December 22, 2016

Greetings My Friend, Try as I may this year it has been hard for me to focus on Christmas. I have gotten disgusted with all the "profit" of Christmas and the lack of Christ in Christmas that gift buying has not been a priority. We only shopped for things we needed as we do throughout the year and nothing extra. It is once again PC to say Merry Christmas and for me I prefer to celebrate Christ's birth within my church family, at services Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This past week though I found myself wanting to remember Jesus more with His Nativity displayed in the house. For a few years I kept the Nativity up year round and I enjoyed it recently though I found dusting to be cumbersome so I brought the nic knacks to a minimum which meant mainly pictures of those we love, a few crosses and some silk flowers. The flowers give color to the room which brighten my spirits along with a reminder of the gift I have been given in Jesus so the crosses remind me of that. I was praying the other day to God about the lack of awe in regards to Jesus' birth. I am very grateful for His gift to all who will accept it and I have viewed His birth for awhile now with the cross in mind. I even have a couple of crosses that display the Nativity on them but I needed a little more. I was talking to God recently about how I felt and how I wanted to remember my Savior's birth when a poem started to build in me, I think the Holy Spirit spoke to me through this poem that was forming in my thoughts: "Like our Savior's birth in a stable bare without fanfare He was born Then the angles sang out the Good News to the Shepherd boys proclaiming the Savior's birth, my heart quietly opens to the reason for the season as I place His tiny manger scene upon the mantle. I learn I do not need the fanfare of hustle and bustle in my heart but to stop, be still and know God." As I read it later I see that is what I needed was to dig out a manger scene, I chose 2 that was one piece with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus all worked into the piece. I put them on my mantle alongside of the crosses I already had their and in that simple small act I began to open my heart to God's gift to mankind, His Son and our Savior. I saw the little baby Jesus so sweet in the manger and the awe that came with His birth into our world, a lowly child born in a stable to a teenage mother and a carpenter father. I met Jesus up their on that mantle and I remember His unassuming life of a poor child and not a worldly king. I saw the cross in all of its horror and found love so deep and wide for mankind. His gift is for all who will open their hearts and accept the gift of love given to us. I will enter this week by having a medical procedure, making meals for us to eat and come Saturday evening I will join in worship of God with us. Sunday we plan on stopping by Debbie and Boogie's for a bit to share a simple meal prepared by our church family for the people in the community. I am grateful for baby Jesus' birth, life, death and resurrection. I still can't only look upon baby Jesus without seeing the whole story of His life for us. Stripping the outside hoopla of such an important gift to mankind truly is opening my heart to Jesus again. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet