God is with you this Thanksgiving and throughout the Season of Advent…
Last Sunday we gathered together with Clare’s mom and dad (89 and 86), her dad’s last living sister, Clare’s siblings, nephews, nieces our kids and g-kids! With 16 g&gr-kids who couldn’t come, her sister Donna and our son Paul in heaven, Clare’s mom and dad have done their job in being fruitful and multiplying! Yes, its a mob of Italian’s! (pun intended!) The Senior Living Community where they live made room for a loud and crazy bunch of people. Even though we are in the midst of difficulty and are experiencing loss this holiday season, we looked for ways to thank God for all that we have been given.
Last week Scott along with our grandsons put up the family room Christmas tree. This is one of 2 trees Scott makes room for in his schedule as a HIGH PRIORITY. Through the years we have experienced many difficult and many fun-filled holiday seasons. For us it’s not about what is happening (difficult or fun) but about making room for God to be with us in whatever that particular season held for us. For Scott, he would love for Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas and Christmastide to go on forever! “In everything give thanks” is intentional for him. He considers the “Holidays” opportunity to share the “Good News” that God is always with us. Always.
As we celebrate the four Sundays of Advent that lead to Christmas we plan to take it slow. Each week we will take time to learn from those in the Scripture who were waiting for the Messiah to come. We read the scriptures that tell us the story of others who wait for God to come. As we read about Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Anna and Simeon, we are schooled in the art of waiting for God. We have also read the END of the Christmas Story and we know that Jesus indeed has come! The same Holy Spirit that overshadowed Mary, as she received the gift of Jesus, now lives in us!
The word Advent literally means “arrival.” So for us, Advent feels more of an invitation to “make-room” than to just wait. So, how are you doing with the One who has already arrived? Is there room? How about we make room! Lets make room for God in our busy lives. Lets make room for people who haven’t met Jesus yet. Consider ways to host God’s presence and host the presence of people during these holidays or better yet, “holy-days.”
Some people love these holy-days, others dread them depending on what and Who we make-room to host. If we are planning to host God and people who need to experience the love of God, we may just crowd out feelings of loneliness, sadness, stinginess and dread. Imagine what might happen if we made-room for God and people at our table, in our church, in our overbooked schedules? Friends, we believe that if we make room, we will experience the miracles of the God who comes.
We make room for God’s arrival with earnest expectation because God has a reputation for being faithful and showing up. We make room with joyful hope because God is with us, even when we are least aware of it. We make room for people at our table, in our church who need to hear the Good News of Jesus. Make-room this season for the God who always comes.
Ways to make room this week:
- Give thanks in your waiting and losses
- Pray for those who need to know God has come.
- Plan to host someone in your home who needs to experience God’s love.
- Plan to host someone at church this Sunday. Invite them and sit with them.
We Give Thanks for each of you and are praying for you to experience the tenderness and the power of God’s love~
Praying for all of us to make room…
Scott and clare