Rooted Where You Are
A reminder to savor the now
Slowing Down in a World That Won’t Stop Spinning
It’s mid-November, and here in the Pacific Northwest, the sun is shining—thankfully. Kids are still playing outside in the cool air, and I’m trying to soak in every bit of sunshine while it lasts.
I don’t know about you, but the time change has thrown me off. When it’s dark at 5 p.m., it does make for cozy evenings by the fireplace—but honestly, what I really want is to be outside, sitting on our patio on a warm summer night. That’s my happy place.
I don’t have control over the weather. In fact, if I’m being honest, I don’t have control over much at all.
Life just keeps happening. The world keeps spinning, and most days, it feels like I’m just trying to keep up.
Friends are already talking about putting up their Christmas decorations, and Thanksgiving is still two weeks away. Everything moves so fast, and I can’t help but wonder—can we just slow down a little?
Why are we always in such a rush to get to the next season? Why is Costco already ten steps ahead of the calendar?
We live in such a hurried culture. More is better, faster is better, the next thing is better—and it leaves so little room to simply sit and savor the season we’re in.
I love fall, but I want to fully soak it in while it’s still here.
Now, if you’re someone who pulls out the Christmas bins the moment the last trick-or-treater leaves the porch—good for you! If that sparks your joy, go for it.
But as for me and my household, the tree won’t go up until after the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers have been eaten. Then, and only then, can I fully embrace the Christmas spirit.
However, as I am writing about savoring the season, I often find myself doing the opposite, but in a different way.
As I am soaking the fall colors and pumpkin everything, while resisting Christmas tunes…I am skipping ahead in my head to at the next things that God has for us. Perhaps a new house, new car, new jobs…adventures on the mission field or more travel.
I am living in an answered prayer every day. I followed God to a new life after my loss, I live in the state I always dreamed of, I have the job I have always wanted…but why am I still looking past those blessings into the future?? (this is not to say life challenges don’t arise every. single. day)
Why is it so hard to truly sit and savor the season even when it’s good??
I suppose it is human nature to be discontent even when know we are right where God has us for this season.
This morning in my quiet time I repented to the Lord and asked forgiveness for my discontentedness.
In Philippians 4:11-13 Paul says “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content… I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
We often focus this verse on being content even when life is hard, but it also mentions being content in times of plenty. When life is good, let’s savor it instead of looking for the next thing. Let’s not get bored and find ourselves day dreaming for the next thing.
We must discern whether God is placing a new dream or place in our heart or if we are just living out of flesh and finding things that displease us in our “abundant” season.
Let’s dream but also surrender. Let’s plan but also let go. Let’s hope for new things but enjoy what’s right in front of us.
Let us be content in every season, situation and circumstance!
What is consuming us?
Lately, there’s been a theme running through my life—in Bible study, Sunday sermons, and the random emails that land in my inbox:
How are we spending our time?
What are we devoting our attention to?
What’s consuming us more than we’d like?
And how can we create margin in our lives to truly seek God?
What might we be missing by living life on the fast track to the future?
As we glance at our overflowing November and December calendars, how can we make space for God—the space He already desires in our hearts?
Most mornings, I have this lovely habit of getting up early to do my Bible study by the fire, matcha in hand. But so often, I read, highlight, reflect—and then move on with my day.
How often do we just sit and let God speak?
When was the last time we turned down the music in the car or put our phones aside just to listen?
I tried this last week, and honestly—it was kind of brutal. The silence was uncomfortable. I found myself wanting to reach for my phone or turn up the radio. I’ve trained myself to crave constant noise and distraction.
How about you?
Maybe this season, slowing down looks like lighting a candle and sitting in the quiet. Maybe it’s lingering a little longer in prayer, or taking a walk without your phone, or choosing gratitude over hurry. God isn’t found in the rush—He’s found in the stillness.
As you move through these next few weeks, take some time to reflect:
Where am I rushing ahead instead of resting where God has me?
What noise or distraction might I need to turn down to hear His voice more clearly?
How can I make space for wonder, gratitude, and peace in this season?
Let’s choose to pause together—to notice the beauty, to savor the moments, and to trust that even in the stillness, God is moving.
It is Advent season:
An Advent study is a devotional or Bible study designed to help people spiritually prepare for Christmas—the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
Here’s a breakdown:
What “Advent” means:
The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” It’s the four-week season leading up to Christmas (beginning on the fourth Sunday before December 25). Traditionally, it’s a time for waiting, reflection, and anticipation of both Jesus’ birth and His promised return.
What an Advent study includes:
An Advent study typically offers daily or weekly readings, Scripture passages, reflections, and sometimes discussion questions or prayers. The themes often focus on:
Hope (Week 1)
Peace (Week 2)
Joy (Week 3)
Love (Week 4)
Purpose:
It helps believers slow down during the busy holiday season and focus on the meaning of Christmas—God coming near to us. It’s a way to reconnect with gratitude, expectation, and wonder instead of being swept up in the rush and noise of the holidays. How it’s used:
Personally, as a daily quiet-time guide
In small groups or Bible studies leading up to Christmas
As a family devotional with Scripture readings and candle lighting each week
Here are a list of my favorite Advent studies:
The Daily Grace Advent: Awakening Wonder
The Daily Grace Advent Family Bundle
The Well Watered Women: The Saviors Story
FAVE LINKS OF THE WEEK
During the cold and flu season I always whip up a batch of homemade elderberry syrup . It’s filled with immunity boosting goodness.
It is a challenge to make super flavorful Indian food but the slow cooker helps a lot. I made this recipe and it was delightful: Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
I found this yummy electrolyte powder without sugar OR stevia. I look forward to drinking it every day. True Sea Moss Electrolytes
The book I have been reading every night is Becoming Elizabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn. A biography about the beautiful life of Elizabeth Elliot. Her missionary husband was killed by a savage tribe in Ecuador and she still pursued the tribe to eventually bring them to Jesus. It is inspiring!
What I would share if I were on social media…
My baby girl Emmy got BAPTIZED! She decided to let the world know that she loves Jesus. It was a precious moment for our family!
These girls! Emmy and her half brother’s sisters. Confusing right? These girls belong to my husbands first wife and her now husband. They are traveling abroad and I had the honor of having them for a week. We have an unconventional family that confuses most people but it is a blessing! These girls are like sisters and I am so thankful for them!
I am on the last week of the Gideon by Priscilla Shirer. It has been a whirlwind journey through three chapters of Judges and I have learned so much! God uses unusual people to progress his plan, God speaks in unusual ways and reveals HIS strength in our weakness!
Don’t forget to add my book to your Amazon cart for upcoming Christmas gifts!
If you know anyone who is struggling with grief, loss or the just plain hard things of life, this book is for them! ORDER NOW!!
“Your book helped me realize that I need to be thankful even in the hard times” Sue F.
“I couldn’t stop reading it.” Kami B.
“If your goal was to touch lives, it worked.” Levi
If you’ve enjoyed reading this post and want to support my writing, you can buy me a Tea! It’s a small way to help me keep creating meaningful, faith-filled content — and it truly means so much. 💛
Thanks, Heidi for the advent books recommendation! I’m going to be hosting the Awakening Wonder one!
Heidi, I love the advent ideas! I also love that you write about grief, because I do, too. I am waiting for my new children’s book, And the Sun Came Up: A True Story of Grief and Hope, to come out soon, and I hope to reach young readers with the hope of Jesus. I lost my daddy when I was 8 years old, so this is what I write about. If you know of anyone or an audience who might benefit from this, please let me know so I can reach out. I wrote my book to help those children (and for adults who are either their helpers, or who haven’t come to terms with their own childhood grief). Thanks for your wonderful article!