Dec. 18
It feels crowded, doesn’t it?
The stores…
The calendar…
Our hearts…
Even before stepping one foot into December, we’re already overwhelmed.
There wasn’t room for Jesus, either on the day of His birth. If only the innkeepers had realized who was knocking at their door. But instead of a comfortable bed and sanitary accommodations, Jesus’ mama labored, probably screamed (Hello! No epidural!), and delivered the King of all kings into highly dusty conditions. Instead of a knit blanket in a plush bassinet, she
wrapped him in strips of cloth and placed him a manger—the equivalent of an animal’s feeding trough.
There wasn’t any room, but room was still made.
So before we get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season, before we busy ourselves with hanging lights, icing cookies, and wrapping packages, before we’re scrounging for the funniest white elephant prank, or cooking the perfect dish for an office party…
Before we forget, let’s remember to make room.
We can go through the motions without mentally showing up and mindfully worshiping Him. We can fake-smile our way through feasts without making amends with the person who’s hurt us. We can check everything off our to-do list without making time for the One who created us. We can attend all the parties and eat all the sweets and burn both ends of the candle without considering how Jesus would actually want us to celebrate His holiday. We can purchase and package the perfect presents, but forget the most important gift of all.
Basically, we can forget Christmas IN THE MIDDLE OF CHRISTMAS.
Making room starts with aligning our perspectives to His, which is what we’re doing right now. And just because this time of year often feels crazy and crowded, it doesn’t mean our lives and souls have to be. Whether everything’s going pretty well for you at this moment or you’re facing the greatest pain and uncertainty you’ve ever known, I encourage you to make room.
Do you realize who’s knocking at your door? The innkeepers didn’t have the gift of hindsight, but we do. It’s the Word who became flesh. The One who left heaven to redeem earth. The Savior who’s able to make all things new.
And if messy, imperfect circumstances didn’t stop Jesus from coming into this world back then, nothing will stop Him from entering yours today.
If Jesus was to physically join you for Christmas, what would you do differently?
Start with this simple prayer: Jesus, help me make room for you. Help me remember Christmas.
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Dec. 19
Being thankful when things aren’t going the way we want them is one of the hardest things to do. Satan uses those times to make us doubt our relationship with God.
“Is he still there?”
“Just when I need him he seems to be gone.”
“Why isn’t He answering my prayers?”
“Why is this happening to me and my family?”
Philippians 4:4 says: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Pam and I have learned when we rejoice in the Lord, no matter what the situation is, we can always be thankful.
Mike Turtle
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Dec. 20
Here’s a question you might not have thought about: What did Jesus’mother teach Him? Actually no one knows the answer to that question. All the Bible says is that Jesus, “grew in stature and wisdom” just like any other child.
In Luke 1:26-38, it gives us some insight into who Mary was and what she has to teach us.
Verses 26-27 teach us that no matter who you are, God can use you. God is not interested in your abilities as He is interested in your availability. No matter who you are or what you have done in the past, if you will surrender yourself to God, He will use you! Mary was young, poor, from Nazareth and God used her. Young people, don’t limit what God can do through you.
In verses 28-33, Mary teaches us that no matter what problems you face, God is with us. You don’t have to go through your problems alone. The very nature of Christmas speaks of sharing and celebrating with others. Who would want to spend Christmas by themselves? Mary faced several very scary things, her fears were well grounded, but she did not face them alone.
Verse 38 says, “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” This verse tells us a great deal about Mary.
Why was Jesus virgin-born to begin with? It was only through the virgin birth that it was possible for God to dwell with mankind as a human being Himself and pay the penalty for our sins. The virgin birth made possible the uniting of full Deity and full humanity in one person.
Mary knew that a virgin birth is impossible in the natural course of events, but she also believed that, “nothing is impossible with God.”
We don’t know what Jesus learned from his mother. But God has left with us a record of this young mother named Mary and what she can teach us.
No matter who you are, He can and will use you!
No matter what problems you have, He will be with you!
No matter what He has promised, the Lord can do it!
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Dec. 21
Christmas Carols
Christmas carols are some of the most recognizable and enduring music! Most people fully embrace these familiar and touching tunes-at least for a week or two during Christmas.
One of my favorite songs is the haunting and delicate carol, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”. When I think about the situation of the Jewish people during the time Christ was born, they were longing for deliverance. Their freedom and finances were controlled by the Roman government. Even Mary and Joseph were subject to mandatory travel to be counted in the census. They paid taxes at the whim of their neighborhood tax collector. More than that, cultural and religious requirements were another expectation that were difficult, even impossible to live up to. Where were these people to turn for relief?
The carol, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” goes straight to the heart of humanity that yearns for God to come and make all things new. Only in God’s kingdom will be perfection. Every injustice will be made right, every wrong motive will be exposed, every abuse and inequity will be uncovered in the light of our righteous, holy and perfect God, who loves all of his children with an everlasting love.
Jesus has come to earth, according to Isaiah 61:1, to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners. Just because a relationship with Jesus is now available to all who accept this free gift, doesn’t mean we will have a life free of affliction, broken hearts, or other difficulties. We have to wade through the consequences of our sin and other’s sin every single day. How are we able to sing, “Rejoice!, Rejoice!” in the
face of exile, tyranny, and misery?
This classic carol, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (did you know that Emmanuel means “God With Us”?) is a cry for the presence of God to go with us through ALL of life, acknowledging that true gladness, and rejoicing comes from the hope that we have in that One Day, “until the Son of God appears”, He will comfort every sorrow and we will be in His presence for eternity.
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Dec. 22
Peace on Earth
Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth, good will to men.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was walking through the streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts on Christmas Day, 1863. His wife had died and he was the father of six children, the oldest of whom was severely injured as a result of the Civil war. On that day, he heard the church bells ringing out and singing of “peace on earth”.
His heart was torn by the message as he contemplated the words of peace at such a time of tumult. He did not feel that peace as he observed the world of violence, chaos and injustice, and brothers were fighting against brothers, fathers against sons, and families against families. The ringing bells and hopeful words seemed to be a mockery in the face of the turmoil around him.
However, in the midst of his despair, he penned the words of a poem that was later put to music entitled, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Several of the verses of the poem are not included in the modern hymn as we know it today, but verse three says this:
And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
of peace on earth, good will to men!”
However, seeming to reach inside to the very depths of his faith he pens in verse four:
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
During this Christmas season of 2023, we again look at a world of chaos, war, hate and turmoil. We see nations fighting, people dying, and wounded souls crying out, “Where is the peace?” As believers, we know that peace only comes from the work of God as we yield our hearts to Him. The world can offer no peace, but God can. In the midst of the hardships of this world, we can have a deep-seated peace in our hearts that can help us navigate the trials of our lives.
Seek God during this season and be comforted by the peace only He can give.
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