I love most everything about the holiday season ... I love creating a warm and cozy home, the decorating of our home for winter and for Christmas, soaking up the warmth of our electric fireplace stove on a snowy day, the anticipation of having precious family home, the baking of goodies, and all the preparations for Family Christmas Day. I always have loved this special season.
It isn't all perfect, of course. And the older I get, the less energy I have to do the things that I love. But I still love it.
And with each year, I find myself more in need of focusing on caring for my heart amidst all the preparations. I am more aware of my weaknesses, emotionally and physically. I am more aware of my need of His strength. Each day. Each day becomes a space to be deeply blessed by the gift of His Presence. The gift of Emmanuel: God with us.
I imagine that you are the same. Each year of our lives brings more uncertainties, more people that we care so deeply about, and more opportunities to draw closer to Jesus.
An advent reading is one tool to help keep my heart anchored on what is most important during this joyous and busy season. This year I will be re-reading the advent devotional that I read two years ago in 2023 ... Pursuing the Christ: Prayers for Christmastime by Jennifer Kennedy Dean. It contains two short readings for each day, one in the morning and one in the evening. And each one, written as a prayer ...
Pictured above are two other advent readings that I have read through in recent years ... each one, so helpful to keep our hearts on track with what is most important. The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp, and Emmanuel by Ruth Chou Simons.
