Advent

Today is the first day of Advent.  I grew up celebrating the season and have done so every year, at church.  However, I have never done it with my family, at home.  This year I plan on doing just that.  We will start our daily study and devotions tomorrow with school.  


Our first service today was on the announcement.  Luke 1:30-31 

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus."

Short, sweet, and to the point.  Easy to hurry over and go on to the next part of the story, the preparation, the anxiety, the visit with Elizabeth, the journey to Bethlehem, etc.  

However, we were urged this morning to stop and savor the moment, the anticipation, the longing.  Being pregnant at the moment, I can somewhat sympathize with Mary, there is a lot of anticipation there, waiting for this child to come, wondering what is he is to be like.  And my child is just a 'normal' child, conceived in the usual way, not announced by any super natural being or in any super natural way.  Yet, her child was different from the very beginning and she knew it.  Imagine Mary's anticipation.  We know she pondered other moments in her heart, Scripture tells us so.  I don't think that is to far to stretch to think she pondered this announcement through out her life as well, savoring, to use my pastor's term.  

How many moments in your life do you savor?  Take a moment and read those words of the announcement once again, imagine what it would be like, take time and savor them, and anticipate their impact on life both then and now.

Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations,  I will be exalted in the earth"  Psalm 46:10