An Advent Mini-Minute with Pam

Week One: A Christmas Prayer.

As we celebrate the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray the focus this year will in all ways be on the “reason for the season”. Jesus. And that the light of His love brings you hope, salvation, peace, wisdom, and joy!

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow…”

Philippians 2:9-10

Dictionary Definition of Advent

A period of getting ready for the coming of something or someone that is important or worthy of note. The period begins four Sundays before Christmas. It is observed by some with a period of prayer and fasting. Synonyms of Advent are: appear, coming, arrival. incoming.

C S Lewis

“Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.”

Christmas Rush vs. Christmas Hush

Many of us enter this season after a time of celebrating Thanksgiving to God for all we already have. We have tasks to accomplish, but the main emphasis is on people. Being together. Enjoying one another. Sharing a table together. And then the very next day is BLACK FRIDAY and we turn into TASK mode. Many rush to the stores or online to buy more things—the very next day after we thanked God for all we have. But it’s a sale, so we must go and buy and rush around and begin the season of frazzle. I am reminded of the Veggie Tales movie “Stuff Mart”. If you haven’t seen it, you might want to add that to your list of Family Video Night choices.

What if this year could be different?

We always say this year will be different, but then we fall into old habits. Let’s plan to CHOOSE to be different this year. Let’s start now, with week One of Advent.

Week One. Prophesy. Hope.

“For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful. Counselor. The Mighty God. The Everlasting Father. The Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6

John Piper

“I am prone to be dull, spiritually drowsy, halfhearted, lukewarm. That is the way human beings are, including Christians, even about great things. Peter knows it and is writing to awaken or to stir up his readers so that they don’t just know but also feel the wonder of the truth.” POWERFUL!

Let’s get “stirred up” this year.

Let’s be radical for Jesus. Where is our HOPE? In stuff and gifts and parties and running ourselves ragged? Let’s wake from our slumber. Spiritual drowsiness, BE GONE!!! The apostle Paul’s aim was to remind us and then to stir us up. Waking us from our slumber. He says…

“I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder.”

2 Peter: 1:13

“I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder.”

2 Peter 3:1

Let’s DO this! Because the alternative is sad.

A Christmas Prayer

Hope arrived on that day. Pray with me…

Father, thank you for this opportunity to re-calibrate each year. To remember that Christmas is celebrating PROPHESY fulfilled with the arrival of HOPE. Will we allow our emotions and affections for the Savior to be stirred up as we are awaiting Christmas Day, remembering the greatest wonder of all? With your help and sweet reminders, Father God, we will make this year different. Better. We choose to anticipate the reminder of the arrival of the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior, to this world.

Will you choose Christmas Rush or Christmas Hush this year? Will you post the reminder on your refrigerator? If this encourages you, please share.

This week’s verse

“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

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus.

Awaiting His shout,


Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com