December Again…

 It’s December Again… all of the Christmas decorations are up and the songs are being played. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Yet, I feel called to a pause. I’m inclined to examine our celebration. I’ve needed God so much this ear. I’ve come so much closer to Him since last December. He asked me to do things this year that terrified me, that I was inadequate for, that without Him I’d never be able to do. He’s been so faithful and so sovereign. He’s increased my life and my effectiveness… I find it hard now that the seasons have turned and we find ourselves here again, I find it hard to celebrate anything but Him.

He is the God who stooped so low to show us the way back home… He is a King stepping off His throne to comfort the lowly and broken ones… but not just those. The undeserving ones, the grieving the hearts of their father’s ones, the lying ones, the stealing ones, the abusive ones, the addicted ones…

me. The corrupted one.

A righteous God entering into sin, born in a squalid place where the sacrificial things live… 

for me and for you. 

As I hang the lights and decorate the tree I want so badly to remember these things. We have all of the traditions and we say all of the usual things… “he’s making his list and checking it twice”, “don’t forget to leave carrots out for the reindeer”, “here’s my christmas list…” There’s nothing wrong with these things. It’s just I measure them against what He’s done. He’s healed and restored me, granted such peace, strengthened me… and the traditions pale in comparison to this great reconciliation. 

An estranged mother and daughter coming back together, that is Christmas. 

A broken body chosen for a miracle, that is Christmas

Courage for the hard conversations that lead to wholeness, that is Christmas. 

Healed minds and hearts, that is Christmas.

This year, I want to honor him. I believe He is calling the hearts of mother’s back to him to disciple our children. To prepare them for the days surely coming when He’ll make a triumphant return and Christmas will come again. 

I’m not attempting to take your traditions away from you or criticize the way you do Christmas but I suspect many mother’s whose charge it is to choose the ornaments and the ribbons, pick the presents and find coordinating paper, send out the cards and prepare the meals… I suspect those many mother’s feel the tug too… In our homes this Christmas we can turn our minds and even more importantly the minds and hearts of our children back to Him. 

We can light some candles and read his story when we sit down to eat dinner, we can re-teach the reason for the gift giving, instead of letting it arbitrarily fall wherever it does, we can give Him the glory. 

Rejoice, my friend. You are saved. 2000 years ago a plan was enacted by all of Heaven. It was your name He thought of when He came. Today you’re lonely, or tired, or just plain struggling but “this momentary light affliction” pales in comparison to “the eternal weight of glory” ahead. I am working hard to remind myself of this. I see you and me free of the weight of shame and hurt and loss. 

Today things aren’t perfect but I have this hope in the form of a promise from an Almighty God… 

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 6:19-20

That first Christmas 2000 years ago was our first glimpse of the entering in Jesus has done on for us.

I want to remember this year above all else, He acts on my behalf.

Thank you King Jesus.

XOXO

Miranda