Rushing from store to store looking for the perfect gift for everyone on your list.
Rushing form party to party.
Rushing to get all the decorating and baking done.
Rushing to get dinner on at the time everyone is coming for.
Why is it that Christmas seems to be a season of rushing to get things done and get to all the events?
It gets busy and then we get to to Christmas day tired and done with the season. We just want the say to be over so can finally relax.
We get caught up in the busy-ness. We get caught up in the commercialization of it. We get caught up in all the good things that come with the season - good things that can still distract us. And, in the process, we miss what it's really supposed to be all about.
But, what if we approached it differently? What would it look like if we truly gave the entire time leading up the Christmas day over to God? If we surrendered it?
What if, in the midst of all we had to do, we surrendered our schedule to God and allowed Him to invade our rushing? What if we decided to listen for the promptings of God that interrupt our schedules? What if we let God even interrupt the good things with His much better plan than ours?
I wonder if it just might mean we're not just wishing the season away and longing for a slower time again. I wonder if it just might mean we don't miss what's really important.
I wonder if it just might mean we more easily remember why we do all we do and what this time of year should really be all about.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Crossroads
"This is what the Lord says:
Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is,
and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls."
-Jeremiah 6:16
Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is,
and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls."
-Jeremiah 6:16
Show me the way Lord
I'm standing at the crossroads
I want to go Your way
Show me the good way
Show me the ancient path
Walked by many before
Clear the way, so I can see
Your good and ancient path
That path so many have walked
The path of all those before
Who chose to go Your way
Who chose what You desired
Clear the ancient way of old
Remove what covers where it goes
The beautiful ground, worn smooth
By so many gone before me
The way that leads to rest
The way that leads to life
The ancient path to home
To living in Your presence
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Approaching God with Anticipation & Excitement
These days when I open the door at my parent's house, more often than not I'm greeted by little footsteps running to see whose there. Or if my niece isn't able to run and see, she's straining to see the door and calling out to whoever it might be.
As long as she's home when I arrive, the anticipation and excitement of seeing who just came in is there. And I watch it happen as other people arrive as well.
The more I think about it, the more I feel like God is using this repeated occurrence in my life to teach me more about the kind of relationship He wants to have with me - with each of us.
Scripture tells us that we have been adopted into God's family. We have become His children (Galatians 4:4-7). We have the privilege of calling Him Father.
That relationship means we can come running into His presence with excitement and anticipation about being with Him.
Just as, when I arrive my niece is excited to see me and anticipating what we'll do together, I can be excited to meet with God and see what He has planned for our time together. We can approach the time with anticipation because we can be sure His plan is for our good.
How do you usually approach your time with God? Do you anticipate it with excitement? Or is it something of a duty to you?
Getting to the point of approaching time with God with anticipation and excitement, begins with asking Him to increase that in you. If you don't have it, ask God for it. As you start and you get some of that, it grows in you. God wants to spend the time with us, He make the way for us to the point of approaching our time with Him with excitement and anticipation.
As long as she's home when I arrive, the anticipation and excitement of seeing who just came in is there. And I watch it happen as other people arrive as well.
The more I think about it, the more I feel like God is using this repeated occurrence in my life to teach me more about the kind of relationship He wants to have with me - with each of us.
Scripture tells us that we have been adopted into God's family. We have become His children (Galatians 4:4-7). We have the privilege of calling Him Father.
That relationship means we can come running into His presence with excitement and anticipation about being with Him.
Just as, when I arrive my niece is excited to see me and anticipating what we'll do together, I can be excited to meet with God and see what He has planned for our time together. We can approach the time with anticipation because we can be sure His plan is for our good.
How do you usually approach your time with God? Do you anticipate it with excitement? Or is it something of a duty to you?
Getting to the point of approaching time with God with anticipation and excitement, begins with asking Him to increase that in you. If you don't have it, ask God for it. As you start and you get some of that, it grows in you. God wants to spend the time with us, He make the way for us to the point of approaching our time with Him with excitement and anticipation.
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