The time is now, for you have called
The place is now, for you have spoken
Yes, it is a wilderness, a desert even
So dry, so rough, so uneven
Yes, the gap is so very wide between the high and the low
But, you have called, O God. You have spoken.
Not an if or when or maybe. Not even a try.
You have spoken shall
Every valley shall be lifted
Every mountain shall be made low
The uneven shall be made level
The rough shall be made smooth
So we will persevere
in this wilderness of preparing
We will not forge a path or blaze a trail
but make a highway
A highway for your coming
For your glory, O God
Shall be revealed in this place
And all shall see it
All shall see it together
~ Shall, by Lisa Degrenia
What is your favorite way to prepare for Christmas? Leave a comment below.
In the Christian tradition, there are four weeks of preparation called Advent leading up to the celebration of Jesus' birth at Christmas.
Advent means "coming." In this season, Christians recognize three comings- the first coming of Jesus thousands of years ago, the coming of Jesus now through the scriptures and in others ways, and the time when Jesus will come again.
Many Christians include an Advent wreath as part of their holiday decorations. It includes 4 candles. You say a prayer then light one candle the first week, two the second week, three the third week, and all four the fourth week.
This year, I included an olive wood figure of a pregnant woman in my Advent wreath. It symbolizes my desire to make room for the goodness and fullness of God to be born in me. I want to be as intentional preparing inwardly as I am preparing outwardly. I want my faith to "show" in lifegiving ways.
What are your hopes for this holy season?
Here's the prayer I'm using this year. I pray it is a blessing to you.
Every year we light candles as we prepare for your coming. More and more candles, more and more light, as we watch and wait for you.
Come, O Come, Emmanuel. God with us.
We come from a world of weariness into your strength and hope. We come from a world of darkness into your world of light. We come from a world of slumber into your awakening
Come, O Come, Emmanuel. God with us.
Advent Wreath Prayer by Lisa Degrenia
#advent #adventwreath #preparingforChristmas #christmaspreparations #christmasdecorations #adventwreathprayer #christianspirituality #godwithus #godisnear #stoplooklisten #soulcare #spiritualcare #intentionalchristmas #encounteringgod #spiritualpractice #mindfulnesspractice #spiritualdiscipline #meansofgrace #fullypresent #listeningtogod #christianprayer #christmasprayer
This Thanksgiving, I want to remember and re-member.
I have enough. There is enough. My contentment rests in this grace. My responsibility is to share and receive so all may know this.
God is good and God is enough. I can make a commitment to God because I trust God is good and near.
I am enough. All the blessings are gifts. Every opportunity for serving and sharing is a gift. No need to earn them, buy them, or hustle for them. God delights in me. I am enough just as I am and this truth can be my core identity.
Today is the Super Bowl of Consumerism and Hustle and Medicating with Stuff, Black Friday. May this reminder bring you great grace, as it did for me.
I'm not perfect in my remembering, but I know where I'm heading. Let's go there together and help each other along the way.
#blackfriday #consummerism #shoppingtherapy #enoughisenough #enough #remember #godsblessing #stoplooklisten #fullypresent #identity #whoiam #imagodei #godisnear #christianspirituality #newbirth #newlife #righteousness #spiritualmaturity #graceupongrace #godsgrace #iamenough #contentment #trustgod #godisenough #ihaveenough
Here's my offering to the #10yearchallenge. Both are vacation pictures, the top in Colorado, the bottom in Chicago. Thank you to my beloved Elyse for putting this together.
Thursday, we'll have most of the family together, which is a rare and beautiful thing. Pictures like this remind me of that. I hope you have time with your dear ones this week.
Happy Thanksgiving dear ones. Yes, you are dear to me! May you feast - rich in love and belonging and grace.
What blessing would you offer the world this thanksgiving? Leave a comment below.
#happythanksgiving #thanksgiving2019 #blessingonblessing #leaveablessing #thanksgivingblessing #countyourblessings
#godsblessing #gratitudemoment #glorysighting #graceupongrace #happymama #stoplooklisten #fullypresent #loveoneanother #familytime #familylove #familymoments #familyforever #familymatters #familygathering #familytrip
