Advent 2012

Our culture has a "hurry up" attitude in the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's so easy to get caught up in it the flurry of activity. This is why I love Advent. This is the season where we slow down and remember. Here's how the Worship Sourcebook describes Advent:

The great proclamation “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” assures us that God has entered into human history through the incarnation of the Son. The season of Advent, a season of waiting, is designed to cultivate our awareness of God’s actions - past, present, and future.

Sunday Quotes!

Last Sunday we looked at the "Magnificat" - Mary's Song - from Luke 1:46-55. Here it is, and (as a bonus) I've also tossed in John Piper's thoughts about this amazing song.

Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Piper said, “[Mary] sees clearly a most remarkable thing about God: He is about to change the course of all human history; the most important three decades in all of time are about to begin. And where is God? Occupying himself with two obscure, humble women—one old and barren, one young and virginal. And Mary is so moved by this vision of God, the lover of the lowly, that she breaks out in song—a song that has come to be known as the Magnificat.”

Sunday Quotes!

On the third Sunday of Advent we looked at Zephaniah 3:17, "The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

Here are some quotes from the sermon:

"The Bible has been called the greatest story ever told. It could also be called the greatest song ever sung. It’s a song of a Warrior-King who is intent on winning back his beloved from her false suitors and exulting over her with loud singing.” Reggie Kidd

“Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that God is a Singer… God composes a song with us in mind, and sings it to us.” Randy Alcorn

One last quote by John Piper - it's a bit long, but well worth reading!

“Can you imagine what it would be like to hear God singing? A mere spoken word from his mouth brought the universe into existence. What would happen if God lifted up his voice and not only spoke but sang! Perhaps a new heaven and a new earth would be created. What do you hear when you imagine the voice of God singing? I hear the booming of Niagara Falls mingled with the trickle of a mossy mountain stream. I hear the blast of Mt. St. Helens mingled with a kitten's purr. I hear the power of an East Coast hurricane and the barely audible puff of a night snow in the woods. And I hear the unimaginable roar of the sun 865,000 miles thick, 1,300,000 times bigger than the earth, and nothing but fire, 1,000,000 degrees centigrade, on the cooler surface of the corona. But I hear this unimaginable roar mingled with the tender, warm crackling of the living room logs on a cozy winter's night. And when I hear this singing I stand dumbfounded, staggered, speechless that he is singing over me – one who has dishonored him so many times and in so many ways. It is almost too good to be true.” John Piper

A "Holiday" Post You Should Read...

Father Paul Edgerton (pictured with his wife, Christie, and son, Isaac) is a priest in the Reformed Episcopal Church and is currently planting The Church of the Redeemer in Wilson, NC. He also happens to be a friend of mine. He recently wrote a blog post about Advent and Christmas, and clearly he is no fan of what he calls "ambiguous holiday stuff". It was so intense that I had to read it twice just to let it sink in. Here's a sample:

"And, well, blame it all, it ain’t Christmas yet. It’s Advent. Yes, Advent. Purple doesn’t look good with red, folks. And the clash between Advent and the culture’s preemptive Christmas melee is more than just a clash of colors. While the world dreams up or sneers about the possibility of Peace and Joy and Hope and Family, we Christians are taking some time out instead for recognition that not a stinkin’ bit of it is at all even remotely possible for us on our own terms and in our own power or certainly by our own gift-giving."

Click here to read the whole thing.

An Advent Call to Worship

"God of power and mercy, You call us once again to celebrate the coming of your Son. Remove those things that hinder our love of You, that when He comes, He may find us waiting in awe and wonder for Him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!" -Advent Call to Worship, The Worship Sourcebook

This Advent prayer is an excellent reminder (for all seasons!) of our desire to be "waiting in awe and wonder" for our Savior's return!