This Christmas ornament and two previous ones (the stocking and baby carriage)
are my children's first ornaments. They are 32, 30, and 20.
Too many of those years Jesus got lost in the busyness, the hustle and the bustle,
the shopping, the wrapping, the cooking, all the "preparations".
the shopping, the wrapping, the cooking, all the "preparations".
Christmas is a birthday we celebrate.
Advent is a time of preparing. A different kind of preparing.
A time to prepare our hearts for the most amazing gift ever given to us.
Don't let Jesus, the one we celebrate get lost in that "preparation".
Advent is a time of preparing. A different kind of preparing.
A time to prepare our hearts for the most amazing gift ever given to us.
Don't let Jesus, the one we celebrate get lost in that "preparation".
Advent Reading
Psalm 147: 1-12, Isaiah 30: 19-21, 23-26; Matthew 9:35; 10: 1, 5-8
"God who is the fullness of Being infiltrated our world of beings in order that we might fully be. Christmas is about the incarnation, and incarnation is God's becoming what he is not, in order that we might become what he is." (Richard John Neuhaus, God with Us)
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
Psalm 147:3
We are all brokenhearted, not just in the sense of a mournful heart, but in a heart that has been wounded, by our sin, by the sins of others, by living in a broken world. A world that is now not as it should be, as it was created to be. God entered our world to make possible the healing, the restoration we so need and long for.
Augustine said, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee"
Father, open our eyes and hearts to your amazing love, to your amazing grace, that would cause you to go to such great lengths to bring us back to you. May these truths become more real for us this Christmas. May we take the time to slow our busy pace and let our restless hearts rest in you, the healer, and restorer of our hearts and souls. May we not forget why we celebrate CHRISTmas.
Amen
Let it be.
6 comments:
Oh, what a beautiful post. HE does get lost in the hustle & bustle. This year I tried to get as much as I could get done early, so I could focus on the true meaning of Christmas. What a beautiful gift we have been given. :)
Yes and Amen..this first week of advent God has shown Himself to me in a new dimension...and I am focusing on Him this year
Thanks for your post
Blessings to you, Mary. Love, Kathy
It is so refeshing to see the true irit of Christmas manifest here. Thanks for the lovely reminder to stop and reflect. xox Corrine
Such a wonderful post, Mary. I love what St. Augustine said and isn't it so true. Thank you for being so faithful in your wonderful posts for us during this Advent season.
Just need to keep my focus... with all the busyness, life-changes, ... tiredness that interferes ... that is the need. If we don't focus on our Lord, it's a waste of time. Good reminder on your part.
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