Did you know that many churches use a different calendar than the world does? It is called "the Church Year." It began yesterday with the First Sunday of Advent. Advent is a Latin word that means coming and during this season we prepare to remember when our Lord came as the baby in Bethlehem, His promise to come again in glory on the Last Day, and that He is coming to us even now in His Word and Sacraments. In other words, we do not have a God who stays far away from us, or who demands we find our way to Him and be good enough for Him - He comes to us! And that He comes to us now not to condemn us, but to help and save us.
I don't know about you, but that is good news to me! So whatever you are going through, whatever trials and troubles, struggles, doubts, and fears, we have a God who cares and who comes. That's a different kind of God! And He really is, different than all the other gods in this world. He is a loving Father, whose Son came to be your Saviour, and who now sends His Spirit to help you.
So that baby in the manger of so many Nativity scenes? That's not just a baby! That's your God, come to be with you, love you, and save you.
