Something is causing a crushing blur. Here we are, days away from a time when families will be doing everything they can to hopefully communicate love. We associate happiness with love??? Giving and receiving as vital in the transfer of love. And we work real hard at it. Wanting happiness is not a sin and wanting happiness for those we love is wonderful. The blur comes when we are under the pressure to perform and produce "THE bigger and better".
In a world ..."Cosmos" where the veneer and the adornment constantly advertise what is supposed to be lasting and real, we are caught in the blurry world of "the holidays" ... and Jesus is not the reason for this season.
Now once again Hang on!Oh no...did I just say that??? "Jesus is not the Reason for this Season." YEP!! TOO much focus on trying to please everyone with pageants, programs, gifts and charity drives to meet the needs of the cold and gift-less; while at the same time trying to juggle anger caused by the myriads of crazed humanity frothing at the call of "lowest prices of the season".
NOW HOLD ON RIGHT THERE -- I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR BUT I AM CAUGHT IN THE BLUR TOO!
NOW HOLD ON RIGHT THERE -- I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR BUT I AM CAUGHT IN THE BLUR TOO!
Look, I'm not trying to start an argument or get too philosophical but let's clarify for a moment. This "Jesus is the reason for the season"could possibly be the problem with our thinking. Don't blame Jesus for the disappointment we can experience because we sink all our proverbial eggs of goodness into one basket of hope that we fill up JUST once a year.
Just as gifts seem more prevalent in this season, and wonderful stories of charity run rampant; the crushing blur of hopelessness can be even more oppressive amidst the "good cheer".
FACT 1...Jolly St. Nick is not coming (he has been dead for centuries), but he did love Jesus and didn't want any kids to feel unloved during this "Birthday of Jesus" season. Very Cool!!!
FACT 2...The answers to your prayers may not come just because it is...Christmas. What??? (God doesn't get emotionally gooey because of a particular season that we think is special. He thinks of us as special all the time...and in all seasons we are the desire of His heart).
Let's eliminate the season blur!!
Just as gifts seem more prevalent in this season, and wonderful stories of charity run rampant; the crushing blur of hopelessness can be even more oppressive amidst the "good cheer".
FACT 1...Jolly St. Nick is not coming (he has been dead for centuries), but he did love Jesus and didn't want any kids to feel unloved during this "Birthday of Jesus" season. Very Cool!!!
FACT 2...The answers to your prayers may not come just because it is...Christmas. What??? (God doesn't get emotionally gooey because of a particular season that we think is special. He thinks of us as special all the time...and in all seasons we are the desire of His heart).
Let's eliminate the season blur!!
My wife shared with me the following passage from her devotion, which does let us know that we are the reason for the seasons whether harsh or happy:
Gen. 41:52 - And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
After a double season of troubles, Joseph's life is finally turning for the better. To mark the fact that God was with Him in all seasons ... He names his second son in honor of this: Ephraim means ... double ashes, double blessings.
My wife then shared this: That the season of rain-like troubles is not a curse, but it is a down payment for a season of flower-like blessings. And God is with us in all of the seasons of our life - so that whether we are experiencing the rain or the flowers, we can experience Him with us.
It is so sad that sometimes we nurture the storm of troubles by reminding everyone how rough it is. We may even feel it is our station in life to keep calling back the clouds of curses because we don't deserve better. We may even mutter Heavenward the phrase..."God doesn't even know my name!"
Oh, how we can be so far from the truth, while He so desires to be close to us, within us.
Gen. 41:52 - And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
After a double season of troubles, Joseph's life is finally turning for the better. To mark the fact that God was with Him in all seasons ... He names his second son in honor of this: Ephraim means ... double ashes, double blessings.
My wife then shared this: That the season of rain-like troubles is not a curse, but it is a down payment for a season of flower-like blessings. And God is with us in all of the seasons of our life - so that whether we are experiencing the rain or the flowers, we can experience Him with us.
It is so sad that sometimes we nurture the storm of troubles by reminding everyone how rough it is. We may even feel it is our station in life to keep calling back the clouds of curses because we don't deserve better. We may even mutter Heavenward the phrase..."God doesn't even know my name!"
Oh, how we can be so far from the truth, while He so desires to be close to us, within us.
OK we are in the midst of this "holiday season"...let us not put so much weight on the outcome of our giving and receiving, or we may get caught unknowingly "in the blur". Let us mark these moments with an open love for Him, realizing We are the reason for the seasons that He allows us to walk through with Him.
Come let us adore Him ... in the rain and in the glow!
HLFA,
Jeff
Come let us adore Him ... in the rain and in the glow!
HLFA,
Jeff