Hope – Advent & Homemaking: Week One

Come along with me as we take each week of Advent and implement it into our homemaking! This week we are doing hope.

What is Advent?

In short Advent is the season leading up to Christmas. The word “advent” means arrival. The season of Advent is simply celebrating Christs first advent (arrival) in anticipation for His second advent (arrival).

When we celebrate Advent, we have an Advent wreath with 5 candles, each one representing something different: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and the candle in the center represents Christ. Each week we’ll light a candle and talk about it’s theme, and as we get closer to Christmas the light on the wreath gets brighter, and brighter. On Christmas eve, we finally get light the Christ Candle.

Advent is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years. And like many traditions, can be celebrated slightly different between people, while maintaining the same meaning. In our church, we celebrate advent for the four weeks leading up to Christmas. The candles are traditionally purple, pink, and white, but I’m using green, gold and white this year.

If you’re interested in learning more about Advent, here is a great article to explain more!

---

Advent has always been special to me, and this year I want to explore some ways to bring the themes of Advent into our homemaking! We will start with a devotion, so that we understand the meaning of each week and go from there.

I’m so excited about this, let’s go!

Hope:

Our first candle in the Advent wreath represents hope. If you have a candle for this week, go ahead and light it.

Throughout the whole Bible, we can see themes of hope as Gods faithful people held onto His promises:

• Abraham and Sarah had hope for a child, even in their old age. (Gen. 17:1-16)
• Noah and his family had hope that the Earth would be dry again. (Gen. 8:6-14)
• Esther had hope that God would somehow work through her on behalf of the Jews. (Esther. 4:15-16)
• Naomi and Ruth had hope of redemption. (Ruth 2:20)
• The Shepherds and the Magi had hope of seeing the newborn Messiah. (Luke 2:15, Matt. 2:1-2)
• Many had hope that their interaction with Jesus would heal them. (Matt. 9:20-22, 35, Luke 17:12-14, John 9:6-7)

Since the fall of man, there was hope of a coming Messiah (Gen. 3:14-15). There was so much hope, in fact, that Godly people, guided by the Holy Spirit, wrote prophecies about the birth of Christ, the life He would live, and even how He would die and be resurrected. (Is. 7:14, Mic. 5:2, Is. 53, Ps. 16:10)

This incredible story shows us just how sovereign our God is!

Jesus lived a perfect and Holy life to become the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, bringing us in close connection to the Father. Because of this, we have hope the He will show Himself through our lives, even in the messes that surround us. We also have the hope of Christ coming again, and making things right ( Heb. 9:28, Rev. 22:12-13).

What is something that you are hoping for God to do in your life?

Write this down, and talk to God about it. Be open to what He may have for you. He will always answer our prayers, but the answer may not always be what we had in mind.

As you wait on what you hope for, remember God is faithful and He will never counteract His Word. Write down some ways God has shown up in your life before, and some ways He has shown Himself to others. Keep this as a reminder for yourself, to not lose hope.

How Do We Bring Hope into Our Homemaking?

Hope is the expectation for something specific to happen. This Advent season spend some time building up the anticipation of the celebration of Christmas. Ready your heart for His return, just as you ready your home to celebrate His birth.

Here are some of my favorite handmade decorations you can easily make as a family or on your own:

• String Popcorn and Cranberries
• Paper Snowflakes
• Salt Dough Ornaments
• Gather fresh greenery, tie in bundles and hang around the house ( pine, and spruce are great!).
• Get a gingerbread house kit or make your own to decorate together!

Build even more anticipation by slowing down in the evening and reading through the Christmas story together (Luke 1:26-2:40). Get excited to celebrate the birth of our Savoir and the promise of His return.

---

While going through these next few weeks, leave behind the mindset of a picture perfect home while decorating, expect some things to not get done, and don’t think about the expectations of others or the ones you may put on yourself.

Allow this to be a time where you slow down, and enjoy the season.

What are some ways you like to prepare for Christmas? Share your thoughts below!