Sisters

Anticipation

I've been thinking about gift giving lately. Go figure, right?

As I've thought about giving gifts and receiving gifts, I've also thought about the word anticipation. I think anticipation should be a major component of gift giving and receiving. It's like an essential ingredient to the whole process.

The dictionary definition is "to look forward to; to be before (another) in doing something; expect, hope." If we lack anticipation in our giving and receiving, I think we miss the joy involved in the process. Anticipation creates suspense, which creates positive tension. This tension finds exhilarating release when the gift is fulfilled.

So in some small way, I've experienced this idea of anticipation as I've given my small gifts to friends. Through the process the questions have come to mind: How much do I anticipate the greatest Gift of all? How much am I anticipating the Return of the King? How much am I reveling in the Gift He has given? And the fulfillment of the Gift when we are reunited with Him?

How much anticipation do you have? Are you allowing the time necessary to create the anticipation? Are you enjoying the process, waiting with excited patience, knowing that the seemingly delayed gift will be sweeter with each passing day between now and the time you receive it?

Winter!

Home away from home. San Fran Peaks in Flagstaff. I want to go skiing, and throw a snowball, and hug an aspen, and drink Late for the Train chai.

There Will Be A Day

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
That we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

(Chorus)
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you're walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you've walked out all alone

(Chorus)

Troubled soul don't lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that's in store
Outweighs the hurt of life's sting

I can't wait until that day where the very one I've lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I've faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing

by Jeremy Camp

Austenbook

Pride & Prejudice + Facebook = funny.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Revelation 21:1-5