Advent with Pressed Olives Day 19
- Nora R
- Dec 19, 2024
- 2 min read
Joy is a good thing. There are times in life when it seems easier to experience joy. There are some days that it seems easier to experience joy. I recognize now more than ever that much of that kind of joy is fleeting.
These simple gingerbread houses are a source of joy. It is not the object though, it is the experience. I put together these gingerbread houses for my six favorite kiddos. We have been doing gingerbread house decorating for a bunch of years. This year may be the last for the gingerbread house day. They are all getting older and 2 of them are officially adults.
When we decorate these houses they go from brown objects into creative and colorful art. There is laughter and mess and fun. There is community.
Community that I hope will never change, but it is likely that it will, just as the decor of the houses has changed. Watching children grow and the experiences with them change hels me feel so thankful that the joy that is received from Jesus is not fleeting or changing. His power is neverending.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 ESV
All joy and peace - this also means that joy and peace can come everyday of the year without regard for circumstances. I know this time of the year is not full of joy for many. I know for myself, there is some pain and anxiety and lots of tears in between the joy of the season. It is ever more important to reflect on the joy that only Jesus can give. The kind of joy that we have to choose to grab on to. The kind of joy that does not break with the gingerbread house at the end of the month.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
Jesus is always in our midst. Always ready to quiet us with His love. Allow Him to quiet you with His love today and tomorrow and the next day and the next...
We can be quieted with His love and filled with His joy in any circumstance, in any season.
Today we will decorate these plain houses! They are only $5 at Ikea!
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