Merry Christmas
"The best of all, God is with us."
Last words of John Wesley
This is what it is all about.
We can hang all the lights and buy all the presents our loved ones want. We can fix all the traditional meals and make sure everything is in its place.
We can go to all the places we had on our list and check off every box on our to do list.
But, if we miss the fact that God Is With Us, then we have lost the whole message of Christmas.
When I began my Advent journey on November 27 I had no idea where the Lord was going to take me. I had no idea that in the midst of it I was going to have to make a major decision or that our family would go on a week long trip last week. I just wanted to focus on Jesus and the reason why we celebrate this month.
God has drawn me closer to His side more than I could ever imagine. He has convicted me of changes that NEED to be made in my life. Changes about habits I have and the words that come out of my mouth. Changes about how I treat people. He has revealed to me the parts of me that are not like Christ. For this I am grateful. It is like a gift He has given me. The realization of my sin and the fact that He has already won the victory. My conviction of sin comes with sorrow but also great JOY in knowing that with Him I have already won the war against sin. Sin has no power over me. With Christ I can overcome the temptations to fall back into my old ways and habits. When I do fail, I have an advocate who is for me standing before the throne of God. What good news this Christmas.
One of the things that has surprised me the most is the battle that has gone for my time. I committed to waking up early every morning. I am not a natural morning person. I like to stay up late and sleep in. I have always been this way. It does not help that most of my family is the same way. I knew going into this Advent season that if I did not wake up early that I would not get much of a chance during the day. With 8 kids, once the first one gets up it is normally a snow ball effect and they all get up and need something from me.
Don't get me wrong, I love my kids. But I love my Savior more. I wanted to give Him the first of my day. I was just not ready for the battle that would ensure. We had sickness in our house that caused little ones to be up and therefore this worried momma stayed up listening for coughs and breathing.
Every morning was a struggle to get up. I wanted to fall back asleep. I wanted to grab my phone and spend time on it. I had to fight every morning. And I did. The times I spent with the Lord those mornings were so special. I was so excited to see what the Lord was going to show me each time I sat down at our kitchen table. I was doing so well. I got up every morning for the most part. If not, I was able to find time in my day where I could meet with the Lord.
For Christmas this year we decided to forgo the gifts and go on a trip with our kids. We went on the trip for a week and though I had every intention of getting up early, I did not do it one morning. In a 306 square foot RV with 10 people sleeping in every spot you could think of, it was hard to turn on a light that would not disturb someone. I could have made it work, but I did not. I gave into the temptation to just put off my time with the Lord. I could tell the difference. I had a great time but something just did not feel right.
I missed that time with the Lord every morning.
I craved it.
That is what has surprised me the most. The more time I have spent with the Lord, the more time I have craved with Him. I just want my morning times with the Lord to go on. I actually am disappointed when I have to get up and start my day. Getting up at 6:30 is not early enough. I want more time. The battle raged though because my desire to get up earlier is being thwarted by the enemy. The more I desire to spend time with Him the more the enemy puts things in my way to discourage me. But we have this promise to cling to.
I know this seems like an odd Christmas post but in doing my devotions one thing has struck me over and over again.
GOD IS WITH US.
Do we truly comprehend this?
The Lord that I meet with every morning is a true personal God who loves me and craves relationship with me. He loves me so much that in order to make sure that I would not have to be punished He left the glories of heaven to enter earth as a baby. He was born to die for me. He WILLINGLY died to take the punishment that I deserved. He took the wrath of God so I would not have to.
Propitiation - removal of God's wrath.
This is celebration of Christmas. HE IS WITH US.
As I woke up this morning and had to battle to wake up and spend time with Him I was just struck again with the fact that the creator of the universe wants and desires relationship WITH US. He is WITH US.
This Christmas Day we celebrate His coming as a little baby. We cannot celebrate His birth without being reminded of His death and resurrection. He is alive and sits at the right hand of the Father being an advocate for each one of us. He is ALIVE. Not only that but HE IS STILL WITH US. He left us his Holy Spirit, which is the better thing.
Last words of John Wesley
This is what it is all about.
We can hang all the lights and buy all the presents our loved ones want. We can fix all the traditional meals and make sure everything is in its place.
We can go to all the places we had on our list and check off every box on our to do list.
But, if we miss the fact that God Is With Us, then we have lost the whole message of Christmas.
When I began my Advent journey on November 27 I had no idea where the Lord was going to take me. I had no idea that in the midst of it I was going to have to make a major decision or that our family would go on a week long trip last week. I just wanted to focus on Jesus and the reason why we celebrate this month.
God has drawn me closer to His side more than I could ever imagine. He has convicted me of changes that NEED to be made in my life. Changes about habits I have and the words that come out of my mouth. Changes about how I treat people. He has revealed to me the parts of me that are not like Christ. For this I am grateful. It is like a gift He has given me. The realization of my sin and the fact that He has already won the victory. My conviction of sin comes with sorrow but also great JOY in knowing that with Him I have already won the war against sin. Sin has no power over me. With Christ I can overcome the temptations to fall back into my old ways and habits. When I do fail, I have an advocate who is for me standing before the throne of God. What good news this Christmas.
One of the things that has surprised me the most is the battle that has gone for my time. I committed to waking up early every morning. I am not a natural morning person. I like to stay up late and sleep in. I have always been this way. It does not help that most of my family is the same way. I knew going into this Advent season that if I did not wake up early that I would not get much of a chance during the day. With 8 kids, once the first one gets up it is normally a snow ball effect and they all get up and need something from me.
Don't get me wrong, I love my kids. But I love my Savior more. I wanted to give Him the first of my day. I was just not ready for the battle that would ensure. We had sickness in our house that caused little ones to be up and therefore this worried momma stayed up listening for coughs and breathing.
Every morning was a struggle to get up. I wanted to fall back asleep. I wanted to grab my phone and spend time on it. I had to fight every morning. And I did. The times I spent with the Lord those mornings were so special. I was so excited to see what the Lord was going to show me each time I sat down at our kitchen table. I was doing so well. I got up every morning for the most part. If not, I was able to find time in my day where I could meet with the Lord.
For Christmas this year we decided to forgo the gifts and go on a trip with our kids. We went on the trip for a week and though I had every intention of getting up early, I did not do it one morning. In a 306 square foot RV with 10 people sleeping in every spot you could think of, it was hard to turn on a light that would not disturb someone. I could have made it work, but I did not. I gave into the temptation to just put off my time with the Lord. I could tell the difference. I had a great time but something just did not feel right.
I missed that time with the Lord every morning.
I craved it.
That is what has surprised me the most. The more time I have spent with the Lord, the more time I have craved with Him. I just want my morning times with the Lord to go on. I actually am disappointed when I have to get up and start my day. Getting up at 6:30 is not early enough. I want more time. The battle raged though because my desire to get up earlier is being thwarted by the enemy. The more I desire to spend time with Him the more the enemy puts things in my way to discourage me. But we have this promise to cling to.
"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
1 John 4:4
GOD IS WITH US.
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
Matthew 1:23
Do we truly comprehend this?
The Lord that I meet with every morning is a true personal God who loves me and craves relationship with me. He loves me so much that in order to make sure that I would not have to be punished He left the glories of heaven to enter earth as a baby. He was born to die for me. He WILLINGLY died to take the punishment that I deserved. He took the wrath of God so I would not have to.
Propitiation - removal of God's wrath.
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:10
This God, who loved us more than we could ever comprehend, is WITH US.
He desires time WITH US.
He wants to talk to us and walk WITH US.
He desires relationship WITH US.
He is alive and He is WITH US.
No other religion in the world can claim this. No other god has come down to be one of us. To
die for us.
This is celebration of Christmas. HE IS WITH US.
As I woke up this morning and had to battle to wake up and spend time with Him I was just struck again with the fact that the creator of the universe wants and desires relationship WITH US. He is WITH US.
This Christmas Day we celebrate His coming as a little baby. We cannot celebrate His birth without being reminded of His death and resurrection. He is alive and sits at the right hand of the Father being an advocate for each one of us. He is ALIVE. Not only that but HE IS STILL WITH US. He left us his Holy Spirit, which is the better thing.
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
John 16:7
Oh, what a sweet gift to reflect on this Christmas Day.
HE IS STILL WITH US.
I pray that your Christmas Day is filled with JOY and laughter.
As you spend time with loved ones I pray that you hug them and tell them how much you love them.
As you remember those who are celebrating their Christmas' before the throne of God, I pray that you would be comforted in knowing that we will join them one day.
I pray that most of all you would celebrate the Savior of the world and remember that "The best of all, GOD IS WITH US."
Merry Christmas!!
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| We were at the Biltmore and I loaned Esther my camera. In the midst of all the pictures she took I found this one. She was trying to take a picture of a decoration on a window. This is how the picture turned out. In the midst of all the Christmas decorations, the image of the cross. |
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