Monday December 20, 2010
Theme: It Would Take a Miracle . . . To Experience Real Peace
Weekend Music links on iTunes: All to You - Lincoln Brewster, Angels We Have Heard on High, None But Jesus - Hillsong, O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Read
Think
I do not see my family very often but when I do I look forward to spending time with them and imagine how much fun we will have. It is only after a few disappointing days that I remember that neither I nor they are perfect and so our time together is likely to have some friction. We are all still human and so not perfect and likely to have hang ups and character ‘quirks’ that make time together…well more colorful!
I also hope for a perfect life for my children and friends but life often throws us curve balls and we have to deal with them. How wonderful that we have a God who not only sees them coming but has a plan to deal with them helping us grow through the process.
The plan for Jesus’ birth was not one that Mary and Joseph would have chosen for their first child yet God used all the difficulties they went through to fulfill the prophecies and guide their lives through an imperfect world.
This time of year can become frantic and stressful with preparations for what we want to be a wonderful Christmas, presents food and visits can become so important we have little time to relax and really celebrate the birth of Christ.
This time of year is when I most hear the story of Mary and Martha in my head. It is so easy for me to get caught up in the planning of food and making sure guests are cared for that I forget to be ‘in the moment.’ I know that things need to be done and that I want to be the one to plan it but by doing so I often forget that it is also a time to be quiet and contemplate what Christmas really means.
Do
As you prepare for Christmas with all the traditions that come with it remember it doesn’t have to be perfect…because it can’t be. “A perfect Christmas does not exist” so just have a good one. Perhaps schedule in some time to ‘be’ rather than ‘do.’
Pray
Lord at this time of year when we feel there is so much to do and not enough time, please help us remember to stop and spend time with you. Help us to learn, as Mary did, to hear you calling us away from our tasks to spend time with you before we get on with the preparations. We ask that you help us accept a ‘less than perfect’ Christmas in exchange for more time with You. Amen
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.