We are quickly approaching the season of Advent. The time when we prepare and open our hearts to a Savior, who was born one silent night in a stable. Advent gives us the gift of time to follow a story that is beautiful, miraculous and life giving. It is the beginning of saving grace and redemption. It is a time for the priming of our hearts. We can choose to get ready and embrace this story or turn away to the commercialism that envelops every pore this time of year. Which will you choose?
I am learning how to pause busyness and instead choose to open wide to the possibilities that God is preparing for me. Every moment should not be filled so full that the space is crowded and hard to maneuver. Advent is a treasured gift waiting to be unwrapped. It reaches for us and I am learning to stretch my arms to reach back.
I am a lover of a good story. I find myself studying the whys behind a story, but mostly watching keenly how a story unfolds. Advent is my time to dive deep into story – how God’s story and ours intersects and becomes His story of grace.
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Throughout Advent, I will begin to explore story. Beginnings and endings with all the grace in between. A chance to pause in the chaos to reflect on our beginning. To look deeply into how grace is the thread that binds us all together. God’s story is our story and it is beautiful.
The Old Testament documents the beginning of story. Creation opens wide and spreads across the earth. Day and night mark its passage and man and woman take their first walk in the Garden of Eden. Our lineage begins here and unfolds as the story continues. Many twists and turns later we find ourselves in a chapter that paints a picture of two births. Both of which make all the difference in this story of grace.
Join me for a walk through the pages of a story that births the greatest one ever told. This time of Advent will take us on a journey to not only recreate the birth of our Savior, but one that explores our own stories. We will work on the priming of our hearts to create a space that is ready for Jesus. When our hearts are primed for God to enter, we are better able to accept the gift of grace.
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Join the journey of the story of grace unfolding.
Mary
Love linking with these beautiful blogs!
It sounds wonderful, Mary. To probe into the way His story invaded our history with the greatest story ever told is an amazing thing to do. May God give you inspiration, strength and grace to write during this busy season. I hope to join you as often as I can but I may not be blogging quite as much during Advent. It’s a period where I sense a need to withdraw a while and focus my limited energy elsewhere. But I get such a lift and blessing to read your posts that I’m sure to pop by often even if I may fail to leave a comment! Looking forward to hearing more. Blessings and hugs. Xx <3
I understand that need to withdraw. For some reason, I am processing it here on the screen for all to see. I pray that you find this season of Advent to be restoring and renewing as we open our hearts for the amazing love of Jesus. Blessings my dear friend!
Love this, Mary: “Advent is my time to dive deep into story – how God’s story and ours intersects and becomes His story of grace.” This series sounds really good and needed in the busyness of this season! Thank you!
Thank you Angela for your sweet words. I am praying that we open our hearts to all the work God needs to do in and around us during this season of Advent and all year round. Blessings!
I would love to prime my heart for the celebration of Christ’s birth, Mary! So I look forward to the unfolding of precious stories that stir our love and worship of the Savior who came as a babe. Hugs to you and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, my friend!
I am always thankful that we connected in the blogging world. Knowing that I have the beautiful support of friends like you makes all the difference in this solitary world of writing. Blessings and happy Advent!
Growing up in a very legalistic, rigid “assembly of brethren” (sisterns too) 🙂 we didn’t “do” Advent but I think it is one of the most important practices we should follow. The coming of the Christ. As I wrote 31 Days of Christmas last December, writing daily for all 31 days I found the anticipation growing with each passing day. It truly made my December a holy time. This year, I plan to re-read a couple of Advent books on my shelf: Ann Voskamp’s and Liz Curtis Higgs. I didn’t read them last year because I wanted nothing to skew my writing what the Lord wanted written. xo
I cannot imagine not taking the time to prepare for what has become the greatest story ever told. With that said, I have not always felt this way. God has a way of working in us to teach and lead us forward.
Hope your Thanksgiving was blessed. Happy Advent!
I love the idea of being ‘primed’ I look forward to this season of birth and rebirth–during the winter months, the deep rebirth work is being done deep in the roots where no one sees it. I look forward to the ways God will work through me.
What an edifying blog post series this will be!
I loved how you referred to the “priming of our hearts” for and during Advent.
Thank you so much for sharing and encouraging us along in our walk during this Advent season.
Blessings to you.
Thank you, Karen! I am praying that God leads my words but also my heart as I prepare and open my blogging home to all of you to join me. Blessings as we celebrate Thanksgiving this week.
I love the season of Advent and
your decision to carve out time to “dive deep into story – how God’s story and ours intersects and becomes His story of grace”. I yearn to share Advent with my (unbelieving) husband and children as well. I’m praying for wisdom in how to do this, in how to allow my heart to prepare and share what touches me to the core, but not threaten and push.
BTW I feel blessed to have grown up in a culture (and family) far removed from the pull of commercialism. I’ve never felt it push me and am grateful for that.
Thank you for being here and sharing your own heart. I will be praying for you and your family as Advent begins and we learn to open our hearts to the beautiful story God wrote for each of us. I love that you are removed from commercialism because it is such a distraction. Blessings on your family this Thanksgiving!
Mary, I loved what you said about God’s story and ours intersecting and becoming His story of grace. So beautifully said! I’m looking forward to the opportunity to slow down and ponder Jesus’ birth, all that surrounded it, and the lasting impact His life on earth had/has. I’m looking forward to reading your posts. 🙂
Have a wonder-filled Thanksgiving!
You are such a dear! Thank you for blessing me with these words of encouragement. I have been loving the connection we have had with our words lately. I pray that as we walk through Advent, we learn how to enjoy the story along the way as well as how God chose us to be part of His own story. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Mary! I’m sorry I won’t be walking with you through the story, I’ll be on blog-break. But I know it will be a thoughtful and loving reflection of the Advent/Christmas story.
May God bless you and yours this Thanksgiving, and bring you peace and joy for the Christmas Season! I hope your Advent will find you front and center in the story…because that’s where God wants you to be 🙂
Blessings always,
Ceil
I will miss you but I know you will treasure the time with family. That is a gift that you can be thankful for.
I love how you hope I will be front and center in the story this Advent season. What a great perspective! Blessings during this time away. May you find the treasure of God and family to be exactly what you need.
I love how you describe God’s story and ours intersecting and becoming His story of grace. I am looking forward to reading your Advent story unfolding, Mary. Have a Blessed Thanksgiving and a wonder-filled Advent!
Yes! Love getting our family into Advent! We have a Jessie Tree and plan to do that again this year!
I am learning how important it is for all of us to take the time during Advent to truly prepare our hearts. It’s now as if this is the only time of year that we should be doing this but we need to definitely give ourselves this gift during Advent. I am sure your tradition of the Jesse Tree in Advent is a blessing for your kids. Happy Thanksgiving, friend!
Love this! Advent is my most favorite time of the year. It truly does open our hearts and prime them. Our stories are indeed a part of God’s bigger story. I actually keep a nativity scene up all year round to remind me that we shouldn’t just celebrate Jesus one day a year but every day of the year. Love this: “Advent is a treasured gift waiting to be unwrapped. It reaches for us and I am learning to stretch my arms to reach back.” Yes and amen!
I have a beautiful Nativity scene that I should consider keeping out all year too. We need to keep our hearts open to the beautiful gift we received from Jesus all year round. Thank you for that idea! Praying you have a beautiful Thanksgiving!
I love your emphasis here on story. There are so many delicious subplots within the Christmas story, and I never get tired of them. It is as we bring our own stories into the Biblical narrative that we connect with the Story Teller — and with one another as well, which is an added gift.
Thank you for your gift of words today, and a Happy Thanksgiving!
There are truly many beautiful stories. I hope I do some of them justice as well as point out the connection of our stories through the power of grace. May God lead me in this unfolding of Advent and become the Master Storyteller for all. Thanksgiving blessings!
Oh No! I meant “Thanksgiving”.
I am sorry about that.
I know how auto correct can make up such unusual words!!! No Worries!
Hello Mary, Happy thnaksgiving!
Yes! Priming our hearts and focusing on what the heart beat of this season is “Jesus Christ”.
I would be glad to read through your mini series, friend.
Hugs and Blessings to you
Thank you sweet, friend! You bless me every time you join me here. I am praying that God opens all of our hearts to hearing His words and understanding that our stories are no accident in His eyes. Blessings!