Thinking that she must have made a drawing or paper cut-out for us, her Mimi and I harkened to her call and seated ourselves on the sofa. The missing shoebox with its red top sat on the ottoman near the sofa. Izzie, standing very straight before us, reached down and lifted one corner of the box top and waited as if to let something out. Slowly, she closed the lid, took a deep breath, and began to sing, "I love you, I love you, I love you." Adoration was the look that she gave us as she sang — her body not moving. She was there to deliver, not to perform. After about three verses of "I love you," she stepped back and announced, "Your gift is a song."

Somehow, I managed not to shed a tear over the precious gift. However, my lips did tremble as I thanked Izzie for her lovely song. Mesmerized by the presentation, her Mimi and I just looked at each other with pride and wonder for this little girl and her beautiful heart. And now, with the ear of my own heart having been opened by this song sung in cotton-soft tones — a song taken from a shoebox with a Christmas-red top, the Spirit within me gave a nudge, and I remembered Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus. Mary was barely out of girlhood when she surrendered her soul in verse to our heavenly Father:

Luke 1:46-49 – My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. (NKJV)

Mary's song of adoration was to and for God.

Beloved, Advent is upon us, and what is our "I love You" prayer? My prayer for us is just this:

Prayer: Holy Father, we open our hearts in adoration to You for the gift of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We, too, like Izzie, sing out, "I love You, I love You, I love You." Amen.

Of all the different fragrances offered on the vendor's autumn display table that sales day, my petite, five-year-old niece, Izzie, was adamant about purchasing this one particular bar of soap. She held her new-found treasure out to me. So, taking the bar from her hand, I lifted it to my nose. It had a scent unfamiliar to me — a somewhat odd scent and certainly not one a child would normally choose. But, choose it she did! And, as it turned out, the child did not have an odd sense of smell — not at all. She just wanted to smell like Christmas, and bath in the fragrance of frankincense and myrrh — the very fragrances the wise men had given the baby Jesus.

Matthew 2:11 – And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. (KJV)

After her bath that night, Izzie stood before me wrapped in a towel and asking, "How do I smell?" And of course, I gave her my best smile and said, "Why, you smell like Christmas!" She was delighted as she marched off to bed.

When I say, "It started," I am speaking of that one simple hint that comes in a very personal way to remind me that the time of adoration had come — Advent is here! This year, the simple hint came when Izzie handed me a little bar of goat milk soap that smelled of frankincense and myrrh. How she knew, I do not know!

Dearest ones, once again, the season of peace on earth and goodwill to men has begun. Once again, we open our Bibles to read of the shepherds and how they spoke of seeing and hearing the army of heavenly hosts light up the night sky with praises to God. And once again, we are reminded of the young mother, Mary, who listened to those shepherds:

Luke 2:19 – But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. (KJV)

I say, "Once again," but each time we read of His birth, it seems brand new! And what a beautiful thing to be given a season — not just one day — to look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus our Lord — the birth of our Saviour!

Prayer: Father, we just want to thank You for our Lord Jesus and for this season in which we celebrate His birth. With hearts full of joy, we thank You for birthing love and grace into this world. We thank You, for unto us a King is born! Amen.

"Can you believe it!" was my immediate response as I reached for the volume control on the car radio. Release and joy started to flood my being as I drove through the streets of Greenville, South Carolina, USA, on this early fall morning. The world had been too much with me as of late, and it seemed as though I had been crawling through a maze of mind-rubble for months, the kind of rubble that is left behind when all of a sudden I had to change medical coverage, being presented with brochures, new legal terms, and deadlines. But as I drove home on a clear October morning, this all changed, because …

I heard a child reciting something over the radio; it seemed that he had been quoting Scripture, so I turned up the volume just in time to hear the musical notes that followed his speech. Just four notes — just four notes chimed, and immediately, I knew the words that the four notes represented: "O come, let us …". The joyful reminder of Jesus' birth so blessed me with one thought, "Christmas has come early this year; I've heard the first carol." Oh, sure, I had seen the commercial side of Christmas in the city stores before Halloween; that did not phase the spirit within. Rather, I speak of that stirring which draws our spirit to the heart of Christmas — love for our Lord and His birth.

Others have felt it. How do I know? The signs are evident all around me — signs like neighbours stringing Christmas lights early; postings on Facebook that boast pictures of the manger scene, taking attention from Halloween; and last but not least, the sight of my niece carrying her tiny, pink singing machine into my bedroom as I lay falling asleep. With microphone gripped in hand, she sang out in her best cotton-soft tones, "I wish you a Merry Christmas!"

Believe it! Christmas has come early this year, making for merry hearts all around us. This festival of adoration has started and it came with just four notes: "O come let us". "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11 KJV) O come, let us adore Him!

Prayer: Holy Father, thank You for sending Your reminders early this year — reminders that point to the adoration of Your Son Who came as a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes under a sky lit up with the heavenly host. We adore Him, and we adore You for this blessed gift of grace. Thank You, thank You, thank You! Amen.

For so long, it was just a simple adornment, something I pinned on my chest in an effort to appear festive at Christmastime. Who knew — who knew that the precious gift from a loved one would soften another's heart with the message of good will toward men? Yet, as soon as I ask this question, I know in my heart of hearts that the Lord knew.

Yes, it was probably His Spirit that led me to wear the three-inch Christmas angel broach that Christmas Eve as I left work to face the crowded store — a store full of last-minute shoppers who, in all probability, were weary and just wanting to get home to put the finishing touches to all that lay undone before Christmas Day.

And, although my outer coat pretty much hid the pin, I felt reminded to be good to others as I headed to the checkout counter with my items. In line behind me stood a lady with a few fewer packages than I had. Smiling, I told her, "On this night, you're not waiting in line." With a look of disbelief on her face, she asked, "Are you sure?" With a yes nod from me, she stepped to the front of the line, paid her bill, and turned to say "Thank you." Suddenly, right at this exact moment, my coat fell open to expose the Christmas angel broach! Next, the light from the store's ceiling struck the gold of the broach, giving it a very merry Christmas sparkle. The young woman's expression was softened as she stood transfixed by the glow of the pin and the good will extended to her on that Christmas Eve.

Make no mistake, the "suddenly" of it all pretty much had my heart singing the joy of Christmas! And I no longer wear the broach as just a festive Christmas adornment. I wear it to remind myself that Christ expects us Christians to truly represent Him at all times while we are here on earth.

2 Corinthians 5:20a – So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. (NLT)

Therefore, we should ensure that our behaviour shines at all times with the kindness of Christ, so that those around us this season will see and feel the good will that comes through Jesus.

Prayer: Precious Lord Jesus, help us to remember that we have more than an adornment — we have Your Holy Spirit — the only adornment that we need to proclaim the good news that Your angels sang out on that holy night of peace on earth and good will to all men. May we proclaim it as love in action! Amen.

Never, ever have these eyes witnessed such an awesome example of childlikeness — the state of being that Jesus spoke of in today's Scripture. I ask myself how something so powerful, so beautiful, could come through such a small child. But every time I think of little Izzie's example, my eyes mist up, and my heart softens.

We were having a family evening in front of the television. My sister was visiting and had brought along her youngest grandchild Izzie. Izzie and my son were roughhousing in the family room. Their play was loud and wild! While running about, Izzie accidentally hit her grandmother, who was seated comfortably on the sofa. It was just a small tap — one that most would not even have noticed. Yet, as soon as this happened, the wee one stopped her play (no small thing) and came and stood at her grandmother's knee. Stretching forth a tiny hand, she proceeded to speak in the most cotton-soft tone. Although her words were for the most part gibber, they were spoken slowly, softly, and absolutely straight from the depths of her heart. At the end of her gibber sentences, we could make out two words: "I sorry". And as if once were not enough, she repeated herself, saying, "I sorry." Then she gently climbed onto her grammy's lap and placed her head on my sister's shoulder in an act of tender love. As soon as all was done properly, Izzie resumed her play as if nothing had happened. She had given all and asked only to minister love to her beloved grandmother.

Thrilled by the adoration of it all, I had to ask myself if I had ever stood before another or my Lord this way. Have I ever just spoken to Him from my heart, asking only that He know that I was saying, "I sorry"? Oh! The childlike love and trust witnessed that evening!

It is no small thing to know that the kingdom of God is populated with souls who love, honour, and adore their Lord and others — grown children who, by the love God has placed in their hearts through Jesus, do say, "Abba Father!"

Prayer: Lord, we who are Your children praise and thank You for this gift — being able to walk lovingly, boldly into our Father's throne room of grace and pour out our hearts like the child You would have each of us to be. In childlike love and trust, we follow the example of our Lord Jesus, who taught us to say, "Abba, Father". Amen and amen.

Our hearts beat a little faster as we unpack our nativity scenes to be placed in the traditional spot for all visitors and family to see. Our eyes fall on that tiny manger and the baby lying therein. The words of the heavenly host quicken our hearts, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests" (Luke 2:14 NIV)

Beside the manger kneels the figure of Mary gazing upon her Child. How her heart must have swelled as it did when she sang her marvellous song, "For the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name." (Luke 1:49 NIV) Her song rose to that Great Heart that is love.

Here I am reminded of the words of a great niece as she watched her grandmother light the candle in the centre of an ornamental, heart-shaped candle holder — a tradition before family meals at that time. As the wick caught fire and burst into flame, the child spoke softly saying, "Christmas has a Heart."

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are the Great Heart, and we thank You for the gift of love that You sent mankind: Your Son, Jesus. May our hearts throb with the adoration that is due Him. Amen.

Her name is Izzie, and since she is the family's youngest, we all delight in having her with us. Last Friday evening, we took Izzie out to dine and to experience the pastry market, where she toddled the aisles with great glee. Nothing in the market really captured her attention, for she would not hold still for very long.

Feeling exhausted from the chase, we took Izzie into our arms and crossed the parking lot to leave. It was here that she looked up — looked up with her moon-pie eyes — and saw that great orb waxing toward fullness high in the night sky. It was her first look at the moon. Nothing she had experienced that night had stilled her to such a profound degree. If we tried to divert her attention, she would simply lift her gaze back to the night sky. Once again, stillness would wrap itself around her in such a profound way that the busyness of the parking lot folded into a mere backdrop. A heavenly hush enveloped all of us. And seated in that hush, Izzie slowly searched the night sky looking to find another waxing light. Finding none, she let her eyes hold on to the moon with awe.

Psalm 111:2 – How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them. (NLT)

And ponder we did! When was the last time we even gazed at this same moon with Izzie's amazement? Our Redeemer spoke this light into creation with but a breath! In the stillness of this night, I paused, surrendered, and remembered our Creator and the works of His hands.

Prayer: Thank You, mighty Father, for Your mighty works toward man. Help us, Lord, to have hearts that expand with awe and delight in knowing that You hung that night light for Your children. We thank You for it and for wee ones like Izzie, who help us to look up and ponder what is pure and to sing, "How great Thou art". Amen.