A gift for me...and a gift for you too!

One of the things I most look forward to during the Advent season is a one-day retreat hosted by the women's ministry at my former church.

It is so nice to get away, quiet my heart and mind, center myself, and usher in the peace of Christ during this often chaotic season.

I debated about going this year. Much has transpired in the last month or so that has me feeling a bit out of whack. Things feel hurried and while I'm not at the stressed out point (yet), I keep feeling like I need to maximize every minute of every day. Giving up an entire day felt costly. Especially since I've already been away from my family so much lately.

However, I knew that going would be good for my heart (and it WAS).

The Advent retreat is always led by my beautiful friend, Jan. I never fail to walk away from the day stunned at the ways she leads us into our own hearts and into the heart of God.

Yesterday was no exception.

As I was driving to the retreat yesterday morning, I was talking to God about the range of emotion I am feeling this year. Everything from worry to sadness to anger. I was also a little unsure of what I was stepping into because I was going back into the church that we stepped away from a few months ago. I have so many dear friends there, but was a little worried that I would feel a bit like an outsider this time. It sounds silly to even voice that, but if I'm honest I know that I can so easily undermine myself. So, while driving, I was praying and asking God to open my heart to receive what He had in store for me yesterday and I very clearly heard Him say to my heart, "Meredith, this is a day for you to feel loved on...by your friends and by Me. Just receive it...it is a gift."

My tears started flowing immediately because I so needed that.

It really was a beautiful day spent with dear, dear friends. They did love on me, and I also felt my Heavenly Father's warm affection. The day was indeed a gift to my heart. (Jamie, you were missed!)

I love giving gifts this time of year, and I have a gift for one of you...



I'm giving away a copy of this book.

Advent is a season of expectant waiting. It is also a comprehensive waiting--we wait for the coming of Christ (his birth), we look for his second coming, but we're also looking and waiting for Him to show up in the daily-ness of our lives. I don't know about you, but there have been days and even seasons in my own life where pain and disappointment have reigned supreme and I've felt forgotten (dare I even say abandoned) by Him. Seasons where it has been easy to lose sight of HOPE.

This book is about keeping hope alive in the midst of painful and disappointing circumstances. It isn't easy and it often takes tremendous courage, but it is necessary if we're to realize the beauty God wants to create in our lives.

If you relate to any of this, then leave me a comment and I'll put your name in a drawing for this book. I'll close comments on Thursday evening at 9pm (MST) and draw a winner...just in time to get it mailed before we leave for Christmas.  

If you've read this book, and I know some of you have (let me just name some names--Julie, Jamie, Carrie) and want to leave a brief review of it, please do!