Merry Christmas from my home to yours!
I know Christmas doesn't always turn out as the perfect, ideal, family-ties and Hallmark movie type experience. Today I'm praying that no matter how it compares to your past or ideal hopes, that at the forefront you will dwell on the Word become Flesh.
The miracle of the Incarnation--Mary saying, "may it be to me according to your word," is a model for us in how we approach God.
When we offer our lives to him to use as he wills, we bring him honor, we sing his praise, and the world is blessed.
Contrast Zechariah who doubted it was possible for his wife to conceive. God still brought it about, the world was blessed--but his doubt was punished by silence. The joy of a child could not be delighted in with his voice--until after it was born. Then Zechariah praised God.
A simple contrast. But we learn through their story. Nothing is impossible with God. He is working beyond all we ask or imagine. His will will be done. We must receive.
The life of faith needs a daily offering of ourselves to God--daily "presenting ourselves before the LORD" (Job 1:6).
Then we can say with Mary:
He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation. Luke 1:49-50
As Christ gave himself for our salvation, to free us from slavery to sin and from the power of death and fear--this season let us respond by GIVING to him our lives afresh. PRESENTing ourselves before him daily. "Here I am," "May it be to me according to your word," "Not my will but thine be done."
Sometimes it's a simple switch of perspective like this, a recommitment to our covenant with God, that can turn an "empty-feeling" Christmas into a meaningful and intimate appreciation for God's great GIFT.
May it be a special time like this for you.
Much love,
Darlene