Advent Season

Malachi 3:1-3
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight - indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
For he is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.

Many see Christmas time as an opportunity to unwrap the present of baby Jesus and then simply set it aside as we give thanks to God for His gift. But this passage reminds us that the purpose of that gift is to initiate change. We are to be challenged and thus refined into something better. Jesus is not a picture to hang on the wall and looked at from time to time, but a treadmill to exercise upon until we are indeed changed for the better!

What Advent traditions have you already started this season? Andrea and I attended a nice Lessons and Carols service last night at St. John's Episcopal Church.