Advent is four Sundays long and begins four or five weeks before Christmas. It is a time of expectation, of waiting, of hope. The word “Advent” comes from Latin and means "coming;" its purpose is to look forward to the coming of Christ to earth, both through his birth and his second coming.

A spiritual practice during this season can help us stay present to the work of God happening in us as we collectively long for Jesus. We are excited to share a special devotional with you this year written by several recipients of care from our Outreach Partners. As you enjoy their reflections on the themes of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, we invite you to light a candle and keep in prayer each of our partners and the individuals they serve.

You can learn more about these partnership and other outreach initiatives at The Christmas Offering.

Week 4: Love (Adoration)

December 24

On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we celebrate God’s ultimate expression of his love for humanity - Jesus, our coming King. 

Writer:
Adibet from San Diego Rescue Mission

Read:
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.  Psalm 13:5 (NLT)

Reflection:
Growing up I thought I knew God. I thought I loved him. My prayer after becoming a mother was “God protect my kids.” After my son got killed by the cartel, losing my other two kids, losing my house, and ending up getting falsely accused of a crime I did not commit, I was sent to prison under a different name facing a four-year and nine-month sentence. I began to curse God. All I asked him for was to protect my kids and son gets killed, and the other two get taken away. How is that protecting? How is that an answered prayer?

I was angry at him and wanted nothing to do with him. During the first five months of my sentence, I spent that time in solitude. I was getting deep in my head. Looking around my cell, the only thing that was there was a bible. So, I read it from Genesis to Revelation. I added my name to the scriptures and felt as if I was in the stories that were written. I stopped being angry with God and finally truly surrendered to him. You see, many say they serve God, but have they surrendered to God? I served him but never surrendered until now. I told God, “You brought me here so I can open my eyes. So, I can see that even though I went through what I did, you never stopped loving me.” 

My sentence got reduced. I served a total of nine months. God removed those four years from my sentence. Finally, out of that cell and walking out into a new life, he gave me a new heart. He transformed my heart of stone into a heart of flesh. What is God to me now? He is Love. I love him with all my heart. I am truly in love with him. I have dedicated the rest of my life to serve him because it was only God that got me through the seasons I went through. And even though I hurt, he still loved me. 

Meditation:
What resonated with you in reading Adibet’s heart-wrenching story of loss and redemption? How have you experienced God’s love in the midst of your own life challenges? With whom can you share your story of God’s love? Will you do that this week?

Prayer:
God who is Love. Thank you for your unfailing love. Even in the darkest of seasons, you are a constant reminder that in you, all will be well. Give me boldness to share your love with others.

Silence:
Light a candle; pause and rest in God’s gift of love.

Week 3: JOY

December 17

On this third Sunday of Advent, we contemplate with joy the arrival of Jesus. 

Writer:
YWAM - Homes of Hope

Read:
[Lord], you keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:9 (NLT)

I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! Habakuk 3: 18 (NLT)

Reflect:
For over a decade, our church movement has partnered with YWAM’s Homes of Hope program to construct multiple homes for families in need in Baja California. Through the generosity of members of our movement, we have been able to fund the cost of construction materials and related expenses. Volunteers from across our churches have generously funded their own travel expenses to Mexico in order to participate in the building projects. To date we have built twenty-three homes.

This past month, a team of more than forty volunteers traveled to Tijuana to build two families a home. One of the recipients was Rosa, a single mom of three daughters. Rosa shared with us that while her work is difficult and hours are long, her biggest joy is to provide for her three daughters. And though Rosa works two jobs, the family didn't own much - only a plot of land with no home, and their clothes. She has often thought that she didn't matter to anyone. However, her experience of receiving a home built by complete strangers for her family helped her to see that she and children do matter. "I know God loves me and cares about me. Seeing strangers build my house was an incredible experience where I got to feel God's love for me and my girls.

Meditation:
What is God’s stirring in your heart as you read Rosa’s words: “Seeing strangers build my house was an incredible experience where I got to feel God’s love for me and my girls.”? What invitation do you sense from God as you reflect on Rosa’s words? In what ways can you be God's conduit of joy this Advent Season? 

Prayer:
God, you have shown me the path of life and in you is fullness of joy. May I shine your light around me that others may experience your joy. 

Silence:
Light a candle; pause and rest in God's gift of joy.

Week 2: Peace (Preparation)

December 10

On this second Sunday of Advent, we are reminded that Jesus is our prince of peace. 

Writer:
Naluwemba from Bright Hope

Read:
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!” Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)

Reflection:
My name is Naluwemba Lucia. I am 14 years old. I am in Primary Six. I study from Bright Hope Primary School, Bulunga, Rakai - Uganda. 

Peace means the state of living in friendship with one another, without quarreling. I felt God’s gift of peace when I started studying at my current school, Bright Hope, five years back. There is peace in my school. The students, as well as the teachers are friendly, loving, and caring. This makes living and learning at Bright Hope enjoyable. We are one big family. I thank God for the gift of peace.

Meditation:
In a few simple words, 14 year old Naluwemba Lucia captures the essence of peace - the state of living friendship with one another. How can you cultivate that state of living in friendship with others in your sphere?

Prayer:
Jesus, our prince of peace. May we be the bearer of your peace in our neighborhoods and wherever we find ourselves. May we strive to live in friendship with others, especially those with whom we have nothing in common. Amen.

Silence:
Light a candle; pause and rest in God’s gift of peace. 

Week 1: Hope (Promise)

December 3

On this first Sunday of Advent, we await in hope for the coming of Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Read:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,  who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV)

Reflect:
For me, hope is not an easily determined feeling but rather a mixture of all the good and bad things I have been through as a victim of human trafficking. When I was still a little girl growing up in poverty, hope was wanting to have a meal that was enough to feed our family of five. As I grew a bit older, hope was wanting to get good grades in school to make my parents proud. When I turned eighteen, hope turned into a burning desire to change the fortune of my family and to provide for my parents and siblings.

As I found myself in the midst of challenges and uncertainty being held captive against my will, hope was the only guiding light and force that fueled my spirit. I cannot recall how I was able to survive through that dark time but one thing I know for sure. I woke up everyday with hope for freedom. I knew in my heart that I must look beyond my circumstances because something good was on the horizon. Hope brought me anticipation and motivation to keep moving forward. Hope reminds me that a greater plan is awaiting me and God’s promises are always true. 

When I got rescued by BSCC, hope became this feeling of trust knowing that I was not alone in the journey. BSCC was with me every step of the way and it’s through Marisa and the staff that I learned: hope is also FAITH. Rescuing and restoring victims of human trafficking are no easy tasks and seeing it firsthand helps me understand that they are guided by the hope that God created in their hearts. Every staff at BSCC embraces these seasons of perseverance and acknowledges that every healing journey starts with empathy and hope. They are the answers to my prayers and I wish to be that gift of hope for those who are in need.

Meditation:
What is God stirring in you as you read her story? What does hope mean to you? On whom or in what have you placed your hope?

Prayer:
God of all hope. May your Holy Spirit strengthen my heart, confirm my faith and hope in you, by your grace and mercy.

Silence:
Light a candle; pause and rest in God’s gift of hope.