Devotionals

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Matthew 1:23 The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel – which means “God with us”

I love music and this time of year it's Christmas songs that ring across several radios to move us to celebrate. This morning I realized that the lyrics from the song, O Holy Night, have been playing over and over again in my head. It puts my heart in such a place of worship – Oh night divine! O night when Christ was born! O night devine! O night, O night divine!......

A divine birthday. This morning as I took time to read from the book of Matthew the account of Christ's birth, those lyrics chimed even louder within me. I'm one who loves to celebrate birthdays - not always with a big bang, just simply spending time with the special one who's day it is. Jesus, the celebration has started early in this heart! I'm filled with awe and wonder as I ponder the scene of your birth. Before the sun rose today a vision began. It was dark, with no lights on other than the twinkling ones entwined in the 12 foot tall tree that adorns our family room and the scripture that jumped off the pages for me set the beautiful scene in my mind. Oh friends... what might it have been like to have been there... to have followed a bright star on that dark night to witness the child? Read the story in Matthew 1:18 – Matthew 2: 12. Refresh it in your mind. And then, close your eyes and take a breath. Allow the story to take you back in history to the scene. The birthday of our savior and king. This king, Jesus, born as a baby in a stable - not anything like what one would have expected. The night love came down. I hope your heart is overwhelmed with His love, as is mine.

How easy it can be for us to become distracted by all the hustling and bustling of the season...the preparations and planning to gather with friends and loved ones... the gifts to buy and wrap for those dear to our hearts...special food...perhaps even some travel to get to and from them. Traditions that we've grown up with and kept or created within our own families to celebrate this season of giving hold special places in our hearts. I know for me, I've had to purposely discipline myself to have my preparations for family celebrations done so that I can intentionally center my heart at least a week before Christmas. What about you? It's not that we try to create chaos, but sometimes some of us can just get caught up in our “to do's” don't we? And then those expectations...ugh...those of ourselves and of others. I know I'm not alone in this- and believe me, I'm very simple! So honestly, whatever gear you find yourself in today, let's all just stop for a moment. As we approach Christmas, what might Jesus want from each of us this season? Our attention? For us to make Him first place in our heart? For us to obey the next right steps in our lives? For us to perhaps extend forgiveness to someone in our lives that perhaps we've withheld it from? The list goes on.... What is it for you? I'm asking myself these same questions and will pray and seek and ask Him. Join me. Close your eyes one more time....listen to your heart. O Holy Night...the stars are brightly shining...it is the night of our dear saviors birth...

May God Bless you all this Christmas!

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