December – Most everyone’s thoughts go to warmth, love, family and friends – the abundance of or the lack – Perhaps not as much considered is that December also opens the Advent (according to the Oxford dictionary- the arrival of a notable person thing or event) well… it was the arrival of Jesus – His birth an event that changed eternity.
December is not just lights, music, and celebration, but a quiet invitation to pause… breathe… and remember why Hope came near, why Love put on flesh, why Joy still rises, and how the Prince of Peace can blow our minds…
The four weeks of the Advent
Week 1 – HOPE
Hope in God’s Provision & Presence
Hope is not wishful thinking; it’s the confident expectation that God will show up because He always has and always will.
This month, as we reflect on the birth of Jesus, let us lean into a truth that God provides –
Jehovah Jireh – He knows exactly what our hearts need. He is Emmanuel—God with us—the
One who walks into every fear, every question, every unanswered prayer, and whispers:
“I am here. You are not alone.”
Whether you need direction, comfort, strength, or simply the reminder that your story isn’t over—Hope is what the birth of Christ brings.
Week 2 – LOVE
The Romans 12 Kind of Love
Advent Love isn’t sentimental… it’s transformational.
It’s the Romans 12 kind of love—honoring others, showing genuine affection, choosing patience, forgiveness, and kindness, even when it’s hard.
It is the kind of love that moves us to:
- Rejoice with those who rejoice
- Weep with those who weep
- Live in harmony
- Overcome evil with good
This is the love Jesus brought into the world—a love that restores, heals, and pursues our hearts on purpose.
Week 3 – JOY
So much more than happiness the joy I speak of is an abiding inner contentment and deep-rooted confidence in God and His promises regardless of external circumstances.
It’s joy in the Midst of Challenges!
You see Joy isn’t the absence of struggle; it’s the presence of God in the struggle.
Joy rises even when tears fall.
Joy is strength when life feels heavy.
Joy reminds us that we can celebrate the faithfulness of God even on the days we don’t understand the path He’s taking us on.
This December , may Joy surprise you in the ordinary moments—in a song, a memory, a conversation, or a quiet moment with the Lord.
Week 4 – PEACE
A peace that Surpasses Understanding
This true peace that doesn’t come from circumstances settling down… it comes from God settling our hearts.
It is the peace that holds us together when the world tries to tare us apart.
The peace that guards our minds when anxiety tries to creep in.
The peace that whispers:
“Be still… I’ve got you.”
Because Jesus came, we can walk into each day with a peace that doesn’t make sense.
Do you have an Advent story to tell? Sure you do – and like the holiday song “Go tell it on the mountain” In this advent season tell what God has done for you…
May Hope rise in your spirit,
May Love anchor your heart,
May Joy shine through your tears,
And may Peace wrap gently around your life.
May you feel God’s presence in the most personal way—guiding you, providing for you, and reminding you that you are alive, and you have a purpose…
May you find voice to share your story – go tell it on the Mountain that Jesus Christ is Born…
From my heart to yours ~ Christmas Blessings