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While many rush in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, God fills us instead with JOY in the simplicity of His presence.
Seventeen more days. 17 days to get all that shopping done…every person on every list. Every gift for every family member and every neighbor and every co-worker and the hair cutter and the babysitter and the dog-watcher. Only 17 more days! Can I get it all done?
17 more days to put up all those decorations. 17 days to fill out and address and stamp and mail Christmas cards. 17 more days filled with office parties and neighborhood parties and school parties. 17 more days to plan the menu and do the shopping and make sure that the holiday meal is set to go. Only 17 more days to think and plan and make sure all the bases are covered. Only 17 days! 17 days! Oh my gosh, we better hurry. We will never get it all done. Hurry and get done with this blog Barry…I’ve got things to do!
Sure makes Christmas sound fun doesn’t it? Sure makes it seem like it’s a holiday filled with joy and laughter, peace and goodwill to all. For most of us the Christmas season is anything but joy. Its full of rush and hurry and scurry and pressure and deadlines.
And I want to be very clear on this: it doesn’t have to be like that. Because God wants to give you some things this Christmas. God wants you to have joy and God wants you to have hope and peace and wholeness. God has gifts to give you…gifts that you really need, gifts you can really use and don’t have to return. Gifts that fit. God has the best of all possible gifts…if we’ll take the time this Christmas to receive them. To open His gifts and try them on.
Will Rogers once said, “Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.” We cram more in to one day, more appointments, more places to be, more people to see. We rush and we hurry and we wonder if it all matters. And along comes Christmas, and the pressures and deadlines and rush and hurry only multiply more! AAAUUUGHHH!
And in the midst of all this hurry, God says, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10). Be still…stop hurrying…stop rushing…just be still. God sent His Son as His GIFT to us. His gift of joy - and of peace - and of hope - and of wholeness. Be still. Enjoy. Know beyond all doubt that the God of the universe loves you, celebrates you, and has an incredible plan for you.
"Help me God, to slow down enough to enjoy and celebrate the incredible gift of Jesus this Christmas."
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Well said Barry. I like to try and do everything as soon as possible after Thanksgiving so I can have December to contemplate the true meaning of the season and spend quality time with the family and of course, our church family. Keep the great messages coming!!
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