Advent Joy

Only recently have I really learned about the season of Advent and began to celebrate it personally, with my family and with my church.  It has become a special time of the year and has helped me focus on the reason for Christmas.

The advent season is widely celebrated here in Hungary.  There are advent wreaths sold at the grocery store, the Christmas markets and flower shops.  My small town has a weekly advent lighting in the center of town complete with a little musical program.  I was excited about having the Advent celebration more the focus of Christmas rather than Santa Claus and presents.  I bought a small Advent wreath for my house.  My roommates and I light it on Sunday evenings when we have dinner together and reflect on the arrival of Jesus.   However, I am learning that many locals don't understand the meaning of Advent which brings sadness to my heart.

Advent wreath in the center of Diosd

My Advent season to present hasn't been as joyful or happy I would have liked it to be.  I was finding myself disappointed, discouraged and short with my roommates and students.  I needed some time with God to sort things out.  I wasn't sure why but knew it might have something to do with all the plans of family visiting or visiting family and vacations that everyone else but I had.  I needed joy.  I was trying to find it in plans that I didn't have and wasn't allowing others to have their joy either.  If I'm feeling miserable you might as well be too, right?  So that was my attitude today until  I listened to a sermon called Advent: Enjoy God Today.  God used it to speak to me and remind me of my selfish heart that was wanting things my way rather than trusting and being thankful for what God has for me in Jesus.  It is filled with the simple truths that I keep forgetting and need to tell myself daily.  The Gospel.  Joy doesn't come from my circumstances, it comes from God alone.  He is my source of joy and everything.  When I forget that or take my eyes off of him.  Today, I have found my Advent joy again.

Here's what my joy is found in....BUT God loved me a sinner, separated from him so much that he sent his Son.  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth...to all who received him and believed in his name, he gave the right to be called children of God.  (John 1:12, 14)
And that is JOY!  Not grounded in circumstances or my feelings but rooted in the unchanging, never ending, unstoppable love of God.