Merry Christ Day!

It's been thirty days since the Thanksgiving greens. I didn't fall off the face of the earth; my internet has not been working at home. Here it is three days before Christmas and I'm sitting in my office blogging because I miss you. I had so many things I wanted to discuss with you in the past four weeks. Oh well, there is a reason for all things.

I trust that you’ve finished shopping and ,like me, you’re getting ready for the Christmas gathering. I’m going grocery shopping after this. I finished my Christmas shopping yesterday. I trust that all is going well with you as you count down to Christmas.

Remember – don’t idealize over this day. It’s a day to celebrate the birth of Christ – into our world and lives. It’s not necessarily going to go perfectly. Some of you couldn’t go home for Christmas – home is where your heart is… make it with whomever you know and love here in Kent County.

Some of you have strained relationships and it’s causing you pain. As women we generally tend to identify and give value to ourselves according to our relationships. When a relationship is hurting, we are hurting. If there is anything you can do to fix it then do. If not, give it to Jesus and trust Him to help work it out in time. Part of maturing is learning to live through the unresolved conflicts – believe me I’ve had many years of experience with this one. It’s strange how just before Christmas some of my most difficult trials with relationships have happened. Remember, Christ is “Emmanuel” – “God with Us.” I made it through the tough times and so will you.

God is with us to help us negotiate unresolved conflicts and relationships. Sometimes we just have to lay them on the altar and walk away trusting that “All is Well” in His hands. Relinquish our rights to everything being swell. Let go and let God take care of it. I can hear you saying, “Yea, that’s easy for you to say; you have no idea what I’m going through.” Well, I might not; but Jesus does. He came as a child to enter our world. He was tempted in all ways just as we are. He had unresolved conflict, betrayal, belittling, scoffing; need I say more? He endured to the point of the cross. Now He is ever interceding for you and me – that tiny child of Bethlehem wrapped in swaddling cloths now wraps his arms of love around you and says, “trust me.”

Some of you don’t have money for gifts and won’t be receiving any gifts. We have tried to identify as many as possible and help through Share the Joy. It’s been a long time since I was in your shoes. But I remember when we were pastoring in Olivet, Michigan with no money for Christmas and Aaron was a baby. Along came a box from the women in my home church in Newark. It was packed full of wonderful gifts for each one of us. We were so surprised and greatly blessed. Though we had no gifts to give one another , God came through for us with people like you. I

f you’re reading this and God is tugging at your heart to come through for someone then please follow that leading. If you are the one at home with no money for gifts; don’t tell yourself any lies. The amount of gifts you give or receive are not an indication of your worth or how much you are loved. How you go through this is very important for you and your children. Surrender your rights to give and receive gifts while enjoying the gift of life and “God with us.” He is the greatest gift we will ever receive. Take time to connect with Christ, receive from Him and be blessed by His presence. It may be the best Christmas you have ever experienced.

Whether you receive the gift you want or not; the meal turns out great or iffy, the company stays too long or doesn’t even come, the kids appreciate their gifts or want to take most of them back , remember it’s not about you. It’s not our day; it’s about remembering that God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten son, Jesus. Celebrate Christ – the anointed one who lives in you. Celebrate your new birth, His Spirit living in and through you. Celebrate big because you have something to celebrate – Christ in us the HOPE of Glory!!

Merry Christ Day – Angela