What's on your Workdesk Wednesday: Awaited Treasures and Advent Reflections

My parents in law arrived from the US yesterday and they brought with them some art materials that I ordered and had sent to their address (cheaper postage).  I've been waiting excitedly for these "treasures" to arrive.

I saw this Sakura's Koi Watercolor Field Travel Set  in Alisa Burke's blog some time ago and promptly searched for where to buy it.  It comes with a brush that has a water container in the handle so that you just squeeze the handle when you're painting.  I couldn't decide on whether to buy the small set or the bigger one so I bought both!

Last Sunday was the First Sunday of Advent. It is the New Year’s Day of the Church, the start of the Christian year, and so it is...

•A time to start anew.

I thought of starting an Advent project, something which will help me focus on the season, perhaps something I can use as next year's Advent calendar.  I  decided on a set of 25 ATCs, one for each day of December until Christmas.  I know, I know, too ambitious a project for this busy season, but as I said, it is only a start and is actually for next year!  So far, I started on the background, which, when the cards are arranged together, will form a verse from Isaiah 40.  I don't know if the verse will still be seen after I'm done painting and collaging but well,  I'll know it's there.

Advent is also...

 A time to prepare.

As Christians, we prepare for Christmas.  And so, I spent the weekend up in the attic, organizing the Christmas presents I have stocked up there, preparing to get the Christmas decorations out come "Gaudete" Sunday (the third Sunday of Advent which emphasizes the joyous anticipation of the Lord's coming).  We prepare not only in the way we decorate our homes or give gifts but also, we try to prepare spiritually.  I cleaned out a lot of stuff and put them aside to give to the less fortunate.  Getting rid of stuff is also a way of symbolizing my desire to prepare for Christmas by trying to get rid of my bad habits and weaknesses.  And so, on my desk this Wednesday (for our weekly blog hop organized by Julia), aside from my newly arrived watercolors, there is no art work, just the remnants of my cleaning activities.

Advent comes from the Latin word 'adventus' which means "arrival" or "coming," and so, it is...

•A time to wait.

We are reminded of the original waiting of the Jews for the birth of their Messiah.  We wait for Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, and we wait for the second coming of Christ.

We're always waiting - to pick up the kids, or to see the doctor, waiting for our turn in the supermarket line, or for more important things like answers to prayers- for a job, healing, or a problem child.  Sometimes we can get impatient, or sometimes we lose hope when our prayers seem to remain unanswered.  Advent can teach us how to wait, to wait prayerfully with patience and hope.  Advent is...

•

•A time to hope.

In the midst of a world full of suffering, pain, poverty and war, we can hope for the day when we will “hunger no more, and thirst no more . . . and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7).  And we try to do our part to let these words come to pass as we await our greatest Treasure, Jesus Christ.  A blessed Advent season!