What's in the name?

Advent means an arrival or coming, especially one which is awaited.  We all know that a birth of a baby is a much awaited arrival! 

Advent also represents Christ coming into the world. The first advent was Christ's birth.  The second advent will be Christ's return, in which I am anxiously awaiting. We are currently living in the in between time (in between the two advents) in which we are feeling all the birth pains leading up to his second coming.  These "birth pains" are documented in the bible. Matthew 24 explains the circumstantial "birth pains" we will go through while 2 Timothy 3 prepares us for relational "birth pains".  As time goes on and the birth pains get closer together, we are getting futher along on that kingdom calendar between the two advents. We're getting closer to the second coming of Christ than the first coming of Christ. As we grow closer and closer to the day of all days, we will experience more pain (Beth Moore). But just as in the birthing process, joy is just around the corner.  John 16:21-22 says "It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice and no one can rob you of that joy.."

I believe that there is a God.  He is the God who created birth. Who can deny that something so marvelous was created by God?  He created a painful birth as a result to the first sin in the garden of Eden committed by Eve - the very first woman.  He's the same God who provides away out of sin and pain- the cross by which His son Jesus died for all of us to be saved.  He said birth would be painful but he didn't say He wouldn't provide a way out.  A doula is a helpful way out of the painful birth exerience.  See my post on "What is a doula?" to find out more!