joy Archives - Page 16 of 20

My husband and I watched Christmas Town last night – the first Hallmark Christmas movie I have convinced anyone to watch with me this year. I admit I haven’t always appreciated them. Some seasons they seemed much too simple, cheesy and formulaic. I mean, they do all follow the same basic recipe. Girl from big city with lousy relationship somehow finds herself in a quaint little town with snow and Yuletide decorations galore. She happens upon a rugged stranger and sparks fly. But there is always some obstacle to them falling in love.

The roadblock, which is eventually overcome, usually takes the form of a job in another city or the previously mentioned lousy relationship. In the end, true love and happiness win out and the Christmas spirit is prominently displayed. The scripts contain no bad language and only one or two chaste kisses to seal the new relationship deal. It’s all very neat and cozy and sweet. And I just felt like I needed it.

I LOVE Christmas. It’s somewhat of a family joke. I love the music and decorations and horrible Christmas sweaters. I want to do ALL of the events – concerts and light tours and parties. I record all the classic Christmas specials and beg my husband and kids to watch with me. And even though I live in Texas, I dream of a white Christmas and serene family gatherings. But life isn’t really like a Hallmark Christmas movie, is it?

This is the third year in a row that my family experienced something really difficult right at holiday time. It’s hard, and somehow seems unfair due to the bill of goods we’ve been sold by card makers and retailers and story books alike. There isn’t always enough money. Decorations don’t always look perfect. Jobs don’t last forever, and relationships aren’t always easy. And that may not be the Norman Rockwell-esque picture of a modern Christmas, but I think it’s a lot like the first Christmas.

Scandal surrounded the birth of our King. Tongues wagged at the teenage, unmarried and pregnant Mary. Having little money to speak of, she walked or rode a donkey for mile after dusty mile with her betrothed. With no decent rooms available, they bedded down in a barn. When her contractions started, she was without her mother or midwife or ANYONE who knew of the birthing process. Mary must have been so frightened as many women didn’t survive childbirth before modern medicine.

They must have been so thirsty. Did Mary and Joseph have to drink the same water the animals were drinking? What must the smells have been like in that barn. And after Jesus came, did she have clothes to replace the ones covered in blood and afterbirth? Were the cattle really “lowing” as the popular carol states? Or were they freaked out by the screaming and crying associated with childbirth. And amidst all the chaos, our Savior was born. Our fate forever changed. (Find the story here.)

Nichole Nordeman’s “What Child is This/ Fragile” might be my new favorite Christmas carol. Between the verses of this song written over 150 years ago, the singer weaves in reminders of our current state:

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary

On and on the rain will fall like tears from the star.

On and on the rain will say how fragile we are.

The heavenly mixed with the earthly. Weakness buoyed by strength. This, this is what Christmas is all about. His first coming was messy, just like our Christmases now. But He made Himself low and joined us in the mess out of love. And that’s how it will be until Jesus comes again. His light will penetrate our darkness. He will bring joy where there has been none. He will love us and rescue us time and again when we don’t deserve it. There’s nothing too messy for Him to step into. Jesus our Savior is with us, within us until He comes back here in bodily form to reign as a mighty King. Then all will be perfect forevermore for those who believe.

Do you know Jesus this Christmas? Not just the little baby in the manger, but the Savior who came to earth. He took the blame for all your sins and put them to death with Him on the cross. All you have to do is believe that He was born to die for you. Once you believe in His saving grace, He enters into your life – messes and all. He offers the ONLY forgiveness of sins and gives help and hope this Christmas. If you want to know more about His birth in a stable and death on a cross I would love to meet or correspond with you. Drop me a note here or keep it confidential by visiting the CONTACT tab on this page. I pray if you haven’t already, that you receive the best gift available today. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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We are too busy. Everybody knows it, lots of people feel it, but not many of us know what to do about it. And this time of year we usually ramp up the hustle and bustle. There are so many things culture – or our own traditions – tell us we must be doing. Shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating, going to parties and events. It can be a hoot, or it can be exhausting. It can be meaningful, or anxiety inducing.

Every year in December, I encourage my yoga students to evaluate their holiday activities and consider eliminating, or revamping, those that don’t bring them joy and peace. And I read a meditation to them. The source or author I have forgotten, so I can’t give credit where it’s due. But I think it still deserves a share here:

This is the beginning of a new day. I have been given this day to use as I will. I can waste it, or I can use it for good. What I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, not loss; good, not evil; success, not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it.

The pastor at the church we attend speaks often of lingering in God’s presence. But this past Sunday he preached on hurrying to linger with Jesus. The second chapter of Luke tells a familiar story to believers celebrating Christmas. Here we read about the birth of Jesus and the host of angels that appeared to a group of shepherds in the field to tell them about it.

Vers es 15 and 16 read, “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger.” These young men heard the best news the world has ever known – that the Savior of the world came down to earth in the form of a baby to forgive the sins of all who believe.

The Holy Scriptures do NOT indicate that the shepherds sat down and discussed their options, or debated whether or not the announcement was true. The didn’t clean themselves up first or make arrangements with their families. They HAULED IT to be with Jesus. Oh, I’ve been thinking about this message all week.

When was the last time you woke up excitedly anxious to spend time with the Lord? I hope your answer is better than mine. If I’m honest, instead of hurrying to get to Him, I often hurry through my time with Him to get to something else. But when I do linger in His presence – studying His word intently, searching for true meaning – blessings abound. Like one of those plush blankets we wrap up in, His love envelops me when I sit and listen to Him during prayer.

The richness of time with Jesus is better than the most expensive gift given this holiday, because it changes us. And that is definitely worth trading my time. For this reason, and so many others, I’m following the example of the shepherds. I want my rushing to be in His direction this Christmas.