Sometimes in the face of adversity, the words we give and receive can make all of the difference. In today’s culture, “anticipation” has been reduced to a feeling of dreaded expectation. We anticipate a recession. We anticipate continued unrest internationally. We anticipate a colder and wetter winter.
Yet as God’s people and through His Word, “anticipation” is used quite differently. In the Bible we find examples of people’s anticipation being driven by the Holy Spirit to act in advance to what has been brought to their attention. Noah began building the ark by faith…in anticipation of a flood when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear to save his family (Hebrews 11:7). Moses instructed the Israelites how to prepare in anticipation of the Lord’s Passover. Nehemiah heeded God’s direction and anticipated the Lord’s future action while he obediently rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls and gates.
As we continue to live in times of challenge and adversity, may the Holy Spirit restore our anticipation for the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12).
But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness (Romans 8:10).
Advent anticipation: the arrival of our Savior is a collection of individual meditations, composed by members of the Concordia University community on its Wisconsin and Michigan campuses. It is our prayer that you will approach this Advent season with newfound enthusiasm and anticipation through the Holy Spirit. That same enthusiasm and anticipation is embedded in the mission of Concordia University and is what has fueled the daily work of the university since 1881.
As you receive this collection of Advent meditations, may you be both encouraged and fortified by God’s Word in a whole-hearted anticipation for the arrival of our Savior. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth (John 1:14 NRSV). That Word truly does make all of the difference in our lives, today and forever.
Schedule
Foreword | Corporate Communications Manager Mike Zimmerman
Nov. 27 | Isaiah 1:1-28; 1 Peter 1:1-12 | Interim President Dr. William Cario
Nov. 28 | Isaiah 2:1-22; 1 Peter 1:13-25 | Accelerated Admissions Counselor Jon Cain, CUW
Nov. 29 | Isaiah 5:1-25; 1 Peter 2:1-12 | CUAA student Grace Hedtke
Nov. 30 | Isaiah 6:1-7:9; 1 Peter 2:13-25 | School of Nursing faculty Dr. Kelly Huffman, CUW
Dec. 1 | Isaiah 7:10-8:8; 1 Peter 3:1-22 | School of Education faculty Dr. Kathleen Kannass, CUW
Dec. 2 | Isaiah 8:9-9:7; 1 Peter 4:1-19 | School of Arts and Sciences faculty Dr. Tom Saleska, CUW
Dec. 3 | Isaiah 9:8-10:11; 1 Peter 5:1-14 | School of Arts and Science faculty Dr. John Boonenberg, CUAA
Dec. 4 | Isaiah 10:12-27a, 33-34; 2 Peter 1:1-21 | Vice Provost Dr. Michael Uden
Dec. 5 | Isaiah 11:1-12:6; 2 Peter 2:1-22 | Academic Adviser Kara Alfano, CUAA
Dec. 6 | Isaiah 14:1-23; 2 Peter 3:1-18 | CUW student Abigail Becker
Dec. 7 | Isaiah 24:1-13; 1 John 1:1-2:14 | Advancement employee Melissa Lareau, CUW
Dec. 8 | Isaiah 24:14-25:12; Obadiah 1-21; 1 John 2:15-29 | Student Life employee Sue Knaus, CUW
Dec. 9 | Isaiah 26:1-19; 1 John 3:1-24 | School of Arts and Sciences faculty Dr. Justin Speck, CUW
Dec. 10 | Isaiah 26:20-27:13; 1 John 4:1-21 | Academic Resource Center employee Kimberly Bentley, CUAA
Dec. 12 | Isaiah 29:1-14; Jude 1-25 | School of Business faculty Dr. Ken Harris, CUW
Dec. 13 | Isaiah 29:15-30:14; Revelation 1:1-20 | School of Education faculty Dr. Sara Clemm von Hohenberg
Dec. 14 | Isaiah 30:15-26; Revelation 2:1-29 | School of Pharmacy faculty Dr. Terry-Elinor Reid, CUW
Dec. 15 | Isaiah 30:27-31:9; Revelation 3:1-22 | School of Business faculty Dr. Oleg Ivanets, CUAA
Dec. 16 | Isaiah 32:1-20; Revelation 4:1-11 | CUAA student Abigail Landskroener
Dec. 17 | Isaiah 33:1-24; Revelation 5:1-14 | Advancement employee Sue Suleski, CUW
Dec. 18 | Isaiah 34:1-2, 8-35:10; Micah 1:1-7:20; Revelation 6:1-17 | Football Coach Adam Walker, CUW
Dec. 19 | Isaiah 40:1-17; Revelation 7:1-17 | School of Business Dr. Kim Schave, CUAA
Dec. 20 | Isaiah 40:18-41:10; Revelation 8:1-13 | School of Arts and Sciences faculty Dr. Samson Folarin, CUW
Dec. 21 | Isaiah 42:1-25; Revelation 9:1-12 | CUW student Kayla Nommensen
Dec. 22 | Isaiah 43:1-24; Revelation 9:13-10:11 | Graduate Admissions Counselor Shelly Venema, CUAA
Dec. 23 | Isaiah 43:25-44:20; Revelation 11:1-19 | Provost Dr. Leah Dvorak
DR. MICHAEL UDEN
Vice Provost, Student Enrollment and Engagement
About this series
“Advent Anticipation: the arrival of our Savior” is a sampling of biblical meditations composed by members of the CUWAA community. It is our prayer that you will take time during the Advent season to read and reflect upon God’s Word and await the coming of Jesus with newfound enthusiasm and anticipation through the Holy Spirit.