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November 20, 2015
Coffee Date, Lifestyle

Coffee Date || Volume 4

Coffee date with Lindsay Letters Mug "Let Heaven and Nature Sing!" I love the reminder.

I sit here tonight snuggled up in my thermals with a giant blanket around me. This 60 degree change from our Florida trip to back at home has me all snuggled up. I’m so glad to slow down if just for one evening. Funny thing is that in reality I have a million things to do, but I am practicing letting those things go, handing them all to the Lord one by one. And yes, I mean practicing because I just cried about the pile of clean laundry on my bed that needs to be folded.

I’ve been noticing lately ( like the last several months/years) that I tend towards being a slave to my to-do list. I let it define me and control me and fall apart when things don’t go as planned. It is not a pretty thing and makes me realize just how much I need Jesus. But then I get on a roll again (smiling, sending notes, checking things off my list, having everyone awe about how much I get done) and I feel like I have worked myself out of my mess (instead of the grace of Jesus) and then it all crashes again and thus the cycle continues. That is why I say practicing because it is easy to let productivity & perfection rule me but I need to change that habit, that pattern and it is something that I have to chose moment by moment (remember crying Elizabeth over my pile of laundry?)

Want to know what I learned today (besides the fact that Jimmy Fallon made this adorable JCrew phone case)?! I learned that Thanksgiving is next week. It is crazy people. This is when my to-do list starts freaking out. Like my house doesn’t have carpet yet, how am I supposed to decorate for Christmas!? This is where that practicing comes in because of course I want to decorate for Christmas and it is fun to create a warm & welcoming home for guests around the holidays but is that the most important? Is the holiday season all about perfectly decorating your house and then sharing pretty, bright pictures of it on Instagram? Can the Lord still use me and an unfinished to-do list to reflect the true meaning of Christmas? To show Christ, to be generous, to share the Gospel?

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart, prepare him room
And Heaven, let Heaven
Heaven and nature
Heaven and nature sing

Let every heart prepare Him room. When my heart is so cluttered with expectations, stress, and fear, I leave no room for Jesus. My drive to get my outside world ready for the holidays doesn’t also prepare room in my heart. In fact, it can sometimes do the opposite – block him out. I’m too busy setting up for Christmas, shopping for gifts, and creating wish lists (full of affiliate links so I can try to make money) to even spend time with Him.

I don’t want you to think that I have it all together. I’m sinful and messy and in need of grace just like you. I say hurtful things, I am selfish & self seeking, I let fear control me, and I pretend my sin isn’t that bad. Sometimes we forget the people around us are just as messy as we are. We live for people’s approval over the Lord’s approval. But grace is always there and it covers all that sin. We cannot work ourselves out of our mess but we don’t have to drown. In this crazy season that vies for so much of our attention and time, let us first seek the Lord and lay our lists at His feet.

Let the Lord fill you with his song. Rejoice with the heavens and the earth regardless of your circumstances this holiday season. Prepare Him room and let go of those other things that are cluttering your heart. And it is okay if you have to practice doing that day by day and moment by moment. His grace is always better than our striving.

Coffee date with Lindsay Letters Mug "Let Heaven and Nature Sing!" I love the reminder.

Thanks for listening to my heart and nodding your head (I hope at least a little) to the crazy, hectic, holiday to-do list syndrome. My prayer is that this season would be different for you. That you would be able to let go, forgive, be generous, receive grace, and experience the Lord in a new way this Christmas.

We also wanted to give you the opportunity to win this mug as a reminder of this season. Meg, Sam, and I are so thankful for you! To enter to win this beautiful Lindsay Letters Mug, fill out the rafflecopter below! Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xoxo, elizabeth

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Comments

  1. Sean says

    November 22, 2015 at 12:44 pm

    Loving the Peach on Earth Canvas, the THANKFUL canvas and the SNOW DAY campfire mug.

    Reply
  2. Robyn B says

    November 23, 2015 at 8:01 am

    we break out the Behold the Lamb cd on car rides & go to the fesitval of trees downtown! 🙂 oh, and eat chinese for dinner on Christmas!

    From Lindsay Letters i love the thankful canvas, heaven & nature sing, and Luke 2 <3

    Reply
  3. Amelia Farica Sisman says

    November 24, 2015 at 9:01 pm

    I definitely love the “Brave, Strong & Courageous” Print! But I’m also loving the “Wild Lotus” Canvas and the “More Water” Tumbler ♥

    My favorite holiday tradition is when we have to go to our relatives’ houses, visiting them, share stories, eating traditional foods, and just spending quality times together ♥

    Reply
  4. Sarah Elizabeth || SEDiva Abroad says

    November 25, 2015 at 5:40 am

    The sweetest and most beautiful thoughts. Simple and elegant, this post is perfect, even if life isn’t. And what a lovely giveaway xx Sending good thoughts <3

    Reply
  5. Ashley R. says

    November 25, 2015 at 11:16 pm

    My favorite holiday tradition is eating pillsbury baked cinnamon rolls and watching Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas Holiday Movies with my twin sister!! We love watching it together every year and it makes a smile and laugh and cry! Every year the holiday movies on Hallmark are beautiful and a joy to watch! This is why its my favorite tradition!! I hope you have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  6. Shane says

    November 26, 2015 at 11:41 am

    Love love love <3

    Reply
  7. Shane says

    November 26, 2015 at 11:44 am

    Sitting with friends and family I haven’t seen all year and just being present in the moment 🙂

    Reply
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Hello Friend! I’m Elizabeth, a Colorado photographer, writer, & blogger. Most importantly, I am a Christ follower, wife, mama, sister, daughter, and friend!

Welcome to Oak + Oats! Here we look for the remarkable in the every day. We love photographing our daily moments, making memories, and sharing our favorite places here in this space.

Our happiest days are spent together – many of those with a camera in hand! My free time (ie: Nap Time) is spent behind my computer screen sharing our tips and stories with you! I’m glad you’re here!

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