It’s so easy to busy myself with so much baking, decorating, entertaining, attending Christmas events, and shopping, that I end up getting stressed and rushing through the season without focusing on the reason for the season.
God can break into our ordinary lives as we go about our routine and as we are just being ourselves. Sometimes we are not as ready to receive the good news as the shepherds were. We don’t want our comfortable routine to be disrupted.
I especially remember seeing the members of Congress gathered together and singing “God Bless America.” Political differences were laid aside. There was unity in the sung prayer, and it gave me hope that the 9-11 tragedy would result in a move toward God across our country.
Before we resume our normal work schedule, let’s enter into God’s holy Presence by worshiping along with those singing in these beautiful worship videos.
My mother gave me a great Christian heritage, but that doesn’t mean that our relationship was always perfect. Mothers and daughters have enough differences and similarities that they have to work on their relationship just as they have to work on their other family relationships.
Have you ever thought about what it was like for Jesus’ first followers on the day after Good Friday? I’m sure they had no idea that the day that had just passed would someday be called “good.”
The druid, Lochru, insulted Patrick and spoke bitterly against the Christian faith. Patrick was full of boldness from the Holy Spirit and cried out, “Oh Lord, who can do all things, who sent me here: May this wicked man who blasphemes Your name be carried up out of here and die straightway!” Lochru suddenly was flipped into the air by an unseen power and ….
…if your relationship has lasted for years, you know that the first attraction did not alone carry you through to your latest anniversary. How did you express your love yesterday? This morning?
We have often worn ourselves to a frazzle with last minute shopping, decorating, parties, buying gifts—and yes, assembling toys at midnight on Christmas Eve. Looking in the mirror reminds us regretfully of the second helpings and the bigger-than-average slices of pecan pie and other temptations we indulged in “just this once.”
…our spiritual walk does not have to be up and down like a roller coaster. Instead it can be a journey in which we grow spiritually stronger day by day and year by year.
