Time to Stop, Look and Be Blessed

Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. We’re making the trek to Bethlehem and the night that Christ was born. Today, the second candle that represents peace will be lit.

Those of us who have purposed to slow down and are stopping to look for the sights, sounds, and gentle nudges of Father God Who wants, more than anything, for His kids to breathe in the Reason for this season, and then GO — exhale Him to this world that needs His hope, love, joy and peace so very much.

We were in East Texas the last couple of days to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. Yesterday, we had the opportunity for a morning walk through the pastures and hills and to breathe in our Lord. I am so glad we did. We stopped by the lake to check out the fish looking for their morning meal.

The weather was in the 70s so it was easy to embrace the sights and sounds outside and inside the beautifully decorated “miracle mountain” was bright with Christmas music playing and lights twinkling.

We noticed. We stopped. We looked. We were in the moment. And isn’t that what Advent is all about? I believe that is what God wants us to do. To pause and even stop thinking about the things we can’t do anything about.

The second lit Advent candle represents peace. And, as Mary’s complete surrender to trusting in the promises told her by Gabriel, I choose to place my trust in the promises God made to me.

I am purposing to being more attentive to STOPPING to give my attention to the sights and sounds of Advent. It will soon be Christmas Day when we celebrate our Lord’s coming as a baby AND His coming back to take us home to live with him throughout all eternity.

In the meantime, we’ll embrace the BABY Who grew up and said this to us about PEACE: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Don’t we love the songs, the pictures and statutes of Mary and Joseph and the baby in the nativity scenes that emulate peace? I like to think that Mary abided in that peace once she understood that she was carrying the Messiah, but like any mom — great with child — she must have had her concerns and worries.

Maybe the peace of this 2nd Sunday of Advent is meant for us to not only sense God’s peace in the chaos, but to exude that peace to our friends, our co-workers, and our family. Is it just a nativity scene that displays such peace or is that peace possible in all scenes of our lives. Perhaps those scenes can be our REALITY — if we completely place our trust in the ONE Who was and is the STAR of the show.