Christmas Awe

How about the last Christmas you were really excited? Do you remember a moment of Christmas awe as a child? Maybe it was the sight of presents under the tree. Maybe it was your first glimpse of a Santa’s village or sitting on the lap of the big man himself. Maybe it was even the view of Christmas dinner from your eyes just over the plate of abundant food and a table that seemed to go on for miles.

If you’re over 10, it may have been awhile. I love it when teenagers are still excited for Christmas and even if they’re trying to be cool, still don’t sleep that well on Christmas Eve and find themselves awake early. Presents anyone?

On Our Way to the Manger

How do we recapture child-like wonder? I think we have to come to the Child. And on our way to the manger we need to strip off every burden we’ve been carrying, every concern we’ve picked up this year. We need to lay down every stress, every adult responsibility and come.

I know it can be challenging, but intentionally find a quiet place sometime this week and just sit with Jesus. Whether you turn on the Christmas tree lights and curl up on the couch with a cup of tea or if you take a walk in the crisp winter air, find that place where you can calm your heart and mind enough to think. Dwell. Meditate.

Jesus

Think about what Jesus did when He lowered Himself to come into our world as a Baby. A baby born to save us all. He did it so we would know He has experienced this life just as we have. Then He overcame it. Now He reaches out His hand to us and says, “Let me carry that load on your back.”

Child-like wonder. A light heart. Exactly what we will feel when we give all our cares up to our Lord and just think about His expression of love for us. You can see it. Right there in the manger.

How can you make this Christmas your favorite Christmas memory?

Rush, Rush, Rush

So many of the things we do this month are to prepare for Christmas. Right now, many of us are in the “Last Big Christmas Push,” stage. We still have gifts to buy and wrap, we’re getting those last Christmas cards out and baking for next week. Kids will be out of school and things are about to get chaotic in a “Celebrate!” kind of way. Many of us are trying to finish up a stack of work so we can take a few days off over the holidays. People start asking you, “Are you ready for Christmas?” Answer: Almost!

Prepare. Cook. Wrap. Prepare. Work. Cram. Hurry. Prepare.

The question is, what are we doing to prepare our hearts? What gift are we preparing for Him? Have we thought about what we can give Him?

Jesus Can Keep Pace with Us

We know the “correct” answer is to give Him our hearts, but what is a practical way we can do that? Jesus did all the amazing things He did so we could be with Him, in His Presence. Perhaps we should invite Him right into all the “hustle and bustle.”

We don’t want Jesus to knock on the door of our heart, ask to see us, and we say, “If you could just wait on the porch for a minute. I’m still wrapping and baking and well, things are just crazy in here!” How about if we say, “Jesus! Come in! I’ve been dying to talk to you. Sorry I’ve been so busy. Let’s visit while I wrap these gifts.”

Or maybe you hear His soft knock on your heart so you turn off the radio on the commute home and talk to Jesus instead. These days, no one will even think you’re talking to yourself. They’ll assume you’re on the phone–hands-free headset, of course!

Be the Present by Being “Present”

He is always with us and I don’t mean to imply by these examples that He’s not. But when He makes Himself known to us, when we sense the Holy Spirit nudging us to open our eyes and acknowledge Jesus, let’s respond with open hearts. Let’s prepare our hearts to receive Him and give Him the gift of being present, of engaging with Him. Isn’t this what “pray without ceasing” means? (I Thess. 5:17)

What activities can you invite Jesus into this week?

He proclaimed to her (is there any other word besides “proclaim” when an angel says something?) that she would “give birth to a son,” and she was to give him the name Jesus. Gabriel said, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High … his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:31-33).

Practical Questions, Practical Answers

Now instead of saying, “Wow. I’m going to give birth to the Son of God,” she says, “How will this be…since I am a virgin?” (v.34) I love that she asks the practical question. She listens. “Uh huh…uh huh…HOW?” Sometimes the Lord tells us something and we don’t ask the practical question. We don’t ask Him the next step. We don’t ask Him, “How?” We should. Because when we ask, He will answer. (See Jeremiah 33:3)

The angel explained, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God … For nothing is impossible with God” (v35 & 37).

Sweet Surrender

Then Mary says some of the most beautiful words in Scripture. “I am the Lord’s servant…May it be to me as you have said” (v38). She declared herself the Lord’s servant. She was putting her life on the line. She was truly giving God her life. Just like we sing most every Sunday. “I’m Yours, Lord. Take all of me. Use me. I surrender all.”

“May it be to me as you have said.” So amazing. If we would only be that submissive in our walk with God. If we would receive all things from His Hand with such an obedient attitude. Mary was agreeing with God’s plan for her. It wasn’t an easy plan. Not everyone would believe she was divinely impregnated. (Did anyone? Even Joseph had to be convinced by an angel in a dream!) The road before her would be difficult. But right at the outset, she made a critical and life-giving decision. She decided to agree with God and go with His plan.

Trust His Amazing Plan!

His plan is always good. His plan is ALWAYS the best plan for us. “For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). When we remember God’s love for us and His perfect and wonderful intentions toward us, it’s easier to surrender to Him.

Maybe we should make that decision again as we start to think about a New Year. Whatever God has for us. Whatever God has for me. Let’s allow the Lord to do what HE wants in our lives this year. Let’s look at our life and say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

Is there an area of your life that needs a “new surrender”?

We had our annual church Christmas Banquet last Friday night. The room was beautifully decorated and the food was fabulous. Scott and I host a table every year, which means we bring our Christmas dishes, centerpiece, candles, and favors for each place, as well as invite people to sit with us. Table hosts make sure everyone feels welcome. After dinner and dessert is the much-anticipated White Elephant Gift Exchange.

Have you ever been to one? Each person brings a wrapped gift. It may be a good gift or it may be a “white elephant.” The white elephant is the ugly placemat set you’ve been dying to get rid of ever since Aunt Gladys gave it to you and she won’t be at the banquet, so…into the gift bag it goes. Or, it’s the gag gift you got at the last White Elephant gift exchange! Gifts can be stolen, so the good gifts move around a couple turns till they are “frozen.” If you open a “white elephant,” you are stuck with it forever.

The Real White Elephant

I did some checking and the “white elephant” phrase comes from the Southeast Asian monarchs of the world. A white elephant (yes, an actual elephant) was a sacred gift, a sign of the monarch’s favor on you. To be given a white elephant was an honor, but also difficult. Because the beast was considered sacred, no one was allowed to use it for labor. You had all the upkeep costs and no labor benefits to offset that cost. Oh, look! We’ve been given a white elephant—great!

Perhaps we already own a white elephant. No, really. We need to look in the backyard of our heart. Is that a white elephant out there?

Our Own Honored Burden?

Sometimes people give us “gifts” that we hold onto when we really should get rid of them. That “backhanded compliment” that over time, you’ve come to believe about yourself. The inherited sin of your family you feel you can’t escape. Sometimes people unconsciously try to honor someone who has passed on or who was a mentor by living out things that aren’t even positive. We take on burdens from other people that may have nothing to do with us at all. But the truth is, when we are bound, we don’t make anyone else more free.

Freedom

It’s time to let that white elephant go. It’s not really an honor. It really is a burden. So why not take that attitude or habit and give it to Jesus? Picture giving the reins of that white elephant to Him. He will lead it out of your backyard and take it away and you can be free.

Jesus came that we “may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). He also came to “proclaim freedom for the prisoners, … to release the oppressed” (Luke 4:18). Let’s not labor under burdens put on us by other people, not matter who it was or even if their intent was good. Let the white elephant go. Walk free.

What is the white elephant you’re giving to Jesus today?

So, this is my brand new blog. I’m so excited to have it started. I’ve been thinking about it and planning it for some time. I hope you’ll come by often to visit with me and to be encouraged! Back to what’s on my mind…Christmas!

Even though I love Christmas so much, I have to say it’s hard to let go of my fall decorations. All those beautiful red and golds. But I finally put them away last night and we have officially pulled all the Christmas decorations and dishes down from the attic. Did I mention I love Christmas? I have a lot of Christmas stuff.

Bless my husband, Scott, who helps me every year by bringing all the boxes in and helping me unpack snowmen and reindeer and ornaments. Then, he puts them all away after New Year’s. (Scott is the Best. Everyone loves Scott—not Raymond—Scott. Just wait till you get to know him. You’ll see!)

Christmas? Now?

I’m slow coming into the Christmas season this year, partially because it’s the first year in 10 that I haven’t done a Christmas program for my church. In the past, I’ve done adult programs, kids programs, and one year, I was crazy enough to do both. (Never again!) So, I used to plan a program during the summer and start rehearsals no later than October. My head was into Christmas long before anyone else.

This year, when I resigned from my staff worship leader position at church (following the Lord’s leading) and we hired a new worship leader, one of my thoughts was, “This year, I’ll take Christmas ‘off.’ I’ll just enjoy it!” I have stuck by that promise and couldn’t even bring myself to sing in the Christmas choir (Sorry, Nick!) So part of me looks at this month and thinks, “Aah!” and sighs in blissful relief. Another part of me is saying, “Hey, get it in gear! It’s Christmas!” I think I need to listen to the second part.

Making a List

Time to make a list. At the top I’m going to write–PROCEED WITH PEACE. Isn’t it the easiest thing in the world to find ourselves racing around so much this month that you’d think one of the wise men was named “Frantic Fred?” Peace on earth? What? Where?

As a Christ follower, I know the true meaning of Christmas. I get it. I need to show it, to reflect it, to be that picture of the peace that comes from God.

That’s a tall order for me. I can get a lot done, but I’m not always “peaceful” doing it. Not that I’m necessarily cranky, just focused. And moving very fast!

Productive and peaceful. Hmm. What a concept.

Will you join me in pursuing peace as much as gifts this holiday season?

I think of so many who are without work right now, struggling to pay bills, facing the first Christmas ever with no gifts for the kids. Others have recently lost loved ones and find this time of year emotional and heart breaking in their grief.

Many of us are facing challenges and pressures that are greater than years past. What to do?

Trust. Hold steady. Count our blessings.

Truly, even in our need, we have so much. We need to focus on what we have and present our needs to God, trusting Him for a good outcome. And we need to be faithful.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). Now is not the time to give up. Take the next step. Keep planting good seeds. We will reap a harvest if we “hang in there.”

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10). As we present our requests to God, trust Him to answer, and continue in faithfulness, we will find great joy if we also reach out to someone else.

Now is the perfect time to “do good” for someone. Be the “peace-bearer” in this crazy month. Be the one who takes time to listen, who speaks that encouraging word. A present or food basket dropped off on a doorstep would be a tremendous way to spread God’s love and true Christmas cheer.

As you turn the calendar page to December today, are you dreading it or planning to enjoy it?