As of this moment there are less than 409 hours until Christmas. What’s filling your daily twenty-four? If we’re not careful we can miss our annual journey to Bethlehem – it comes and goes quickly.
Don’t miss it.
We get busy and holiday-rushed and push His presence under the tree.
Stress and chaos covers up comfort and joy. Before we know it we lose sight of the reason Jesus came into the world, the place where commercialism has hijacked our holy season and leaves no room for Jesus.
It happened on the first Christmas – no room, except in the womb.
Christmas is the gospel of what God has done for us. Carols of exultation take me straight to the stable and the throne. I can’t wait till this time of year to listen to the songs of sentiment that remind me of the old-fashioned Christmases in the farmhouse when our children waited in wide-eyed wonder. We can make the choice to preserve the beauty of the yuletide and not get robbed of Christmas past or Christmas future.
Just breathe.
All of us need to wait in wide-eyed wonder with sacred expectation.
When Mary was miraculously expecting Jesus she went to the hill country to visit her cousin Elizabeth. The older woman, also expecting, immediately turned her focus from the daily and the ordinary to the amazing presence that had her child leap within her.
Immanuel, enough to make every one of us leap.
Immanuel, transported from the Father’s side and praise of angels to a cattle trough and a cross. To live for us, to die for us, and to live for us – still.
It’s enough to stop us in our Christmas tracks and bow down in His presence.
My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Luke 1:47
Verna
Rick Carter says
December 7, 2014 at 12:47 pmAmen! =)
Verna Bowman says
December 12, 2014 at 7:29 am. . . and amen!
Liana says
December 7, 2014 at 5:58 pmBeautifully said Verna … May the Lord grant you the desires of your heart for yourself and your loved ones. Have a blessed season in His presence.
Verna Bowman says
December 12, 2014 at 7:29 am. . . and to you, Liana! Thank you for your faithful visits.
Lynda Stear says
December 9, 2014 at 9:48 amDear Verna,
We cannot be reminded enough about remembering what Christmas is all about; for even Christians get swept up with the holiday preparations and feel the stress of it. Thank-you!
Listening to Christmas songs interrupts my preoccupation with preparing for “Christmas.” However, God already prepared us for Christmas so that we can celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus everyday of the year, for “he Bible tells us so.”
Verna Bowman says
December 12, 2014 at 7:30 amRemembrance – He placed it in our hearts. Hope all of you had a nice time last night, Lynda!
Glenda Mills says
December 9, 2014 at 12:31 pmThanks for good reminder about not missing His presence this Christmas. Yes, we breathe in the same presence of the One who came to earth to show us the love of the Father…and we don’t want to miss His presence…at Christmas time and throughout the year. Hugs dear friend!
Verna Bowman says
December 12, 2014 at 7:31 amEvery day – we don’t want to miss His holy presence in the everyday . . . that came to us at Christmas. So glad we got together to pray!
jessie seneca says
December 10, 2014 at 1:50 pmThanks, Verna! Always love your writing and how it directs us to the Messiah. Merry Christmas, dear friend.
Verna Bowman says
December 12, 2014 at 7:32 amMerry and blessed Christmas to you and family, Jessie – Thank you, dear encouraging sister!