Advent .... waiting....

I feel a sense of relief! We can just wait and play. The baking is done, the groceries are bought, the gifts are wrapped, and it's going to be a quiet, no traveling, no guests (except Christmas dinner with friends), just an US kind of Christmas. I know there will be moments on Christmas Day where I'll wish for the hub bub of a house full, but we're ready to be quiet. I'm ready to sit and listen, maybe curl up and read a good book, or think about my Saviour a little more than I have been.

Our sermon last night was on Revelation 12. An interesting text pre-Christmas, check it out. The pregnant woman is giving birth to a son. A dragon hot in pursuit, ready to devour the child the moment he is born. The child is rescued and whisked to the throne room of God just at the right moment, and the woman escapes fleeing to the desert. The wrath of the dragon is poured out on mankind, and the children of this world. Not your cozy Currier and Ives kind of Christmas card we like to envision this season as. It's a battle going on and the birth of the child is the initiating incident- to go back to jr. high school short story unit theory.

I was listening to a Christmas CD yesterday and caught by the words of the first stanza:
"It is the greatest story ever told,
The Prince leaves his palace and his noble throne
To fight a battle for His subjects' soul
The weight of the world in his royal hands.

It was an unlikely battle ground,
The cows and the sheep and the shepherds gathered 'round..."

We watched Prince Caspian with the kids the other night, and so were discussing battle plans. Was it a good idea to attempt to battle the king's castle and take seige there, or was it the better idea to stay at the fortress and defend from there? Which plan was it that Aslan wanted them to follow? The one plan was more about personal pride and ended up with more loss. Sometimes our plan doesn't make sense at ALL! Sending a baby, who is totally at the mercy of another human- a young servant hearted girl who became a mother would be a good choice- I suppose... Still seems kind of risky. I asked the kids what sort of plan they would have if they were God and wanted to send Jesus to earth. Erin said, of course, that sending Him as a King on a big stallion would be a good way. Isn't that what they were expecting? So again I change my expectations... My hope for the new year is that God would surprise me with something that I don't expect in my journey with Him. Something new that I could have never thought of!

And imagine, being that Prince and leaving His throne, and being confined to the body of a baby. All that power harnessed into one little, confining body. Hmm... I have the Holy Spirit harnessed in this body (note I did not say little, confining yes).

Some photos of the festivities around here:
Yes you can always tell when they are Kevin's. I love this first one!

Our little backyard rink that is growing bigger as we speak! Not enough room for hockey. I could never take a photo that lovely!

Jack Frost has been by, which is a rarity in this part of the woods.

A hillside of hoar frost, another rarity

Ditto with his new harness on- we had to open that gift early because we didn't want to miss the opportunity and have the snow melt on us! Don't tell :)