This is definitely how I'm feeling this year. Although, unlike the lady who wrote this awesome devotion-I haven't decorated a thing. I haven't completed one Christmas card at all. I haven't hung any stockings with care in the hope that St Nick will be here. I haven't hung my wreaths. I haven't put the candles in the window. I also haven't hung (or had Mike hang) any Christmas lights. And I'm not going to.
In the following devotion, the author talks about her "9 months in Africa"...well, mine has been months of building up "walls" until they came all crashing down. So I'm grateful actually that this has happened. No it has not been fun..however, how else would my Lord and Savior be able to shape and mold me if nothing ever happened to me and I've had no trials whatsoever? I'd be the same. No growth in becoming like Him. No race to run. Now THAT life would be horrible!
So as I go through this "molding process"/trial ....I feel it's a chance for me to heal. And grow. I saw Beth Moore on Life Today on Wednesday and she spoke of this. A lot of times, you think, "wow, I wish I had their life-they have it all together-they have everything-never any troubles" and then you (I) become jealous! Well, I'm not jealous anymore b/c now I know it means they aren't being shaped or molded into becoming Christlike! They are the same ole' shape....
We are in a race called life....although the Bible talks about this "race" we're in...in reality it should be a CHASE as Beth Moore explained on her show the other night. Because we have SO much growing to do that yes, we need to be steadfast in the race of this Christian life, however we should be so excited and on fire for the Lord that we are chasing Him!
To be more like Him! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! I love Him with all of my heart and can't wait to continue this journey I'm on with Him! I long to be hungry for Him and desire to "chase" after Him the rest of my life!
So this CHRISTmas...I am, like the author of this devotion, going to concentrate on the REAL reason for the season...the birth of our Lord and Savior of this world. Celebrate with me won't you? He loves us so much it's incomprehensable to us! So this CHRISTmas....try to catch a glimpse of His glory in your life!
So this CHRISTmas...I am, like the author of this devotion, going to concentrate on the REAL reason for the season...the birth of our Lord and Savior of this world. Celebrate with me won't you? He loves us so much it's incomprehensable to us! So this CHRISTmas....try to catch a glimpse of His glory in your life!
Merry CHRISTmas and Keep On Goin' On~
Joyfully His~ Aim
The stores are stuffed with the newest holiday bling and hottest must-have toys.
They are decked in red and green, twinkling, Christmas.
But it doesn’t feel like Christmas to me.
My holiday decor is minimal this year: a tree, a wreath, a nativity and three toys for each of my kids.
I broke down in the Christmas aisle in the middle of WalMart the other day. I was standing surrounded by bright toys, row after row of excess. I realized that all the stuff we cram into the holiday season isn’t Christmas [the celebration of Christ's birth]. It’s the American dream in red and green. It’s the same, only packaged in holiday colors.
I’ve spent the last nine months redefining normal. I’ve had questions from many that all sound the same, “Are you over Africa yet?”
What is the answer to something you never want to get over?
It doesn’t feel like Christmas this year.
But that’s okay. I don’t need another season. I don’t need another party to attend or gift to receive.
I need Jesus.
I need the simplicity of a manger.
I need the rawness of dirty hay and a primitive birth.
I need to remember the Holy Child in all His glory. I need to commune with the King of Kings.
It may not feel like Christmas.
But maybe it’s not supposed to.
It’s easy to lose Him in the holidays. How do you keep it simple and keep the focus on Jesus?
By Kristen, We are THAT family
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