Tidings Of Comfort and Joy

Christmas brings with it great meaning and for some great difficulty. It's the time when our losses are felt deeply once more, and the life changes that come with those losses are greatly emphasized. This is especially true when attending attending family gatherings and parties or being alone. For me, the reminders and thoughts of what Christmas is really about make the difference between feeling sadness or joy.

I find it interesting that in the Christmas carol "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" it speaks of tidings of comfort and joy." Why would comfort and joy go together? Maybe because joy is much different than happiness. Many of us think of joy as something similar to happiness. Happiness is based on circumstance and is fleeting. Joy is based on the certainty of Christ, and the agape love of a Father who gave everything for His children. What a wonderful gift God has given us! There is a magnificent assurance of Heaven after this short life, in which we will all be fully healed in God's presence. There have been times when I was mad at God for what He let me go through in my life, but when I thought about what Jesus lived through, it changed my whole way of thinking. God chose for Jesus to be born in a manger, and to be raised by a poor family. Jesus chose to be homeless and live with so little. Everything was for us, he suffered to save us from our sin. Now we live under a new covenant and the only sacrifice was and to this day remains just one- him. How amazing is that?

Yes life is hard and it certainly can be unfair. But we live with God's mercy and grace all because of Jesus! This is the same infant Jesus we celebrate on Christmas. Because of him we don't get the punishment we deserve and we get the grace that we don't deserve. We receive God's sustaining grace every day and his saving grace to allow us into Heaven when we die. Thank you God for giving me so much! Talk about a fulfilled promise! Read about this promise in the Old Testament as far back as Isaiah: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

Take great comfort that we have a God who stands on His promises. Over and over we can read in the Bible about how God will love us forever (Jer. 31:3), never leave (Heb. 13:5), provide (Gen. 22:14), protect (Is. 64:8) and forgive (1 John 1:9). The list goes on and on. What a comfort that is! And what a joy that the greatest gift is Jesus! God also promises to fill our hearts with joy in John 15 and 16, we just need to make room! The more we empty our hearts, the more room we have to be filled with lasting, meaningful joy!

Oh Precious Father, thank you for Your amazing sacrificial love that gave us a savior. Thank You that through him we have unending mercy and grace, and will get to be with You one day. Thank you for always hearing our prayers and doing what is best in the perfect plan that You have for us. Help us to accept that Your ways are so much higher than ours. Help us to embrace the joy of Christ in Christmas and to focus on You and Jesus, not on temporary circumstances. Help us to remember that you are in control.  Thank You for loving me just the way I am. I love You Lord, I praise and worship You for all that You are. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Tidings of comfort and joy to you this Christmas!

Finding Peace In Stillness

When I heard Amy Grant's podcast she did for Jesus Calling last year, so much of it resonated with me. Amy grew up in church and learned so much from the Bible and about Jesus, but how well did she know him? As the daughter of a pastor, she was immersed in religion at a young age and she loved the Lord. Yet it wasn't until she was older and needed a savior so badly, that she learned heart lessons that culminated in finding the peace that knows no understanding. It was by learning how to be still, letting go and trusting God in everything.  Sometimes the simplest lessons are the hardest to learn.

Join Amy for this 9 minute excerpt from her Jesus Calling podcast below.

Amy Grant: Seeking God's Presence Through Stillness Podcast

Thankfulness In Advent Guest Post

I am honored to be sharing my friend Victoria's advent post from Chronically Hopeful as a guest post. May you be blessed as I was. 

Thankfulness in Advent
                                                                                                                                              We are encouraged to write wish lists. The media hypes up the season with empty feel good out of reach promises. Such as promises of “true” love, materialistic gifts., and the picture-perfect Christmas day with family.  People strive for perfect.

                                                                                                                                             Days that are nearly bursting at the seams with activities become more hurried so that more activities can be intertwined. There is no time to breathe in this season. In the blink of an eye, Christmas day has come and gone, leaving a sobering tragedy that we missed the opportunity to cherish moments and grow closer to Christ.

People become so busy that cannot hear the whisper of Christ. It is funny that the one thing we need most is the first thing we normally cut out, which is, our time with God. We might have a sing that says keep Christ in Christmas yet we neglect doing so.

The Greatest Gift                                                                        

Keeping Christ in Chrismas is more than using the phrase Merry Christmas. Keeping Christ in Christmas is slowing down and cherishing the gift of time. Keeping Christ in Christmas seeking Him with your whole heart and spending extra time in His presence. Additionally, allow Him to speak to You and transform You. Keeping Christ in Christmas is loving, praying for, and caring for all those around you.

Christ should be at the center of our excitement and focus. Jesus whispers gentle reminders to us. His name is whispered in the Old Testament. Jesus whispers to us in the chaos. He whispers in moments of silence in front of awe-inspiring lights. He whispers to us in the Christmas songs and through the
texture of garland. He even whispers to us through the aromas of Christmas. Jesus whispers to us
                                                                                                                                              Christmas, can you hear Him?
                                                                                                                                              What if instead of wish lists we kept a gratitude list, how would this transform our Christmas season? Slowing down in gratitude, as mentioned in a previous blog post, enables us to enter fully into each moment. Advent overflows with gifts from the creation story up until our present day. These gifts are 
waiting to be acknowledged all we must do is pay attention.

Jesus, I am amazed at how you, my Sovereign God, parted with heaven for a season. You entered in awomb through a miracle utilizing uninvited women. Entering into the beauty of You creation and navigating this fallen world. You became a helpless infant.
                                                                                                                                              I praise You with all my heart for the hope found in Advent. Help me to slow down, to cherish each moment, and to hear Your loving voice whispering to me. I surrender this Advent season to You knowing You will do a work beyond my dreams. Cultivate in me a Christmas heart of gratitude.

Amen

Nov26

Thank God For The Buts

The holiday season can be a difficult time for those who have suffered loss. Whether it be the death of a loved one or the death of a dream, whether it be the losses that pile up from major illnesses, or job losses, sadness can make the holidays very hard to get through. So what helps when loneliness and heartache set in? My friend, there are no magical answers, BUT there is always something to be grateful for. For some people, that may be hard to believe, but it's really true! I call it silver linings or the "buts."

It's all about changing our statements. When we see through eyes of sadness everything looks dark and dismal, and that is the feeling. It's hard to move forward, when you can't see anything ahead, and it feels paralyzing. It's an awful place to be. When I feel sad it helps me to write. Have you ever tried that? It can take some practice, before the thoughts start tumbling out. Here is an example of things I have written in the past:

There's so many things I can't do anymore
I've lost friends over this
So many people don't understand
I feel so alone
I can't be strong and independent anymore

Maybe you can identify with some of these things, they are very common feelings. When one looks for a silver lining, we look for something to counter the negative statement, positive self talk, and we can include God and His power in that silver lining or "but." Here are my new statements:

There's so many things I can't do anymore BUT I have found new things I can do.
I've lost friends over this BUT I have found new friends who are better friends.
So many people don't understand BUT I do value the ones who accept me even if they don't understand and am thankful for God who loves me so much just the way I am.
I feel so alone BUT I have learned that I am never alone, my God is always with me, He is faithful.
I can't be strong and independent anymore BUT God is strong for me in my weakness, and I am grateful for those who help me.

The "buts" can provide some comfort as we heal and go through our days. Some "buts" are very inspiring and meaningful to me such as the third and fourth line of the first verse of this popular hymn:

The Gift of Thanksgiving and Praise

Throughout the Bible we are told not only to unceasingly pray and thank God repeatedly, but also to praise Him. In many instances, we hear thanks and praise used together. I have been learning what a difference it makes in my life to not only thank God for all He has done and all He is doing, but also to praise Him.

When I get up in the morning, before my feet hit the floor, I greet the Lord and thank Him for at least three things. I got into this habit when I was having a difficult time. Doing this in the morning sets a more positive tone to my day. It always makes me realize how much God does for me no matter how bad things are at the time. It helps me to focus on the right things. When we thank God, we look at the many things He has done for us and it does put things in perspective. So if that's true, why do we need to praise Him too?

Praising God not only acknowledges what He does but also who He is. It puts the focus on Him and brings us into His presence. When we are in His presence to that degree, we are protected from the enemy. When we put Him into focus so fully and praise Him we also are building our faith and becoming stronger. This really is true. You are filling your mind, spirit and heart with the living God and you will be blessed for that. You will also feel and experience the blessing of that. It is truly a gift. Let us pray:

Thank You Lord, for all of the incredible things You have done for me and continue to do for me, and for the ways you continually bless me. I praise You, worship You and honor You my sovereign God, the Great I am. Your love is higher than the mountains and deeper than the oceans, thank You for loving me with that love. Thank You for the sacrifice You made for me and for the protection You give my loved ones and I. Thank You for the mercy and grace that I walk in each day and for the faithfulness that You show me. I am a child of the Most High and I honor You and cherish You as my King. Help me to have a thankful heart every day, and to reflect to others the love You show me. You know my heart Lord, You know my burdens and I continue to trust You with them. I lay it all down again and ask for Your peace once more. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.