What Are We Waiting For?

by Marcy Leigh
https://www.flickr.com/photos/marcyleigh_CC

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior.”

Micah 7:7

While we set aside lawn rakes for snow shovels, pumpkins for poinsettias we usher in the Advent season – the season of waiting and inward preparedness. But what exactly are we waiting for? And how do we prepare for it?

Are we awaiting a birthday celebration – the remembrance, the anniversary of the Christ child? Yes, in part. The incarnation of God’s love for mankind through Christ is certainly a divinely significant event to celebrate. Yet, if that’s all we celebrate – an anniversary- then we are left wanting after all the presents are unwrapped, the decorations torn down and put away. For what power does Christ’s birth have for us here and now without understanding the hidden cross inside his lowly manger on Christmas night as our hope of salvation and resurrection? (Watch for the Light, 2001 Orbis Books).

Join me at the {re}fresh blog won't you?

What Are You Waiting For?

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior."

Micah 7:7

While we set aside lawn rakes for snow shovels, pumpkins for pointsettas we usher in the Advent season - the season of waiting and inward preparedness. But what exactly are we waiting for? And how do we prepare for it?

Are we awaiting a birthday celebration - the remembrance, the anniversary of the Christ child? Yes, in part. The incarnation of God's love for mankind through Christ is certainly a divinely significant event to celebrate. Yet, if that's all we celebrate - an anniversary - then we are left wanting after all the presents are unwrapped, the decorations torn down and put away. For what power does Christ's birth have for us here and now without understanding the hidden cross inside his lowly manger on Christmas night as our hope of salvation and resurrection? (Watch for the Light, 2001 Orbis Books).

Join me over at {re}fresh for the rest of the story... 

Waiting Between Advents

It's not long before the presents are opened, the decorations stored away, and the holiday movies shelved that the countdown toward next Christmas begins. And then where does that leave us?

Waiting, between Advents.

Yes, waiting between Christmas 2011 and Christmas 2012 but may I suggest we are waiting between the First Advent, (which has come) and the Second Advent, (which has yet to be)? This is our present, our now--this waiting for Christ's return, the Second Advent.

So, what do we do while we await Advent II? Much the same as those found waiting for Advent I...and more.

We wait together, with eyes wide open, looking beyond our circumstances with faith, knowing God is faithful to do what he promised.

We wait with an open heart-womb, ready to accept God's salvation gift through Christ, to fall in love with Him--empty of self and full of Jesus.

We wait with repentant hearts, crying out in the wilderness for God to save, and His Spirit to fill and empower so that others might know Him--might be drawn to wait with us as we offer nothing but Christ in us, the hope of glory.

I don't know, maybe we've grown comfortable where we are--this side of eternity--living between these two Advents. Or maybe life is loud, distracting us from thinking beyond the now. Maybe we don't want to be lumped amongst the radical, far-out apocalyptic schools of thought or maybe we're just plain ignorant of eternity--whatever the reason, we can't ignore the angels words to his disciples after Jesus' ascension:

Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11)

So, when you're house is back in order and the calendar reads January 1, 2012, what will you be found waiting for?

Waiting, Gathered Around a Promise

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.'"
Jeremiah 33:14

 Joseph and Mary carried the hope of Israel, God's promised Messiah--the promise that drew Israel together at synagogue, during festivals, and holy days. But this long-awaited promise did not come as a neatly wrapped gift adorned with fancy bows or shimmering, curley ribbons. Rather, as nurtured seed, to common peasants amidst whispered gossip and outright scorn. This promise--born screaming-hot in quiet-cold--lay swaddled in rags atop scratchy hay in feeding trough--Immanuel, God with us.

And angels gathered.

Heavenly host lit darkened skies, filling quiet pastures with jubilant songs, pronouncing God's born promise in lowly Bethlehem to startled, fearful shepherds.

And shepherds gathered.

Shepherds--rough, dirty, cold sheep-keepers--sought this promise and found the babe laying in a scratchy, hay-filled manger under starlit stable.  On bent knees they worshiped this Messiah and gave thanks for hope fulfilled.

And kings gathered.

Wise men who studied stars and charts and science and prophets. They followed the Bethlehem star until they, too, found the babe. Gathered on bended knees, they offered gifts and worshiped, giving thanks for prophesy fulfilled.

And we gather, still.

Believers gather 'round the table of Eucharist--remembering and giving thanks. We gather, remembering the promise of Messiah fulfilled in Jesus born, the promise of salvation in Jesus crucified, the promise of life eternal in Jesus resurrected, and the promise of God's new order, his Kingdom come, in Jesus ascended. And we give thanks for what God set in motion, through Jesus and for what is yet to come--the Second Advent.

"Then Job replied to the Lord, 'I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.'" Job 42:1-2