A pink dawn glows through the library windows as I softly pad through the room in bare feet. Santa stands on the round side table, clothed in leopard print and burlap, a silent guard to this first day of December. It’s time to begin my advent readings.
A stack of Advent devotionals lies at Santa’s feet, a lofty goal that will never be met in this frenzied season, but I will certainly try. The two books atop the pile will be first priority. One with short daily readings, the second a bit longer but doable. Maybe I’ll incorporate an afternoon teatime reading.
Wouldn’t that be lovely.
This holy season sneaks up more quickly with each passing year. As life marches forward, the pedal presses ever harder on the accelerator. I dream of long, slow days with hours upon hours in which to read all the books on that shelf…you know the one. For you, it may be your bedside table or the coffee table in your living room. In my house, it is the shelf where I store the unread, waiting books that somehow continue to grow in number faster than I can consume them. So many books, so little time.
I sigh.
Jesus is coming.
In the quiet I can almost hear the angel interrupting the world.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? He is coming, he has come, he is here.
And I feel him now, that deep and abiding peace he brings. Though so much demands my attention, in this moment my frantic heart slows and I settle in to the big comfy chair as I read of the God who intervened. Out of that long-dead stump that had been cut down and left to rot, a shoot of life grew and grows. A shoot that will be an arrow piercing the heart of the accuser, pushing back against hell’s darkness to bring at last the light of salvation.
Hope.
Yes, today I will consume a big dose of hope and remember.
Jesus is coming.
Jesus has come.
He is here.
Glory to God.
A pink dawn glows through the library windows as I softly pad through the room in bare feet. Santa stands on the round side table, clothed in leopard print and burlap, a silent guard to this first day of December. It’s time to begin my advent readings.
A stack of Advent devotionals lies at Santa’s feet, a lofty goal that will never be met in this frenzied season, but I will certainly try. The two books atop the pile will be first priority. One with short daily readings, the second a bit longer but doable. Maybe I’ll incorporate an afternoon teatime reading.
Wouldn’t that be lovely.
This holy season sneaks up more quickly with each passing year. As life marches forward, the pedal presses ever harder on the accelerator. I dream of long, slow days with hours upon hours in which to read all the books on that shelf…you know the one. For you, it may be your bedside table or the coffee table in your living room. In my house, it is the shelf where I store the unread, waiting books that somehow continue to grow in number faster than I can consume them. So many books, so little time.
I sigh.
Jesus is coming.
In the quiet I can almost hear the angel interrupting the world.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? He is coming, he has come, he is here.
And I feel him now, that deep and abiding peace he brings. Though so much demands my attention, in this moment my frantic heart slows and I settle in to the big comfy chair as I read of the God who intervened. Out of that long-dead stump that had been cut down and left to rot, a shoot of life grew and grows. A shoot that will be an arrow piercing the heart of the accuser, pushing back against hell’s darkness to bring at last the light of salvation.
Hope.
Yes, today I will consume a big dose of hope and remember.
Jesus is coming.
Jesus has come.
He is here.
Glory to God.
What I am reading…
The Expected One by Scott James
The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp
Hidden Christmas by Timothy Keller
The Advent of the Lamp of God by Russ Ramsey
What are you reading? Please share in the comments!
Arundelle Green 