Will I Receive the Gift?

by Joan Kelley, Director of Facilitator Development and oneLifemaps Facilitator

For the last 3 weeks of Advent we have considered several questions in this blog.  Are you listening?  Will you open the door?  Will I bring my gift to Him?  I wonder what questions God may be having you consider this week as we approach the last days of Advent.  What are you pondering in your heart?

I think God calls us to celebrate Advent –past, present and future.  We look back and celebrate thefirst Advent when Jesus was born.  We look forward to the second Advent when He will return.  But how do we live into Advent in the present moment?  How are you preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ today, in this moment?  In a culture that is calling us to fill our minds and hearts with things of this world, what will we chose that draws us closer to Christ this Christmas?  Will we make room?  Will we empty the clutter, chaos and clamor that loudly call us away from Him?  Will we begin to make daily choices with our time and resources that draw us toward him?

During Advent, God is calling us to Bethlehem.  He wants us to prepare the way to the baby.  But too often, I prepare the way but I never walk all the way into the manger.  I stand outside and look in.  I smile and wave and drop off my gift but never step all the way in.  I think God is calling me to come closer to the baby and really receive the gift.  This year I think He’s calling me to pick Him up and unwrap the gift that is sitting right in front of me.

Will I embrace Him fully this year?  Will I touch Him and smile at Him and gaze at Him?  Will I pick up the baby and receive the gift He has for me?  Will I bring the gift of myself to Him?  Will I open the door to receive Him?  Will I listen; really listen for his voice at the manager this year?

Scripture:

^“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. “–Luke 2:16-20

Prayer:

Father, help us to prepare the way, to wait for you with joy and anticipation, as we slow our pace and try to savor you in each moment.  Help us to celebrate Advent in new and fresh ways in these final days before Christmas.  Amen.

Joan Kelley is a facilitator and teacher using the “Listen to My Life:  Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story,” a visual workbook to be used in small groups, mentoring relationships, workshops, retreats, classes, between spiritual friends, or individually to re-discover the storyline of the life they are authoring with God.   More information is available at www.oneLifemaps.com or contact us at Email Joan.   Joan writes a blog at
www.caringbridge.org/visit/willkelley.