Hey, friends! Here we are in Advent. Even if we're still noshing on Thanksgiving leftovers, we turn our hearts and minds toward Christmas, the coming of Jesus as the Savior of the world. Advent is for you and me, the imperfect ones with messy stories, prayers that haven't been answered yet, and hopes that might be hanging on a single thread. Let's launch this "Harper-Caine Advent Adventure" together and enter in with open hands and hearts ready to find comfort and hope in the God who loves us enough to join us in the mess.
"Have any of you gotten everything you wanted for Christmas your whole life? Part of Advent is dealing with the fact that there's a poignancy to preparing for Christmas… where we actually acknowledge we need more hope, we need more peace, we need more joy!" ~ Lisa
I love that Lisa shared that unmet expectations actually set up to celebrate Advent the most deeply. Isn't that just like God? His bread and butter is to turn what is bad into good, what is sad into rejoicing, what is lost into what is so deeply found. This week, we get into Malachi and remember that God Himself, the Great I Am, listens to our groans and complaints, our disappointments and dissatisfaction, and even our challenges to Him and He already has redemption and restoration planned. He welcomes us no matter where we are and what we're feeling and draws us into Himself in our flawed, distressed state with open arms and with gifts to bestow.
"Don't you love that God allowed them to argue with Him? I love that we don't have to be perfect!" ~ Lisa
When it doesn't go the way you expected or wanted, we can go to God with all of that. He loves us. He loves us enough to hear our complaints, our frustrations, our hurts, and our disputes against Him. That's a good God! He's loving enough to hear us scream, "You're not fair!" and offer not only comfort, but also Himself in return.
What dreams have you given up on? What prayers have you let get dusty in the waiting? If you're in that place of giving up because the hurt is too big or the wait is too long, hang on!
Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. — Malachi 3:1
"Christmas is coming! Emmanuel is right around the corner!" ~ Lisa
Advent is for us. Even when our hearts are just wrecked with pain, division, loss, disappointment, or the death of your dreams… we don't have to give up on hope.
Jesus Himself, God incarnate, comes close. He's with us in it. He joins us in our joys and in our suffering.
"We have a Savior who is with us. He's not a far-away God. That's the hope we hang onto." ~ Lisa
Let's hang onto that this first week of Advent, the first week of this study. He's not far away. He's right here. Amen!
~ Laurie
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