Lady in waiting.

the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom

but do not overlook this fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [[the Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise]] as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
but the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved and the earth and the works that are done with it will be exposed.
since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,
[waiting and hastening the coming of the day of God]
>>therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace. <<

therefore encourage one another and build one another up.
be at peace among yourselves.
admonish the idle.
encourage the fainthearted.
help the weak.
be patient with them all.
rejoice always.
pray without ceasing.
give thanks in all circumstances.
do not quench the Spirit.

[He who calls you is faithful].

[[do not grow weary in your waiting]].
there is purpose in it.
our hopes are patiently, expectantly waited for, because our faith creates the proof and ability to spiritually see that which hasn't come to fruition yet.

because of faith, my hope is expectation.
of promises yet fulfilled.

the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'

advent//the heart of it all [[the stump, the Branch and the fruit]].

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and might,
    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
    or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
    and faithfulness the belt of his loins…

In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious…

You will say in that day:
“I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
    for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
    that you might comfort me.   “Behold, God is my salvation;
    I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation.”

          

[[With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation]].

 And you will say in that day:

“Give thanks to the Lord,
    call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
    proclaim that his name is exalted.

 “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
    let this be made known in all the earth.
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
    for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”     (Isaiah 11:1-5;10 & 12:1-6)

Advent// [in the waiting].

the stillness.
if we still ourselves long enough to find ourselves in it,,
the truth is exposed.
there's a longing.
there's a need.

in a world of chaos,
who even knows how to be still?

"be still my heart".

how?

in a world of noise.
who even knows how to hear?

that "still, small voice".

in the stillness.
we all know.
we're desperate.
and in need.

but we busy ourselves, and surround ourselves, and bombard ourselves.
so the eroding and screaming of our souls is buried and masked.
and our hearts become numb.
dull.
because who wants to feel that anyways?
the brokenness.
the hunger.


and so a time designated to pause.
to reflect.
to recognize.
our waiting.

advent [ˈædvɛnt -vənt]n an arrival or coming, especially of something extremely important and of one which is awaited.

but how can we wait,
for One we don't even realize our need for?
how can we wait,
for One we're too busy to even recognize?
how can we wait,
for One we're too numb to even feel?


so this season.
[[let us position ourselves purposefully.
intentionally.
diligently.]]

that in our stillness.
we would watch.
we would wait.

lest it become all about presents instead of His presence.
lest it become all about our getting instead of His giving.
lest it become all about us and not at all about Him.

lest we miss it all entirely.

and be like those who were too blind, and busy, and numb to recognize
the very One they were waiting for.

the promised One,
the needed One,, the God-man.
fleshed out; living and breathing among them.
being as nothing,
the form of a servant,
born in the likeness of men.
humbled and obedient.
to the point of death.
even death on a cross.


all so His scandalous love would be known.

and the prophecy fulfilled,

"He sent redemption to His people"... (Psalm 111:9).



because the Awaited One is here.
and we're called to wait for His return.
and in our advent,
let's not miss Him.