"So Much Wasted Time"

November 27, 2017

With eight kids, Lord, any holiday can be a bit hectic. Christmas especially. Help me to find ways for my family’s focus to be on You Son and not the presents this year. Help us to focus on giving, not getting. Lead me in what You want me to do this holiday season. Who do You want me to touch? I want my heart to truly be prepared for Christmas, Lord. Help me as I seek after You this season and beyond, Lord.

That was the prayer I wrote this morning as did my Preparing My Heart for Christmas Prayer Challenge. The word for today was Coming. I found that kind of funny since I wrote all about that in my last post. No coincidences with God.

My other study was all about Jesus as the Bright Morning Star. The study pointed out that navigation was done by the stars for centuries. Ancient travelers would use the morning star to navigate. It was the brightest in the sky and signaled the coming of a new day. It reminds me of Lamentations 3:22-23,

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
²³ they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.”

What a great reminder that Jesus is our bright star. When all seems lost and we cannot see our way out of a circumstance or situation, He is the light. It also reminds me of a quote from one of our family’s favorite movie series, Lord of the Rings.

“I give you the light of Eärendil, our most beloved star. May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out.”

That describes Jesus. He is our beloved star that shines. Whatever we try to use to fill the space in our lives that He is meant to fill will fail and leave us empty. It is only when we see Jesus and fill our lives with Him that we finally see the true light.

“We want more than a belief in Jesus but a movement toward Him, because we know He will lead us to God.”

That was a quote from the Love God Greatly blog this morning. It made me really refocus and truly commit to doing my advent devotions this month. I want to focus on the celebration of Christ’s first coming and expectantly await His second coming.

The prayer from the blog this morning was: “Let us never lose sight of Your Bright Morning Star in the sky as we travel closer to You each day until You finally bring the new day.”

I prayed that God would send me reminders this Christmas season of who He is. I asked for strength and guidance and boldness to point people to Christ this Christmastime.

I was just reminded this morning that Christmas should be a very big deal to Christians. I have loved having my house decorated. Each time I see the lights and decorations it reminds me of Jesus and the real reason why I should be celebrating. My desire this season is to have my heart prepared for Christmas. And beyond. I want my heart and life to be prepared for His coming again. I do not want to be caught unawares. I want to be ready at a moment notice for Christ’s return or for Him to call me home.

I normally do not pay attention to entertainment news of the day. Last week though the world lost David Cassidy. He was only 67 years old. It was revealed by his daughter that his last words were, “So much wasted time.” What a testament to all of us humans who mistakenly think that we have all the time in the world.

With the recent loss of our friend, Wilson Brant, and then reading this quote last week, it has just really been hit home to me that we do not know when things will end for us. In the blink of an eye we could be before our Savior. Our lives can change in an instant.

This Christmas season I want to remember Christ above all. I want to have my heart prepared for whenever He comes. That is my goal and wish for this Christmas.

On the day He calls me home, whenever that may be, I want Him to be able to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

So, this Christmas, as I remember Jesus as the Bright Morning Star and His coming as a little baby, my wish is that I would learn more about Him and follow Him every season of my life.