Today’s Advent Scripture is Isaiah 52:7-10.

How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.

In the midst of a very busy Sunday, we took this Scripture to heart and “burst into song of joy together.” We made halos out of garland, formed an angel choir and sang Christmas carols. Really, it ended up that Jackson and I sang a few duets, and the kids and I ran around our living room flapping our wings (arms) while singing with gusto. Lauren wasn’t too sure of having the garland on her head, but she was game for chasing us.

Though I didn’t get to spend much quality time with the kids today in-between hosting a baby shower, worshiping with our church at two services and having a youth worker planning session, God made a way for me to share a wonderful, unexpected experience with my son tonight. At our evening church service, the focus was on the Lord’s Supper, and Jackson and I worshiped God together as mom and son, and brother and sister in Christ. This is the second time Jackson has taken communion, and first at our home church here. It was such beautiful music for my heart to pray with Jackson during the reflective moments and hear him thank Jesus for His sacrifice and shedding His blood so he could be saved. Jackson encouraged me to pray when he finished so we could both be ready to take the bread and the wine (grape juice). I am so grateful to God for allowing me the opportunity to express my love to Him for what He did on the cross for me and to thank Him for what He is doing in my life now.

On Day 2 of December and the countdown to Christmas, I am praying that God’s goodness would be so evident to you and your family, that you won’t be able to hold it in! Even if you don’t join in our angel choir, I hope you will take time to praise God and thank Him for His gift of Jesus and the many ways, big and small, He has blessed you.