To be truthful, I haven't been feeling so very Christmassy. I wanted to, and I planned on it, especially after being so full of the Thanksgiving spirit, but I felt no joy. Just the worries of needing to rush and get things done. Things like shopping, getting the house decorated,(and believe me, I am NOT good at that chore) responding to the needs in the community that we hear about this time of year. And the list goes on.
How sad is that? Christmas reduced to a series of duties to be checked off of my to-do list? I feel burdened and joyless with my list of things overwhelming me, and my perceived expectations of others weighing me down. I must be a barrel of monkeys to hang out with.
I need Jesus desperately, and I have felt distant from him for weeks.
So this morning, I turned on my new Micheal W. Smith Christmas CD, got my bible and my journal and sat in my chair to sit awhile with God.
Reading through Colossians, my heart began to dethaw.
"We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Christ Is Supreme
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together."
Amen.
Those living, breathing words of life flowed through me and filled me to the rafters with love for my savior this morning. Those words made me cry.
THIS is why we celebrate Christmas! Thank you, thank you Lord for renewing a right spirit within me. (And my family thanks you, too)
The Christmas music from the Micheal W. Smith CD isn't just music for my ears, but for my heart and soul as well. Just like gingerbread smells remind you of the season, this CD bings you to the place you should be at this time of year. It filled me with an anticipitory joy for the Christmas season and the astounding gift of Jesus and for his ultimate return. I felt like breathing a huge sigh of relief as the Lord spoke through his Word and through the music to gently, but firmly take me where I needed to be. In his presence.
Now I feel I can tackle my projects with "endurance and patience" belting out "Joy the World" the entire time, while wearing a red and green elf costume and slogging down egg nog.
(Never mind the costume and the egg nog)
Joy to the world. Really.
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