We are in the full throws of Christmas. It’s the second week of advent and each person who is observing this special season knows what we are waiting for. The celebration of the birth of the Christ Child.

Today’s blog post speaks of anticipation. Waiting for Christmas morning to see Joy’s reaction to her new doll house. But as a Christian I am anticipating Jesus’ second return and all that I am to be doing while I wait. I pray that you’ll find the same joy as you wait for Jesus to come back as you do for the things of this world…like Christmas morning.

Have a blessed Sunday!

Building a Doll House: Anticipation – Chapter 11

After several months of working on the doll house, it was finally beginning to look like a house. The roof was coming along…although it was the longest, most tedious, most painstaking work done on the entire house. The electrical system was hooked up. The wall paper, ceilings and floors were complete.

It was beautiful!

On Christmas Eve as the final touches were being put into place, anticipation set in. How would it be when it was finally finished and Joy saw her doll house for the first time? Would she like it? Would it be exactly what she hoped for?

Of course, nothing could prepare us for her reaction (which you’ll read about in the next chapter), but we were certainly nervous and filled with anticipation.

You know exactly what I’m talking about. That long, almost unbearable waiting for something. At each thought of what is to come, a zap of excitement shoots through your body and you cannot keep that smile from bursting forth. Perhaps you might even giggle. We’ve all been there. Anticipating.

I have anticipated some exciting events in my lifetime. The birth of my children and grandchildren are high on the list. Of course, their first birthdays were also times of anticipation. Seeing what they each had accomplished in that first year leading up that first birthday was exciting. I wouldn’t have traded any of those times for anything.

But there have been others. Moving to a new city or state. Before I moved to Colorado, I had the months of the calendar plastered on my bedroom wall…each day I would cross off a day, and eventually, the date came when I could load the truck and head to this beautiful state and my husband.

The start of a new job. There have been plenty of those. The months preparing for a trip to Daytona Beach and my first NASCAR race…why I could hardly contain myself!

And today, I’m anxiously awaiting the birth of my fourth grandchild.

Yes, waiting for Christmas morning was exciting for me. But was that where my focus should have been?

Some synonyms of anticipation are expectation, prospect, eagerness, hope, or contemplation. The very nature of the word allows for those giddy feelings to surface. Contemplating the “what ifs” or believing there is hope fuels excitement. Expecting a good outcome brings peace during times of anticipation.

Anticipation has been around a long time and can be linked to our faith in God. Just as those living under the old covenant eagerly waited for the coming of the Messiah, we too, eagerly await the second coming of Jesus, the Messiah. It brings hope to this otherwise hopeless world. But that must not be our only focus. We must anticipate the good things that God desires to add to our lives in the present.

Philippians 1:6 assures us that we should be anticipating what God is doing in our lives. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

I am so thankful that God isn’t finished with me yet. He still has a long way to go. I still encounter feelings of jealousy, rebellion, insecurity, depression and many more. Anticipating a life free of these emotions is exciting for me. So I’ll continue to allow God to do His work until He says “Perfect!”

And Ephesians 2:10 gives us insight into what we should be doing with what God has done within us while awaiting the second coming. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Waiting goes much faster when we have something to do. So while we are waiting and anticipating, God has prepared a few things for us to do while we wait. There are good works to be done. And we are called to be doing them.

Waiting for Joy to arrive that Christmas morning was very exciting. Waiting to open presents was thrilling. Expectations were high. Each of us filled with the splendor of Christmas. Anticipating.

Yes, anticipation is exciting. In our physical lives, but also in our spiritual lives. Oh, I pray that you will anticipate what God is doing in your life. Watch for His workings. Anticipate what He will do with it. And of course, eagerly wait for His return. I know I can hardly wait!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna