I’m thinking of putting my Christmas tree up early. . . it’s the kind of year it’s been. It’s been a year requiring long waits – long waits for healing from spinal-fusion surgery. Many in our community have experienced long waits in temporary housing until “home” has either been salvaged, rebuilt or roots replanted due to the devastating tornado that came through on the edge of winter. A new grandson was born after a nine month wait. A new book was released after the birth of the need, the idea, the words, the talent of the lovely Linda Farrington Wilson gave it visual life. Oh, Man – so much waiting stopping me from what I want to do, to get done now, to achieve, to overcome, to do, to do, to do – at least that used to be my attitude about waiting. A Wait always seems like it’s interrupting the flow of a story, as if it doesn’t belong when really the wait is the important part of the story!

Since I started blogging in 2009, one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that the most important part of living happens in the wait of a prayer sent out – because it’s really how you live in that wait, how you spend that wait time living faith that makes all the soul difference in a world of waiting.

I’ve looked behind me at all the waits – now I want to refocus on what is before me – the remembrance of who holds life in the wait, of who we all wait with anticipation for the return of. . . Our Savior.

The Christmas Tree coming up reminds me of what this Christmas season is all about. . . but friends, it’s not a season. It’s a way of life. . . all year long, all life long.

“This time we are in marks the ‘not yet’ between the birth of Jesus and His return. You are are living in Advent as we work, play, and grow. We are an Advent people” ~ Mary Geisen, The Advent Narrative.

Mary Geisen’s fresh-off-the-press book, The Advent Narrative is a salient beautiful reminder that advent isn’t just a way of living November 29 through December 24. It is a way of living, waiting for our Savior’s return. . . living relationship with Him, building relationship, a growing, grOWing, GROWING relationship.

In the waiting is where our souls change, grow, become more like our Father’s design for us – and that wait is designed by how we live holy expectation, even in the wilderness, even in the hard challenge.

“Wilderness living stretches every part of who we are but God provides, protects, and promises goodness through it all” ~ Mary Geisen, The Advent Narrative.

Jesus came over 2000 years ago. . . but, friends, He’s still coming again. Advent living isn’t just four weeks in November and December. It’s a way of life, this waiting for our Savior to return. The four week advent is about remembering a child born, a promise fulfilled. We are waiting on a new promise – the promise Christ gave us, that He is returning, that He is coming to take us home, and we need to be waiting with anticipation.

I am thankful God fulfills His promises! That He sent His son to redeem us – and thankful Jesus is not just coming again, but that He is there with us in the wait, in the easy and hard of the wait. Are you as excited about His coming as you are Christmas Morning?

Advent is upon us, friends!

Maybe I should leave that tree up all year long!

(To learn more about her book, pop over to Mary’s Blog, Mary Geisen)

Remember Me Monday: #23 & Linky

“I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings,
    all the things God has done that need praising,
All the generous bounties of God,
    his great goodness to the family of Israel—
Compassion lavished,
    love extravagant.”
~ Isaiah 63:7, The Message

In the Old Testament, God repeatedly, quietly and loudly, tells his children, “You have forgotten me!”  (Jeremiah 3:32, Ezekiel 22:12, to name a few). It’s a heart cry from a father to a child who has forgotten all the love, all the saving, helping, little and big blessings – and it leaves me stunned when I realize our Father, the creator of the universe, who knows things I cannot begin to fathom, who authors storylines that leave me amazed, delights in all of us so much, He cries out, “Remember Me.”

While every day is a Remember God Day, I am inviting you to join me on Monday mornings to come by and remember what God has done for you, for your family. Maybe God sent a cardinal darting out in front of you, as if to tell you, “I’m here,” or broke a child’s fever after you laid it all down at His feet in a 2 a.m. bedside vigil. Maybe He stood with you in the wait of a prayer sent out, or brought someone you loved to Christ. Maybe He healed your broken heart, gave your courage, or you gave Him your dreams as a love offering only to have Him give them back in an unimaginable way. Maybe God helped you survive to bedtime after a crazy Monday, or forgive yourself for missing it with your kiddos –– Whatever it is, let’s Remember Him. . . in a “Remember Me Monday” love letter.

“My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
Of your salvation all the day long,
Though I know not its measure.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord”
~ Psalm 71:15-16.

Let us delight in Him by telling the  stories of what He’s done!  If you wrote a blog post remembering what He’s done for you, join the linky. If you didn’t but still want to praise Him for what He’s done – write it in the comment section. Then visit a comment before or after yours! One of the beautiful things about the blogging community is the relationships it builds!

Rules?  Write long or short, a list or a story, include photos or not. Just Remember Him and what He has done, and let the gratitude of your heart guide you. Let’s make Monday so Rejoice, that the goodness of God spills into the rest of the week!

Places I’m Linking at This Week:
 Inspire Me Monday, Grace & Truth,  
Purposeful Faith, Tell His Story, 
https://welcomeheart.com/blog, Worth Beyond Rubies,
Share a Link Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee, 
Grace and Truth, Faith on Fire,