IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR!
Black Friday shoppers mobbed the stores, filling carriages, and others making preparations as Christmas is fast approaching. Some are trimming trees already as others are just bringing out their decorations from storage to get them ready for the family tree trimming day. Some have their trees already trimmed and decorated. Houses are being decked with boughs of holly. Long held traditions are being put into action. People making sure they got all the gifts for each child as well as for family and friends on their list as they rack up credit card debt or maxing those credit cards out. Children are looking forward to Christmas vacation from school and opening all their presents. And then there is the flash forward, smiling as they think of Christmas day being with family and friends and gathering around the Christmas tree and possibly eating all day.
Let’s look at the other side of this: Little Matty wants the latest toy and Mommy has to get to the store early to pick up the latest toy while trying not to get trampled by the other parents who are also trying to get their sons and daughters the latest toy. People get stressed out as they watch the dollar amount accumulate on their credit cards. Some dude is stuck in line as he mutters something about the commercialization of Christmas while he has been waiting in line for ten plus minutes. Then there is the concern if Uncle Lou or Aunt Clara will jump over the dinner table to try to clobber Uncle Clyde or Aunt Rose. Who’s going to sit next to Aunt Hilda at the Christmas meal because she won’t let anyone get a word in edgewise? The stress runs high, blood pressure boiling, and tempers ready to hit the fan when a tray of cookies get burned or someone knocks the gravy onto the floor… I could go on and on.
SO HERE IS WHAT I HOPE FOR
EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON
(1) I hope you will be filled with the peace
that comes from God alone.
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'” -Matthew 11:28-30
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7
(2) I hope you remember the real season for this season:
Jesus Christ, Son of God, Our Lord and Savior
sent by God to this Earth.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16
“Then Jesus told her, ‘I am the Messiah!'” -John 4:26
(3) I hope you remember how blessed you are as there are
those who have little to nothing or
are without family and friends.
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” -James 1:17
MAY ALL MY FAMILY & FRIENDS,
ACQAINTANCES & BLOG READERS,
NEIGHBORS & THOSE I HAVE YET TO MEET
BE BLESSED ABUNDANTLY
THROUGH THIS SEASON AND ALWAYS!
*
Much Love To All,
L.A. Knowles
“For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.” -Ephesians 2:14
Do you have a roof over your head? Do you have clothes on your back? Food on the table? Do you have family… friends? Did you wake up this morning?
And by the time you leave the house to do whatever you have to do, you’ll have to be rolled out, or it may feel as if you are going to explode.
Stained Glass Confessions 