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Mary Rooney Armand
Published in Daybreak Devotions and Nighttime Prayers
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Discovering the Miracle of Advent Every Day


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“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
-- Luke 2:8-12 (NIV)

Advent is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the anticipation of Christmas, reflecting on the birth of Jesus and how He dramatically changed the world.

Advent means coming. Jesus was the most important person to come to earth.

In the Gospel of Luke when the angels appeared to declare the birth of Christ, the shepherds were busy tending their flocks. They were not idle waiting for something to happen; they were purposeful

We are living in our fields too as we prepare for Christmas and the impact of Christ in our hearts every day. But unlike the shepherds who were alone, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us.

When Jesus died, He told His disciples He had to leave but the Holy Spirit would come and be their guide, counselor, and comforter.

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].” - John 16:7 AMP

Despite the distractions and commercialism of Christmas, we can focus on the true meaning of the arrival of Christ and celebrate advent, His coming.

God is in our midst and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

Instead of biding time while waiting for the next season of life, a change in our circumstances, or the second coming of Christ, we can live the promise of advent.

Jesus has come as God promised and we are privileged to have access to Him.

Embracing His presence helps us experience the joy of Advent every day.


Questions for Reflection:

1. For what are you most grateful for as we enter this Advent season?

2. What are some ways you can focus more on our savior this holiday season rather than getting caught up on the commercialism of Christmas?

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    Mary Rooney Armand

    Mary Rooney Armand is an Author, Speaker, and Creator of the faith-based blog ButterflyLiving.org. Mary has contributed to Woman of Noble Character, Pray with Confidence, Sunday God Meets Monday Mom, Steady On, The Brave Women Series, and other sites. Mary is the author of the Bible Study, “Identity, Understanding, and Accepting Who I Am in Christ” and the devotional “Life Changing Stories”, a collaboration with 34 authors sharing stories of God’s faithfulness. Mary leads small groups and speaks at events. She directed Kids Hope USA, a mentoring program for children, worked in marketing and sales and has led mission trips to Honduras. She is a life coach with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and an MBA. Connect with Mary on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

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