ADVENT: Peace when life has "loose ends"

This week, Advent focuses on peace.

Therefore, by default, I think Advent focuses on trust...because the only way to have peace in life is by trusting the Lord even when the situation seems unsolvable, unmanageable, uncontrollable. Funny how we (and by we, I mean me!) often think peace and calmness and stability comes through very controlled, manageable circumstances.

We want answers and certainty and all of our loose ends tied up.  I hate unresolved friendships, relationships, work situations. (It's true, although happily married, if I were to think too long on any exes, I would probably became anxious- not because I "lost" them, but because many breakups never have closure or answers and I hate feeling like the whole issue will always remain unmanaged and unresolved).  One of my life mottos is that I'd rather know the answer, even if it's not an answer I want to hear. (The truth is I'd rather never know bad news at all, but if I know there is news, circumstances, etc that someone is withholding, I just feel I'd rather know than guess!)

Life has been fairly pleasant this year, but even so, there are "loose ends" I wish could be tied up: friendships that have suffered this past year and may never be the same, a job hunt I wish would go ahead and end with some certainty of where I will be for the next year, clarity on which church should be our church home, an established group of friends like I had in Mississippi.  Nothing major, just tiny little annoyances that I want to fix and solve and manage....but I can't.

Many people go into "manage" mode during crisis or tragedy.  "Ok, the circumstances didn't turn out as hoped, but here's what I've got, how do I make the best of this?"  I actually think this is a great way to be - to try to assess hurts in a way where we salvage good from bad, but this tendency to manage and fix should only come after prayer and deep trust in the one who controls and manages all circumstances!

I'm pretty bad at trusting.  Ironically enough, I don't struggle with trusting the Jesus came, died, rose again and will come back again for me.  I don't doubt that the Gospel is true.  I don't ever question that Christmas occurs because of the birth of our Savior or that in the grand scheme of things, God is who says he is....So, when it comes to eternal perspective, I have a lot of peace and comfort that my God loved me so much he came to this world and that he has saved and redeemed me.

BUT I do (like most humans) want to control my life, and by default, I don't always feel peace in regards to my daily life.  I feel worry and stress and anxiety.  We often fail to trust God to tie up the loose ends even when we don't see them being tied up, to control the situation even when it seems out of control.

Advent may be a month long preparation for Christmas, but the concepts should apply all year long....after all, we are in constant waiting for His second coming. When struggling to trust, perhaps its best to look back to Christmas and see how God was in control of the little details.

Seriously, how many tiny details did the Lord have to carefully work out - there were lots of prophecies about the Lord's coming.  God worked out a census to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in order to fulfill one prophecy.  He knew an inn would be full so He provided a stable.  The Lord was in the details.  He managed what seemed a little unmanagable.  Until that point, it probably felt to many of God's people like there were a lot of little loose ends that had yet to be tied up - prophecies yet to be fulfilled, a Savior that had not yet come.  The Lord is trustworthy with the details -- be at peace!

Finally, Advent should direct us to peace in our daily lives because we know that Christ has come and overcome the world.  We can have eternal peace and we can have daily peace - trusting that God can overcome and redeem whatever problems and hurts caused by our sins and the sins of others, caused by the harsh disappointments and realities of life, etc.

Peace is hard to obtain.  I doubt anyone has it all the time. It comes from trusting - and trusting comes from remembering -- remembering God's faithfulness, remembering God's promises.  Advent is all about remembering and gives us the perfect time to reflect on God's goodness and perfect control of situations. So, seek peace this advent -- seek it by choosing to remember the Savior's birth and be remembering the Lord's provision.  Remembering the Lord's goodness and sovereign control over biblical history and our own lives will make it easier to trust Him for our daily peace.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...a WHITE Christmas!

Well, here in DC, we've had a few days of snow.  Sunday-Monday, we enjoyed a few inches covering our yard -- it wasn't much, but it was pretty to see snow falling from the window with the Christmas tree lit and a holiday movie playing on the TV.

We then woke up this morning to a steady falling of snow which should last a good bit of the day.  I had delayed opening at work, so I had an extra hour to get ready, but my lucky duck husband got the day off! And apparently a good bit of the city is off too because the metro was empty and there weren't many cars on the road.  Even thought it wasn't a foot of snow or anything, I think people got the day off simply because it was still snowing, as opposed to snowing overnight, so the snow could cause driving problems....

My office is still fairly empty and slow today. I am enjoying the relaxing day but I wish I was sitting in front of our tree, looking out the window and drinking Hot Chocolate -- all while watching a full lineup of cheesy Christmas flicks....  Sounds perfect right??

 

 

Instead I am stuck at work, but on a  happier note -- we have our office Christmas Party tonight so we all get to leave a bit early. Fancy hotel, cocktail dresses, open bar and lovely meal-- all with my cute date and great coworkers -- should be a fun night! 

 

I loved seeing the snow, particularly since its Christmas and the wreaths and lights are up. Despite the cold wet walk to the metro this morning, I couldn't help but feel like I was a character in a Christmas movie!! Just living life and prepping for Christmas in the snow!  Until this week, I can only remember one or two other times in my life when it was very snowy in December -- and that was when I was in Jr High or High School.  In January or February, snow is nice, but in December, with the lights and decorations, it truly is magical!

 

I've enjoyed our "White Christmas" days but I am glad they hit in early/mid December -- I want nothing, not even a White Christmas, to prevent me from flying back to Mississippi next Saturday!

Christmas Gems

It's been crazy around here and I haven't had time to blog much this week --- but it doesn't mean I haven't had time to read some great Christmas and Advent articles!! 

It's no secret that I love the the holidays (especially Christmas!) and I love advent. Advent is to Christmas what Lent (for those who celebrate Lent) is to Easter -- time to reflect and prepare our hearts for the celebration of our Lord!! I've been encouraged by some of the wonderful articles I've seen so I thought I'd share these great articles!

1. I love this article on hope, work and waiting....particularly since the holidays/advent is so much about hoping and waiting and can also be a struggle to focus on work -- so much to accomplish, so much to get done, so easy to focus on that!

2. Don't you just love hymns? I enjoy praise music too, but there is something so beautiful about the wording in old hymns -- I guess we just can't phrase things as lovely as people in past times could! It doesn't mean our praise is any less worshipful, but I can't help but long for gorgeous old hymns, particularly Christmas carols.  I also LOVE knowing the story behind the music which is why I loved this article telling the history of 5 carols. I think my favorite two stories were the stories about "O come, O Come, Emmanuel" and "O Holy Night"

3. Who can't relate to hard times and holidays and mixing the two? Who hasn't struggled to believe in miracles? I love this article 'When it's hard to believe in Miracles at Christmas'  Her words are so beautiful...

You’d better believe there really is a Jesus and there is a God in heaven and there is an Emmanuel who came, Creator of the Cosmos who wore bones to touch our skin.

And our Christ, He can be hoped in, believed in, trusted in; He came and He is coming again and He cares.

When hearts are fragile, that’s when they may be most faith-filled — believing in miracles before life makes sense.

Believing in the miraculous coming – so there is real living in the moment now.

Believing in a God bigger than the burdens.

Believing — so there is living.

This is how the fragile are made strong.


4. I love this post clarifying that we are participants in the Christmas drama as we actively await his 2nd coming just like Isreal waited for their Savior.


5. Purely for fun - here are some holiday decorating ideas for small spaces.  And here are some more!! Since we will likely be a small space for awhile due to the fact that we live in a city where apartments are tiny and pricy, I plan on trying some of these decorations next Christmas! (This year, we have a skinny little tree, some wreaths, a few trinkets and a nativity)

how fun is this?

Simple Cheer

 

 

Hope you enjoy these articles as much as I did. The holiday season is so busy - and its always good to take time to reflect. Dave and I do our advent devotional every morning at breakfast and although its only a few minutes long, it, like these articles, helps focus me on the Lord's coming and our time each December (and hopefully other times as well) to prepare for Him! And, when life is busy (like during the holidays) I need all the remind I can get to focus and worship instead of stress! Thankful God gave us advent to help us prepare, worship, rest, wait and hope.

 



A THRILL of HOPE, the WEARY world REJOICES!

This week, one of my favorite times of the year begins: Advent. The first candle of advent is the candle of hope.  Hope is one of my favorite themes of Christmas...and the following lyric from "O Holy Night" is one of my favorites:


"A Thrill of Hope, the Weary World Rejoices."

"The Weary World"

The words have always resonated with me - possibly because I, like every other human, have known what it's like to be weary....exhausted from daily reality; tired from the emotion it takes to deal with pain, longing, heartache, frustration, disappointment; worn out from temptation and sin and my attempt to overcome my own flaws.

Waiting is one of the worst kinds of weariness-- trying to hold on to faith when the daily routine points to no coming changes at all.  Waiting for a spouse, waiting for a job opportunity, waiting to make new friends, waiting to have a baby, waiting for defiant kids to come to their Savior, waiting for children to sleep through the night, waiting for relief to pain or grief.

Yes, I understand weariness and exhaustion and disappointment....and waiting.

I relate to this lyric because it refers to those that are weary, but I LOVE this lyric because it refers to the "thrill of hope" a weary world rejoices in! I know weariness, but thank you Jesus, I also know hope.

"A Thrill of Hope"

Hope encourages, even "earthly" hopes encourages. Hope grants reprieve from weariness, even if it doesn't end it completely. Small hopes give us moments of joy and renewed faith during long exhausting spells of waiting, pain or disappointment.

These small hopes can be being asked on a date after several months of no interest, a couple nights where your baby sleeps through the night, a girls night out where you laugh so hard you forget your problem, a medicine that seems to bring more comfort to chronic pain, an interview after months of job searching, a happy peaceful date night for a couple who has been struggling, an encouraging  sweet letter or email from a friend, etc.

We've all had times when some small event gave us hope during a tough time. Small hopes may not bring an end to weariness, but they do encourage us to keep going amidst the weariness.  That date might not be "the one" or the interview might not lead to a job, but the small thrill of hope encourages you to press on in belief that better times are ahead.

If these small earthly hopes grant us moments of respite, how much more so can our Savior provide his weary followers with a "thrill of hope"?

When Christ was born, the battle was not won yet. There had not been a death, resurrection or second coming. His birth was only the beginning and did not yet take away the weariness and pain of the world. BUT, His coming provided hope of what was to come, a glimmer of anticipation for good things ahead.

The battle is still not won.  We still live in a world that quite frankly, wears me out sometimes.  We still have to deal with sin, pain, illness, death, heartache. But Christmas serves as a yearly reminder of His first advent and more permanently, His future second advent! It is an annual "thrill of hope" for this weary world...encouraging us to press on amidst weariness and pain.

So, take it all in -- the carols, the lights, the gatherings, but most importantly the gospel truth -- and be encouraged and hopeful that our Lord loved this weary world so much that He came down to us to live, die, rise and return.  

The next line of the song states,

"For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn!"

You may be weary now...and you may remain weary for awhile, but be encouraged and HOPEFUL, better days are ahead! Because of the first and second advents of our Savior, there will be a new and glorious morn!

We Gather Together, Part 2: Thanksgiving Success!!

Thanksgiving was a great success...good company, good food, wine, laughter and no broken dishes (ok, one broken wine glass....)  It wasn't quite a Mississippi thanksgiving - with my mom's good cooking, a beautifully set table and our traditional dinner with siblings, but it was the next best thing.

Marley, Bech and Jack arrived on Wednesday evening and we stayed up talking, watching tv and drinking wine.  We then celebrated all thanksgiving with morning monkey bread, watching the parade and sending the boys to the store and park while we girls started cooking!  The boys then engineered the best way to move our furniture to accommodate our dinner for 11 people in our tiny apartment!  It took our dining room table, a folding table and 6 folding chairs.  We also didn't have enough buffet space (since our beautiful buffet/china cabinet is currently serving as a tv stand in the living room!) so we turned our desk into a buffet for the evening.

The dining room, cozy and snug with all 11 seats!

Dave and Bech moved the couches and chairs so that the dining room could have more room. I didn't like the layout, but to be fair, it gave us more room! (excuse the towel under our drink tin, I was scared it would leak!)

Yummy food, prepared by Marley, Me and many of our guests who kindly brought something!

We enjoyed having friends over and enjoying community, even while away from our families.  Dave and I both grew up in homes that were very open welcoming to others, especially on holidays, and we always hope that we can do the same. Most of the people at our dinner were people we know from Bible Study. They are new friends and we are still getting to know eachother, some people I have tons in common with and some of our guests are very opposite from me, but it made me smile to think about how different types of believers with different backgrounds and upbringings are brought into community and friendship simply because they worship the same God!

Sweet friend

Some of the dinner crew

 Robertsons and Evans

 My favorite little Turkey!

Stealing Kisses!

Also, indulge me a second while I share another thought.  Years ago (in college), someone told me that you should marry someone that you would be proud to sit across the dinner table at any events you two host together.  I always chuckled at that -- I somewhat understood what the saying meant, but not fully. I think I understand a little bit more now. I loved having Dave as the other "host" at our apartment. I'm proud of him and don't find myself worrying that he will be too shy, not friendly enough, short tempered, etc. I know that he won't require me to make all the conversation, that he will help get ready for company, that he will listen to others with sincere interest, that he will be welcoming and warm, etc. Let me be clear, I think marriage is so much more than who you think you could best host company with, but there is something to be said about marrying someone you respect and appreciate, someone who, flaws and all, has atleast some qualities that cause you to be proud. (This might be different for everyone -- I would probably have a hard time being married to a painfully shy person and someone who doesn't like large gatherings might have a hard time being married to me....but when I sit next to/across from Dave at events, I am quite proud he's the one hosting Thanksgiving (or whatever other event) with me and the one walking through life with me! (and I think he feels the same!)

So so thankful for this guy! (yes I know that it looks like there is a star coming out of our head, its from the Christmas tree!)

I hope you had a wonderful holiday, celebrating and thanking God with loved ones - whether that be family or friends!

We Gather Together: Thankful for OTHERS

I am a fairly extroverted person. I do enjoy my nights in and time alone, but on the whole, I love being around people...and I am pretty blessed that God gave me such good people to have in my life.

God told Adam that it was not good to be alone, so He created Eve.  I know that this passage is used a lot to discuss marriage and the goodness of not being alone (and rightfully so, since this is the first marriage!) But, in general, I think God was saying something about humans, in general. Adam was alone because he didn't have a companion, friend, family, spouse. And ironically enough, Adam went from being the only human - to being married - to having family and community.

I am thankful God recognizes our need for relationsips and places people into our lives to help encourage, discipline and grow us. Life could be lived completely alone, I suppose -- with little interaction with others, but it is so much better with companionship.

I am thankful for Dave. I am thankful for the JOY he brings my life -- not only as my husband, but also as my closest companion and room mate.

I am thankful for sisters that I talk to almost daily and a brother who always has our back. I am thankful for supportive parents.  I am thankful for great in laws. I have wonderful aunts and uncles, even the ones that yell "go dawgs" as you cut your wedding cake :) I have amazing giving grandparents who really invested in our lives growing up.

I am thankful for friendship and the little family of friends I have formed over the years.

I am thankful for church community. I loved my home church in Jackson. I loved having friends of all ages there.

And, I am thankful for the community we are developing here in DC and prayerful that God will develop sweet friendships where we can encourage and lift eachother up.

I am thankful that today when we could be stuck alone for the Holiday, we are able to open up our tiny home for friends and family (my sister, brother in law and nephew are coming) to come for a potluck thanksgiving. Work friends, friends from Bible study, friends of friends, friends from home.  Just a good mix of people, gathering together in community to be thankful and celebrate together.

...because we were meant to be in community. Every day life and more importantly, holidays, should be enjoyed and celebrated with others.

We gather together today -- in community and thankfulness, and I am very grateful for all that the Lord has given us -- marriage, friendship, family, material blessings, His daily presence and eternal hope. AND, I realize that today isn't easy for all -- those who are alone, have lost loved ones, are single or going through a divorce, etc.  My prayer is that those who are hurting find community, one of God's good gifts to us.  Life is better when lived with others.

Time to finish cooking, but I promise a post with pictures soon -- say a prayer that Marley and I pull this off! :) Happy thanksgiving to all, what a wonderful and good Lord we serve!!

Thankful for the Giver

Today, I am thankful for the GIVER of good gifts. I’ve spent the past couple posts discussing the many many blessings in my life – and it is SO important to remind ourselves of how HE provides many good gifts, especially when circumstances are difficult and we need to remember.

But, it is EVEN MORE IMPORTANT to remember that He is good. This article by one of my favorite bloggers state that fact excellently, so I won’t add too much to the discussion....

“The grounds of our thanksgiving is that God is good; not that He gives good gifts”

I’ve got a lot to be thankful for this year – a job, a roof over my head, family, friends, health, Dave, a coat, food, the ability to travel home for the holidays, ordinary everyday blessings and some extras.

But, most importantly, I have a God that loves me, that is good, faithful, kind, perfect. If my thankfulness for my many blessings doesn’t make me thankful for the giver, then I am missing the point. I have a God who has held my hand through trials and who stands by me even though I don’t deserve His faithfulness.

Trials make it difficult to be thankful, but in the end, I think the person undergoing hardships generally finds it easier to develop a gratitude for the giver, not His gifts. Gratitude while suffering may be hard fought for, but it's root is in a belief that God is good! In times filled with gifts and blessings, it may be even more important to remind our hearts of the giver, not the gifts.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, but mostly, just praise God. Even if blessings don’t come – but especially if they do, “He is reason enough for gratitude this season and every season.”