After praying over a really hard situation a friend is walking through this morning, I was led to the tenth chapter of the book of Daniel and a couple of verses jumped off the page. There were no highlights or notes or underlined words to make these particular verses stand out, it was simply God pointing out words my heart needed. Following that uneasy feeling of “share this” … I sent the verses to my friend because I believe God had them for her this morning as she sits in a sterile hospital waiting room, anxiously awaiting word of the outcome of her husband’s surgery.

Then, I felt like maybe someone else needs them as well today. So, I’m sharing here. Because, God’s word is alive and active and is as much a promise to you and I as it was to Daniel centuries ago.

“…your request has been heard in Heaven.” (Daniel 10:12b)

Seven powerful words. So clear and so important. God hears our prayers. He hears our prayers just as He heard Daniels’. What a beautiful reminder this was as I pled for my friend this morning. God heard every word. And, then I read this…

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace: take heart and be strong!” (Daniel 10:19 NLT; emphasis mine)

Because I tend toward anxiousness and fear, I personally love that ‘Do not fear’ is the most frequent command issued in the Bible. I’m reassured because it is a command of God but also because I’m not the only one who has dealt with this – even the great heroes of our faith had hearts bent toward fear. At least I’m in good company. 🙂

And while all of the commands to not be afraid are powerful, this particular verse from Daniel struck me. He was told not to be afraid because he is deeply loved by God.

We can rest in the same promise. We can be at peace, we can take heart, and we can be strong because God deeply loves us.

He is right there in the waiting room with my precious friend, holding her and whispering peace over her because He deeply loves her. He is surrounding my dear friend with a beautiful community of tangible support in the midst of her husband’s job loss because He deeply loves her. He is comforting one of my closest friends today as she grieves and misses her momma on her earthly birthday because He deeply loves her.

He doesn’t promise there won’t be pain or hard times, in fact, he clearly warns us of the trials and heartaches we will face in this life. Yet, in the hard, in the dark, in the pain, He is right there as a bright, trustworthy light. Because of love. Because of a deep, unmeasurable, unending love. We can rest in that love. We can face hard things because of that love. We can resist fear because of that love. We can go wherever He calls because of that love.

May we feel extra doses of His abundant love today. And, more importantly, may we share that love with everyone in our path. This whole, messy, broken world could certainly use that kind of life-changing love.

1 am found me tossing and turning. As the clock ticked, I wrestled with sleep. As it always goes, the more I tossed and tried to will myself back to dreamland, the more elusive sleep became. My mind wouldn’t shut off. This weekend finds us busy and I knew this morning would be packed with all-the-things. We have out of town guests arriving, parties to host, projects near finishing (and last minute details to be covered), decor to hang (this year, Christmas decorating has been a progressive thing), cards to address and send, gifts to buy, gifts to wrap, food to prepare, on and on….

This morning, equipped with caffeine in my mug, I sat for a quick read and prayer time before tackling the to-do’s. Rather than the few minutes I had planned for, I still find myself in my favorite chair by the warmth of the fire an hour later processing. Jesus stopped my swirling thoughts and met me here.

Assuming I’m not the only one who needs these words today, I had to share this brief-yet-poignant thought from IF: Emmauel Advent Study:

If the second week of December has you feeling frantic, a little behind, and weighed down, be spurred on by the words Moses had for the Israelites when they too felt truly overwhelmed: “Do not be afraid…the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14 NIV). The words Jesus spoke to His disciples hours before his death were, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Peace won’t magically wrap the presents, it’s true, but it will set the tone for the encounters others have with Jesus through you, which is the very best gift you can give.”

Filled with fresh perspective (it really doesn’t matter if the garland is lying in a pile on the porch rather than draped over the door frame and my guests don’t care if the dryer is full of laundry yet to be refluffed – always refluffed – and folded), I am ready to tackle the necessary tasks before me. Yes, there are things that must be done today, but rather than frantically trying to do it all with a resentful heart, I can rest in the peace He gives abundantly. I can view the list of to-do’s from an eternal perspective and determine which items can fall to the wayside.

I recently read this quote and it resonates so deeply with my desire for our home this holiday season (and always):

“Hospitality is when someone leaves your home feeling better about themselves, not better about you.” 

May this second week of December find us all worrying less about perfection and more about creating a warm and safe place for others to feel loved.

Christmas is two days away.

Life hasn’t exactly slowed. Demands continue to assault my desire for peace and stillness. Chaos replaces calm. Noise so often permeates our home.

Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God isn’t ushered in with visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is among you.” {Luke 17: 20-21, emphasis mine}

The Kingdom of God, here.

Here, in the midst of imperfection and ordinary.

Here, among piles of dishes and laundry and papers.

Here, among less-than-ideal moments and angry words.

Here, among messes and clutter and frustration.

Here, in voices lifted, sharing joy through Christmas carols.

Here, in anticipation and excitement of counting down the days until the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Here, regardless of external circumstances.

Here.

Always at work. Before me. With me. Behind me.

Here.