Where is the Merry in Christmas?

By Susan Dollyhigh –

Rehab center, jail, and illness, greet my waking mind. I throw off the covers, put my feet on the floor, close my eyes, and take a deep breath. I trudge into the living room where a Christmas tree, gifts, and stockings greet my eyes. I can’t wrap my mind around the extremes of Merry Christmas and the despondency I feel in my heart.

An epidemic of anxiety, fear, and grief has spread through my family. My litany of sorrows is mind-numbing – my daughter in rehab, my eight-year-old granddaughter wondering why Mommy won’t be home for Christmas, my brother in jail, my sister’s brush with death from an unknown illness that lingers still. Each of these maladies alone could paralyze a family, and each of these situations is so foreign that my family never dreamed of experiencing any of them. Where is the hope, the peace, the joy, of the season?

I pour a cup of coffee, sit down on the couch, and my eyes lock on the Advent wreath adorning my coffee table. The words of the prophet Isaiah, later spoken by Jesus, come to mind, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free…” I gaze at the Advent candles representing Hope, Love, Peace and Joy, and feel Christ’s peace gently infuse my spirit.

I know Who the Hope is. I know He is Love. I’ve experienced His Peace. When I focus on Him instead of my circumstances, I feel the constant Joy He gives me, even in difficult circumstances. I’ve found the Merry in Christmas, even Christmas this year. The Merry in Christmas is Christ.

I hope you have Christ in your heart this season – no matter how difficult your life circumstances may be.

Bible Verse: “For to 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” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).

Prayer: Father in Heaven, I pray for my family, and all families who have heavy hearts this Christmas. I pray that You will comfort us, and grace us with your peace. Thank You for the gift of Your Son. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A Tealight Candle

By Charlotte Riegel –

The prayer walk event started in a dark room. The room is used for theatrical performances so the walls and floor are painted black. The light of one small tea light on the floor in the middle of the room was swallowed by the black surroundings.

We were invited to enter the room in silence and gather in a circle around the ‘light’. The group numbered about 30. As I entered the room from a bright summer evening I could see nothing so felt my way along the back wall hoping all the chairs had been removed. I preferred to stand while most of the group sat in a circle on the floor around the wee candle.

Ten minutes later I was amazed at how much I could see once my eyes adjusted to this darkness and that one little light. I could make out the shapes of many others in the room and even recognized some of them. The longer we were there the more we could distinguish.

The leader encouraged us to consider that what we do as artists, (visual artists, literary artists, dramatic artists) is like this light shining into the darkness of the many lives we encounter every day. Some will see a wee light coming from us yet continue to stumble on in the darkness encompassing them. If we can hold their attention even for a few minutes, perhaps they will begin to see more than that wee speck of light emanating from us. Then we may have opportunity to shed even more light into their darkness, helping them to see the obstacles, encouraging them to come closer to the light, to even embrace the light that will banish the darkness from their lives.

As we consider the coming of Jesus to earth during the Christmas season, and speak of Him as the light of the world, let us remember we are chosen to reflect His light to all around us. If we can keep their attention for a few minutes, they may begin to see more than the blackness engulfing them.

Prayer: Lord, may we be faithful in reflecting Your light in such a way as to encourage others to linger in that light till they are drawn to it so they too can walk in Your light of life.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12 NIV ).

Inhibiting His Voice

By Carin LeRoy –

Three years ago my Dad passed away. After almost 60 years of marriage, my mother went through a painful grief process. She had known my Dad since she was 15, so his absence was felt in every area of her life. The loss seemed unbearable as she struggled without my father. Sorrow would strike at any moment—talking with friends, walking in a store, sitting in church, alone at night—and tears would overtake her. She lost interest in things she loved, and heartache kept her from experiencing joy in life. Grief and sorrow took away her ability to function in a normal capacity.

As believers, we are given the Holy Spirit on the day of our salvation. The work of the Holy Spirit in our life helps us, brings comfort, warns, guides, and gives us power to live the Christian life. In Ephesians 4:30 we are told, “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption” (NLT). Ignoring the Spirit’s promptings inhibits Him from speaking to us. Disregarding His voice doesn’t allow Him to work in our lives preventing Him from functioning in His intended capacity. That grieves Him. He desires to guide and protect us from the harmful effects of sin and use us for God’s glory.

Just as my mom’s sorrow prevented her from functioning normally in daily life, we can also prevent the Holy Spirit from ministering in our lives. If we continue in sin ignoring the voice of the Holy Spirit, we grieve Him and marginalize God. We are admonished to “live as children of light.” Allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to us and reveal himself in our lives brings God glory. May we live the Christian life as God intended.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, that Your Holy Spirit guides, comforts, warns and empowers me to live the Christian life. Help me not to grieve Your spirit by choosing to sin, but give me the strength to live the Christian life as God intended.

“And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world” (Ephesians 4:30-5:5 NLT).

Creating the Perfect Christmas

By Elaine James –

“You get your panties all in a bunch!” he blurted out. Oh boy is he in trouble I thought. I watched my friend Tom bury himself as he rolled his eyes and came out with that to his wife. What was he thinking by saying that?

Tom was expressing his frustration about the family Christmas dinner that was just around the corner. He went on a rant describing how uptight Cindy gets. I felt for Cindy because I understood where she was coming from. I know she loves Pinterest and she has been perusing that website getting inspiring ideas with the desire to create the perfect Christmas.

Have you found yourself trying to keep up with the times and new ideas? Or with the age-old desire of creating the perfect Christmas? Are your panties in a bunch? Or maybe you have found yourself just giving up and doing the complete opposite–nothing?

The Bible teaches us the perfect perspective of how to celebrate Christmas. It starts with the angel declaring to Mary, “And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus” (Luke 1:31 AMP). Mary’s response “Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said” (Luke 1:38 AMP).

We can relate that to our lives. We pray for our plans. We become pregnant with an idea. We respond as the handmaiden of the Lord knowing that “For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment” (Luke 1:37AMP). We can fulfill the perfect Christmas in God’s power.

Next time you imagine yourself creating a perfect Christmas think of yourself being nine months pregnant. Imagine Mary travelling 80 miles, about one week on foot, to get to her perfect Christmas celebration. What would happen to all our perspectives of wanting a perfect Christmas? The world could fulfill their perfect Christmas with this promise, “No word from God shall be without power” (Luke 1:37 AMP).

PRAYER: Thank you for the free gift of Jesus Christ. You always have the perfect plans. Help me be guided this Christmas with your promise that I will be with Your power to create Your perfect Christmas plans. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Giving All—Mind, Body and Brownies

By Rhonda Rhea –

My workout routine for today: stirred brownie batter. It was really thick brownie batter too. So thick I’m probably going to need a nap. Right after I eat this brownie.

I was contemplating being out of shape the other day as I pulled out my new gym membership card. I should explain here that my new gym membership card isn’t nearly so much about my workout routine as it is my imagination. But I figure even if I don’t have an active lifestyle, at least I do have an active imagination. So there’s that. Now if I can only teach myself to eat imaginary brownies. Yeah, not very likely, that.

Still, pretty sure I’ll eventually need to do something about all these layers insulating my abs. Disturbing as it is, each layer is about the consistency of brownie batter. Like parfait gone terribly wrong. Ew.

Didn’t I read somewhere I could “think” myself thin? In that vein, I think I’ll plan some imaginary cardio for later this afternoon. Then again, for all of us who plan to “think” our exercise, abs of batter will probably always be our buns of steel.

While we’re thinking about it, how about a reminder to put more than just thought into our faith life? An intellectual exercise alone will do about as much for our spiritual well-being as imaginary exercise will do for us physically.

Maybe you’ve read Romans 12: 1-2 even more times than I’ve dodged my workouts. I read it routinely. And though I read it routinely, it’s always a heart-charger. Like spiritual cardio, this passage so often becomes a faith workout routine for my heart and mind: “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God” (HCSB).

That’s the kind of spiritual cardio that is truly heart-changing. I’m reminded here to present my body, brownies and all. And I’m reminded to let my mind be renewed too. Both are exercises of obedience. Both are exercises of faith. The Lord wants our bodies. He wants our minds. He wants us heart, soul—absolutely all. He wants us in the most complete, scrape-every-part-of-the-bowl way.

Following Him is not merely an intellectual exercise. It’s verified in our sacrifice. It’s at the point of total surrender that we’re free to understand, to “discern,” the “perfect will of God.”

O Lord, may we be ever-ready to give body, mind, heart and soul to you in loving obedience.

As far as the physical workout goes, I’m thinking one of the things I should exercise is better judgment. Yesterday I stood up, yawned, then totally counted that as my yoga. I don’t even do yoga. Not to mention, after that I figured I’d earned a brownie.

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