An Advent Message-"Behold, I Will Do A New Thing!"

Yes, I am "recycling" this Advent message from a previous year again...  I hope you are as excited about preparing for Christmas as I am...no, not just the decorations and shopping and baking, etc., but about actually preparing our hearts for Christmas...for the Advent of the Christ Child once again! That is a message that is well worth recycling and repeating over and over and over again!!

Original Message:

I believe in recycling...old Christmas cards, and last year's Advent messages.  This one has some of my childhood Christmas memories...as well as a message of hope for today and forever.  Please go back in time with me...and look forward to our future as well...

Picture is from a Christmas card received in previous years!

Can't you just imagine what these children are saying as they stand in front of this toy store window? The little boy sees a sailboat and a pony, and perhaps a toy truck or train.  The little girl sees a new baby doll or a teddy bear...or possibly a dollhouse.  The older girl has her eye on a bride doll or a pretty new dress.  They each have stars in their eyes and dreams of the magic of Christmas morning, when they will discover new and exciting gifts under the tree...maybe even some surprises they never imagined they might receive.

I remember those idyllic days of childhood.  My older sister and I would snuggle into our beds on Christmas eve wondering what Santa was going to bring us...hoping that he had actually read our Christmas list and that perhaps there would be at least one thing we were yearning for under the tree. We found it almost impossible to close our eyes and sleep...every little noise just had to be Santa and his reindeer on our rooftop!  And oh! The excitement and thrill as we actually heard sleigh bells ringing and the prancing of hooves...no matter that we learned in later years that our sweet daddy was actually ringing those bells and throwing stones on the roof to make it sound like hooves...we never felt sorry that our parents allowed us to enjoy the dream and fantasy of Santa Claus as long as we could.  Those were the kinds of moments that made our childhood happy and memorable.

Me, My Sister and Two Older Brothers on Christmas Eve,
"Hanging our stockings with care in hopes that St Nicholaus
would soon be there..."  

There was never any doubt as to what was the real meaning of Christmas.
We had been brought up going to Sunday School and Church from practically the day we were born.  Our family had a strong faith and belief in Jesus...and in the child of the manger.
But we enjoyed the fun and tradition of the Christmas legends and mysteries...and our parents made sure that Christmas was always a time to be merry and bright!

Yes, that's me...so sweet and angelic! Wonder what happened to that
little innocent babe?  

Yes, Christmas at our home was magical and happy. Homemade cookies, pies and candies...hot chocolate with marshmallows, toy trains and villages under the tree, lots of singing and laughter. Homemade paper chains and bells strung from wall to wall, and myriads of pretty colored lights and glistening balls on the tree.  I think that's the way God intended Christ's birthday to be...a time to celebrate...and a time to rejoice!


I believe God wanted to wipe away the tears and sorrow of His people...and to give them a new hope...Some ONE to redeem them from the cares of this world and to show them the way to live "out of this world" eternally!

In Isaiah 43:18-19 He said to us through His prophet:

"Do not remember the former things,

Nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing!

Now it shall spring forth;

Shall you not know it?"

That's what the promise of Christmas is all about...through the wonder and majesty of a tiny babe in a manger...God gave His people hope...He did a new thing...He sent His only Son to this old, sinful, sorrowful world, and through Him sprung forth salvation, full and free...new life...old things are passed away:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,

he is a new creation; 

old things have passed away;

BEHOLD! ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW!"

II Corinthians 5:17

Now, isn't that good news?  Isn't that the best gift ever found under a tree on Christmas?

We are new creations in Christ!

Oh! What wonder! What joy! What delight!
Jesus came to earth for ME that night!

This beautiful Nativity ornament was always on my parents' Christmas tree.

And Now, click HERE for an update about this particular special ornament!

"Jesus, my Saviour, to Bethlehem came,

Born in a manger to sorrow and shame;

Oh, it was wonderful~

Blest be His name!

Seeking for me, for me!

Seeking for me, for me!

Seeking for me, for me!

Oh, it was wonderful~

Blest be His name!

Seeking for me, for me!

"Seeking for Me!", a Hymn,  Anonymous, 19th century

What are YOU longing for this Christmas? May all your dreams come true, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.