Advent Thoughts

Advent is coming to a close, and my heart has been preparing for Christ to come anew. The weeks of planning, and days of preparation are now mostly done. The tree is trimmed and the house is decorated with familiar Christmas things... the frig is filled with food, gifts lovingly wrapped and under the tree....it is almost time for all the kids to come "home for the holidays!" How I love having the "kids" home to celebrate Christmas! I was praying this morning, giving thanks for God's blessings on our family, and praying that our home would be filled with His presence as we gather together to celebrate the birth of Christ. All of our gifts and traditions are an expression of the joy and love that He first gave us. I can't wait to share all of this with them. It all starts with worship on Christmas Eve, and the remembering of the story...giving thanks for the gift so generously given.
Matthew 2:9-11
“9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”

Open My Heart to Jesus

     Each morning this Christmas season, I have pondered whether or not I am giving room to Jesus in my day.  As I read my advent devotional, the details of my day crowded in.....the responsibilities at school, the people I wanted to contact, the Christmas to-dos at school, for family, for friends.  Then, in my car, the music of worship, wooing my mind to be more yielding to your mind for it all, God. More asking you to take over and bring your priorities into my day...making more room for Jesus.  Now, the gift of vacation time, and more time to spend with family and friends....time to focus on the shopping and wrapping and planning.  Still, where is Jesus in it?  Is Jesus in the extra smile, the extra kindness to a stranger, the touch sent to a friend?  Is Jesus in the gift bag given to a homeless man on the corner, or a shoebox of gifts shipped to Peru?  Is Jesus in my heart as I consider how to share His message with an unbelieving friend? As I celebrate the birth with my family?  Is it enough?
      How can I ever put into words what you mean to me?  Loving Father.  Abba, Daddy.  Rabboni, Teacher.  Saving Grace.  Friend and Counselor.  You are my life, my deepest everything, my foundation.  You make me whole, you transform me, you stretch me, you grow me.  You put hope in my heart, you calm my mind, you quiet my hurts, and you light up my life. After so many years of loving you, how can I begin to share the complexity of all you have done in me and through me?
     Your answer is simple, Father God.  Your answer is a babe, announced by angels, born humbly, and welcomed by the marginalized shepherds.  Loved, adored, worshiped, despised and denied, He grew to teach of that love and share that love with us...the first Chritmas gift, sacrificial, the unearned gift of grace. Is our heart open to receive?  Are we stuck on establishing if the turnin is scientifically proven to be real? Does it matter? Faith is the key to open the heart, and joy is the gift.  May we be the child, eager to receive the gift of love and grace once again. May the shine on our face be like an angel, sharing the message of that love with everyone we meet today.