Danny asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I was hard pressed to think of anything. While I was thinking about it, he said I don’t want a thing. I’ve got what I want. That’s how I feel too. Now there will probably be something under the tree, but we received so much this year and we are very grateful to still have one another.
Oh beloved, what are you longing for this Christmas? Do you have a list ready? Are you frantically hoping your list gets filled? Maybe you’re hopeless. Nothing has ever turned out right on Christmas anyway. Hallmark makes it all look so easy. But life can get messy. People disappoint, jobs play out, money runs out. You can end up with a very bare tree and even barer hopes and dreams.
God wants to speak to your heart this morning. He wants you to know that He is the Gift that keeps on giving. He makes the straggly struggles turn into messages of love. He causes the crashes of heartaches turn out to be joyful refrains of beautiful music. Not everything can or ever will be perfect. But Christ in you is the hope of your glory. Turning your eyes and thoughts away from what isn’t and focusing on what is will help. Don’t waste all your resources on waiting for the right moment to enjoy the season. Greater is He who is in you – and great is your blessing and reward. Those who keep following Christ no matter what are those who find abiding joy and rest and peace and purpose.
God loves you and He’s for you. Praying today that you will embrace His love and wear it for the watching world. Trust God. He knows where you are. Maybe the season may not be jolly for you, but it can be enough. Because of Christ and the Light of the World. And because you are choosing to live in that Light and rejoice in Him too.
John 8: 12 “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
Luke 1: 79 “TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace”.
I Peter 1: 8 “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory”
Psalm 123: 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He is gracious to us.