Prepare the Way

When Christmas comes my thoughts give way

To memories of yesterday

Of family and friends held dear

Traditions passed from year to year

But in my heart I realize 

I'm drawn by truth to recognize

The "giver" and the "gift" so great

The reason why we celebrate.

It's more than hearing carols sung

And seeing Christmas stockings hung

And pageants held on special nights 

The stories told, the sparkling lights

God's gift fulfilled a promise made 

Through Christ our debt of sin is paid

Throughout the world God's light did shine 

This gift both human and divine.

So I will sing the carols old

And listen to the stories told

Of angels singing in the night

Of shepherds and a star so bright

I'll share the news and gladly tell

Of God with us -- Emmanuel

And in my heart prepare the way

To worship Christ this 'holy' day.  

Dear Jesus, I pray that my understanding of Christmas reflect my knowledge of You and my message of Christmas reveal my relationship with You.  May my celebration of Christmas grow beyond the romance of the holiday.  I desire to worship You in spirit and in truth.  


by Terha Knittel, first printed in an Advent Devotional in 2000 

Life Happens

Life happens.  At times it comes at us like a runaway freight train. Other times it seems to creep along at a snail's pace. And something inside of me always longs for the days when it occurs at a moderate and perfect pace of my choosing.  

But this life I'm living is not my own. The day I've been given is a gift that has been shared with me, but it doesn't belong to me. The sun and the spinning earth that determine when it is day and night, do not answer to me.  The loving God who created all things, who tells the sun when to shine, and who wraps up each day as a gift filled with grace and mercy, is a Master Designer. My times are in His hands. 


His plans for each of us are good. When we walk with Him, He withholds no good thing. When life happens sometimes it is messy and ugly and painful and filled with demanding and difficult situations.  


But when our lives are in His hands, He gives us everything we need as the Holy Spirit navigates a path for us. All of our days are filled with just enough moments, sustaining strength, just the right amount of grace, the perfect amount of wisdom, and more love than our hearts can contain.


Life happens. Sometimes it's not pretty. But my life in His hands equals beauty.  


from Dec. 8, 2011 Daily Heart Devotion

Time to panic?

Today I looked at the calendar for the first time in quite a while.  Using my stellar math skills I have determined that the day we celebrate Christmas is 10 days away.  This new realization, added to what I already knew -- that I've not made any progress in purchasing gifts -- makes me wonder:  should I be panicking about now?!?

I love Christmas.  I love giving and receiving gifts.  Unfortunately for my family and friends, I don't do well when it comes to joining these two things together. My first problem is that I don't really enjoy shopping.  Enough said.  The second problem is that I prefer to give gifts throughout the year and not do an obligatory blowout on one day.  

There is also the unsettling commercial aspects of Christmas. How do we carve out a place of genuine beauty and simplicity in a landscape of excessive winter holiday commercialization?  Have we made this day of celebration into a season of idol worship?  I know that sounds a bit harsh, and you should know that I do not pretend to have any answers.  

Celebrations are not a bad thing.  The giving and receiving of gifts is a lovely part of family, friendship and a wonderful way to express appreciation. Parents love to give gifts to their children.  But I wonder if we don't often get caught up in the foot race that is the public display of "Christmas spirit" and neglect the personal dedication to daily "walk in the Spirit." 

I am making a choice not to panic.  We will celebrate Christ's birth and the gift of His love for us.  There will be laughter and singing and food and fun -- with memories made together as a family.         

Am I a scrooge?  No.  I do not believe that I am.  Will my children have presents on Christmas morning?  Yes.  I believe they will. But in order for that to happen I need to do some shopping.  Herein is love -- that I will shop for Christmas presents for my children even though I do not enjoy shopping. Oh, and then there's the wrapping.  Did I mention that I don't enjoy wrapping presents!?!    

note to self:  do not panic!

Unexpected Opportunities  
How quickly my day can be filled with unexpected opportunities (a.k.a. challenges and obstacles, difficulties and stress inducers). I really want to be a person who can roll with the punches and accept these opportunities with open arms, ready to experience the blessings that are hidden beneath the facade of being unexpected, unwelcomed, unintended, unbecoming and untimely.


When my plans are interrupted or ten more things are added to an already busy morning, I am easily frustrated. I see my time and ability to perform compared to the enormity of what I feel is expected of me. When I do this, I lose. Accepting my inabilities and weaknesses is really quite freeing. Being reliant on His strength and power at work allows me to accomplish the seeming impossible. Trusting in His unfailing faithfulness lets me rest in His arms when the whirlwind that consumes my life spins and turns.  

So, this morning when my husband called and told me the heating/air guys were on their way -- totally unexpected to me -- definitely not on my schedule -- and just something I really didn't want to have to deal with today -- I panicked. (*blush*) How my flesh cries out when I am pinched.  

But in His marvelous, gracious, loving kindness, God came near. As I looked to Him and let Him know how completely unable I was to handle this particular unexpected opportunity, He loved me. He held me close and allowed me to breathe. I imagine He was singing a song of encouragement and love over me.  At least that's how it felt.  

The hidden blessing of this particular unexpected opportunity ... maybe that the children will be warm as they sleep tonight, or that the wet rug was discovered in the boys bathroom before it ruined the floor. It is also possible that the hidden blessing came as the unexpected opportunity sent me to my knees and I was provided a few extra moments of intimate snuggle time with God this morning.