These amazing words of encouragement can be found in the Christian Bible Alone... You do not have to look far for a word that will lift you up and remind you of what life is really about... These nuggets of wisdom and encouragement are chewable food. Paul encourages us to use him as a mentor..
You can choose to read it and walk away with a smile, somewhat happy but still walk down a path scattered with stress, anxiety & obligation...OR, and that is a big OR...
You could make a conscious decision to pray right now, asking for help to navigate your path and for His peace to fill every crevice of your heart; then you could put on some praise music and choose to sings songs of praise to 'the reason for the season - Jesus'...
You could go and encourage all of your children, greet your husband with a kiss & your friends with a hug and a word of life, one that will cause their heart to be lighter ( just as when Mary greeted her cousin Elizabeth and her baby leaped in her womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit..I want my heart to leap!).
The choices we make affect those around us because we are one body - the body of Christ, with one Father! It takes a conscious effort on our behalf, to not give in to the eccentricities the world has placed on Christmas....
keep at the fore front of your mind that Christ upturned the tables and rebuked the 'Church' (Synagogue) people for turning His temple into a market place.. Do not be fooled into thinking that Christmas is all about money & stuff.
The world will draw us in to wrong thinking with its tinsel and bells, however, as throughout the whole Bible - Christmas is about relationships.. starting with our own heart first - a relationship with Emmanuel.. then those He puts in our path!
A little example: An elderly man who is friends with my Father lives in a motor home. His wife passed away after he nursed her with cancer, then his family blamed him and wouldn't have anything to do with him; Later he found out he had cancer himself, so he decided to sell everything and hit the road on his own, doing his own thing for once in his life.
He called me three days ago, after getting out of hospital, to ask if he could park in our yard for Christmas and New Years.. I of course said yes. Now to most, this would be an inconvenience, and I have been told by a few people that I should have said no, because it may put me out in some way ( financially or inconvenienced).
But to me.. I wonder what prompted him to think of us? It could only be the Holy Spirit - can you hear it? "call Lance and Rebecca..go stay at their house"....
What prompted Mary to go see Elizabeth? "Go and stay with your cousin Elizabeth..." I can hear the Lord saying it...
God doesn't just speak to His children, He speaks to His creation, some hear and some don't.
This elderly man coming to stay has reminded me that Jesus is about relationships, if we are to celebrate His birth, then we need to let go of the anxiety and stress the world places on us and grab hold of the people who need loven!
So think about the things Paul tells us and get rid of all that does not line up...
Number 1 WRONG thought is "What do I want for Christmas..."
Number 1 RIGHT thought is "What can I give that keeps giving and will make their life richer..."
As I enter this day with the stresses of trying to 'buy' something for my children, family and friends, serve 7 other people, as well as meeting all the expectations and obligations of schools and work and Church, I choose to pray and make my requests known to God.. I choose to give thanks......
God Bless you as you share the love of Jesus to those who do not yet know or understand the truth.....
Rebecca
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Thanks for your encouragement......