Advent is the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.

The Christian Advent season is the four Sundays preceding Christmas and either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  The advent wreath has four or five candles.  There are three purple candles and one pink candle on the wreath and some include a white candle in the middle.

                                    -----------------------C A N D L E-----------------------

ADVENT                    COLOR           NAME                        REPRESENTS

1st Sunday                  Purple              Prophecy                     Hope

2nd Sunday                 Purple              Bethlehem                   Love

3rd Sunday                  Pink                 Shepherd’s                  Joy

4th Sunday                  Purple              Angel’s                       Peace

Christmas Eve or

  Christmas Day          White              Christ                          Purity

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD –

and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;

but with righteousness he will judge the needy,

with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;

with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

Isaiah 11:1-5

Isaiah’s words gave his people HOPE.

I do not have to cross my fingers or daydream or wish.  Instead I have confidence!  I know the words of Isaiah are true and give me hope.  This Branch (Jesus) is my hope.  He is wise and has understanding.  He is powerful and has knowledge.  He is righteous and faithful.  And the Spirit of the LORD rests on Him.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

Psalm 62:5

Find rest  --  God alone  --  Hope from Him!  I don’t know about you, but I need the gift of hope, because I have no idea how today is going to end or how tomorrow is going to begin. 

I don’t know about you, but I need the gift of hope.  Without hope, I would just stay in bed and hide under the covers.