JOY

By now you might have noticed that I have the weekly Advent themes totally out of order.  Or not depending on which church you go to.  At the end of the day aren't they all important?  And, really, despite the day, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow" Hebrews 13:8.  Let's move on...

JOY!  It's my favorite Christmas word.  Joy, joy, joy!  I think of how many times the temptation to complain overcomes me.  To criticize, to judge myself and others.  It sneaks up on me at line in the check out when the cashier is moving too slow, at a restaurant when someone's child is misbehaving (like I've never been there before!!), when the repairman doesn't show up on time, when my hair doesn't look right.  But it's not what God wants for me. 

"Do not be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."  Luke 2:10-11

In church yesterday our pastor reminded us that we "are the only Jesus most people are going to see today."  How right he is!  Peace, hope, love and joy....all of these gifts of the season, gifts of the Savior...what good are they if we don't use them?  They are contagious you know!  Believe me, I know how hard that can be many days.  My weekend started with a near full blown fit and a text message to my sister in law that said, "I think I hate Christmas".  Holiday parties at school, 175 trips to Target, Kevin delayed out of town, a dog at the vet, children that can't behave to save their lives.  Blarg!  I found myself pleading with God that everyone would leave me alone.  You know, so I could enjoy all the peace, love, hope and joy of the season without distraction.  But God replied, that's not the point.  He didn't send His son that we might live in a magical utopian bubble, immune to all the evil around us.  He sent His son that we might live in spite of all the evil around us.  To submit to anything else....well, again.  That's not what God wants for me. 

Our God is a God of great joy!  We can't wait for the people and circumstances in our life to allow us to live happily.  Christ came that we might have life, eternal life, and know the joy of His salvation.  Let no one or no thing rob you of that.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
XOXO....Kelly

LOVE

God bless mothers.  We put up with so much in the name of raising children.  Here is a sample of some of the Christmas presents my mother put up with from me whilst I was learning to be more thoughtful.... 

1.  Two cans of cashews.  She really likes cashews.

2.  A musical Christmas mug.  When you lifted it up it played Christmas music.  Every time our dog would bump the package underneath the tree it would go off.  I was so afraid she would hear it and it would ruin the surprise.  As if knowing about the musical Christmas mug ahead of time would have lessened the enjoyment of a gift like that...

3.  A drawing of a cat drinking a saucer of milk.  I commissioned the artwork from Steve Strauss, the resident 3rd grade art prodigy of Lowery Elementary and also the biggest crush of my grade school life.  I paid him 15 cents to draw it.  My mom wanted to know why I didn't just draw her a picture myself.  Um, hello.  It was Steve Strauss.

Here's the deal with Christmas.  It's not about giving.  Not at all.  It's really only about one gift, the gift of God's son, and that we receive it.  We can't earn it, can't upgrade it.  It's simply there to be accepted.  I guess if you want to get technical we're then supposed to pass that gift on to others, which would be giving, but we can't do that until we've received it ourselves.  So anyway, there you go.  Getting, not giving.

The boys' school, like many organizations, adopts families at Christmastime.  I love to take them shopping to help meet the needs and wants of these families.  It's a very good and tangible way for them to learn to spread Christ's love.  The letter that came home this year detailing the requested donations explained how apparent need is at this time of year, what with all the extra expenses and celebrations, etc.  The biggest tragedy to me in all this is not that people don't have money to put presents under the tree, but that they think there's something lacking that they don't have money to put presents under the tree! 

Christmas is not about giving.  Don't get me wrong.  My home is covered in lights and full of decorations.  There are presents under the tree and stockings on the mantle.  These are the secular joys of the season and there is nothing inherently wrong with them.  But spiritually, it might as well be September.  Or February or May.  If we aren't discipling ourselves and our families everyday to the message of Christ's love for us, the gift of God's son, one church service singing Silent Night probably isn't going to make or break the holiday for us.  Christmas is the day we remember what all the other days of the year are for, to remember where it all started for us in God's love.  No, Christmas is not about giving.  It's about getting.  And trust me, friends, when the getting is God's, the getting is good.

Merry Christmas.  XOXO....Kelly

          

PEACE

"Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.  He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, "His name is John."  Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God."  Luke 1:62-64

Every year I relate a little differently to the nativity story.  Isn't that one of the wonders of God's gift to us, that it unfolds in a new way every time we visit it?  Some years it's Mary (years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2012 in fact).  Some years it's the donkey (the ass, if you will).  This year it's Zechariah. 

Zechariah has been silenced since Gabriel brought him the news of Elizabeth's pregnancy because he doubted the angel.  Let's be honest for a moment, though.  A man silenced throughout his wife's pregnancy?  That really has more to do with mercy than punishment, I think.  But I digress.  Zechariah has been silent, as in no words, and then John is born and named.  It isn't until Zechariah acknowledges the baby's name that he is given back his voice and then he can do nothing but praise God. 

How many times have I fallen into Zechariah's trap?  Doubt, doubt, doubt until I am forced to do nothing but keep my mouth shut and see how it's all going to turn out.  And when it does--for with God it always does--that, my friends, is PEACE.  To turn all of your turmoil and inner struggle over to the Father and rest in His deliverance, when everything around you seems out of control, but to have faith that God is not.  Peace. 

Luke goes on to describe Zechariah's prophesy for his son.  "And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in the darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." 

May God guide your footsteps today, friends. May you rest in His peace.

XOXO....Kelly


 

HOPE

Happy Christmas everyone!!  I don't know about you, but this year I am needing Christmas in my heart more than ever.  Sunday brought about the season of Advent and the lighting of the hope candle and suddenly I felt my heart lifting a little bit, my thoughts pointing toward the promise of the manger.

This year we created another inspiring yard display in order to capture the wonder of the season.  It's sure to delight all of our neighbors, especially the guy next door who still has papers taped to his front door declaring his constitutional right to deny the installation of a smart meter.  I think we might have a little tradition going here.  The first weekend after Thanksgiving I drag the Christmas lights out of the garage.  Kevin, knowing I will undoubtedly mess up all the cords, comes out to help me.  About two hours in, after he's cursed at the fourth string of lights that have gone out on him, he turns to notice what I'm doing in the yard.

 

 

 



It's no coincidence we put out the lights on "Hope" Sunday.  As in, Kevin hopes he remembers to lose the flamingos before next Christmas.  Have I mentioned this December 27 marks our 10 year wedding anniversary?  Nothing but bliss folks!  Nothing but bliss...  :)

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned....For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."  Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

With what long and lingering hope the people of God must have waited to see what the prophets foretold.  How blessed are we to no longer wait for the truth, but to be able to walk in it everyday!  To be sure of God's promises and live in His hope.  With hope we are moved from not just celebrating a season of Christmas, but experiencing its miracle everyday. 

Dear Lord, I thank you for the hope the gift of your Son brings me.  I thank you for the truth of Christmas and the opportunities you give me to share that truth, especially at this time of year.  Help me to keep my eyes focused on you this season, Lord, and to help keep hope alive in others by the power of your Spirit.  Amen.

XOXO....Kelly