Advent & Me

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

YOU GUYS. Hang onto your hats, friends. Do I have a treat for you!! I just got off of a Skype video call with none other than Mr. Benjamin Higgins. Yes, that Ben Higgins, from The Bachelor! NEXT MONDAY (As in five days from today), I’m going to be posting our interview! So mark your calendars to stop by BBB and take a listen! We had a great conversation about what he’s been up to recently, and I really think you’re going to enjoy it!

So, as many of you know, my mom was visiting me in New York last week. I wrote this recap post about it, as well as documented our adventures on Instagram (@beauty.beyond.bones) in case you missed it.

But as any out-of-state child knows…when your parents come to visit your place, you go all Mrs. Hannigan, and make your place “shine like the top of the Chrysler Building!”

giphy.gif

I cleaned my little studio apartment within an inch of its life.

And it’s not like I’m some slob. I mean, I run a pretty tight ship. My place is always spic and span.

But we’re talking…I scrubbed the baseboards. Cleaned the inside of the fireplace. Scrubbed the grouting of the tiles in the bathroom.

FullSizeRender.jpeg

The place was immaculate. You could eat off of my wood floors by the time I was done with it.

And then I had all of her favorite foods, and beverages and treats all waiting for her arrival. Candles lit. Soft music playing.

My best friend was coming to visit, and boy, was I ready.

So back burner that for just a second. And fast forward to today. My mom has returned home to Ohio. And it’s just me and the hundreds of thousands of tourists in NYC, jonesing to experience Christmas in New York.

I was taking a walk/jog this morning. On my usual route. Off the beaten path and hidden from tourists. My respite from the hustle bustle and frankly, the key to my sanity.

But I was listening to a sermon podcast from none other than my favorite priest, Fr. Mike Schmitz. He’s the next interview I want to get, just throwing that out there 🙂

But, his homily was all about Advent. And how this time before Christmas, despite popular belief that it’s all about shopping, and decorations and parties and SantaCon, and Christmas cards, the true purpose of Advent is preparing your heart and your spirit for the coming of Christ into this world.

Both as a Baby in the manger, and when He comes again.

And after the podcast, I decided to spend the last 30 minutes of my walk in prayer, contemplating what that really meant.

And it hit me: before my mom’s visit, I poured myself into preparing for her arrival. Heck, I was up until 2:30 am polishing the inside of the microwave on the night before she came.

But my mom is such an important person in my life. And it really mattered to me to prepare my home to be in the absolute best condition it could possibly be. Why? Because I love her, and want to create a beautiful environment for her.

I that’s how I prepare for her, how then, should I be preparing for Jesus, Savior of the World?

And I’m going to be honest, if I were to put into my walk with Christ, the furvor with which I attacked cleaning my apartment, then dang, I would have hauled off and become a nun in Calcutta with Mother Theresa by now, may she Rest in Peace.

But seriously, I was walking home, past all the stores decked out for Christmas, and through the Christmas tree stalls on the sidewalks, and I had to ask myself, what in my heart needs to be cleaned up for Christ? 

Who do I need to ask for forgiveness from? Who do I need to forgive? What’s my temperature read on things like pride, jealousy, laziness, selfishness, gossip? What areas of my heart need cleaning up?

There’s a lot of work that I need to do, if I’m honest.

If I’m being super honest, my spirit has been burdened with impatience lately. Especially in the area of my singleness. And my next chapter of life. I fully trust and have faith that God is in control, and has a good and fruitful plan for my life, in His perfect timing, but I’m not gonna lie…I am getting tired of waiting. Really tired. I’m ready to embark on the rest of my life. I’m ready to love someone, and make him the happiest man in the world. I’m ready for the challenges that love brings, and the growth that comes with it. But I am getting wildly impatient, and honestly, that can sometimes breed a sense of hopelessness.

And so in the spirit of Advent, I think I need to surrender that to Jesus. To give that deep longing to Him — cry out to Him with it, if I must. Because for whatever reason, God is waiting to fulfill my soul’s desire. Perhaps He still sees an area in my heart that’s not ready. And if that’s the case, I pray that He work on that area, painful as that transformation and growth may be.

I am ready.

And in the meantime, I need to just be open to the ways in which God may be putting the pieces together. Which is why, I am going on a date tomorrow night 😉

So this Advent, let’s not lose the true purpose of this time before Christmas. With to-do lists that keep growing exponentially by the day, let’s be sure to reflect how we are preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ into this world on Christmas Eve.

I think that should be at the tippy top of our Christmas To Do List.

Sign up below for my free newsletter!
Get my daily videos, recipes and posts delivered straight to your inbox!

[mc4wp_form id=”30616″]

Here’s this morning’s video!

A big thank you to my foundational sponsor, BetterHelp Online Therapy. I cannot begin to express how beneficial therapy was for my recovery from anorexia.  Speak with an online therapist. Or check out content about eating disorders from BetterHelp.

MAGIC TOOTHPASTE? Yes! I am in love with this superior whitening toothpaste. It keeps my smile sparkling, without sensitivity or bleach! I made a website where you can directly order this miracle product! So if you want to give it a try, you can go ahead and grab a tube for yourself. I promise, your smile will thank you! Just click here!

And if you want to learn more about this incredible (and FUN!!) business opportunity, I have ONE MORE SPOT this week to personally mentour someone! It’s absolutely free to sign up! 🙂 Just leave me a comment! 

Have you seen my latest FabFitFun video? Because…you should watch it. It’s pretty funny. And then order yourself a box with my code FALLINLOVE for $10 off! 😉

hqdefault

Be sure to check out my affiliate, Audible. Listening to audiobooks while I cook is literally my new favorite thing. And just for you, they’re offering a Free 30-Day Trial Membership. And with this free membership, you’re going to get 2 free audiobooks! Literally. Free. It is the best deal ever. And if for some reason, you decide it’s not for you, you can cancel within those 30 days and it’s zero money out of your pocket, plus, you get to keep the 2 audiobooks. Soooo…it’s pretty much a no brainer. Plus, it’s a free and easy way to support this blog! So thank you!! 

***THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS ORDERED MY BOOKS, BLOOM: A JOURNAL BY BEAUTYBEYONDBONES AND “MY BLOGGING TIPS“***

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY!

img_5109________________________________________________________________
STAY CONNECTED!

@beauty.beyond.bones – Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Next time you’re shopping on Amazon, be sure to stop by my link, amazon.com/shop/beautybeyondbones first! Doing so is absolutely FREE for you, and a great way to support this blog! (When you stop by my link first, whatever you get on Amazon will give this blog a little kickback :))

patreon

For Podcast versions of my posts, please check out Patreon! It’s only $2 a month!! You make this blog possible 🙂

***NEW!! For outfit details, you can check out my LIKE.TO.KNOW.IT page or follow me in the Liketoknow.it App!

IMG_1288And really quickly, I’ve had several questions concerning my Amazon link (amazon.com/shop/beautybeyondbones) — You do not need to buy one of my specific highlighted products on my page, in order for it to “credit” my account. Any purchases that you search or make from anywhere on Amazon, after first visiting my Amazon page, will credit this blog and help support this blog ministry. I am truly so grateful and appreciative to those of you wanting to do so! So thank you! Again, it is an absolutely free, and easy way for you to help keep this blog going!

Published by

Unknown's avatar

beautybeyondbones

BBB: Because we're all recovering from something. // For speaking/business inquiries: beautybeyondbones@yahoo.com

191 thoughts on “Advent & Me”

  1. This spoke to me so much today! Especially the part about ‘what in my heart needs to be cleaned up for Christ?’ and being impatient about singleness – love it, thank you for sharing!

    Like

  2. I love this, and I love your point about preparing your heart (and home). I was the same when my mother would visit when I was in college, and I definitely need to evaluate that with my relationship with Christ. I know the pain and frustration that comes with waiting, but I also know God uses that waiting to develop and prepare us for what He has designed for us. So, thank you for your beautiful and inspiring words. I pray your season is full of joy. 💜

    Like

  3. Hi Caralyn: I am sorry for not getting to read and respond to this before Saturday night. I missed the opportunity to pray for your safety and protection on your date Friday night. But I know our Lord Jesus had you covered, and Holy Spirit was with you, being within your spirit always.

    As you continue to share how Holy Spirit ministers to you, and guides your thoughts and actions, you are an inspiring vessel of God. Your words continue planting seeds, dropping great thoughts into hearts of many. When seeds are planted, Holy Spirit can then water and create growth, either direct, or through another obedient servant.

    Making sure our homes are clean and sparkly for a special visitor, such as your Mom, is a normal activity. But I have no doubt that your NYC home is sparkly clean at all times.

    Anyway, back to the topic. For many, even some in the Christian Faith I am sorry to say, seeking Holy Spirit’s guidance for cleansing of heart, spirit and mind is not something thought of often. The good thing to remember is, Holy Spirit is God, so naturally He is Love. When He brings something to our memory, it is only to convict us of sin so we will repent, and draw closer to our Lord Jesus again. Holy Spirit never condemns, only our enemy does that to us.

    When our spirit, heart, and mind are cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ, when we repent and ask forgiveness, we feel fresher as well, knowing we are closer to Jesus again in our relationship. He never moves away, we do by having unconfessed sin in our lives.

    Thank you Caralyn, for always sharing Christ, and how to live for Him. Praying with you, that Holy Spirit will cause many to think after reading your words, and follow up by speaking to, and listening to Holy Spirit.

    God Bless you Caralyn.
    Luv. 😀🌹❤️😘

    Like

    1. Hey George! Thank you so much for this beautiful response. Yes! Covered indeed 🙂 you’re so right – that is something i should constantly be praying about and considering. You always leave me with such powerful things to think about!! Thank you for that!! Sending big hugs my dear friend xox

      Like

  9. Praying for you, Caralyn. Waiting can be very hard. Your willingness to give it to Christ and say through whatever pain is brave. Faith… is the victory. And gives God so much love. You are giving a love to Christ many cannot give. God loves you!

    Like

  11. Hmmm this so very true. There are so much that needs to be clean our of our inner doors and windows of our heart, mind and soul. Daily we must pray and ask God to reveal to us if they be anyone we may be holding in our hearts for a long time thinking that we have forgiven them but we didn’t. And through His Holy Spirit he will reveal and show us. Everyday those spots and wrinkles are being removed my the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit. Its not going to be a rapid process but it will get done, if we are truly wanting them to be removed and desire to become more like Jesus and to be fully ready without spot and wrinkle for His glorious and mighty return. I must admit (I’m talking from experience) sometimes waiting can become very. Exhausted. I must admit that. And I’ve learnt a grand lesson that when we rush ahead of God thinking that His timing for things to happen the way we want it to in our life’s and go out from the waiting seat we end up in some serious trouble. For we didn’t “wait on the Lord” so I pray that God increases your patience within your waiting process and know that He’s going to come through for you at the end of it all. Get ready to receive your great blessing in Jesus name!
    Blessings to you! 🙂

    Like

    1. Thank you Tammy. You’re so right about that – He has given us the Holy Spirit as a guide and what a beautiful thing that is. I love this reflection. Thank you for your prayers and insight. Big big hugs my dear friend xox

      Like

  12. Very nice comments about Christmas. It is a time to reflect. I am inspired by your story and as a psychologist and a professor I will send those that struggle with ED to your site/book. I really like your honesty and empathy – nice coming from a Christian. Thanks for liking my empty nest blog – I am just a beginner. God Bless – Don
    https://emptynestexperience.org/

    Like

  13. Great post girlfriend!! This year I decided to do an online advent lesson to also prepare my heart. Oh my!!! I need more patience… wirh family members who irritate me, and sometimes strangers. And like you, I am longing to meet my Boaz. 😍 Thank you for always inspiring me & seeing things right in my heart. Your posts challenge me to examine my own heart. Much love this Christmas!! ❤👑❤

    Debra
    stylewisebydebra.net

    Like

  14. This was great – thanks! (BTW: you’ll only be able to make someone the second-happiest man in the world. The reigning happiest man, now and always, is Jesus. Pretty cool, huh?.)

    Like

  15. This is so true, such a good reminder. And makes me much more enthusiastic about cleaning our house for Christmas – I can imagine cleaning it for Jesus, which will surely make me more diligent as well as excited to do it! As well as taking more time for prayer and preparing my heart.
    Are you going to Ohio for Christmas? Have a great time!

    Like

  16. I thought that was a wonderful insight on how you prepared for your Mom should be like how we anticipate Jesus. But while we should be looking for Jesus, it’s good to remember that he has us too and even understands our feelings of loneliness because he came to be as we are! That’s a true tiding of comfort and joy! Merry Christmas!

    Like

  20. I too have done the “super deep clean” before family arrives so I can feel your pain. But your place looks wonderful and I’m sure you mom loves you to pieces for always trying so hard.

    Like

  21. Great article about advent.. it is my favorite of the church seasons, a great time where lamenting and passionate expectation are the paradox we explore. And yet, lurking in the midst of our pain and waiting is the Holy Spirit, sanctifying and comforting us, quietly while we struggle in growing in our faith, our dependence on God.

    God’s peace

    Like

  22. I hear the ache of your heart, sister. I feel the desire to cling to Jesus that you have. Our hope is in the resurrection at the second advent bought for us during the first advent. Keep focussing above, keep clinging, keep pleading. May God send you that soulmate in 2019, a man who knows God and is devoted to Him, and who honors you for the jewel you are becoming in Jesus.

    Like

    1. Thank you so much! Yes! Jesus draws us to Him and what a beautiful thing that is! Thank you for that. Hugs and love xox

      Like

Leave a reply to beautybeyondbones Cancel reply