Rewired for the Journey

  This third week of Advent we light the pink candle that represents "Joy" and we should be joyous as we look forward to the birth of the Savior of the world. The scripture from Philippians 4:4 says "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." I am reminded that thinking positively uplifts one even in not-so-happy times. So I rejoice as I feel the love of the Father. I try to have a grateful heart which leads me to rejoice. This time of year I rejoice as I celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ to save us from sin and lead us to a much better life here and in the hereafter. Merry Christmas Jesus!  

During the  second week of Advent, we light the candle of "Faith". This candle is also called the Bethlehem Candle because we remember Joseph and Mary's long journey to the town of Bethlehem to have the census taken for Rome.  Faith is the engine of a religious life. When you dare to have faith you are putting your hope in the faith you confess. My faith is in Jesus Christ as Savior of the world and I conduct my life according to that faith belief. Faith gives me balance and understanding in this world. It also helps give me purpose and has softened my heart to be kind and love people, animals, and nature that was created by the Lord.

  I love following the Christian seasonal calendar. It is a rhythm in my life that brings comfort. Now today is the first day of the Advent season and the beginning of the Liturgical year. We use in the church an Advent wreath in which each Sunday we light a candle that represents a virtue. This first week the candle that is lit is the candle of "Hope." We "Hope" for the coming of the Messiah. We anticipate his coming into the world to be our Savior. So it is a time of year that we intentionally try to be still and ponder the coming of the Messiah. We thought he would come as a mighty warrior to overthrow the Roman occupation and bring back the days of King David.  But God had other plans for us that were so much bigger and better than our limited minds could fathom. He came as a warrior of "Hope" to overthrow our sinful nature and occupy our hearts. We also did not anticipate the Messiah would come as a baby in a low-income area of Israel. Come He did and...