A blogger friend recently wrote about the Sears Christmas Wish Book and her memories had me drifting off into Christmas past.
What a delight it was each year when that shiny paged catalogue arrived. I remember gazing longingly at each page, dreaming of how much better life would be if I could have everything I wanted from it’s pages.
I remember staring longingly at the Barbie’s and all of their available possessions, the science kits, the board games and, as I got older, the clothing.
The anticipation was real!
Anticipation … that’s a word that adequately describes hope.
Hope … that is a theme as we anticipate what Christ brings to the world, during this time of advent.
Why hope?
Well, when sin entered into the human experience in the garden, it tarnished us, leaving us in need of a Savior, one to redeem us from sin. For when Adam and Eve sinned, they made a choice that, let’s face it, we all would have chosen, for we all want what God has and we forget that He has a plan, that we can rest in his wisdom.
But Jesus, he was the anticipated Messiah, the hoped-for Savior.
The oft spoken verse from Isaiah 7:14 will be read in this advent season,
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (which means God with us).
Immanuel … God with us.
Immanuel … God with us.
Immanuel … God with us.
There is not greater hope, than to have the presence of Immanuel, the Savior, Redeemer and King with us. It is the guarantee that we will not be alone, ever. He is with us! The most anticipated wish come true.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
itsawonderfilledlife 