We continue our celebration and preparation as Jennifer Wake walks us through the lighting of the four Advent. This week she shares the meaning of the Love  candle or the Angel Candle that reminds us that God “IS” love.

advent wreath with candles

The Love Candle

by Jennifer Wake

 

As winter break begins, I find myself sitting staring at our Christmas tree. A beautiful angel adorns its highest boughs,  looking down from the top of our full size tree. Seeing her stirs up memories of our strangest Christmas. We left Germany at the beginning of the Christmas season where the evergreens were full and green, and the Mojave Desert in southern California welcomed us with dry winds and arid conditions.

 

All five of us crammed into a one bedroom hotel suite over Christmas. We did not have any of our stuff, let alone Christmas decorations, so we went to the PX to find a small tree that could sit on the window sill. The kids found one they hailed “the perfect tree”. It played music, had LED lights which changed colors, and turned on its base. My kids loved the multicolored lights and the music, and of course the slowly turning tree so they could see every side. 

 

But we did not have any ornaments.

Without knowing what she was doing, my aunt sent us ornaments to make. These ornaments had to be baked in an oven to melt the beads to make “stained glass” ornaments. This process not only gave us ornaments but also stories of the mess and the smell during the creation process. As the kids added these new ornaments to the tree, I loved seeing how it turned showing all the ornaments.

 

Decorating the little tree reminded me of the fact that God sees each of us. Whether we are in the lush woods of Europe or the windswept desert of southern California, he sees us. He knows where we are and he can send his angels to help us. His love for us never changes. 

 

His love knows exactly what we need and he provides it through many interesting means. Just as a spirit of hope, faith, joy and love mark Advent, God wants us to prepare for Christmas with hope, faith, love and joy. The fourth candle completes the wreath which reminds us of God’s love.

 

The fourth candle is called The Love or Angel Candle.

It reminds us God is love. He is in control of all things, so we receive peace and love from the Holy Spirit. He is love and truly the giver of peace back then, now, and in the future. 

 

“I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven

there came one like a son of man,

and he came to the Ancient of Days

and was presented before him.

And to him was given dominion

and glory and a kingdom,

that all peoples, nations, and languages

should serve him;

his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

which shall not pass away,

and his kingdom one

that shall not be destroyed. 

Daniel 7:13-14

 

This candle reminds us of the Second Coming. He loves us too much to leave us in sin and he will come again to destroy sin. He gives us peace through His love. Peace be with you now, and forever, as you are longing for the Coming. Jesus is LOVE and the PEACE GIVER.

 

As you spend this week preparing for Christ’s return, here are some faith-building Scriptures to read every day.

Luke 2:15-20

John 3:16-17

Luke 1:26-33

 

Hymns to sing with your family:

The First Noel the Angels Did Say

Angels We Have heard on High

Hark the Herald Angels

If you missed it, you can find the introduction to Advent here, the first candle of hope, the second candle of faith, and the third candle of joy.

 

If you missed it, you can find the introduction to Advent here, the first candle of hope, and the second candle of faith.