The Daily Dose

“The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

I’ll say it. This holiday season, I failed. My good habits and routines evaporated, my self-control waned, and my prayer time suffered. Being away from home, traveling, and living in different circumstances coupled with the mania of family time and the pressures of old friendships wreaked havoc on the steady, consistent, prayerful lifestyle I’m trying to live.

And with all my glorious self-awareness came a stream of condemnation. “How could I fail Him so miserably?

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“For nothing will be impossible for God.”

Sisters.  It is that simple.  For nothing will be impossible for God.  We tend to overcomplicate things, but He doesn’t. To Him, it is simple - nothing is impossible for Him. He will not allow it.  Nothing is impossible for God. Nothing. Nothing is beyond His reach.

Yesterday, we asked, “What feels barren?”  Today, we’re asking what feels impossible? What seems too big?  What seems too glorious? What seems totally out of reach? What seems extravagantly unlikely?

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“Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son.”

Today, we hear about two barren women who birthed great warriors for the church. I often relate to women who carry fertility issues because we, as singles, also carry a longing for something more, and it can be a deep ache. But today’s scripture readings remind us that nothing is beyond the reach of God.

The Father has a history of choosing barren women to demonstrate His glory.

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“And they shall name Him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

Often, seasons of preparation are confusing to me. I find myself thinking, “Why do I have to prepare for Emmanuel when He already came? Why prepare for what I already have?” But there is beauty in the preparation. There’s beauty in preparing a place for God every day. Though we already have Emmanuel, we can still prepare a place in our hearts for Him each day.

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“Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations;”

This is a faith for the ages, Sisters. This faith, our faith, has been handed down from generation to generation to generation to generation. Passed from family to family to family to family. Ours is a rich history. And just as each name is written in the genealogy of Jesus, our names are written in Heaven. Our names have a place in the history of our faith. Our names carry stories and witnesses of God’s glory.

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“[The encampments of Israel] are like gardens beside a stream...”

When I’m hurting, I pack up my stuff and peace out from the streams of living water. I march off to lick my wounds and camp away from everyone and everything - including God. I look for a barren, lonely spot because if everyone is far away, no one can hurt me. Right? Wrong. Truth be told, I don’t want to leave - I want to be seen and heard and loved and wanted. My self-inflicted isolation hurts just as much as disappointment.

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“I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good,”

For your good. The Father teaches you what is for your good because He is for you. He is on your team. He is rooting for you. He is cheering from the stands. He answers prayers. He fills desires. He provides peace. He brings joy. He wants what’s best. He is a loving God with a good, good heart. Our God is for us.

But, sometimes that feels hard to believe. Usually, when we struggle to trust God, it is because we’re grappling with His intentions.

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“I am coming to dwell among you.”

Oh, the Marian Feast Days! Thank you, Blessed Mother, for coming to us in so many ways! Thank You, God, our Father, for giving us a mother to love us! Thank You for choosing a human existence. Thank You for choosing to come and dwell among us.

The Father chose to be a God who is close, who is near. He chose to come and dwell among us; He chose to share in the life He created for us. Our God chose to live and walk among us. He opted for a life of messiness.

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“He does not faint nor grow weary,”

I grow weary. I get tired. I can’t run 100% of the time. I can’t be “on” constantly. I’m so imperfect that it’s not even funny. I grow faint. I grow weary. But He doesn’t. Our God does not faint nor grow weary. The Father always has energy for you.

You cannot be too taxing. You can’t be too demanding. You are never a burden. You are not annoying to Him. Even if you struggle with the same thing every single day - He doesn't grow weary.

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“It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”

During Advent, the world opens doors to Jesus that aren’t normally open. Christmas music plays in shopping malls and workplaces, angels and Christmas trees decorate public parks, and the name of Jesus is significantly less taboo. During Advent, we are uniquely positioned to share the Gospel.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that no one is beyond God’s reach or desire.

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“You have found favor with God.”

As we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of our Lord through Mary, we can stand back in wonder. We can stand in wonder that Jesus was immaculately conceived. We can stand in wonder that Jesus came to us as a baby. We can stand in wonder that Mary found favor with God.

God chose Mary to bring Jesus into the world. He chose Mary to bring light into the world. And like Mary, He chooses us to bring light into the world. Like Mary, we have found favor with our God.

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“That I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord”

It’s not often that I take time to gaze at the loveliness of the Lord. But, when I do, all I see is His love. Sisters, I’m including my favorite image of Jesus today, so that you can gaze on His loveliness. Because when you do, you’ll receive it. And when You receive His loveliness, you’ll receive His great love for you.

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“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.”

The first reading tells us that “the LORD is an eternal Rock.” When we build our lives on Him, we are like wise men. When we set our lives upon the foundation of His love, we are safe. During the holiday season, it can be hard to remember where to put our priorities.

The holidays often come with expectations from the ones we love.

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“They all ate and were satisfied.”

God didn’t just provide “enough” with the loaves and the fishes - He provided enough so much that all were satisfied. All that gathered could eat their fill. They had leftovers! There wasn’t any lack.

There was no lack because our God is a God of abundance. There is always plenty. Our God knows the little we have, and He transforms it. He makes it new; He’s not worried about our littleness because He is so big. He can do anything.

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“And from his roots a bud shall blossom.”

I love the Advent readings. They are so RICH. Today, instead of a reflection, I’m pulling out my favorite verses from today’s readings. I encourage you to reflect upon them - upon the promises of God and His faithfulness to you. His is a rich love.

“And from his roots a bud shall blossom.” Isaiah 11:1b

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“Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”

Happy Advent, Sisters! During this liturgical season, The Daily Dose will be shorter (most of the time) to offer more space for reflection and personal prayer. So - let us go rejoicing!

For most of us, the holidays, while wonderful, can be a bit stressful. But despite circumstances and stresses and travel disasters, we’re called to rejoice. We’re called to believe in God’s goodness and to choose joy.

We’re called to choose joy.

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“All the people were hanging on His words.”

Happy Friday, Sisters! This Friday, I want to encourage you to hang on His words. Let His words be the words that give you life, that offer you freedom, and that open your heart.

Last weekend, I had the privilege of speaking to a room full of awesome college students at the end of a retreat. It was awesome to watch so many vibrant, fun, holy men and women give their lives to Jesus.

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“If this day you only knew”

If you only knew.  If you only knew how Jesus would show Himself glorious.  If you only knew all the battles Jesus was winning. If you only knew all the things that Jesus was protecting you from.  If you only knew all the good things He has in store for you. If you only knew the plans Jesus has in place for your life.

If you only knew the way He guards you from yourself.  If you only knew the victories that He is claiming. If you only knew the doors He’s opening.

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“Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage, she exhorted each of them”

Whoa. Did you catch what was happening in the first reading today? The mother in the first reading is a baller. Not only does she witness the torture and martyrdom of her first six sons, but she also bolsters her seventh and last son to undergo the same fate. She believes in him and exhorts him into heroic faith. She calls the men in her life to be heroic.

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“So he (Zacchaeus) ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus,”

What is your sycamore tree? What do you need to build into your life in order to see Jesus more clearly? Maybe you need routine, maybe you need a devotional, or maybe you just need a spot.

As many of you know, I have a prayer chair, and every morning, I have to get my butt in my chair. If I don’t, my day does not go as well. If I don’t welcome Jesus into my life first thing, it’s always a little bit rougher.

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