new heavens and a new earth, where we can rejoice and celebrate forever.