December 22, 2007 - The Past, Present, and Future

Wow, it hardly seems like Christmas could be two days away. Perhaps that is because most of my Christmas season was filled with play practices and performances, and I was so busy and not doing "regular" holiday activities that it didn't seem like the holiday season had really begun. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time and I don't regret doing the play in any way. I just wish the Christmas season could be longer. :) Ah, but it can't, and Christmas is nearly upon us. Another reminder that life doesn't wait for us, time doesn't stop for us. It is going continually on and on. How easy it is to get caught up in the busy-ness of life. To dwell on the present happenings, our current feelings, and what we're going through here and now. Not only does this cause us to be selfish, but it causes us to miss out on so much. As one of my favorite books, "A Christmas Carol", says, we should "live in the past, the present, and the future". We always hear it said that we shouldn't live in the past, and I think that is true, if you are dwelling on the past and living in regret. But we should remember the good times we've had before, and, most of all, the most wonderful Thing that happened: God sending His Son to earth to live among us, die for us, and come back to life. Yet, we also need to live in the Present; conscious of what we can do for others and how we can further the Kingdom right now and in anticipation of the Future; when Jesus will come again to take His children to be with Him forever. Are you ready? Are the people around you ready? How easy it is to fall into the hustle and bustle and stressfulness and even the fun of the holidays that we forget the real Reason for the season. God sent His Son! Yeah, we hear it all the time. But, think about it. No, really think about it. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. C'mon, I've been singing Away in a Manger since I could talk! I've heard the Christmas story my whole life." But this is the greatest Miracle of all times... a Baby born to a virgin... obviously not just an ordinary baby. Oh, no! This was Jesus, God's Son! God's only Son! Sent to die.... die for.... me? Woah, wait... not me! But, yes, it's true! For me, for you, for all of us. All of us sinners. Filthy sinners. Why? He loves us that much. He was sent to earth just to... die? No! That's the best part. Not only was He sent to live among men and teach, heal, and love people here... not only was He sent to die for our sins.... but He rose, so that if we accept Him we can live with him for eternity. What's that, this is sounding more like the Easter story? Well, it's all one story. The Story. The greatest story of all times, the Gospel.

This isn't what I'd intended to write about when I sat down. I had expected this to be another "this is life" kind of post. But I'm just writing what comes to mind.

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...".... it is, isn't it? My dad just came through singing that, and when my dad is singing Christmas songs, you know everyone is in the Christmas spirit and that Christmas is very near. Not that my dad doesn't like Christmas or Christmas time... not that he doesn't like Christmas songs... just that he's not fond of them until Christmas is close.

Well, it's about time for this post to come to a close. I hope you are all remembering the Reason for the season as you rush to get everything ready for Christmas and as you are caught up in your busy holiday schedules... just remember, give Him time always.

~*Emy*~

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Comments

December 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Grace4God said:

Excellent thoughts on THE Story of Jesus. I think many times we grow as "storybook" Christians, and never consider the gospel as a whole.
And, have I mentioned that your Dad rocks my face off? :P Sorry, I really couldn't resist.
Love you,
Grace

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