An Advent Scripture Reading Plan

(*Update: I changed the title of this post since it's not really a devotional, but a Scripture reading plan.)

According to Merriam-Webster:

Advent- 

1: the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting

2 a: the coming of Christ at the Incarnation
  
   b: second coming (of Christ). 

To some, Advent is a foreign concept, or something done by the stuffy liturgical churches.  But I believe, if understood properly, it can become a helpful tool to prepare ourselves for the joy and glory of Christmas - the true meaning of Christmas.  That's a day for us to think on and rejoice in the first coming of Christ, providing salvation for mankind.  There's two purposes of Advent: to remind us of Christ's first coming in Bethlehem and also to look ahead to His second coming.  One thing that I think we miss in many Christmas celebrations is the watching and hoping for His second coming.  The story is not done yet.

So many times in the past, I've been absorbed in my daily life for the weeks and days leading up to Christmas.  We have to buy presents, plan family trips, get things done at work before taking off for vacation  etc.  Despite all the decorations, it's only on Dec 24 that I slow down enough to start thinking about the meaning of Christmas, but by that time, the Christmas I experience is only a shadow of what it could, or should be.