Christmas Begins With Christ

Every year the Christmas season approaches and we start the anticipated rat race of Christmas parties, shopping, baking, volunteering and so on and so on and so on. We get so caught up in the “Hallmark” side of things that we don’t stop and take the time to truly appreciate why we even celebrate Christmas. As I have dug deeper into the meaning of Advent over the past few years it has allowed me to really appreciate the season even more. The whole “Jesus is the reason for the season” sounds cliche but y’all HE IS!!! To put it in simple terms I asked chtgpt the meaning of Advent. Here's what it told me, "The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning “arrival” or “coming.” It refers to the four weeks leading up to Christmas, a season where Christians prepare their hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus and anticipate His promised return.

Advent is both:

• A looking back to the manger

• A looking forward to the Second Coming of Christ

It is a season of expectation, hope, reflection, and worship." For years we (or at lesst I) have gotten it all wrong. For many, it's the way we were raised. No judgement here! We buy presents for people because we’ve been told we have to. (Please know, I love to give gifts and to receive gifts. It is one of my top Love Languages). However, I feel that many gifts are given at this time of year because that’s just what we've been taught to do. I’d rather give/receive gifts randomly, just because in the middle of the year, I thought of you, because someone crossed my mind or vice versa. Years ago I returned to our office to find a small gift left for me from an anonymous person. It was a beautiful blue cross necklace. It was just because I had made a difference in that persons life. Do you know how much that gift meant to me? Wow! It totally filled my cup. The thing is God sent us the best gift ever....Jesus. He can fill our cups to OVERFLOWING every single day! I had been taking that for granted for a very long time. This Advent season take time to reflect on the HOPEFUL anticipation of Christs return, the PEACE that comes from a relationship with Him, the JOY that isn't based on our circumstances but on Christ alone, and receiving and giving the LOVE that only Christ can give. Make time for Jesus this Christmas. All the other stuff can wait! Join my family and I at Fellowship of the Parks on Christmas Eve. We will be at all the services on Saturday, Dec.23rd & Sunday, Dec. 24th at the Northlake Campus. Come join us and spend some time with THE TRUE REASON FOR THE SEASON before all the "Hallmark" festivities begin. Consider attending any of our 5 campuses this Christmas for our Christmas Eve Candlelight services. We have campuses in Northlake, Grapevine, Keller, Haslet or Bedford. Just check the website www.fellowshipoftheparks.com for all service times. I hope to see you there. Keep Christ in Christmas...it’s so easy to get caught up in the twinkling lights and busyness that we fall short on the WHY! Merry Christmas friends!