Christmas is my MOST favorite holiday! I LOVE the lights, decorations, music, and spirit. Being able to walk through Manhattan or Brooklyn, and visit the mansions and stores with the million dollar decorations, and just hearing the carols all around me, on the radio, television, and through the musical lights. Being able to spend time with my family and friends, give gifts, and see the faces of excitement when someone I love gets a gift they’ve wanted for so long.
I will be missing all those things this Christmas, and it’s bittersweet.(I’m coming to find that most things in life are.) Bitter because I won’t have my usual Christmas decor and tradition, but sweet because when all the lights, and decorations are stripped away, the true meaning of Christmas gets a chance to be heard over the blaring hustle and bustle of the commercialized holiday season.
My heart is getting a makeover this month. Perhaps this is the gift that God is giving me this Christmas. This month, I read Redeeming Love (by Francine Rivers). A book about the passionate, protective, and pursuant love of a man for a woman (which is inspired by God’ s love for us through the book of Hosea, and gives a hope of what to look forward to in a godly man too). And I just finished reading The Heavenly Man, which is about a Chinese house church pastor and the persecution and trials that he faced…which he counts as joy and a blessing.
It’s
was an extremely sobering book, and extremely challenging.
Brother Yun is a modern day Paul. And his passion and pursuant heart after Jesus, and telling others about Jesus, despite the costs, has challenged me in a new and life changing way.
I read about God’s pursuant and passionate love for me, and now I read about a mans pursuant and passionate love for God.
Maybe this Christmas, it’s one of those gifts God desires to bestow… the gift of accepting and resting in his passionate love… or the gift of letting the Holy Spirit spark a fire in my soul that passionately pursues the kingdom of God and His righteousness, no matter the cost. Or maybe it’s both. Would you consider letting him bestow either, or both, of those gifts upon you as well?
Something we started here in the Dzuwa house are the “Words of Life Stockings.” We each created a stocking, and we then write a word of life or encouragement to another racer. It’s super encouraging when I receive a new word on my stocking. It really does bring life. And words are so powerful! Our tongues are tiny, but pack great power (James 3).I hope to continue this tradition with my own family someday.
I’ve learned that one of my love languages is giving gifts. I would love to give each and every single one of you a gift. And so here is my gift to you all… a challenge…
I challenge you to encourage at lease three people, this Christmas, with a gift of life giving words. Whether it’s through email, handwritten letter, phone call, face to face convo, or text message (but not a mass one). Make the words of encouragement personal and genuine. Pray about what to say, get a word of encouragement from God for that person. Compliment them, let them know how much you love them and why you love them. Whatever your gift of words is to that person, make sure it gives them life.
“Kind words are like honey- sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Proverbs 16:24
It was God’s kindness and love that led me to repentance. His words of life have given me abundant life with purpose and meaning. He’s the best Gift of all. I have not written an entire new song yet, but I know the time will come. I did write this poem quickly…
Roses are red
violets are blue
Merry merry Christmas
Hooray for the birth of Jesus!
What? Not all poems have to rhyme… that took a while to get!
o.k.. that was a fake one… here is the real one…
I have come to know the greatest Gift of all
My lowly and humble Jesus
His death has brought me life
now my life is not my own
It’s all for my kind and loving Savior
It was God’s amazing grace that pried my eyes
wide open
to see my need for redemption
and now my life is not my own
It’s all for my kind and loving Savior
His love pursued me
His love has changed me
His love has fought for me
and has won my heart
Whether I feel Him or not
in my joys or sorrows
I will declare
“You are good.”
“Let Your will be done”
I have come to trust the greatest Gift of all
My powerful and mighty Jesus
His life has brought me meaning
my life is not my own
It’s all for my kind and loving Savior.
“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7
Merry Merry Christmas!
May you find peace with God and with others, this holiday season,through the wonderful and free gift of Jesus.
Agenda: Love,
Bethsaida
P to the S… My bro just put a song up on iTunes. It’s called “Lit Up Home” by Boy Pilot. Please consider purchasing it this holiday season. You won’t regret it. Thanks for the support. <3
