Christmas Heart

I have been trying to make a conscious effort to find my Christmas spirit.  I really have!  I can’t bring myself to put up any decorations at home yet.  No tree, no tinsel, not even any lights.  There is Christmas music though!  Always Christmas music.  I have found a peace, almost a Christmas peace, as I decorate at church.  As I hang the garland, place the candles, fluff the tree and arrange the wreaths.  I can feel just a tiny bit of Christmas spirit, but its way down deep.  But as I do all of this at my church, it feels like I do it for that baby that came so long ago.  It’s almost like He is coming all over again  He comes to brighten the darkness of the world.  He comes to brighten my darkness!  So as I place each ornament on the tree I hope that someone who is feeling lost without their Christmas spirit can find it!  Because I don’t want them to feel like I do! 

Isaiah 9:1-2 (NIV)

9 ^]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

² The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.

I am doing all the necessary routines, all that’s required of me!  I am buying the gifts, Christmas play, Christmas cantata; I am even trying to spread Christmas cheer!  I want Christmas to be special for everyone, I want them to have what I lack.  As I deliver meals to the shut- ins in our community, I want them to feel the excitement and anticipation in receiving the meal and visit, just as I did.  I want them to feel the love, just like I feel it as I deliver it.  On Monday I got so excited just planning the menu and calling my contacts and my little “elves” to help. I just want others to feel what I feel.  I don’t even know what I feel.  But I know it feels good!  So I keep on doing it.  Is this Christmas Spirit?  I don’t know!

With A Christmas Heart (Luthor Vandross)

It's Christmas now
This is when we see all the angels
Dancing in the sky above, just for us
It's Christmas day
Something to believe in
I believe the love that we feel for each other
Is His gift to us
And nothing will keep us apart
If we love with a Christmas heart

It's Christmas now
This is when the eyes of our children
Search into these eyes of ours
How sweet they are
What kind of world are we gonna leave them?
What we couldn't learn from each other
We can still learn from God
What a way to live, what a place to start
Bless us please with a Christmas heart

And with this heart will share
So those who come upon us
Can know we love and know we care

I want a Christmas heart!  And Christ is the center of Christmas!  So, Lord, that’s what I want!  Your heart!  As I listened to my Christmas music this morning one of my favorite songs was playing, Grown Up Christmas List.  I thought of the things I used to want for Christmas when I was a child; Toys, clothes, books…material things.  My list today is not one for Santa but for Christ Jesus!  There is nothing on earth that I want, nothing money can buy!  This is what I want for Christmas, for everyday of the year!  Of course the obvious, peace on earth.   I want that same peace in my heart, a song in my soul, and words of praise on my lips.  I want broken homes to be restored and for Jesus to be at the center of the family.  I want wounded hearts to turn to Jesus, to run to Him when they have no one else to turn to.  I want the battered and bruised to be made whole!  These are not tasks for Santa.  And they are not small tasks, but they are also not impossible for my Lord Jesus!  Nothing is impossible for Him.

Luke 1:37(NIV)

For nothing is impossible with God.

I have come to realize more now than ever before, that not only does God hear our prayers but He actually answers them.  And if we turn to Him and not away from Him in our darkest hour He so wants to give us our hearts desire!  He holds my hand and my heart and says, come now; let me do this for you!  Just be patient while I work everything out for you.  I want it to be perfect.  He takes the shattered, the most difficult situations, and turns it into something good.  Always!

When Danny died I had a lot of questions for God; The number 1 being WHY?  When He had so much to offer the world why did He take Him?  That question is still being answered.  Every day He answers that for me!  Is He turning it into something beautiful? Of course He is!  The day Danny died, it became beautiful because He became whole!  A brand new body, no pain!  How beautiful that is!  And I hold that picture in my heart knowing that he is in Heaven celebrating every day!  There is no way I would want him to come back here for me!  That is very selfish on my part.  I am almost jealous of the fact that he has already finished this rat race and one on!  But I wait because I know He has something beautiful for me too.  Beauty from ashes!

 

 

. Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)

³     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

So as I get closer and closer to Christmas Day, I try harder and harder to be more Christ like and to capture that Christmas spirit!  I want that Christmas Heart!  And I know my Savior!  He will give it to me!  Why?  Because I am special in His sight! But you know what?  So are you!  I am not His only, favorite child!  But that’s just the way He makes me feel!  Like I am the only one!  Now that’s special!  So if you, like me, have misplaced your Christmas spirit, I know it’s only temporary!  I am gradually finding mine, and you will too!  The best place to start looking is in church!  This Christmas season as you wander around and think there is just something missing from your life, chances are, its Jesus!  So go to church!  Any church!  Any service!  Maybe it’s a kids Christmas play, or a Christmas Cantata or perhaps it’s my favorite service of the whole year, Christmas Eve Candlelight service!  Just go!  And while you sit there I the pew, just talk to God.  Tell Him all your troubles!  He really doesn’t mind!  Trust me; I have kept Him busy 24/7/365!  And He still wants me to tell Him more!  So let Jesus put the magic back in your Christmas!  You won’t be disappointed!

Colossians 3:12-15 (NIV)

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.