The First Day of Christmas

The "Girls Rule" Trees

It's been awhile since I have posted, but all excuses aside, I came into the Advent season this year completely depleted and in need of quiet listening and reflecting.  I knew I was in trouble when I started having panic attacks about not having a describable Advent tradition to blog about, or that I would never get through the three artsy but way overkill Advent devotionals I had purchased online.  When I closed my eyes before sleep at night, a neon sign kept flashing in my head, with a voice-over that screamed,

"Jesus VS. Santa, JESUS WINS! 3D

playing in select cities on December 25".  

Not in any way conducive to a restful night's sleep!  Sooooo, I traded in most of the cultural seasonal demands of celebrating that even seep into church life this time of year to stay close to home, close to my daughter, and closer to God through scripture.  I had to sit in the quiet to allow my heart to prepare Him room.

After this advent season,  I feel so much clearer about God's presence among us in the world, and so less sure of my own place within His design.  I think that's exactly where He wants me to be, in a place of reliance on His leading every minute of the day.  One scripture whose meaning deepened for me this advent is this:

1 Corinthians 13:12-13  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then, face to face.  Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.  And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

What a comfort to my soul, that I am Known. In these past few weeks I have witnessed great expressions of His hope amidst tragedy, I have listened to people's struggles for which my only answer could be to love, and I have seen the fulfillment of hope no longer deferred in the birth of my dear friends' adopted baby daughter.  Somehow I have been woven into the tapestry of these lives and received great blessing by them all.

Merry Christmas, friends! May His light and love continue to burn brightly in your lives this Christmas season!  Much love in His wonderful name,

Michelle