Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” In the season of Advent we look forward to the celebration of the first coming of Jesus, our Messiah. We also remember that we are anticipating His second coming.

We remember how the world was in darkness, until the Light of the World came into it on that first Christmas day. As Christmas approaches, we see how the light increases on the Advent wreath, until Christmas day when the Light of the world has come. In the season of Advent we remember the ancient expectation with which people waited for the Messiah, and we prepare our hearts, renew our desire, for His Second coming.

We encourage you to read these at home and ponder them further, talk about them in your family, and pray through how the Lord would want to prepare your heart in this season of Advent.

Bethlehem Candle of faith

Luke 1:26-38

lucas 1:26-38

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! ”

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.”

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Cuando Elisabet estaba en su sexto mes de embarazo, Dios envió al ángel Gabriel a Nazaret, una aldea de Galilea, a una virgen llamada María. Ella estaba comprometida para casarse con un hombre llamado José, descendiente del rey David. Gabriel se le apareció y dijo: «¡Saludos, mujer favorecida! ¡El Señor está contigo! ».

Confusa y perturbada, María trató de pensar lo que el ángel quería decir. —No tengas miedo, María —le dijo el ángel—, ¡porque has hallado el favor de Dios! Concebirás y darás a luz un hijo, y le pondrás por nombre Jesús. Él será muy grande y lo llamarán Hijo del Altísimo. El Señor Dios le dará el trono de su antepasado David. Y reinará sobre Israel para siempre; ¡su reino no tendrá fin!

—¿Pero cómo podrá suceder esto? —le preguntó María al ángel—. Soy virgen.

El ángel le contestó: —El Espíritu Santo vendrá sobre ti, y el poder del Altísimo te cubrirá con su sombra. Por lo tanto, el bebé que nacerá será santo y será llamado Hijo de Dios. Además, tu parienta Elisabet, ¡quedó embarazada en su vejez! Antes la gente decía que ella era estéril, pero ha concebido un hijo y ya está en su sexto mes de embarazo. Pues la palabra de Dios nunca dejará de cumplirse

. María respondió: —Soy la sierva del Señor. Que se cumpla todo lo que has dicho acerca de mí. Y el ángel la dejó.

Isaiah 11:1-2

isaias 11:1-2

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—

yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.

And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and might,

the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

Del tocón de la familia de David saldrá un brote.

Sí, un Retoño nuevo que dará fruto de la raíz vieja.

Y el Espíritu del SEÑOR reposará sobre él:

el Espíritu de sabiduría y de entendimiento,

el Espíritu de consejo y de poder,

el Espíritu de conocimiento y de temor del SEÑOR.

Hebrews 11:1

Hebreos 11:1

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Ahora bien, la fe es la garantía de lo que se espera, la certeza de lo que no se ve.