“Where are you, Christmas? Why can’t I find you?”
Cindy Lou Who knew that there was shopping to do.
But underneath all the tinsel and the lights, she sensed an important “something” missing that she called Christmas.
Some have called it the magic of Christmas.
Charlie Brown called it the meaning of Christmas.
Whatever you call it, it cannot be found amid the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season busy-ness.
Sure, you can find excitement and even nostalgia among all the events, smells, sights, and sounds.
But the center of Christmas will always be a Person.
Jesus Christ.
With all the slogans like “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” or “Keep Christ in Christmas”, one would think that Christians always get the meaning of Christmas.
Alas, that is not true.
Christians have as many obligations, ambitions, and lusts crowding their days as anyone else during the holidays.
So, how can anyone find Christmas during the demands of the season?
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
Psalm 131:2-3
2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.
Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—
now and always.
Slow Down
Slow down for moments of quiet reflection on who Jesus is and how safe you are in His presence.
Slow down to meditate on His hope for you, your family, and the world.
Be cautious when deciding to commit to any Christmas event.
Ask yourself how much time, energy, and stress each commitment costs.
If it costs your peace and communion with Jesus, it’s not worth it.
Remember that Christmas can’t be bought or given.
It’s not how many presents you give or dollars you donate that will bring you closer to your Christmas miracle.
It’s how close you are to Jesus.
Slow your calendar.
Slow your checkbook.
Slow your mind and soul.
And enjoy Christmas throughout the season.
Pastor Joshua
Have anything you’d like to add?
Leave a comment below!
LeAnn Vanburen says
Very well said
Rick VanBuren says
A much needed short message for today. It seems we spend way too much time trying to schedule in all the meals, get togethers, gatherings and parties. No kidding, while I was literally typing this, my associate that sits across from me asks “So, Rick, you planning on a big Christmas gathering this year?” Seriously, he did! lol
I then told him what I just read and what I was typing.
A small seed was planted.
Andrew Cochran says
Yes, well said. My wife and I just said we need to talk over now what the holidays will look like-who to get together with, where to go, etc. We want to make sure we count the cost of those events beforehand, especially the cost of our spiritual, relational, and emotional health.
William Seymour says
Please proof read for fb…..
By faith we are saying “Home for the holidays!”
We have celebrated 29 Christmas at our current residence, but we are hoping to be in our new home for Christmas this year.
2021 has been a busy year! We have invested much time and money into getting our property ready for a buyer. I wanted the next owners to be able to move in with everything intact.
The plan was to sell in the spring of 2021, but we just kept finding more stuff that needed to be done. In October we finally listed our home, and thankfully, a week after that, God sent us a buyer. At the same time we made an offer on our “dream home.”
So here we are, ready to sell and buy a house, a few days before Christmas. I would not have timed it like this, but I have learned that God’s timing is impeccable.
Almost everything we own has been packed and we are waiting patiently for the buyers’ lenders to confirm a settlement date (originally projected for this Friday 12/17). In faith, I have reserved a U-Haul for Saturday and am lining up friends to help!
For almost three decades, our blow-molded, holy family has camped out on our front lawn at Christmastime. This year they are persistently wondering why they are gazing out of a crate.
No doubt, that will be the first crate to be unpacked!
William Seymour says
By faith we are saying “Home for the holidays!”
We have celebrated 29 Christmas at our current residence, but we are hoping to be in our new home for Christmas this year.
2021 has been a busy year! We have invested much time and money into getting our property ready for a buyer. I wanted the next owners to be able to move in with everything intact.
The plan was to sell in the spring of 2021, but we just kept finding more stuff that needed to be done. In October we finally listed our home, and thankfully, a week after that, God sent us a buyer. At the same time we made an offer on our “dream home.”
So here we are, ready to sell and buy a house, a few days before Christmas. I would not have timed it like this, but I have learned that God’s timing is impeccable.
Almost everything we own has been packed and we are waiting patiently for the buyers’ lenders to confirm a settlement date (originally projected for this Friday 12/17). In faith, I have reserved a U-Haul for Saturday and am lining up friends to help!
For almost three decades, our blow-molded, holy family has camped out on our front lawn at Christmastime. This year they are persistently wondering why they are gazing out of a crate.
No doubt, that will be the first crate to be unpacked!
Joshua Cole says
God bless your journey to a new home!