Rediscovering the Christmas Season: Day 1

I started a new Bible reading plan in preparation for the coming Christmas season. I hope to prepare my heart even more this year for what the Lord would have to teach me through this season, and as I read through the 25 days, I am also creating our own "advent 25 day countdown" that we will use as a family starting on December 1. (this is why I am starting this so early so that I can read through each day myself, and come up with a version of it that my kiddos will understand and learn from.) I am blogging about each day sort of as a online journal, hopefully someone else can learn along with me as I...
 "Rediscover the Christmas Season."

Day 1: Anna and Simeon
Luke 2:21-40

How can my life reflect the kind of anticipation that Anna and Simeon felt?
        I have been getting SO excited about Christmas this year, and I keep asking myself, "why?" We have had a tough year to say the least. I think I am just ready to be immersed in some REAL joy once again, and for me, that is what Christmas is. I anticipate a time that the everyone around me (whether they believe it or not) is a part of the celebration of the coming of my Jesus! My heart aches for people that feel that this time of year is stressful. Some people like my husband and father-in-law work in retail, (Christian retail to boot) and no matter the condition of your heart, our culture has made this season all about spending money, and that effects their stress level because that is their job! So, back to the question at hand, how can I reflect eager anticipation of Jesus? I think I can keep focused on Jesus, keeping in close communication with my Father as the season begins. In turn I pray that my life will begin to really reflect the pure joy that I am feeling about the coming season.

How much of this feeling of excitement is centered around the arrival of Christ?
      Not to blame everything on our culture, BUT this is REALLY, REALLY hard to do these days in America. So, that being said, I think I can keep check in my spirit what I am getting excited about about the food, crafting, decorating, and gift buying (I honestly could care less about receiving any gifts on Christmas, I get WAY more joy out of giving things to people and making stuff) that the point of all of it is to point people to my Jesus.

Prayer:
  Father, I can honestly say that as I have lived out 28 years on this earth, Jesus and celebrating his birth has become more and more important, precious, and priceless to me every year. This year is especially important to me. There is nothing like being broken and humbled to make you appreciate what is the only TRUE things in your life. You have started something in me in the last few months. A deeper appreciation of everything that You are to me Father, I want this Christmas season to only further that appreciation, and may I be used by you to spread your TRUTH as I go.