Christmas is coming

It's been a month filled to overflowing with more!! More parties. More food. More buying. More stress. More places to go. More people to see. More things to do. The list seems endless. But one week from today it will be over. The "stuff" of Christmas will be anyway. We can however choose to make every day Christmas. That just means focusing on Christ every day. Celebrating Him every day. Allowing Him to be who His is in our individual lives evey day. He is Lord whether we acknowledge Him only during this season or we choose to do it every day. 

Last night was the last of our Christmas parties. It was the one for the homeless of Greenville downtown. Coats and gloves and socks were lavished on them. Justin and Jessica Broome and others served and ministered, not just last night but they do it year round. Justin shared the Word. Many received that hope. Others chose not to. Many were grateful for what they received. Others were not. Many were satisfied with what they received. Others wanted more. That's not just the attitude of homeless people. That's many times the attitude of many, including myself. Tis the season of more. 

Praying this morning as we get closer and closer to Christmas that the days will be slow and sweet. That we would savor each one. That we would be grateful for all Jesus has done for us and continues to do for a sometimes ungrateful people who feel entitled for whatever reason...self included. Let's choose gratitude. Let's choose thankfulness. Let's actually smile when we say Merry Christmas. Let's look for ways to serve others rather than serve ourselves. Let's edify others rather than find nitpicky things to complain about. It will make your Christmas merrier and merrier for those around you. May the only more we want at Christmas and every day be more and more of Jesus and His presence. Not what He gives but more of who He is. Merry Christmas!!

Monday Morning Perspective

Trash talk is a part of sports on the field between players of opposing teams and has become a bigger than should be part of conversations between fans that pours over into social media which takes it to an entirely new level. However, James tells us in chapter 4 verses 11 and 12 that there's no place for it in the church even though from  time to time it finds its way there.

Too often gossip and slander, judging others and being unmerciful, find their way into churches among church family members. In this message in our Live It series, James addresses these problems. We looked at reasons not to judge and how we are to go directly to someone when we have an issue with them. We saw that when we judge others we basically set ourselves up on God's throne and render a verdict. 

We were challenged to look at ourselves because so often we get caught up in the  same sin we judge others over. We also can never know someone else's heart, even our own for that matter, so we don't know motives and we never have all the facts. Only God can read the heart and He has all the facts to render a sound judgment. 

I love how my husband closed challenging us to never lose the wonder and awe of our salvation. Those who remember, are the ones who are most merciful. It helps us remember where we were and how merciful God has been to us. 

The illustration at the end was on point. We can either accept Him now as our Savior or stand before Him later as our Judge. 

Remember December

If we are not careful, December will be gone almost as quickly as it arrived and  it will be one big, busy blur! It's December 3rd and we have already had 2 Christmas events. Yes, 2 in 3 days and more to come! Thankfully those two have been fun and stress free but I know if I'm not careful, even those can take their toll by month end. Based on my fall, I remember the toll that busy and stress can take and I'm determined not to go into January the way I went into October. This time of year is glorious to me! I love everything about it. How can you beat being out at night and seeing all the lights. It's magical! 

I find myself asking God to multiply my time, but it's usually to get more done or squeeze more things into an already jammed schedule. I know the importance of pacing myself, I just don't always do it. 

There's many stress causers all year, but they seem especially present during the holiday season. Things such as overspending, not enough sleep, bad eating habits, cramming the calendar. Add to that missing loved ones, family issues, job stress, and on and on I could go. I'm amazed the times I ask God for rest, but I go to bed late and get up early. I ask God for discipline in my life as I eat more and more junk and skip my gym time. I ask Him to multiply my time but I don't spend it with Him. Actually I've found the only time He multiplies my time is when He is priority in my use of time. The only way I've found to combat these things is being intentional daily, almost moment to moment, in prioritizing my time with Jesus and focusing on the most important and yes sometimes that means saying no to other things or to people as much as I hate doing that. I have to be ok with not buying and giving as much as I'd like. I refuse to compete with gift giving and gift receiving. I have to be ok when things don't seem to be as perfect as I would like when it comes to gifts, decorations or parties. I have to tell my type A, everything is supposed to be a certain way and look a certain way and planned out with every detail cared for self, that it's really not about all that!! What it is about is resting in the fact that Jesus took on flesh and dwelt among us. It's about the fact that He came to redeem and remove chains that from time to time we keep putting back on ourselves especially at Christmas time. It's the fact that it's not only about the stable but it's also about the cross. And it's about the fact that He will come back! And if He comes back at Christmas, which I think would be really cool, I don't want to be frazzled and weary from doing everything but celebrating His birth! 

So if I seem frazzled when you see me, call me on it. I need the accountability. If I say no to a request, please understand and grace me. If I fail to give the perfect gift or not enough gifts, forgive me. God gave one gift, His Son, perfect in every way and more than enough!! 

For into us is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 and He will save His people from their sins. Matt 1:21