First Tuesday of Advent

*A note before you read this. After doing an audit of my blog in 2022, I have decided to leave content that speaks to the Christian I was at the time this was written. I no longer identify as Christian (and haven’t for a very long time.) I chose to leave these posts because it is who I was then and it is important to me to be honest and true with every iteration and evolution of self that I experience. I may decide to add comments to the end of posts like this as well

mind swirling

questions barraging

answers unknown

all of the answers unknown

unrevealed

concealed

ask. pray. wait.

He clothes Himself in mystery.

Untitled

All day long I’ve wondered what a self-portrait of myself pregnant with Christ would look like. Then it came to me. The verse didn’t come until after the sketch, but when it came, I knew what it meant.

He’s got this

I can stop the worrying

put away the anxiety

the stress

and lean into Him

None of it is a surprise to Him.

none. of. it.

Tuesday, the first week of Advent

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 8:8, TNIV

All believers are meant to be pregnant with Christ. After we receive him in the core of our hearts, we allow him to grow by decreasing so that he can increase. But we can’t do this alone. We need grace in order to even begin to be diligent enough to assure nothing that goes into us that will harm the Beloved Child. Prayer, God’s word, and love of God and neighbor all nurture Christ within us, and having thus fed and strengthened Him, we may watch in humble wonder as he is formed in us.

Using whatever arts supplies you feel drawn to, create a self-portrait of yourself pregnant with Christ. Allow the image to be as fanciful as your soul desires. Realism is neither expected, or particularly desired.

Gracious Father God,

The humility of Mary, the mother of our Lord, seems so out of reach. She accepted you without hesitation, but when you want to come to me I’m tempted to look at my life first, to determine myself whether or not it’s good enough for you to enter into. Lord, I’m not wise enough to understand where you may wish to dwell, so give me the faith to say like the centurion, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the Word, and my servant shall be healed.” And then I will say with great joy,

“Come, Lord Jesus.”

follow along with us

2 thoughts on “First Tuesday of Advent”

  1. Oh Michelle, I’m so grateful to you for doing this Advent journey the way you are doing it. Reading your posts is becoming a way for me to experience Advent a way I never have before. 🙂

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