This Christmas seems to have arrived incredibly quickly! I know the number of days and weeks and hours are exactly the same as Christmases past but somehow, the day set aside to celebrate our Savior’s birth is only one week away. The seventy degree day has further confused my senses. I’m making preparations for our Christmas Eve family brunch. The older grands helped decorate the tiny tabletop tree a few weeks ago. The nativity is on the mantle and the stockings are hung but I look around and it still feels like something is missing.
I think of the lines from Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas and I begin to rehearse lines of my own.
It could be that life’s break-neck pace has blurred the details of the days as they’ve rushed by. It’s also possible that I am exhausted from burning the candle at both ends. Could be I’m trying to do too much or I’m simply trying to hold it all in my mind at once. It’s definitely not that I hate Christmas- quite the opposite. I’m not crazy about the commercialism that every year attempts to push Christ to the sidelines. I’m not overly fond of traditions that create expectations and put an added load on everyone, especially young families. I adore the Reason for the season and even if we didn’t have a tree or wreaths or stockings or gatherings, I would still remember God’s greatest gift with a joyful heart. I just wish we could spread the holiday goodwill and cheer throughout the entire year instead of choking it into two weeks at the end of the calendar.
It’s incredibly refreshing to read in scripture admonitions like, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6:34 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/mat.6.34.MSG
“Take a good look at God’s work.
Who could simplify and reduce Creation’s curves and angles To a plain straight line?
On a good day, enjoy yourself; On a bad day, examine your conscience.
God arranges for both kinds of days so that we won’t take anything for granted.”
Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/ecc.7.13-14.MSG
“A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them. [Ps 37:23; Prov 20:24; Jer 10:23]”
Proverbs 16:9 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/pro.16.9.AMP
During His longest recorded sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spent a great deal of time teaching about generosity and true treasure, things much on our minds during the Christmas season. He tied our attitudes and actions directly to our hearts.
“For your heart will always pursue what you esteem as your treasure.”
Matthew 6:21 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.6.21.TPT
(*Dr Seuss TM 1957, 1985)
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Matthew 6:33 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.33.NLT
“Don’t live the way this world lives.
Let your way of thinking be completely changed.
Then you will be able to test what God wants for you.
And you will agree that what he wants is right.
His plan is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/rom.12.2.NIRV
“Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus.
In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident.
God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us.
By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.”
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/2co.1.20-22.MSG
Thank You, God, that You finish what You start. Thank You that the finished work of Jesus on the cross is enough for all who will believe. Thank You, Holy Father, that You are always working by Your Spirit within every believer to accomplish Your eternal purpose. Thank You that our faith in You will never be disappointed.
“What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning.
When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience.
Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up.
Better yet, redouble your efforts.
Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God.
That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God Himself willing and working at what will give Him the most pleasure.
Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed!
Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society.
Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.”
It’s Christmas!
“Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns.”
Philippians 2:12-16 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/php.2.14.MSG
“Praise God, all you peoples.
Praise him everywhere and let everyone know you love him!
There’s no doubt about it: God holds our lives safely in his hands.
He’s the one who keeps us faithfully following him.”
Psalms 66:8-9 TPT
A Fitting Reply 