Already--there's that word I found myself thinking and writing. It's "already" Advent. We've "already" received some Christmas cards in the mail. It's "already" past time to have figured out our own Christmas card picture and started shopping--neither of which we have even begun to contemplate. Between a brand new puppy, a wedding coming up, and a full household for Thanksgiving, I'm "already" lagging far, far behind. And feeling quite overwhelmed. Can you tell?
Sigh. I'm complaining--forgive me, Lord.
So I went back to the Word--in fact, I just returned to the Bible verses we read with the children yesterday for Advent:
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
double for all her sins.
and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
double for all her sins.
A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:1-5)
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:1-5)
God reminded me once again what Christmas is all about--our Messiah coming on a quiet night in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. He came to bring comfort and peace and forgiveness and wisdom and joy and hope. He came to bring the greatest Gift this world has ever known--Himself. And He came to give that which we could never, ever obtain for our weak, worn, and wandering souls--salvation.
But how can we rejoice in Him and His gift of redemption if we're preoccupied with the fluff and flotsam of the season?
No, to rediscover His peace we must, in the words of Brother Andrew, "practice His presence." We must rediscover stillness before Him and listen for His still small voice as He speaks to us through His Word.
Thank You for doing that for me just now, Lord. Thank You that You will lift up every valley of struggle in our lives. You will make straight highways of hope in our deserts. You will even out the ground of our grumpiness and ingratitude with Your grace. You will reveal Your glory to us in the midst even of our sometimes messy and mundane lives...all as we look to You. As we look for You in Your Word, in Your people, and in Your plans for our lives, whatever they might look like.
I read these few words from Ann Voskamp early this morning: "Making space in the pace for more peace for more Jesus...Slow for more joy in Jesus."
Yes, Lord, calm our racing hearts and slow our frazzled pace so that we might experience a fresh filling of Your hope and peace this Advent. We want to see You above all and through all and in all. For in You is fullness of joy. If we fail to mail even one card or we mess up the cookies or we miss the mark--which we will--on our idealized fantasy version of Christmas, O Lord, help us to laugh it off in the joyous wonder of seeing You.
You, Lord Jesus, and You only...for that will be enough to fill our Christmas this year with joy and peace. It's already Advent--but to be all ready for You is all that matters. So we're focusing on and following You in this race of life...and that means we'll be right on pace. On pace for peace and joy.
To God--who not only came, but stayed and is here with us that we might run the race with Him and for Him --be all the glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment