On This Fourth Sunday of Advent 🕯

you can come as you are

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash

**Hello! If this is the first time you’re receiving an email from me, it’s because you opted in to receive these emails via the Christmas Giveaway. I’m so thankful you’re here and I believe that you were led to this space on purpose for a purpose.

I’m Celia, and every week (usually on Fridays but during the Advent season, on Sundays) I send out a letter to encourage you to slow down, seek still moments, and behold God’s presence with you in the everyday. Sometimes, on Tuesdays, you’ll receive an email from me notifying you that there’s a new post up on the blog 😊 I pray this space for you would be a safe place you can come and seek the presence of God in community with other God-seekers as you discern the Spirit’s movements in your life.

With that being said, let’s gently lean into today’s Advent letter.

Luke 2:8-16 (NIV):

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” 

Shepherds linger out in a field, startled and beguiled by the sudden appearance of an angel cloaked by heaven's light. 

Do you think they were tired from being out in the field in the dead of night watching over their flock?

Were they dirty and grimy from a long day's work?

Were they hungry or thirsty having been out in the field for so long? 

No matter what their state of being was at the time, their response to the angel of the Lord is one that stands out and convicts,

"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger." (Luke 2:15-16, NIV)

In the midst of their disheveled, shaken, and exhausted state, the shepherds ran to see the newborn King. When they got there, did they have to strain to see Him?

Did they have to stand on their tiptoes, craning their necks over the crowd of people who had surely gathered, to catch even a small glimpse of the baby Jesus lying in a feeding trough?

Did they get to witness the Wisemen offering their gifts to the One true Gift?

The shepherds give us a tangible example of what it means to "Come, let us adore Him".

Like the shepherds hurrying to see Jesus just as they were, we are invited to come and adore the newborn King just as we are. 

In this season of Advent – the quiet coming of Christmas – Jesus beckons you to bring all that you bear and catch a glimpse of the miracle of Him. He invites you to bring your burdens, wounds, regrets, fears, and the whole beautiful mess that you are, and come and adore Him anyway. 

This is what it means when the carolers sing the beloved Christmas hymn, "O Come, let us adore Him": to run to Jesus in whatever state we are in and behold the light of His glory breaking right through the mundane. 

Right through all that feels heavy, hard, lonely, and maybe even a little bit sad.

Your bended knee in His presence, the gift of your whole heart as you drink in the miracle of Christ is all the adoration He wants this Christmas. 

As Christmas soon approaches, may you be like the shepherds in the field, running to the feet of Jesus, knowing that whatever state you're in – once you get there – you will be received by the King with nothing but the purest, tenderest love.  

Be still and know, you can come as you are. 

peace be with you,

celia

A Place to Ponder

What is the current state of your soul today as you hear Christ’s invitation to come and adore Him?

A Blessing for Belonging

Over the last year, I have found it extremely life-giving to borrow words, prayers, and blessings from other writers and creatives. I’m doing that here; sharing with you borrowed words from John O’Donohue’s To Bless the Space Between Us in an effort to give language to the longings that I believe a lot of us carry within ourselves. I pray they bless you and keep you.

May there be kindness in your gaze when you look within. 

May you never place walls between the light and yourself. 

May you allow the wild beauty of the invisible world
to gather you, mind you, and embrace you in 
belonging. 

Advent Resources

Did you enjoy today’s devotional email? These words came straight from my new Advent eBook, devotional, Be Still & Know: Seeking Still Moments in God’s Presence this Advent Season. It’s never too late to grab your copy: Be Still & Know Advent eBook

There’s an incredible song written by Lisa Clow called O Come, All You Unfaithful, and it spoke so deeply to me this week. I pray you would listen and pay attention to what it might stir within you, too: O Come, All You Unfaithful

This week on the blog, I talked about the theme of Light and dark this Advent season and shared with you a liturgy I wrote for unnamed ache and grief: A Liturgy for Unnamed Ache & Grief: The Power of Borrowed Words & Prayers

I found this post by Denise Hughes to be incredibly life-giving for the Advent season. Here, she talks about the Light driving out the darkness: Finding Sanctuary In The Light

You can grab a pack of Advent-themed breath prayer cards over on my Etsy shop, The Beholding Co., to help draw your heart deeper toward Christ this Advent season: Advent Breath Prayer Cards

I created an Advent Spotify playlist this year that you can listen to as you prepare your heart for Christmas. The overall vibe is very moody, quiet, and indie… you know, the usual: Advent Spotify Playlist