Recently, while researching Advent, I came across the best explanation of the Advent season that I had ever read, including a truly inspirational perspective of Advent, in a booklet provided by the World Vision organization. During the next 30 days, I’ll post some interesting information about Advent that I’ve excerpted from the World Vision booklet, and we’ll look at some selected scripture passages to help us focus on Advent: The Coming of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.

Tomorrow I will share some excerpts from the Introduction and Foreword of World Vision’s booklet, Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace: An Advent Study Guide. (World Vision Resources produced this educational resource. Copyright © 2009 by World Vision, Inc., Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716. wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved.)

Each day during Advent I will post some selected scripture passages that will highlight the theme for that week. Some passages will focus on the theme (Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace), and other passages will tell the traditional Christmas story from Old Testament prophecy and the Gospels that we love to read during this season. I won’t include any commentary on the scripture, but will leave that to the reader. Read and meditate on the selected passages. Then listen for God’s message to you from His Word as we remember Jesus’ First Advent, anticipate His Second Advent, and consider His calling to us as we find ourselves between the two Advents!

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments below each day’s reading.