My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. Psalm 45:1

Jesus, thank you for coming into my doubt and surprising me with grace, for I don’t always trust that you will rescue me from myself.  Forgive me for moments, minutes, days and weeks when I made Christmas about doing more and being with you less. Help me to believe that I am a full-fledged member of your family and not a tolerated visitor taking up space. I long to call you Father but shame insists I haven’t earned daughter just yet. Give me the courage to leave what is undone in the past; to utter Immanuel and live in perfect Peace. Make this 25th day of December a hopeful celebration for what is yet to be, an expectant quiet marker of your powerful presence showing up more than just one day a year. Amen!

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:4-7

Thank you for joining me this Advent. I hope that the weekly stories, scriptures and prayers have helped you to hustle less and rest more in the holiness of God. Merry Christmas from my house to yours!