25Dec 07
Love Has Come
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Merry Christmas! The morning we celebrate the birth of our Savior is now upon us. On this cool but cheery day our family gathered for devotions. We sang many joyous carols as our time together began.
Dad then proceeded to give us a meaningful perspective on Christmas. Ponder for a minute that this baby in the manger is the Savior of the world. And while we remember his birth in a cold stable, we should wonder at the thought that He resides within the hearts of His children. More than a baby in a manger, Christ came to offer the world true peace, joy, and love.
Peace
We were reminded of David in the Bible. How often he became discouraged, yet when all seemed beyond his control (by the way, it always is but we seem to forget), he would call upon the Lord to lead him unto that Rock that is higher than all people, circumstancse, and trials.
Joy
This is ours when we have truly relinquished and surrendered all to our Sovereign God. While grasping onto expectations, desires, fears, offenses, and rights we encounter a struggle between the quiet still voice of our Savior calling us to forsake all and the yells of the flesh to stay in control. The Christian’s battle is unique in that victory is only obtained through surrender.
Love
When peace pervades our soul and joy bursts out of a conquered will, love shines forth in brilliant splendor. The lives of many will be touched.
During such a wonderful season, there is a tendency to become wrapped up with expectations of how we think things should go. Offenses easily result and Christmas joy is dampened. In conclusion of our time together, Dad lead us in a time of prayer and encouraged each one to check our hearts to see if there were any expectations to yield, offenses to forgive, or sins to confess. Spirits were uplifted and joy energized. What a meaningful way to begin this Christmas Day!
Love has come a light in the darkness!
Love explodes int eh Bethlehmen skies.
See, all heaven has come to proclaim it;
Hear how their song of joy arises: Love! Love!
Born unto you, a Savior! Love! Love!
Glory to God on high.
May the peace that passes all understanding, joy unspeakable and full of glory, and the love of God pervade each of your hearts. Merry Christmas from the Wilkes Team!
Praise God that if we are submitted to Him He will allow us to experience forgiveness, repentance and obedience every day of our born again lives. He is in us the Hope of glory. Every day is Christmas if Christ truly rules your heart.Thank you for your encouragement. Dad
That is very true Dad! Christmas ought not to be a once a year occurence but a lifestyle of making Christ known through my actions.
Amen! You are so right! There is such a huge tendency for me to become wrapped up with expectations of how I think things should go. Thanks for the reminder to yield all of them to the Lord!
I have never stopped to think how my expections may be shutting out the joy the Lord has for me and my family. Thank you for the very thought provoking post. I think I will be praying about this and thinking more after the children go to bed. Thank you very much for sharing.