Advent 2025 - Day 1 - Nov. 30
Today is the start of Advent and we light the first candle - the candle of Hope.
Advent is often called “Little Lent” as it has the theme of penance, prayer, fasting…
But during Advent “Joy” is more evident throughout the season because we are preparing the way for the coming of Jesus. Make Him room - in our hearts, in our prayer lives, in our everyday actions.
Everyday, I am planning on making small daily journals here as I proceed through the season…my hope is, it will help me and perhaps someone who stumbles across it ❤️
Since this year, we are not decorating for Christmas due to my post surgical situation, I am hoping I will have more attention to this process. For on most years, I am all geared up and ready to go on day 1 of Advent and then come along Day 5,6, 7…..I fall off the wagon.
This year I hope to truly “prepare the way”…
Peace be unto you!
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Day 2 - Dec. 1
Waiting in faith…
God works quietly, often unseen.
Faith is not about controlling the outcome, rather surrendering to the one who holds the outcome in his hand. I had a lesson in this very statement this year. I was in severe pain. Excruciating at times, really. It worked on my head, my spirit, my emotions and eroded my peace. I never pray really for myself. I really am always focused on prayers for others. I cried out to God this spring, summer and fall…I would cry: “help me Lord, take my suffering and unite it to your suffering on the cross for the redemption of mankind.” When you are in the middle of a situation like that, constant day in day out pain…it is easy for the enemy to enter. Thoughts would come: I’m never going to feel better, I’m squandering my opportunity to carry my cross, others suffer better than I do, I’m weak…
After my surgery I saw immediately after the first drug hazed, pain filled week that although I thought I was carrying my cross alone, I wasn’t. God was there with me in that pain, walking beside me. And when I became totally hopeless, because I did, he pushed me, dragged me along to keep me on the road to recovery. He was always with me. I’m not going to say the last year was easy, and I’m no longer saying I didn’t carry my cross well. I’m saying I carried it the best I could in my waiting for surgery - some days I carried it well, others I laid it down and flung myself upon it and cried in despair. Surgery was this distant thing…one I knew I needed, but dreaded it because of fear. I waited as best I could.
A holy waiting…that’s what Advent is. I might stumble. I might fall. I might doubt myself and my abilities. But during those times…that is when God shares my load. Surrender. A holy surrender and allowing him to work in me, while I wait for the coming joy.
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Day 3 - Dec. 2
God is a promise keeper. Through reading the story of salvation, I know he keeps his promises.
“For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” - Phillipians 4:13
written by Paul while he was in prison. That’s a pretty dire situation being in prison and if Paul can depend on God’s promise, his trust in him, I know I can in my life. And I have many times in my life. Trust. That’s the word…and the most repeated phrase in the Bible: Fear not….or….Do not be afraid, which in my mind means: Trust, surrender, rest in Him. And I will. I do.
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