Christmas tree by Leslie Layton Coslet
Good morning, beloved,
I am, for some reason, up very early. My mind is scattered in many directions. Parents this morning packing and organizing their children for school, holding tight, fearful, unsure. Schools trying to cope with security and calming frayed nerves. We, as a nation, are watching this unfold like a train wreck. Newton, Connecticut shattered. All sorts of ideas, opinions given a voice through social media. Pictures of the children being led into Jesus’ arms, pictures of the victims…ugh.
We went to a Christmas concert last night and for me, remembering to treasure this moment, this season, this breath is critical. I am grateful, for today. For this moment, quiet with the Lord to ponder His Word, His power, His strength.
16 Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though
A Danish Christmas tree illuminated with burning candles, adorned with homemade Christmas decorations such as red hearts, white paper snowflakes, a golden star at the top, and gifts stacked underneath. by Malene Thyssen
our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.
17 For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparingand producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],
18 Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.
So, as we start our day, do we start it in fear? Or do we remember… Paul’s words are perfect. We are being renewed. We are being prepared for glory (we can’t even fathom it). So we look to the unseen, the unfading, deathless, everlasting. What is before us now? The seen, yet we need to remember these eyes are viewing what is very brief, and very fleeting.
This makes me think of the Christmas tree. 🙂 We pick it out, we place ornaments on it, lights, we make it beautiful. Yet after Christmas, this tree either gets packed away or put to the curb. We need to treat our life more like a Christmas tree. The moment we are in, we decorate it with joy. We light it up with a joy only found in Him. We make our life beautiful by plugging into the Spirit of God. We sparkle with His radiance. Today. Now. We have a gift. It’s not wrapped under any tree, it’s open, it’s beautiful, it’s available to all: We have hope because of Jesus. We share it. We invite others to come in and enjoy the peace. We place the Christmas tree in front of the window for all to see. Our faith should be like that too.
Mary’s song recorded in Luke 1 gives us a gift. Let’s look.
Christmas tree with real candles in Switzerland by Traumrune
49 For He Who is almighty has done great things for me—and holy is His name [to be venerated in His purity, majesty and glory]!
Almighty-(dynatos) of God, Luk 1:49, “mighty;” Rom 9:22, “power” (here the neuter of the adjective is used with the article, as a noun, equivalent to dunamis); frequently with the meaning “able”.
Genesis 17: When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete).
Psalm 24: 8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Jeremiah 10: 6 None at all is like You, O Lord; You are great, and Your name is great in might.
Mary remembered that Her God was great. He was (and is and will always be) magnificent. He is strong. He is mighty. Good things to remember today as the day unfolds.
Has done-poieō-to do a thing unto one
Psalm 71:
19 Your righteousness also, O God, is very high [reaching to the heavens], You Who have done great things; O God, who is like You, or who is Your equal?
20 You Who have shown us [all] troubles great and sore will quicken us again and will bring us up again from the depths of the earth. 21 Increase my greatness (my honor) and turn and comfort me.
Psalm 126:
2 Then were our mouths filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing. Then they said among the nations, The Lord has
Brazilian Christmas tree
done great things for them.
3 The Lord has done great things for us! We are glad!
Holy- (hagios) in Scripture in its moral and spiritual significance, separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God, sacred. (a) It is predicted of God (as the absolutely “Holy” One, in His purity, majesty and glory)…
Exodus 15: 11 Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders?
Psalm 99: 3 Let them confess and praise Your great name, awesome and reverence inspiring! It is holy, and holy is He!
Isaiah 6: 3 And one cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!
Isaiah 57: 15 For thus says the high and lofty One—He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin].
This day, today, remember whom we serve. Whom we praise. Whom we adore. The temporal? It’ll fade. The beautiful? It’ll get old and wrinkly. Yet, God? Friends, He’ll never fade. He’ll never get old. He’ll never get wrinkly.
Our God lives and so we can face this day.
My thankfuls:
51. I’m so thankful the chance to listen to my kids belt out the Christmas Carols last night.
52. I’m thankful for church members who care deeply and remind me they are praying.
53. I’m thankful for home-made ice cream. 🙂
Pray on. Pray on.
Related articles
- 5 Christmas Dinner Prayers (faithfulprovisions.com)
- 12 Days of Christmas (asatisfiedspirit.com)
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