It is roughly two weeks until Christmas and exactly two weeks until we leave on our road trip to Colorado Springs to spend the holidays with the "kids". This will be the third Christmas/New Year in Colorado and the fourth away from Illinois. 2003 was the last year we actually decorated our home for Christmas; yet that does not mean we do not have the Christmas spirit. It is more about balance, priorities, stress reduction and focus - if that makes sense.
The spirit of Christmas is best celebrated in our heart. Sometimes the details and logistics of Christmas planning and preparation distracts us from the reason for the celebration. Decorations shouldn't be necessary to keep our thoughts on Jesus. God is more concerned about His place in our heart than about the decoratioins in our homes. It is easy to let the disparity between expectation and reality ruin Christmas so we should try to enjoy the reality and see God in it.
No room in our schedule means no opportunity for Jesus to do something surprising. No room for quiet and reflection means no chance to hear God's still, small voice in our thoughts. No room for Jesus means no way to truly appreciate Christmas. No room for solitude means no place to be alone with God. God's guidance in our life is more easily recognized in the rearview mirror. Yet He does not want us moving in reverse, He wants us to go faith forward. God delights in being involved in the small details of our life and we should be delighted when we realize what He's done.
Jesus is the "Prince of Peace": He brings peace to all who follow Him and someday He will bring peace to the world. There is no such thing as true peace apart from God. He is a perfect gentlemen and won't intervene unless He's invited. When you have the peace of God, you won't necessarily be comfortable - but you will be content. Christmas is a time of peace because it is a time for Christ. God wants to give the gift of peace, but unwrapping the gift means letting Him take control.
Luke 2:10
"I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people."
If you have lost your joy, maybe it's time you found Jesus.
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2 comments:
Be safe on your trip and say hello to Crystal for me. Tell her i'm praying for her and you in your travels.
See you Sunday
Thanks for posting a comment - more especially thanks for your prayers.
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