Advent ~ Some Perspective

On Monday I was stressed and discouraged; I wrote about it, but more importantly, I prayed about it.

I found some quiet moments, and I took a few deep breaths.  I picked my 19 year-old daughter from work at 10:30 Monday night, and when we got home, she spontaneously decided to bless me by cleaning the kitchen!  Waking up early Tuesday morning, I stopped looking for Advent devotionals, prayers, readings, etc., and I did the ones here and here.  I set up our wreath and candles.  Last night, I did some decluttering, and some more praying.  Again this morning, I lit a candle, prayed, tried to be still, tried to listen.  Then I put on my playlist, and I did some more decluttering.  Tonight, I cleaned the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers out of the fridge, and I am making a shopping list.

I have a better perspective.  Advent is a time of preparation after all, and it is a season.

I read a great post here and was encouraged:

" Where we are is just where we are. Thankfully, God knows where that is and is perfectly capable of finding us and meeting us there. Advent is a season of preparation...a whole season to get ready! It is nice to have some things in order beforehand, but scrambling around in a dither to make everything ready before Advent even starts isn't really good for anyone. " 

I am starting where I am, taking one baby-step at a time, preparing my home and my heart, and focusing on the Light.

Advent ~ True Confessions

I bought Advent candles.

That's it.

My house is a wreck.

Seriously.

No. Seriously!

I have spent wasted the better part of the past week on the computer: looking, bookmarking, typing, sprucing, decorating.

On the computer.

The first day of Advent came

and went.

That's it.

I make excuses: "Not everybody's here; I haven't found the wreath prayers that i really want; my husband and kids don't even care about Advent; I can't get anybody's help; excuses; excuses; excuses!"  The truth is that I would rather plan than do; I would rather be lazy than work; I would rather withdraw and avoid than embrace the much-less-than-idyllic reality of my life.

But isn't that the reason He came?  Isn't that the reason for Advent ~ the reason for the season?  Wasn't everything about His coming oh-so-much-less-than-idyllic: Roman occupation, unwed mother, a stable, shepherds, fallen humanity . . .

. . . me?

Yes, He came for me.

 I need Advent ~ not my house, and more than my kids ~ I need Advent ~ deep in my soul ~ I need Advent ~ not just something that looks like Advent or sounds like Advent, but His coming.

" Into my heart, into my heart,

Come into my heart, LORD Jesus.

Come in today; come in to stay.

Come into my heart, LORD Jesus. "

Advent Playlist