Today, Let’s Celebrate His Birth with Our Focus on Him
Posted by Sandy in Attitude, Blessed Life, Christian Living, Discouragement, Experiencing God, Intimacy with God, Serving God, tags: RevelationWhile getting dressed for work this morning, I heard a news report about Christians travelling to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas. God used that news story to interrupted me and change my attitude. Today, the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior, I want to make Him the focus of every minute of my day.
I have to work all day. We are quite busy and I’m catching up on looming deadlines. Still, I want Him to be at the center of it.
I’ve not been looking forward to this evening. Just about the time I get home from work my husband leaves. He’ll leave for work about 6pm tonight and he’ll get home about 8am Christmas morning. I’ve thought of several things I could do on Christmas Eve, and haven’t settled on any of them. My natural inclination is to stay home alone – following the principle of inertia. And that holds a bit of sadness for me. On the other hand, going out holds a bit of stress for me. Which will I choose? I don’t know yet. But God whispered to me this morning that it doesn’t matter – what matters is that I keep my focus on Him.
Interestingly, when I started writing this blog, I had tremendous peace in my heart. But what preceded the first paragraph you’ve read here were three paragraphs I deleted. They explained about some of the challenges in my life over the past month. I deleted them because by the time I typed “While getting dressed for work this morning…” my peace was gone and depression was creeping in. In the act of writing about how God put it in my heart to keep my focus on Him today (and everyday), I shifted my focus to the cares of this world. Ugh! Our enemy is so deceiving sometimes!
God has impressed on me over and over again this holiday season the need for me to allow Him to shine through me as I spend time with family and friends. (I blogged about it here.) I think we (God and me) are working up to that being the theme of 2011. Christ in me, my hope of glory. Christ in my mind while I accomplish my work. Christ in my heart when I am prone to depression. Christ on my lips when I am tempted to answer wrongly. Christ my focus as I take each step of the journey He has for me.
Today, the day we celebrate the birth of Christ, I am reminded that He made it possible for me to exchange my less-than-what-I-want-it-to-be life for a life in Him that is beyond my expectations in joy and purpose. Today, the day we celebrate the birth of Christ, I want Him to be my focus even while my mind, heart and hands are required to be doing other things.
Merry Christmas, readers! May Christ be in your heart and minds today, and may He bless the works of your hands mightily!
Here’s a “dessert” to today’s blog…
Today’s Resting at the River’s Edge was such a blessing to me. The birth of Christ is the backstory. Revelation provides the story’s climax:
6Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear.”
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
9Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
10At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:6-16
Hallelujah!
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