Preparing

      Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

Back in April, when our contractor gave us the dates for when he could remodel our kitchen and bathroom, I first said “no, we can wait until the first of the year”. As much as I wanted to get this project done, I did not want my house torn apart just before Christmas. I wanted to spend the month of December putting up Christmas decorations all throughout the house and sitting back, enjoying them.

Instead, here I am, with every room in the house in utter chaos. I never realized how much stuff is in the kitchen and bathroom, all of which needs to go somewhere else for the next couple of weeks. A fine dust has also already permeated all surfaces.

But no matter what is going on around me right now, I know it will be worth it in the end. And just like I prepared my living space for this remodel by emptying the cupboards, we need to prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus and his return to save us all one day.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:1-11, New International Version)