Taking Every Thought Captive...: Thanksgiving break and the start of Advent

What is it about the holidays that make me want to stay up past 2am every night? Maybe the majestic draw of my bed is null once I adjust to it getting dark before 5pm every night? Maybe it's the desire to browse online shopping websites in search of the perfect gifts? Or could it be my craving for tradition and comfort that cause me to bake pies in convection ovens or attempt to make pozole or watch Love's Christmas Journey even if it's after midnight? Is it just me or are all paper garlands far more alluring during the holidays? Aren't the holidays a great excuse to add some glitter to everything? Am I the only one who eats more ice cream during winter than during summer? I think it might be that it's so beautiful outside that I wait til dark to begin "winter-ish" activities. Or that "winter-ish" gives permission to movie nights being a socially acceptable form of gathering. Really the holidays make all forms of gathering socially acceptable.

I celebrated "Friendsgiving" for the first time this year. I baked a cranberry-apple pie from scratch. I went to two thanksgivings on thanksgiving day...good ol' split families. I drove to Tucson and back by myself with one hand (guess what? My should is really hurt! I even went to see a dr! PT starts this week..but that a whole other story! Let's just say ice, Motrin and percogesic have been very good friends of mine)

I drove 11 of those 12 hours listening to audiobooks like a nerd and absolutely loved every moment of it. I tell you Louis Lowry is a great driving buddy!

While in some regards I have just been going through the motions and trying to find hope for the holiday season with all its emotion... Today being the first day of Advent, I listened to our pastor teach on HOPE which is the prophecy candle and first candle of Advent traditionally. It was a very encouraging sermon but three things really stuck out to me- Advent celebrates the hope of the glory of Christ coming down to save us...His birth, the hope of the glory of Christ coming up from the grave when He had victory over sin and death, AND the hope of Christ IN me and the coming glory of His return for me.

I love all things Christmas-- honestly, nativity related and otherwise! But how much more insane is it to think of Christmas Cheer as the hope of Christ in me? the fact that I'm not marooned here forever- he's coming back for me! That's so amazing. I so don't deserve that hope, but it's all mine. Christmas is so much more than movie nights and different ways to eat turkey until you don't want to see it for a year.. It's a celebration of HOPE and the chance to share it with others. I was really convicted that in all my self-evaluation and conscientiousness, I haven't been intentionally giving true and lasting hope to others as I have been called to do. And no one blames me. And no one expects it of me. I'm just a twenty-something year old "finding myself" and exploring the world around me, right? That can't be all that I am. At least, not if the hope of glory is in me.

Lord, plant me in hope and give me the wisdom and boldness to share it with others in big ways and small ways. Don't let me get distracted by gilded ornaments or doorbuster sales, but would you please make my focus on Your return? Will you heal my heart and rid me of my selfish attempts to cope and live and replace it with a deeply passionate love for your people and for the lost and for my own family in front of me? Will you please overwhelm me with your love and help me to worship you fully in all the days that are to come? You are so good and so kind and so holy. Thank you for coming to us! Thank you for your life and your death, for your resurrection and your promise to return. I love you, would you help me to love You more this holiday season?

Photo recap: