Monday Motivation . . . Advent - Let's stop the insanity!

O Come, O Come Immanuel

(Immanuel means "God With Us")
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ADVENT: The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important

I've been wondering lately why I've been getting so irritated at the stores and all of the craziness that is involved with Christmas. Yesterday, it finally all made sense. I've been studying Advent a little and am finding that advent means "to prepare for the coming of something extremely important".

It seems to me that the only thing that seems important when you open the paper, surf the net, or turn on the TV is the commercialism and craziness of the season. Budgets are blown, people are stressed out, Mom's are overworked, and the noise and chaos of it all is deafening. There's so much insanity that it's hard to see and remember what it is we are celebrating...

We are celebrating Christ's birth . . . the day that God came to be with us because he loves us so much.

The advent season (the 4 Sunday's before Christ's birth) is meant for us to prepare for the coming of Christ. To think about how desperate we are for his love and light in this dark world. To remember and acknowledge what God has done for us. To serve others and spread the light of Christ to everyone we know.

The celebration part of Christmas doesn't start until Christmas day - the day Christ was born.

THAT was the missing piece for me . . . no wonder it all gets to me so much that I want to run away to an island, put some lights around a palm tree and just be on the beach singing and spending time with my God and my close family and friends. It's all too crazy! It's like 3 months of insanity leading up to Christmas.

(O come, O come Immanuel . . . we need a savior . . . we need your light)

Let's stop the insanity . . . it was never supposed to be like this. This season is a time for reflection, preparation and spreading light and love . . . will you commit with me to simplify, cut back, rest and prepare?

What would it be like to simplify and get back to the Christmas basics?

What steals your joy at Christmas time?

What consumes you?

What do you want your focus to be this Advent season?