Advent List

"He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God.”Luke 1: 15-17

He - John the Baptizer - has a huge task in front of him ... before he's even born! What a list! He'll get the people ready for God! How on earth is he to accomplish that? It seems a monumental task.

What's on your list as you to prepare for the birth of our Lord and Savior? Does it look something like this:
- put up decorations
- get Christmas tree
- decorate Christmas tree
- buy gifts
- wrap gifts
- bake some yummy treats
- listen to Christmas music
- watch Christmas movies
- go to family / work/ club/ etc. parties
- go to Christmas worship
- open gifts
- eat too much

That's it. Done. Right? 

Is that really the way to get ready for God-With-Us? 

Or should we in addition lighten our schedules and our loads, soften our hearts, and kindle our understanding of the overwhelming Gift we are given?