“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. -- Jeremiah 31:31 –32 (ESV)

What are your expectations this Christmas? Whether it is a meal, a gift, an experience, or a magical moment, we tend to have great expectations of what our holiday celebrations will be like. Unfortunately, these expectations are often built on unrealistic desires and when they are not met, we become frustrated, angry, despondent, or depressed.

And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. -- Genesis 15:4 –6 (ESV)

Just 24 days till Christmas. The countdown is on. Like no other time of the year, there is an anticipation built into the season. We all have different traditions that build toward Christmas Day. As the first presents appear under the tree, the kids know it’s getting closer. We put out stockings in expectancy. We might open advent calendars, counting down the days. We light candles on wreaths to mark the weeks.

Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.” -- 2 Samuel 7:1 –3 (ESV)

'Christmas is about family.' There are even songs about it, about how everyone needs to go home for the holidays. One of the things that most of us look forward to is time together with those we love.

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. - Romans 5:12 –13 (ESV)

Christmas time is nostalgic. We pull out decorations from years gone by. We listen to music from people and genres from years ago. We eat those secret family recipes. We rehearse memories of days gone by.

One of the anchors of this nostalgia is the story of Christmas. We think back to shepherds, mangers, and a child, but in fact the story of Advent is much, much older than we usually think.

And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them. The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Not with our fathers did the LORD make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today. -- Deuteronomy 5:1 –3 (ESV)

Some people have funny 'rules' or traditions for Christmas. I knew one family that made all their kids brush their teeth and then drink a full glass of orange juice before they could open presents. Other have rules how, when, and in what order gifts are to be opened. These traditions can be fun and form memories. They don't really serve a moral purpose.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, - 2 Timothy 1:6 –8

Fear is a crippling enemy. When we look around our world and we fear the threats that seem to be coming to our doorstep. We look inside and we fear our own inadequacies. We spin up scenarios of what might be and fear wells up again. With all of these threats, it seems the best option to take is to retreat.