Advent is a wonderful season, but also the most difficult season we live in. Advent has so many layers, and living it out is always—not just sometimes, but always—superseded by parties and gift-giving and all the things that are part of gearing up for Christmas Eve, Christmas and the 12 days afterwards.    In our busy world, we must think with some care about how we will personally live…

How can we be in the season of Advent already? I imagine this thought has crossed your mind, just as it has mine. In this season, people love to talk about how busy they are. Our schedules overflow with shopping, decorating and baking along with all the traditional church activities. As believers, we have the…

Last week, we learned that Advent is about celebrating the difference that Christ makes in our lives. We have a natural tendency to want to fit in. But once we make a commitment to follow Jesus Christ, we don’t fit in anymore. Following Jesus goes against so much of what our culture says.   That’s why,…