I can hardly believe that in a week it will be Christmas day! It really does not seem like that is possible right now. I keep seeing all the Christmas decorations up everywhere and hearing the Christmas music, but I do not seem to think that it could really be Christmas yet.
I guess, if I were to be honest, it is because I have chosen to put that fact out my mind and not allow myself to think about it. I have never been a fan of all of the craziness that typically comes with Christmas . . . and this year I was even less inclined to get into any of it. I just did not see the point. Really, this past fall started off pretty crappy and I have been reeling from it since. It seems that only now I even want to think about Christmas . . . and I realize that I have missed much of what does excite me about it. I still have a week and I anticipate lots of stuff in this time, but I still feel like a part of it all is missing.
Yet, at the same time, I think because I have pretty much ignored the Christmas excess and consumerism happening around me I am thinking more about what this is all supposed to be about in the first place. Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus come to earth . . . it is the beginning of the greatest rescue mission of all times! I wonder if sometimes we lose that in all the decorations, and pageants, and food, and gift buying. I know I often do.
For me this year Christmas is something pretty simple . . . and I find myself looking forward to it all with more anticipation than I have had for Christmas in a long time! It is about celebrating the birth of Christ . . . and doing so with family and good friends. It is about taking time out to remember that my Savior chose to come to this earth so I could be reconciled to Him. It is about Jesus Christ! Nothing more . . . nothing less . . . just Jesus!
May you not forget the true meaning of the season in this next week.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
honest with God
Do you ever find yourself trying to come up with the "right" words to say when you are praying?
Do you avoid praying out loud in a group because you are afraid you will not have the "right" words to say?
God wants for us to be honest with Him . . . and that means telling Him how we really feel - what we are really thinking. But I find that it is not always easy. I get caught up in looking for the words that I think I am supposed to say and often do not even end up saying what I wanted to say. I can use all the "right" words and ask for all the "right" things but that may not be how I am actually feeling or what I am actually wanting to say.
I have been reading in Job lately and the other day I was struck by the utter honesty with which Job talks to God. Job does not look for the "right" words, he just tells God how he feels. There is no holding back on Job's part in what he says. As the reader you know how he feels. Job is honest with God.
I have started to think that this is something we need to do more of (well, at least I do). Rather than trying to find the "right" words, we need to learn to tell God honestly what we feel and what we think. It is not a surprise to God that we feel or think that way so why would we not honestly say it.
In the past few days I have been trying to do this. Believe me . . . it is not proving as easy as it sounds like it should be. I have all these ideas in my head of what I "should" be saying. But, as I have taken the time to practice (for lack of a better word) this I have found an incredible freedom in it. There is something freeing about not trying to say the "right"things all the time.
So, I want to challenge those of you who may be reading this to take some time to reflect on your own prayers to God. Are you honest? Or are you always looking for the "right" words to say? Are there changes that need to be made for you to actually be honest with God when you pray?
Do you avoid praying out loud in a group because you are afraid you will not have the "right" words to say?
God wants for us to be honest with Him . . . and that means telling Him how we really feel - what we are really thinking. But I find that it is not always easy. I get caught up in looking for the words that I think I am supposed to say and often do not even end up saying what I wanted to say. I can use all the "right" words and ask for all the "right" things but that may not be how I am actually feeling or what I am actually wanting to say.
I have been reading in Job lately and the other day I was struck by the utter honesty with which Job talks to God. Job does not look for the "right" words, he just tells God how he feels. There is no holding back on Job's part in what he says. As the reader you know how he feels. Job is honest with God.
I have started to think that this is something we need to do more of (well, at least I do). Rather than trying to find the "right" words, we need to learn to tell God honestly what we feel and what we think. It is not a surprise to God that we feel or think that way so why would we not honestly say it.
In the past few days I have been trying to do this. Believe me . . . it is not proving as easy as it sounds like it should be. I have all these ideas in my head of what I "should" be saying. But, as I have taken the time to practice (for lack of a better word) this I have found an incredible freedom in it. There is something freeing about not trying to say the "right"things all the time.
So, I want to challenge those of you who may be reading this to take some time to reflect on your own prayers to God. Are you honest? Or are you always looking for the "right" words to say? Are there changes that need to be made for you to actually be honest with God when you pray?
over my head
I was reading on another blog earlier today and it talked about a song I had never heard before, but I liked the words. I headed over to YouTube to see if I could find the song because I wanted to share the song with you. May you be encouraged by what you hear.
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