Christmas time will be a less than happy experience for many people this year. The grief of loosing a loved one, the extra financial burden upon an already stretched budget. The breakdown of a family relationship, homelessness and the fear of an uncertain future! So many people have a lonely existence and Christmas just amplifies it.
We are surrounded by so much doom and gloom in our newspapers and on television.
Life is passing by with all sorts of challenges that so often we don’t stop to smell the coffee, look in wonder at a night sky or listen to the voice in the wind!
I’ve lost count of the times the oven wasn’t turned on, the turkey had gone off, the veg wasn’t cooked properly, the sorrow of a parents death at Christmas while having to put on a brave face for the children. Many can’t wait for it to be over hoping that 2024 might be a better year.
I also remember the laughter in the midst of sadness, the silly cracker jokes, getting up at an unearthly hour watching my children excitedly ripping open their presents. Church on Christmas morning that put everything back into perspective, a celebration of Jesus’s birth. The real meaning of Christmas!
Mary, who was engaged to a man called Joseph, was about to have a life changing experience when ‘Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, the angel said, “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. Listen carefully: you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and eminent and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin and have no intimacy with any man?” Then the angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a cloud]; for that reason the holy (pure, sinless) Child shall be called the Son of God. And listen, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her. Luke 1:26-38 Amp.
Imagine explaining that one to your mom! Then having to explain it to Joseph, who initially didn’t believe her and to spare her public disgrace he wanted to quietly break their engagement ! An angel had to come to Joseph in a dream to reassure him about his marriage to Mary.
Then at nine months pregnant she had to ride a donkey to attend a census at Josephs ancestral home in Bethlehem. No hotel reservation, no airbnb, all full due to the census! No room at the inn!The only available place was a stable! Not fit for humans, no sterile environment, no gas and air, no birthing pool, no nothing! Mary gave birth to Jesus in that dirty place . But that night the world would change for ever!
The arrival of His birth was the fulfilment of all the old testament prophecies. God himself had left all of his deity and entered this world through the womb of a young girl named Mary. Mind blowing! God himself went through all the stages of development, placed himself in the care of this woman. She would have felt his every kick, his every movement as he grew inside of her. She felt the pain of His birth and ultimately the pain of His death, until the joy of His resurrection !
What are your eyes on this Christmas? I know from experience that every time, especially at Christmas that I have focused on the storms of life I have felt an overwhelming sadness in my heart. I thought that I was doing well by putting all the emotion I was feeling into a box and leaving it in a drawer. I had given the Holy Spirit the situation and was trusting Him to handle it but I wasn’t giving Him the pain so that he could bring comfort and healing to my heart. The junk drawer was full to overflowing! I have made a decision to go through that drawer with Holy Spirit to empty it! The Holy Spirit is our comforter and the one who will lead and guide us into the truth that will set us free. Jesus paid the full price for my freedom so I’m going to work with the Holy Spirit so that I can have the full benefit of His sacrifice! What about you?
No situation is too big for God! Every sickness, every disease, every lack, every pain, every hurt, nothing is impossible for God! A change of perspective is needed, look up and turn your eyes upon Jesus. See things from His perspective. Empty your drawer with Holy Spirit and let him heal your heart!
Don’t wait till the new year to make a resolution that you know that you wont keep, do it today!
Your situation may not change immediately but you will see it through new lenses and your heart will be free of the pain!
Maybe you are reading this and you are in a great place, maybe you can’t relate to anything I’m saying. That’s ok, enjoy your Christmas . However, would you take a moment to ask Holy Spirit if out of your abundance there is someone you can bless this Christmas. Maybe you have a neighbour who lives alone, or a single mom or dad struggling this year, maybe invite them in for coffee or a meal. Buy a small gift, send a card, make a call, invite them to your church. Holy Spirit is very creative and He knows who needs help. Giving and being an encourager can be so much fun!
Maybe you and I can be the carrier of someone’s miracle.Miracles come in all shapes and sizes. Who knows you might save a life this Christmas!
" Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:38
Have a blessed and peaceful Christmas!
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