Advent 2025: Week 2-Peace

As we enter the second week of Advent, we reflect on the theme of Peace. Last week, we reflected on Hope, and I shared some thoughts on my social media. I have been trying to do more videos lately. If you have seen them, please be gracious. I am new at this!!

This week, I shared a video about finding peace in the midst of the chaos that is the holiday season. In my video, I shared a story about one particularly chaotic year. I dropped my kids off for practice for the Christmas program at church. And realized that it wasn’t a PRACTICE night at all!! It was the SHOW NIGHT!!!  

I had been running myself ragged that year, trying to do everything. I was just not paying attention fully to what the kids were doing.

Am I the only one who does things like that? 

Get stuck on autopilot and just keep doing the things, and not really conscious of those around me? Or surroundings for that matter.. 

Well, that was so humiliating. Not just for me, but for my kids too. Luckily, some of them had costumes to wear. 

I wish I could say I learned my lesson there. 

Nope… 

It has taken me a bit too long to get out of that rut. 

Reflecting on Peace:

This week, as I meditate on Peace, I realize that most of my life is the opposite of peace. Chaos. I don’t know how to live in a place of peace, and it can be uncomfortable. At this stage of my life, I have peace. I have quiet. I have a home that is quite quiet much of the time. 

Do I enjoy that quiet? 

VERY MUCH SO….

But I keep adding things to my lists that keep me in a state of chaos. Because Peace is scary!

I make to-do lists that can never be completed. 

Take on projects that I can’t complete myself. 

Create chaos in other areas of my life because for me, chaos is comfortable. 

I have done a lot of healing in those areas. The things that used to trigger me generally don’t any longer. And, I have gotten so much better in so many areas of my life! 

But this one area: My To-Do list. 

I keep adding and adding to that list. Especially when it is going to keep me from doing something I should be doing. 

For example, instead of writing a blog post or work on a story, I will go do the dishes. Water plants. Play with the dogs. Make food. ANYTHING, but sit down and write a blog post or work on a story.  

Granted, all those other things also need to be done. 

But when these things are used as a distraction, it’s a problem. 

Now, let’s get back to Peace. 

Jesus had lots of reasons not to be in Peace. 

He had 12 disciples who were having a hard time understanding all he was trying to teach them. 

He had an audience that followed him everywhere. 

The religious leaders were angry with him. 

His own family didn’t believe him. 

Often, he would go off by himself to pray. He spent time with his Father in prayer, and there He found the peace he needed. 

We also need to take time alone and talk to Jesus and the Father. The one who loves us, who brings us Peace. The One whose name is the “Prince of Peace”.  

This week, I would encourage you to take a few minutes of your day to get quiet. Read a portion of the Christmas story in the Word of God. Luke’s gospel is a great place to start. 

If you don’t want to spend that much time, and need a short scripture, start here:

Isaiah 40: 3-5. 

“3 A voice of one crying out:

Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness;
make a straight highway for our God in the desert.

4 Every valley will be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill will be leveled;
the uneven ground will become smooth
and the rough places, a plain.

5 And the glory of the Lord will appear,
and all humanity[b] together will see it,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

John the Baptist declared these words to announce the coming Messiah. You can find that story in Matthew chapter 3.

As we get closer to Christmas, may you find some time to reflect. May you find Peace in the midst of all the chaos.

Advent Resources:

If you would like to follow along with an Advent Devotional, check out this one at “Bible Study Tools”.

Or this fun, more modern take on Advent, Roy Goble has a devotional called “Junkyard Wisdom Advent.”

Over the years, I have done a few different Advent Devotionals with the kids. If you are interested, check out “The Jesse Tree” . A devotional I used to do with the kids and we created our own ornaments. I still have a bin of them with my Christmas decorations.

Or this one by Ann Voskamp, “The Greatest Christmas“.

And, my friend Jolie wrote this one specifically for kids, “12 Days of Promise: Family Christmas Devotional”.

Let me know if you have found something you have enjoyed. I would love to check it out!

Merry Christmas!

If you need some help finding peace in your life, click here. Let’s chat and see if I can be of help to you. Schedule a session or just email me.