Keeping Christ in Christmas

Let’s Keep Christ in Christmas

I know, I know, “Let’s Keep Christ in Christmas” is a common, idiomatic phrase, trivialized by pin-on buttons and constant repetition. And I wouldn’t use it, if it just weren’t so true. In all the hustle and bustle and materialism, I find that Jesus is strangely absent from this sacred celebration of His lifesaving incarnation. So this year, I really do want to do a better job of keeping Christ in Christmas.

The True Meaning of Christmas

What is Christmas? The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus at His birth was to be marked with this amazing name, ‘Immanuel.’ In Hebrew, ‘Im’ means ‘With’ and the ‘El’ means God. So literally Jesus is and was the ‘With-Us God.’ His presence in our hearts and lives truly is the best gift of all. He is now, ‘With Us.’

My Confession

Yet, I confess that I am easily distracted from my God by presents and parties, and by people and things. I cook and I clean. I buy and I wrap. I carol and I carpool, such that the sheer busyness of the season – even when I am busy doing wonderful things – strangely carries a weight and a dread. Where is Christ in my Christmas?

My Commitment

So, this year I am doing something different. No more gift exchanges, no more presents under the tree. There will be fewer parties and even fewer cookies. No wrappings, no tinsel, no trappings. This year, the Christmas clutter will be cleared away.

My Celebration

Instead, I have committed to enjoying the ‘With-ness’ of God by spending limitless time with God. I’ll savor the gospel stories and I’ll sing ancient hymns. I’ll pray, and cry, and laugh, and fall on my face in awe. I will worship. Above all else, I will seek Him.

My ‘prayer chair’ is ready. My Bible is open. My heart is hungry. I have invited Christ back into Christmas. Won’t you join me?

PS – I won’t be blogging until the New Year, when I hope to return refreshed, renewed, and revived having been with the ‘With-Us God.’ See you in January.

Why Suffering?

Why Do Bad Things Happen?

Did you know that God has a goal for your life? That all those hard things and difficult people in your life, they are there for a reason? Your suffering is not random. Your pain is not without purpose. These obstacles really can serve as a divine opportunity. While there are many biblical answers to the questions of suffering, one of them is clearly this.

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son” Romans 8:29. God’s plan is to use all things to shape us so that we look just like His beloved son, Jesus.

Look Like Jesus

A recent research study just came out and confirmed what we had suspected all along. Couples that live together for a long time begin to look like one another. The study was conducted this way, researchers handed test participants separate photos of husbands and wives and then asked each participant to match the correct husband with the correct wife. The results were astonishing. More than half of the time, the right husband was matched with the right wife. And more than that, the longer the couple had lived together, the more likely they were to be correctly paired. They truly looked like one another.

Researchers postulate that this ‘looking alike’ occurs as a result of shared life experiences and emotions that actually form the lines and expressions on our faces. We become like those we are with.

Become Like the One You Love

When you allow pain and suffering to drive you, not away from God, but deeper into His arms, you fulfill God’s perfect plan. Your response to your trials has eternal consequences. And when you choose to gaze on Jesus, fellowship with Jesus, draw life from Jesus, you will look more like Jesus. You will become like the one you love.

Determine today that all your circumstances, good and bad, will send you back to your very source of life, Jesus Christ.


Kim Avery, MA, Certified Life Coach
“Helping women live joyful and meaningful lives.”
http://www.lifecoachingforchristianwomen.com/

Masks

Trick or Treat?

When my daughter was younger, each year she eagerly anticipated that ritual we call ‘Trick or Treat.’ The pumpkins were scary, the house-to-house hunt was fun, and the candy spoils were abundant. But nothing measured up to the fun of dressing up. Whether she was a lion, a princess, or a ballerina, she loved donning a new costume and a new persona.

One particular Halloween, right after I dressed her up as ‘My Little Pony,’ she impishly snuck out the back door, ran around to the front door, and rang the bell. “Trick or Treat,” she cried out. In mock surprise I replied, “Well, look at that. A beautiful ‘My Little Pony’ is standing right here on my stoop.”

Concerned, she lifted her plastic mask and whispered, “Don’t worry, mommy, it’s really just me, Bethany.”

Masks We Wear

I smile as I recall those innocent times, realizing that no one is ever really fooled by a mask for long. No matter how sophisticated the mask, how intricate the costume, how deeply we bury our genuine self – it just doesn’t work But that doesn’t stop us from trying.

On Sunday mornings, we carefully dress up in our very best, paste on a plastic smile, sneak out the back door, and arrive at the church’s front door as if to say, “This is the real me, really.” But behind our mask, lies sorrow, grief, brokenness, and despair. Vainly, we try to push our pride, selfishness, perfectionism, and fear out of sight. Robed in our Christian costume, we play the game, and pretend that all is well. But it is more of a trick than a treat.

Be Yourself

In the midst of all that futility, Galatians 5:1 rescues us with these words, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Did you hear that? Jesus came to set you free. Free from pretending to be who you are not, free from the fear of rejection, free to leave behind the crippling past that daily haunts your present. You are free to be who He created you to be.

It’s time to take off the mask. God knows you. God loves you just as you are. Peel those layers away and be free!