Post Christmas Let-Down

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of they salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalm 51: 10-12).

For weeks we've been planning for Christmas. We hung lights, decked the tree with colorful ornaments, baked cookies, shopped, wrapped gifts, attended parties and excitedly awaited Christmas. The joy of sitting next to family and friends in church on Christmas Eve and singing Christmas hymns reminded us of the miracle that took place over 2000 years ago when our Savior was born.

Now, a week later, we begin cleaning up and putting away. The trash bins are stuffed with wrapping paper, boxes and ribbons. The needles on the tree are dry and dropping and soon, it will be taken down as well. School will resume again shortly, or we'll return to work and life will go back to normal. It is hard not to experience a sense of let-down after the hustle and bustle of Christmas. What now? For some of us, winter will continue its cold presence for another 4 months. What happened to all the joy and laughter that came with the Christmas season? Why can't the thrill and excitement just continue?

How do we retain the joy that we felt at Christmas when the mundane takes over once again? We can fix our eyes on Jesus by making time for Him. It will require discipline to find quiet time to read Scripture and reflect on what we read. Furthermore, we connect with our Savior when we interact with Him in prayer.

As you go about your daily tasks, think about what you are thankful for, and ask God to restore your joy.  Remember that He, through His sacrifice on the cross, created a clean heart in you and me. Jesus will renew a right Spirit in us if we submit our lives to Him. He won't cast us away but will intimately relate with us if we seek His presence. Christ can restore our joy with His Spirit:
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 
Cast me not away from your presence
And take not your holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalm 51: 10-12)

As we enter the new year, I remind you and me to make a habit of spending time with God so that we experience joy in His presence.

Dear God,
I have so much to be thankful for. You died that I might be blameless in Your sight. Help me to make time for You in the new year. Open my heart to learn from Your Word and renew my focus on Your promises so that I find joy in Your presence. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Choose Peace over Hectic

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed -- or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

As Christmas approaches, many of us run in circles, trying to decorate, plan dinners, buy presents, attend gatherings, and then merely function in the day-to-day hectic that already exists. We may also be busy at work or school or caring for small children, and the preoccupation brought on by the frenetic pace of Christmas makes us wonder if we'll get it all accomplished in time.

My mind is in a whirl as I endeavor to get my school assignments completed, take care of my children and get food on the table. I feel as if I'm in the circus juggling colorful balls that threaten at any time to tumble to the floor. When I finally pause and contemplate what Advent means, I realize how our hurried culture interferes with a true preparation for the birth of the Savior.  In my attempt to conform to the "patterns of this world," I don't allow the Holy Spirit to transform me "by the renewing" of my mind. Paul reminds us:

          Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
          Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect
          will. (Romans 2:12)

The story of Mary and Martha provides us a good example of the value of time spent with Jesus amidst the hectic of the holiday season. Jesus stops to visit with Mary and Martha. Notice that it is Martha who invites Jesus, not Mary. Yet, rather than spend time with her guest, Martha frantically rushes around to prepare the dinner party. Mary, on the other hand, is aware of the significance of her Lord's presence and sits at His feet listening to His wisdom. Piqued by her sister's lack of helpfulness, Martha approaches Jesus asking, "'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' 'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed -- or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'"

When reading this story, I can better empathize with Martha than with Mary. I rush around doing what I think must get accomplished, and I miss out on the significance of Christmas. I need to purposely stop running in circles and be like Mary who chooses to slow down and listen to her Savior. In Isaiah 55:6, we read, "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near." Will you choose, like Mary, to seek the Lord this Christmas, or be anxiously consumed with planning, decorating, cooking and buying?

Prayer: Dear Lord, You remind us to "not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, to present our requests to [You] (Philippians 4:6). And so, we ask You to be with us as we prepare to celebrate Your birth. Help us to slow down and spend time with You. Remind us that peace ensues when we abide in You ("And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7)). In Jesus' Name. Amen

I am presently taking a course called Language Learning Through Technology.  With my lack of computer savvy, my brain is taxed with the demands of the course, and my thoughts are blank when I want to share the joy of knowing Christ in this blog. In an attempt to finish all of my course projects, I have let go of time with God, and I sense a void of His presence. Of course, He is with me, even when I don't acknowledge Him or spend time sharing my life with Him (Matthew 28:20). Yet, my emptiness needs filling that can only be quenched by the "fullness of Him who fills everything in every way" (Ephesians 1:23). I need Christ to fill my mental void so that I can express His peace and love in my thoughts and behavior.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ, you have been brought to fullness. (Colossians 2:6-10)

I want my life to be "rooted and built up in him." I ask Christ to strengthen my faith and fill me with thankfulness for the privilege of knowing and serving Him. Although I don't think my coursework has taken me captive with hollow and deceptive philosophy, it has filled my mind so that I have left no space for Christ. 

As I pray that Christ would pervade my emptiness, I pray also for you, dear reader, that you would "know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:19)