What does "advent" mean?
1. Advent = Latin = "Arrival" or "Coming"
2. Advent looks backward, inward, and forward
3. Advent is a season of Holy Waiting

Advent has four traditional themes
• Joy - Because Christ brings good news of great joy
• Peace - Because Christ reconciles us to God
• Love - Because Christ is God's love in the flesh
• Hope - Because Christ's coming ends despair

7 Reasons I'm Hopeful
1. My sins are forgiven; my eternity is secured

"Condemnation"
Katakrima | (kat-ak'-ree-mah)
"an adverse sentence; verdict"

7 Reasons I'm Hopeful
2. My mind is peaceful because it's governed by the Spirit

7 Reasons I'm Hopeful
3. My future victory is greater than my present pain

7 Reasons I'm Hopeful
4. God's Spirit helps me in my weakness

7 Reasons I'm Hopeful
5. God is for me even if man isn't

7 Reasons I'm Hopeful
6. Jesus is at the right hand of God praying for me

7 Reasons I'm Hopeful
7. There is nothing I can do to make God not love me