And so it begins.
Do you feel like Christmas has snuck up on us?
I sure do.
I’m having a hard time believing we start December in just a few days. Thanksgiving was just last week as it seems like it was yesterday.
Even as I look at my office right now, I see gifts are starting to arrive. Items I ordered on Black Friday and Cyber Monday litter my floor, waiting to be wrapped.
My tree is up, but it still needs lights and decorations. It’s feet still need to be covered by the tree skirt.
My nativity scene is still packed safely away in its boxes.
My collection of snowmen is still nestled neatly in their totes.
And my heart…
…is far away from Christmas.
Not just Christmas but Bethlehem.
In recent weeks I’ve been so overwhelmed by things I need to do–
both in my writing life and personal life–my times spent with God are sporadic. Hurried. Another item to be crossed off “The List.”
And the result?
My relationship with my Savior has suffered. Cooled. The fire that usually burns warm and bright has been reduced to embers and a flew low flickering flames.
And the coolness didn’t stop there.
- It stretched into my other relationships
- Ignited my pride and selfishness
- Hardened my heart
- Destroyed my writing
This is Christmas! The season of joy! It’s usually my most favorite time of year!
But to be honest, I couldn’t sense it. Feel it. The joy I mean.
And as I viewed all the beautiful trees illuminating social media, with package neatly stashed underneath, my heart felt sad and heavy.
I wonder, are you feeling the same thing?
O Come all ye faithful
This morning, as this old Christmas Carol filled my kitchen, God poured it into my heart.
Tears ran down my cheeks as I sat in silence and listened to the lyrics…really listened.
O Come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye
O come ye
To Bethlehem.
O come all ye faithful…
This resonated with me as I just completed a word study on the Greek word ‘pistós‘ aka, ‘faith/faithful‘ in connection to my study of Ephesians.
‘This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.’ Ephesians 1:1 (Emphasis mine) New Living Translation
The Complete Word Study Dictionary for the New Testament defines ‘pistós‘ as:
Trustworthy. True, sure, believable, worthy of credit. Faithful in duty to oneself and to others, of true fidelity…
Now add the noun and prepositional phrase of Ephesians 1:1 to the end of this definition,
Trustworthy. True, sure, believable, worthy of credit. Faithful in duty to oneself and to others, of true fidelity …[as a] follower of Jesus Christ.
I wept because I knew in my heart,
- I had not been living up to WHO I am, a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.
- I had taken for granted WHOSE I am, a daughter of God the Father.
- I had neglected to ask the Spirit to fill me with His presence every day.
- And I ceased bearing fruit with all its qualities:
- love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, FAITHFULNESS, gentleness, goodness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23).
But…
O Come all ye __________________________ (broken, hurting, overwhelmed, exhausted, worn-out, lonely, afraid, insecure, uncertain, fragile, ill, anxious, depressed, caught in addiction, confused, faithful.______________)
…we are invited to come.
NO matter how you filled in that blank, you are invited. I am invited.
Will you join me?
Will you go with me to Bethlehem? To the place, our Savior was born. To the place, the Mysteries of God began to be revealed.
God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.’ Ephesians 1:9-11
Come and behold Him
Born the KING OF ANGELS
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord
Friend, come before your Savior. Not just the Babe, but the RISEN LORD. Take in His scars. Fall in His embrace.
O sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God‘s holy Word.
give to our Father glory in the highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Let God’s Word fill you. Renew you. Strengthen you. Thank you, Jesus, for being The Word. For taking on our fragile flesh.
‘In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.’ John 1:1-5 NLT
All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! forevermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Love and blessings xoxo
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