with anticipation we wait

i'd like to preface this blog entry and this beautiful Advent season by saying that i love buying presents, decorating the house/tree with tinsel and ornaments, writing holiday cards to loved ones, and even singing a few Christmas tunes here and there. BUT the one thing that makes this season especially magical and delightful for me is that Christ (instead of being forgotten and excused from our holiday traditions and celebrations) is visibly present and at the forefront of our minds and hearts. one of my favorite Christmas cards of all-time depicts St. Nicholas himself cradling baby Jesus in his arms and gazing into our Savior's innocent eyes. i cannot count how many times i've seen the expression: JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON pasted on billboards, commercials, and apparel. however, too often that expression, which is certainly well-intended, slowly becomes secondary to the bustle of the holiday season. May the words of one of my favorite Christmas tunes of all-time occupy your hearts this season:

Joy to the World, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing. Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.