Ordinary Feelings and Mighty Spirit: The True Chrismtas Spirit

 

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths 

and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the in.

- Luke 2:6-7

"I'm just not in the Christmas 'Spirit' this year"
"I don't know what it is, I just can't get 'into' Christmastime"

Christmastime is here.  Come this time next week, presents will be unwrapped, New Years Resolutions will be considered and the holiday hubbub will be drawing to a close.  Another year over.  Some will be relieved, some will feel longing... either way, it will be the fact of life.

In my own household, Christmas "spirit" sentiments like those above are confided every year.  Some really tough stuff has gone down in my family's lives around the holidays.  Not because of the holidays, but simply in conjunction.  This year is no exception. 

For me, I lost my mom unexpectedly when she was at the young age of 48 on October 28, 2002.  I was pregnant with my youngest, spent the first week of November making funeral plans, casket selections, grave plot choices and following a hearse too soon to her final "resting place" - a memory I always mist at - and the rest of the month combing through her life's belongings.  December that year was cold and lonely and full of pain, waiting the final weeks till my daughter's birth and longing for my mother though she be gone.

But the Spirit was there.

When we read on in the historical narrative of Christ's arrival, we see the ritual presentation of the infant at the Temple.  While there, we are told of an old man, Simeon.  I won't just sum, the Bible says it too beautifully to detract:

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, 

according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation

that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for the glory to your people Israel."

- Luke 2:25-32 (emphasis added)

 Let me make a suggestion here: what if the "Spirit of Christmas" isn't what everyone thinks it is.

It isn't a jolly old man in a red suit jumping down chimneys.  Sure, he has always visited our home and we enjoy reading and making up various stories upon his adventures.  He was a real man once.  A man so devout to the true Spirit of Christmas and generosity towards children and the under-privileged that the church made him a Saint.  But while we enjoy that frivolity, all my kids are beyond Santa Claus age, it isn't where the "Spirit" of the holiday lies.

No, the original motivation of the real Santa can be our clue.

Look at Simeon.  What was he filled with?  My answer... the original and first ever Christmas Spirit.  The Holy Spirit of God and the joy of promises being fulfilled and hope coming to a dark world.  God through Jesus didn't instantly do everything he promised in that moment as Simeon's eyes met God incarnate.  No, but God had shown the people hope had come.

Simeon was ready and waiting, room in his heart to see the wonders of God.
The days were dark, the plight of the people was dim, but the Light of the world helped them rejoice.

Common every day people with room in their hearts to consider the promise. 
Shepherds going about the fields.
Wise men going about their observations.
Residents and travelers going about their days.
Devout Jews going about their temple rituals.

Ordinary days made extraordinary by the arrival of a Promise and the twinkle of Hope.  And inside the ordinary comings and goings we glimpse the true Spirit of Christmas in Simeon.

In my Bible, next to Luke 2:7, I have penciled, "Leave room for Jesus".  The inns were full of everyone and everything else, they could not receive Him.  No Christmas Spirit there.  Just business.

Perhaps I'm going too far out on the limb, but somehow this speaks to me deeper than any other passage on the hope and promise and True Spirit of Christmas.  The year my mom died looked to be the 'worst Christmas ever'... but it wasn't.  It was lonely without her.  Many tears were shed.  My marriage was rocky.  Our finances were strapped.  My children were too young at the time to understand... they needed me. 

In the midst of this dark time in my young life, I never lost the "Spirit of Christmas" because the true Spirit of the season isn't something you can loose.  And it isn't something which just exists in December.

It is the celebration of our salvation which was made possible that O Holy Night when the Promise issued into the cold dark world and gave Light to mankind.

Lights on a tree or strung along a home's gables are merely symbolic of the Light in the darkness.
Gifts chosen and given with heart are symbolic of the Greatest Gift all mankind could ever hope to receive.
Evergreens bedecked with baubles and berries are a reminder of eternal life, even in a winter's storm, we can know strength and beauty in the most harsh of climates and conditions.

If our Christmas Cheer is done with a heart to love, be relational, and share hope, all as God did through Jesus Christ, then the Christmas Spirit is in us.

But what if you just can't "get into" the Spirit of Christmas.  May I make a suggestion?  Perhaps you are going about it all wrong.

Getting "into" the Christmas Spirit isn't about buying more gifts, hanging more lights, going to the next Christmas Party or decorating another corner of your home.  Those things aren't bad... but they aren't the source of Holiday Joy. When we celebrate birthdays and occasions of significance, we decorate, make a cake and give meaningful gifts.  I believe Christmas frivolity to be an extension of this concept.  But, no, it is not the headwaters of joy and love and Spirit.  Even during the worst times of our lives, Christmas Spirit can simply be the clinging to hope.  If frivolity is our focus, we will forget.  But if HOPE is in heart, the frivolity is the outward manifestation of the inward work of the Spirit. 

Not sure how to get to that place?  That Heart of Christmas?  Here are some navigational tips:

• Get into your Bible more.  Not a glaze over, "Yeah, I did my 15 minutes of Bible 'study' today: check."  No, read closely each and every line of the wonderful first Christmas narrative.  Look up the cross-references.  Dig into passages on salvation, Christian living, hope and strength and truly consider Christ and the magnificence of the salvation and eternal hope He has given you. Contemplate His Truth and make ready to modify your life in areas His Word shows you need deeper application.
• Pray.  Talk to God.  Give Him your cares, your worries, your struggles.  Invite Him to clean house in your heart!  Not white-wash, no, ask him to bring a bucket of hot soapy water and a high-grade scrub-brush!!  Get all sparkly clean.  I won't lie: it hurts at first.  But the harder more space you give for Christ to scrub, the easier it will become... you will learn to LOVE being cleaned up!
• MAKE ROOM for Jesus.  Clear out the clutter in your heart.  Old hurts: forgive them.  Longings: give them to God for His timing (if) and delivery.  Broken relationships: ask God to heal them.  Everywhere anxiety, stress, control, insecurity and any other counter-productive feelings are sitting in an easy chair making a mess, ask God to help you usher them out, clean up the debris and REPLACE it all with Jesus.  Anxiety and stress: surrender and trust Jesus, regardless of outcomes, God has a plan.  Control: you were never in control to begin with, quit trying to grab the wheel from God and let Him do the steering (I promise, He won't steer you wrong, even if the road gets bumpy).  Insecurity: may need some DEEP elbow-grease scrubbing to wash away, but here is a starter: in Christ you are Secure and it is OK to own that truth!

Make Room for Jesus and the Spirit will fill you.  The lights of Christmas will seem brighter, the decorations cheerier, the Jolly Old Man more purposeful and the manger... that manger will appear as more than hay and babe.  No, it will become the brightest light and fullest Spirit of Christmas you have ever experienced.


You don't have to forgo traditional celebrations to enjoy the true "Spirit of Christmas", you simply need to prioritize your heart, what you are thinking on through the holiday season, and the drive of your frivolity.  We don't forget hurt and struggles at Christmas, we simply put them into their proper perspective: God is in control and what matters most in life is the hope of salvation we have because He sent a babe to a manger.  A babe who would one day become a Man ready and willing to not only teach the most profound lessons in life but also to DIE so we could live forever with Him.

Sweet friends, I pray, this Christmas season, that you are able to make room for Jesus in your heart.  It doesn't have to be perfect and clean for Him to take up residence, nah, he's good with the broom and scrub brush, he'll help you clean house!  I pray, also, you may find faith like Simeon: not yet seeing ALL that Christ will do for you and others, but recognizing the hope and promise He brings to your life and be FILLED with the Holy Spirit... the true Spirit of Christmas ♥️

Merry Christmas Blessings,

You can click here to see some of the great blogs I am linking up today ...

Looking for an Advent Bible Study?  It's not too late to jump in. 

Option 1: Follow me on Instagram (link in text) where I have posted a link to my FREE Advent Bible study

... OR... 

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*Are you subscribed to my newsletter?  You might want to be.  Why?  Well, the newsletter contains bonus material you won't find on the website... not to mention, in those busy months when I can't get regular blog articles up, you can count on this periodical popping up in your email in-box each last Thursday with all new content!  What exactly does the newsletter contain?

• Encouraging articles on Faith, Home(making), and Homeschool
• Free printables under different themes each month
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You won't find all this great bonus material on the blog so be sure to sign up so you don't miss out!  It's Ok, hop over real quick, right there to your right, see it on my sidebar where it says, "Subscribe to my Newsletter" with a  picture of the "Faith and Home Times" logo above it?  Ok, now enter your email in the box labeled "email address" then click "Subscribe"....(don't worry, it doesn't hurt and I promise not to spam you!). You should receive a confirmation email from me.  

Also, with your new subscription, I will send you December's newsletter which includes a FREE printable Advent Bible Study and bonus PDFs to help you organize and enjoy your holidays more!

Ordinary Circumstances and Mighty Plans

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus 

that all the world should be registered.

...And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, 

to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, 

because he was of the house and lineage of David, 

to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

- Luke 2:1, 3-5

How many of us have this iconic Christmas passage from Luke memorized?  Don't feel bad if you don't, my point is simply how this passage is among the most quoted from the historical story on the account of Jesus' birth.  It is easy to take for granted and begin to quote as rote.

My passion each Christmas is to not take this life-changing TRUE story for granted and this year, my angle is to see the extraordinary inside the ordinary....

A call had gone out for all to report to their "own" towns, where lineage lied, to be counted.  If God is a God over ALL, including governments, it could be reasonably stated that this call was inspired by God in order to have Jesus born right.where.He.wanted.  And so there they were... in the town of Bethlehem, the city of David.  What is so significant about that?

The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, 
since I have rejected him from being king over Israel?  
Fill your horn with oil, and go.  I will send you to Jesse 
the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons."  
And Samuel said, "How can I go?  If Saul hears it, he will kill me."  
And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come 
to sacrifice to the Lord.' And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, 
and I will show you what you shall do.  
And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you."
Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem....

- 1 Samuel 16:1-4a (emphasis added)

Every single detail of Jesus' birth was prophesied about: when, WHERE, how and so on, another fact which can quickly become rote if we are not careful.  Aside from prophesy, what grabs me about this narrative today is how Jesus' birth; a consecrated event of the Lord; mirrors that of another consecrated event centuries before in DAVID's city. 

Samuel was greatly upset at King Saul's waywardness.  But God says, 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps man, I got this...'  God has a plan, he never didn't have a plan, and HE knows what he is doing.  Samuel is scared though... if Saul learns of his excursion it could be death, so God says, you know what, let's go into this under the auspice of a sacrificial ceremony and we will make it happen that way.  No one is the wiser, Samuel lives to pray another day.  From there, a child, David, is whom God says YES to. 

Fast forward and the ruse is a Census, the 'child' is a baby born, and the work to be done... will be the greatest, most profound in all of history.  They walked the streets Samuel and David walked.  They revelled in hope and mighty God as Samuel and David did.  This trip to Bethlehem was no ordinary trip... no.  It was wrapped in something much more extraordinary.

Wonderful.
Powerful.

You may be in awe right now.... or, you may be thinking, 'Yeah, that's cool and all, but....' other than the 'awe' is there a take-away?

I think there is.

Where are we right now?  Physically, emotionally, spiritually.... God has us in a specific place, at THIS time, in particular circumstances, for a specific reason.  Mary traveled heavy with babe.  Google maps tells me their trek took, at minimum 4 hours and was just over 9 miles.  That may not seem like a lot but OVER four hours, 9+ miles on sandaled foot over harsh terrain....pregnant.  Circumstances weren't peachy-keen.

They may have traveled simply thinking on responding to Cesar's order, however, we have the benefit of a historical lens, able to see how it wasn't really Cesar commanding their presence, but rather, God called them there using Cesar.  God knew Mary's condition.  God knew the inns would be full.  One could have mourned the situation, as Samuel did with the Saul dilemma, or they could see God's hand, and go.

Do we see God's hand right now?  Are we prepared to trust Him?  To be used by Him in what appears to be the ordinary in order for Him to perform the extraordinary?  It could be as big as a ministry response He is calling you to.  It could be as simple and ordinary as letting a frazzled mom cut in front of you at the grocery store.  Whether you are having a good day or a bad day... whether your finances or marriage or relationships are in good shape or not... GOD SAYS GO and we can trust Him to take care of it all.

We know the rest of the story here.  Long journey, tiered body, no room, baby is coming.  They were put up in a dirty, germ-infested, animal filled stable and there, in the middle of ordinary filth and darkness, something extraordinary and pure took place.

I pray your heart would find go at Christmas.  To respond to God, even in the form of ordinary duty, and welcome opportunities to be part of extraordinary blessings which breathe hope to those in vicinity.  

Merry Christmas Blessings,

You can click here to see some of the great blogs I am linking up today ...

Looking for an Advent Bible Study?  It's not too late to jump in. 

Option 1: Follow me on Instagram (link in text) where I have posted a link to my FREE Advent Bible study

... OR... 

Option 2:Subscribe to my newsletter by December 20th and I will send you December's issue which contains the Advent Study along with other great articles and FREE printables!  Info below... 

*Are you subscribed to my newsletter?  You might want to be.  Why?  Well, the newsletter contains bonus material you won't find on the website... not to mention, in those busy months when I can't get regular blog articles up, you can count on this periodical popping up in your email in-box each last Thursday with all new content!  What exactly does the newsletter contain?

• Encouraging articles on Faith, Home(making), and Homeschool
• Free printables under different themes each month
• Insider info on the latest goings-ons with all things on my blog and writing related

You won't find all this great bonus material on the blog so be sure to sign up so you don't miss out!  It's Ok, hop over real quick, right there to your right, see it on my sidebar where it says, "Subscribe to my Newsletter" with a  picture of the "Faith and Home Times" logo above it?  Ok, now enter your email in the box labeled "email address" then click "Subscribe"....(don't worry, it doesn't hurt and I promise not to spam you!). You should receive a confirmation email from me.  

Also, with your new subscription, I will send you December's newsletter which includes a FREE printable Advent Bible Study and bonus PDFs to help you organize and enjoy your holidays more!

Ordinary Mary and a Mighty God

²⁶ In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

- Luke 1:26-33

Every year, as Christmas Advent begins, I'm always captivated by Mary's encounter with the Angel Gabriel.  It is a conversation which tops the list of passages often taken for granted in the timeless Christmas Story.  So pause with me for a moment and consider as we set the stage to switch from ordinary to extraordinary...

• Mary was young.  We often think of betrothed women to be in their late teens or even twenties.  But, no, Mary was likely early to mid-teens.  A mere girl.  By 1st century standards, she was ready... but she was young.
• Mary was betrothed.  According to Jewish custom, betrothal was as big of a deal as marriage itself - nothing like a modern-day engagement.  Once the betrothal ceremony was performed, you were as good as wed as you waited to finish the final ceremony and consummation based on a contracted dowry the groom had to fulfill first.  This stage could last months or years.  
• Mary was likely not of a very high class.  Some scholars have suggested that marrying Joseph was an opportunity for her to marry "up".  What we do know is that Nazareth was not a high-standing community. (“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” -John 1:46)

So here is this young Galilean girl from Nazareth, of a very basic station in life, going about her daily business, just waiting for the time when her betrothed would arrive ready for the final wedding ceremony.  

Basic, normal, humble, life.

But it isn't her betrothed who arrives.  No, it is an Angel of God with a life-shaking, normal breaking, message from the Almighty Himself.  God reaching down to the lowly and proving; He uses whom He pleases and whom he chooses may not always make sense to our finite thinking...

Why not a rabbi's family?
Why not a prestigious family?
Why not a more stately region?

However, He has a purpose and a plan, yet, this initial greeting has Mary troubled.  Not just a little troubled, no, the passage says she was greatly troubled and trying to discern what was going on.

When we seek answers, God will provide.

Here He first provides comfort through Gabriel and then he offers up explanation.... detailed explanation!  Life-changing information.

Was Mary's head spinning with all this info?  Was she thinking, "How will I tell Joseph?"  We don't know.  We do know she asks "How?" and Gabriel answers. More details.

Soak it in.  Think it through.  What would you do in Mary's sandals?  Afraid, young, possibly poor, realizing she could loose her husband-to-be AND her reputation in the process.  But instead, once she gets past the craziness of it all, she says some of the most profound words in all of the Christmas story:

... "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."

- Luke 1:38b

When faced with a difficult call from God, whether it is as simple as, 'Be nicer to your sister-in-law' or as huge as, 'Sell everything and become a missionary', are we as ready as Mary to say, "I am the servant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word"?  I wonder how ready Mary even felt.  Was it a matter of readiness or of obedience and faith?

This Christmas season let us look up from our mundane lives and SEE God's messengers.  Let us respond in faith and allow God to work in magnificent ways through us.  Ways which can extend beyond December and into the year(s) ahead.

A post-note on this section which also strikes me as quite profound: A large part of the story often has us looking, understandably, at Mary as a main character when, in fact, she is a beautiful footnote to Who truly takes center stage here.  This entire section is not about Mary, it is about God: what He is doing, how He will work.... and my heart flutters: Let us be happy footnotes to the greatness of God at Work in, through, and all around us.

Merry Christmas Blessings,

You can click here to see some of the great blogs I am linking up today ...

Looking for an Advent Bible Study?  It's not too late to jump in. 

Option 1: Follow me on Instagram (link in text) where I have posted a link to my FREE Advent Bible study

... OR... 

Option 2:Subscribe to my newsletter by December 20th and I will send you December's issue which contains the Advent Study along with other great articles and FREE printables!  Info below... 

*Are you subscribed to my newsletter?  You might want to be.  Why?  Well, the newsletter contains bonus material you won't find on the website... not to mention, in those busy months when I can't get regular blog articles up, you can count on this periodical popping up in your email in-box each last Thursday with all new content!  What exactly does the newsletter contain?

• Encouraging articles on Faith, Home(making), and Homeschool
• Free printables under different themes each month
• Insider info on the latest goings-ons with all things on my blog and writing related

You won't find all this great bonus material on the blog so be sure to sign up so you don't miss out!  It's Ok, hop over real quick, right there to your right, see it on my sidebar where it says, "Subscribe to my Newsletter" with a  picture of the "Faith and Home Times" logo above it?  Ok, now enter your email in the box labeled "email address" then click "Subscribe"....(don't worry, it doesn't hurt and I promise not to spam you!). You should receive a confirmation email from me.  

Also, with your new subscription, I will send you December's newsletter which includes a FREE printable Advent Bible Study and bonus PDFs to help you organize and enjoy your holidays more!

Advent Fun 2016

"It's the most wonderful time of the year..."  Oh how I LOVE Christmastime.  #1, my Lord and Savior's birth is celebrated with gusto for an entire month!!!  #2, the hope and love for a full season pours out from even the most unexpected places springing life which lights a path well into a new year.  #3 gift giving, I LOVE giving gifts for any reason or occasion and Christmas is my favorite.

Even now that all my children know who is eating the cookies and stuffing those socks, they (and I) relish the timeless tradition of waiting for Santa.  My Parable in Modern Form article touches on my heart in this matter.  Part of this tradition includes a count-down to Christmas, something I shared in depth about last year in the article here.  I prepared a new advent calendar for this year and thought of you, my faithful reader, in the event you might like to join me!  You can click on the image below to download and print.

There is a second page with directions included in the download.  Last year we colored the bells yellow as we did one activity a day.  We did not follow the list top-to-bottom, rather, we picked an activity we had the ability to do on each day.  We used stickers placed in each square of the calendar to count-down to Christmas. This advent calendar balances the holiday fun as a family with holiday fun in serving and thinking of others; something my family has come to look forward to most during advent each year!

Also in the article from last year, referenced above, is a link to a Bible advent I developed on our old ministry website.  Walk through scripture as you count down to the celebration of Jesus' birth!

 

 

I pray your Christmas season is full of Christ and hope and joy that comes in knowing a baby in a manger paved a path that we all might meet Him in heaven one day!

 

Blessings, 

Linking up today with some of these...