^“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”              2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV)

When the colder weather began to set in this year, my husband prepared by cutting, splitting, and stacking wood for our fireplace. I am so glad he did because one of my favorite things to do in the evenings is to sit next to a warm, cozy fire. 

There is talent to getting a good fire going and keeping it going. My husband has that talent … I do not. It seems to me one minute the fire is ablaze and then before you know it, the flames have become mere embers that need to be stirred to rekindle the flames. 

My husband will get a strong fire going and closely tend it  – constantly adding more wood or stoking it as needed. He also makes sure our supply of firewood is plentiful so he can keep the fire going all winter long.

On the occasion that he takes his focus away from the fire, I quickly to let him know when it begins to dwindle. As the flames start to diminish, I tell him to “throw another log on the fire.”

In 2 Timothy 1:6-7, Paul is writing to Timothy reminding him to rekindle the flame of God within him – to use his God-given talents. Just like those warm winter fires that I love, our talent and the flames of our faith can diminish or become “timid.” We need to remember to rekindle our spirit, so we don’t become dormant in our Christian service. 

As we learn in 2 Timothy, the Spirit of God gives us power. The power to be bold, not timid. We are meant to shine brightly in this world and to be diligent, tending to the flames of our faith. 

During this winter season, it is tempting to hibernate and become dormant. As you find yourself cozied up to a fire remember to “throw another log on the fire.” As you rekindle that physical fire, be sure to constantly “fan into flame [your] gift[s] of God.”

The world needs the warmth and glow of our Christian service now more than ever.

“Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.”          Proverbs 4:13 (NIV)

Today is Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent. During this time, I generally hear people talk about things they are “giving up” for Lent. Instead of giving something up, I think this is the best time to “Grab Hold.”

I have read several devotionals, articles, and books about letting go. All of them explain the benefits of releasing control or moving on from thoughts that drag you down. People have written volumes about letting your children go, letting the anger go, letting go of resentment, and even letting go of the weight. There are also the old clichés: “If you love something set it free … Let go and let God … Don’t worry. Be happy.”

The “experts” make it sound so easy, but for me letting go has never been easy. I picture letting go as giving up, forfeiting my control (I hate to feel out of control), and careless. To me, it is like riding a bike and taking my hands off the handle bars, throwing my arms in the air, and saying, “Hey, guys look at me!” Do you know how dangerous that is?

I believe holding on to things is synonymous with safety and security. Even if I don’t like the circumstances or situation at least I know what is going on and I can try to do something about it. I can try to fix it or at the very least worry about it until it fixes itself!

Deep down I know letting go can be a very good thing in many instances. Yet, I just can’t do it. I am much better at holding on. 

For me, a better life, a more content life, a more Godly life is all about holding on. 

Holding on to God.

As soon as I realized I was holding on to the wrong things in my life and I began to shift my grip to grab hold of God, my life was transformed. I became more carefree, more content, more relaxed. (Yes, this is me … relaxed.)

It has been a slow process – a gradual release of other things in my life – but I definitely feel the positive effects!

To grab hold of God, I had to let go of those other things I had obsessed and worried over for years. I couldn’t let go of everything at once, but the tighter my grip on God became, the more I felt the burdens in my life slip slowly away. I almost didn’t realize what was happening until I noticed I was waking up happier, walking a little taller, and treating others around me with more compassion. 

I found when I focus on God, He takes care of the rest. He equips me with the strength I need to handle difficult situations and the knowledge I need to determine when to step back and let Him work it out for me. 

I have learned that holding on is not a bad thing as long as you grab hold of the right thing – God!

My advice to those having trouble letting go is this: 

Grab hold of God and He will change your life!

(**and always keep your hands on the handle bars too!)

 “Not that I have already obtained all of this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”   Philippians 3:12

^“…while he [Elijah] himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.’ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.”                   1 Kings 19:4-8 (NIV)

Beginning of week  …  360+ miles to empty, tank is full

Mid-week …  180 miles to empty, basically half full (not half empty, right?)

Almost the weekend …  Ding! 50 miles to empty, how did that get so low so fast?

 Must remember to stop at my preferred gas station (because not just any gas station will do)

Next day  … 20 miles to empty, Oops … I forgot to stop

Beginning to sweat – I think I can make it to my exit 

Minutes later  …  5 miles to empty, Oh, my …

 Gripping the steering wheel tightly I pray to make it through  the next traffic light

Whew .. made it!

Tank is full – I’ll never let that happen again! (Yeah, right …)

Has this ever happened to you? I must admit. I am the world’s worst at keeping my car filled with gas – just ask my husband. This scenario is way too familiar to me. 

I remember when I was just starting out as a young driver, I didn’t let the gas gauge drop below ½ tank. As I became a more experienced driver and got to know my car better, I began to get a little braver – I let the gauge dip lower and lower before taking time to stop for a fill up. 

As an adult, I have gotten even more lax. Since my car has the digital ‘miles to empty’ readily available and displayed, I really push the limit. When I hear the sound and the light comes on at 50 miles until empty, I find myself looking at the gauge thinking, “I’m only going 20 -30 miles today. I can get gas tomorrow.” This habit inevitably leaves me running on empty … again. I’ve even coasted into the gas station with 0 miles to go. Not good, I know … 

A friend recently shared that her gas gauge is not registering correctly leaving her stranded on not 1 but 2 occasions when she thought she had ¼ of a tank of gas to go. Yikes! Now she stops and tops off the tank regularly – not letting it get low at all.

I should get into a better habit like her. Not just in my car where I test the limit or find myself running low on gas, but in my Christian walk as well. 

How about you? Do you ever find yourself running on empty in life?

Maybe you can relate to Elijah. In the scripture, Elijah is running on empty. He pushes his limits and finds himself in the wilderness ready to give it all up, believing he is no better than the rest. His situation is so extreme he is praying for death.

Thankfully, Elijah is visited by an angel – not once but twice– and he is provided with bread and water. The angel tells Elijah to eat and drink because “the journey is too much for [him].” Once Elijah is refreshed and strengthened by the provisions, he is able to make the full pilgrimage. Forty days and forty nights to reach the Mountain of God. No more running on empty.

As a Christian, how often are you running on empty?

How often do you put off reading the Bible, attending worship, or participating in a Bible study or prayer group? Do you neglect your own spiritual growth? You are probably thinking you don’t have time for that today but there will be time later. When does later come – when you’re running on empty? 

We can be so quick to put aside our Christian fellowship and worship for other ‘more important’ things not recognizing the need to keep our spiritual tank filled until it’s too late. 

Remember this journey is too much for you. 

Let this be your reminder to stay strengthened and filled by God. Keep your tank filled. Don’t just look for God or coast into church when you’re running on empty. 

Top off your tank regularly keeping God by your side for the journey ahead!

“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.”      Titus 1:16 (NIV)

When we first started our family and began to raise children, my husband and I found ourselves saying “No, No” quite a bit. We caught ourselves doing this so much with one of our children that we started calling the child Little Baby No No.

No, No – Don’t touch.  

No, No – Don’t put that in your mouth. 

No, No – Don’t use markers on the wall.

No, No – Don’t interrupt.  

Over time, we took the disobedience and the ultimate questioning personally as if the children were testing us and making us say No – treating us like the bad guy.

No – you can’t snack an hour before dinner. Why?

No – you can’t wear that. Why?

No – you can’t stay out after 10. Why?

No – you can’t go home with that person after school. Why?

Shamefully, the answer to why was often, “Because I said so. That’s why.”

As the children grew older and wiser, so did we. As parents, we understood that the No was nothing more than a negative response without a foundation.

Our growing children wanted to know more about the why and we needed to provide it.

Part of human growth and development is learning discernment. How can we expect children to learn to make good choices for themselves if we don’t give them the knowledge and logic behind those choices?

Our relationship with God is the same. We have the Ten Commandments with the Thou Shalt Nots and an entire collection of books in the Old Testament portion of the Bible, which contain more rules and don’ts. As times have changed over these last 2000 plus years, some of those old No No’s are tested and we begin to question – just like our children. 

We are children of God so questioning is natural. It is part of our Christian growth. God prepared for these times, for our why’s – much better than I prepared for the bigger questions my adult children have thrown my way.

He is not a “Because I said so kind of God.” 

He wants us to know why; therefore, God has given us Know Knows – so to speak. He outlined the hard No’s – His nonnegotiables – but He also left us with volumes of the Knows, knowledge and understanding for the ages. 

We all experience growing pains. Some when we are younger and more when we are older. For this, God equips us explaining the why so we can learn and practice discernment.

Here is my list of God’s Know Knows:

Know Worry. Know God.      Matthew 6:32-34

^“Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.”

Know Love. Know God.          1 John 4:7-8

^“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 

Know Grace and Peace. Know God. 2 Peter 1:2-3

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

Know Contentment and Strength. Know God.         Philippians 4:11-13

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Know Faith. Know God.         Ephesians 2:8

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—”

Know Salvation. Know God.              Romans 10:9

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Know Eternal Life. Know God.           John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Many times in our life we hear No, No. Sometimes it comes from God. Remember this doesn’t have to be negative. Focus on God’s Know Knows which give you a strong foundation of knowledge and wisdom to continue to grow and walk in His way. 

Dear Lord,

Thank you for providing me with direction for the days ahead. I am appreciative of your patience as I learn – sometimes the hard way – and continue to grow in knowledge of You learning the plans You have for my life. I long to be Your little baby Know-Know in the days ahead. 

Amen.

(Today it is raining where I am, which is what brought this to mind. Sorry this post is a little later than usual – I hope that means it is right on time for you!)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”                       Romans 15:13

Recently, I was listening to a radio station celebrating throwback Thursday by playing songs from the 1970s. Enjoying some of the songs from my past, I kept listening and singing along to some of the upbeat tunes I remember from that time. The mood suddenly switched when the melancholy sounds of a 1971 song by The Carpenters began to play, Rainy Days and Mondays.

On that day, I felt a connection with some of the lyrics^*:

Talkin’ to myself and feelin’ old
Sometimes I’d like to quit
Nothin’ ever seems to fit
Hangin’ around
Nothin’ to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down …

At some point while listening, I let out a big sigh and said out loud, “It’s not just Mondays that can get you down and today it isn’t raining.” I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I had run out of joy and it was only 7:45 a.m. I tried to pinpoint what had gone wrong that week to identify what was getting me down.

I had let a momentary circumstance drain me of my joy leaving me empty. Thankfully, before I could spiral too far into the pit of despair that I was digging for myself, I realized I am the one who controls what fills the space in my soul. I can let temporary situations fill me with gloom or choose to be filled with joy to the point of overflowing. 

To literally turn my frown upside down, I tuned in to a different radio station – one with all Christian music. It didn’t take long for my internal gauge of joy to go from empty to half full (not half empty) and ultimately on its way to overflowing. Knowing that the God of hope is my redeemer and sustainer of truth gives me joy and peace all of the days of my life. 

Not just on the sunny days or each day that isn’t a Monday. Every day.

Because I have the joy and peace only He can give, I can abound in hope. That doesn’t mean I get by with just enough hope. I will thrive and flourish because the God of hope provides all that is needed for a better day, a better tomorrow, a better circumstance. 

The next time you feel melancholy, like you need to quit or if nothing seems to fit, reclaim your joy by turning to the One who will fill you with all the joy and peace you need. 

Dear Lord,

Forgive me for letting life get the best of me and allowing myself to be drained of the joy and peace that you so freely give. When I feel there is nothing else, there is hope – eternal hope in You. Where there is hope, there are infinite possibilities. Thank you for restoring my joy.

Amen.

*Source: LyricFind      Songwriters: Paul H. Williams / Roger S. Nichols.      Rainy Days and Mondays lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

I couldn’t resist sharing this given our weather this week 🙂 Stay Warm!

“As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”                                                                                  Genesis 8:22 (NIV)

Growing up and living in the south, I have occasionally been treated to a ‘snow day’. These impromptu holidays are not brought on by your typical blinding snow storm or excessive accumulation of the white stuff. No, usually a southern snow day is due to freezing rain or a light dusting of snow which paralyzes our city – or recently just extremely cold temperatures. 

When this happens or there is even a chance of this happening, we stay glued to the television, entranced by each weather update given by a newscaster or reporter relentlessly tracking a snowflake or identifying an icy patch on a roadway. I am sure this is quite humorous to those who live farther north and those in locations where knee high snow drifts are an ordinary part of the landscape.

Yes, sometimes the sunny south does experience the threat of ‘snow’ which causes us to stock up on milk and bread, close our schools and businesses, and huddle around the fire. For whatever reason, we become paralyzed by the idea … even without the visible signs of any wintery precipitation. It just gets bone-chilling cold and we are frozen.

I understand some of you may live in the bitter cold and the backdrop of your life is filled with snow-covered rooftops so all of this sounds ridiculous. In reality, in this region, we are just not equipped to handle the conditions which are extreme compared to our typical weather. Although, we have made advances over the years to be better prepared in the winter months, some of our towns still cannot function in the midst of below freezing temperatures and harsh elements. We remain frozen.

How much does this scenario relate to your spiritual life? Do you sometimes find yourself frozen in worship? Do you approach Sunday morning services as if you will be snowed in, packing your purse or pockets with provisions to get you through? Do you move your lips to the words of the hymns but produce no sound in song? Do you sit frozen on your seat, stiff and unable to move?

Are you stuck on the side of the road in your journey with Christ? Spinning your wheels, unable to get back on track? Is your spiritual growth at a stand-still?

Are you spiritually frozen? 

This can be caused by extreme eternal factors that are beyond our control or for no visible reason at all.   

We experience seasons physically and spiritually. If we don’t make an effort to keep moving and continue growing during those wintery times, we become frozen.

If that is where you are today, then it is time to thaw out, to become active again. The same man that healed the sick, made the blind to see, and caused the lame to walk can help you too. Let him thaw out your life and get you moving again. 

Don’t stay frozen. Warm up your spiritual life and cozy up to Christ.

“See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.” Song of Solomon 2:11 (NIV)

As we are still just dipping our toes into this New Year, I thought I’d share this writing I updated from the past. I just took down my Christmas decor this past Sunday (much to my husband’s dismay). I claim that I am waiting for Epiphany – to welcome the wise men 🙂 Truly, I love the lights and peace of the season so it is hard for me to let it go. Today, I realized I don’t have to leave that feeling behind. I can take it with me into 2024 and you can too!

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”     

Hebrews 11:1

As I sat quietly taking in our Christmas lights and decorations, I became keenly aware that the season had come to an end. Soon I would pack all of it away until next year.

Looking at our tree whose branches held our precious ornaments, I couldn’t help but remember how I unpacked each and hung them with great care finding each the perfect placement for this year’s display. 

Years’ worth of memories unpacked. Numerous milestones represented – marriages, births, friendships (young and old), and each child’s handiwork. There are also new additions to my evergreen time capsule. All very recent, fresh. Some representing unanticipated experiences of the past year. Some physically present and others only in my mind – a memorial rose, a marriage, and a retirement to name a few.

I wonder – What’s next?

This New Year is poised to be another one sure to make a unique mark giving me more to unpack next Christmas. 

Some things we know and plan for – vacation, time with family and friends, and a celebration on the horizon. 

But what about the unexpected? Guaranteed there will be things we don’t see coming – good and bad. 

It’s the science of the New Year. Dependent, Independent, and Uncontrolled Variables of Life. 

It’s also New Year math. Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. Remember solving for X? The unknown. So frustrating. 

With that, we step into this New Year of promise and unpredictability. Sound scary? Sound exciting? It can be. Exciting and scary. 

All we can do is step out each day on Faith knowing the only thing that truly matters – our only real guarantee – is Jesus by our side. This thought brings comfort and peace. 

What’s next?

Who knows? Not me and finally (after half a century) I am ok with that. Why? Because God knows and all I have to do is trust in Him – every day, all day.

In this New Year, I pray for your strength and peace in your ‘What’s Next’. 

Let’s see what new memories we will make to unpack in December.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”        Proverbs 16:3

Well, here we are again … crossing the threshold into another New Year. 

When I was younger, my friends and I would make New Year’s resolutions – lose 5 pounds, drink more water, exercise daily, eat better, and so on. You know how it goes. Generally, those resolutions lasted 4 to 6 weeks – maybe three months max – before they were pushed aside and forgotten.

Later, as an adult, I abandon those empty resolutions and adopted the practice of choosing a verse of scripture from the Bible for the year. Something to read and focus on throughout the year as a means of self-improvement. I liked the positive motivation I gained from my choice each year; however, I again found myself falling into a pattern of either choosing a similar verse each year or just relying on some of my favorites.

This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just wasn’t pushing me to branch out or stretch myself in new ways. That trend ran its course and I found myself in need of something different to find, set, and maintain my focus for self-improvement in each New Year. That’s when I came across the idea of choosing a word for the year. 

Just one word.

I love words. I love the challenge of finding just the right word. I love committing to that word and seeing how I can apply it to different aspects of my life using it in various contexts encouraging growth, reflection, and renewal. I feel like choosing just one-word challenges me to take action, engage, and apply that word and its meaning. 

In the past, a New Year’s word would just come to me and be my word. I just knew what I wanted it to be. Most recently, it was the word Intentional … for two years (I had a lot of work to do in that area apparently). Then, last year my word was Worth. I wanted to be cognizant of what is worth my time, energy, and resources. I also wanted to remind myself of my own worth.

Here I am again, faced with choosing just the right word – only one word. Some words I’ve considered include impact, value, identity, genuine, and I (I like the challenge of this short word that means so much). 

How about you? Have you made a resolution? Have you chosen a verse of scripture from the Bible? Have you chosen one word? 

Maybe you should consider it. Set yourself up for success in this New Year by finding your focus. 

You may be wondering which word I picked.

Present.

Present, as in here – fully here, in each and every moment with those around me. 

I am a thinker and I sometimes find it hard to keep my brain from moving on to my next idea. I am always thinking ahead it seems (or worrying about things that haven’t happened yet – I am really good at that). I can be present but mentally absent. I understand myself enough to know and acknowledge that I need to focus more on those around me. I need to engage more in the present. I need to be fully present so as not to miss the blessings given through those precious people in my life and those that God places in my path each day. 

To begin my exploration of this word and what it means to me in my life and work, I found some scriptures of support that give me a foundation for reflection and motivation in this new year:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”   Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”   Mathew 6:34 (NIV)

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”   James 4:14 (ESV)

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

Here we are again crossing the threshold into another New Year. 

A New Year of opportunities. A year with open doors that are ours to close. 

What will you do with this gift of the present? 

What will keep you positive, focused, and motivated as you head into the unknown days, weeks, and months ahead?

Just one word may help you sort it out, accomplish your goals, and stretch you farther than you ever imagined.

Enjoy this New Year full of promise, hope, and possibility. Embrace the present. It is truly a gift!

Happy New Year! 

* Jon Gordon, speaker and author of The Power of Positive Leadership (along with numerous other books) is promotes the One Word Challenge. He co-authored a book about it – One Word that Will Change Your Life. I encourage you to accept the challenge. Choose your word and see how you can use it on your journey through this New Year. 

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him’ …  After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” Matthew 2:1-2 and 9-10

After Christmas, I like to leave my house decorated into the New Year. My husband is usually anxious to get it all cleaned up, but I always try to stretch it out a little more each year. I tell him I’m waiting for the wise men. (Truthfully, I enjoy the lights on the tree, the time of reflection, and the focus on all that is good, calm, and peaceful.) 

Going into this New Year, I am reflecting on the wise men and their journey. I tried to research how long it took them to find Jesus and how far they traveled. Since the recorded information is a bit vague there are many varying views. Some say it took them a couple of weeks or no more than two months. Some say they traveled 400 miles while others say 700 or 900. One person even tried to apply some additional logic saying that if the wise men only traveled at night which is when they would see the star then it would take them two and a half years for the journey. Wow. Lots of speculation but no one, clear answer. 

I don’t really need the answers. The meaning isn’t in the length of the journey or the time devoted to seeking. The meaning is the journey. It is the act of seeking. 

The wise men set out on a journey with an unknown destination focused on a star. They were devoted to following the star. Following it through the desert – no matter where it took them – so they could find their King. 

We each are a bit like the wise men. Out on a journey. Destination unknown. Following what we believe.

What we believe often appears most clear at Christmas. The world stops – or at least pauses – in various ways. The birth is acknowledged. But what happens, when the tree is gone, and the decorations are packed away?

Much like the wise men – we must follow that star! 

The wise men weren’t there for the birth. Their arrival was after the fanfare. But they maintained their focus. They stayed true to the cause – even across the desert. 

As we face the dawning of a New Year, let’s make a commitment to follow the star. Each day. Even through those desert days when we are fatigued and weary.

You might be thinking, “What star?”

You decide. What will keep you focused? What will keep you headed in the right direction toward meeting your King?

Is it more time spent in prayer? Is it becoming more active in church? Is it reading your Bible more? Is it devoting yourself to service? 

Before the Christmas lights are gone, while all is calm and all is bright, reflect on the past and leave It in the past. Set your sights on the future and the promise of each new day. 

Find your star.

Spend the New Year following that star and you, too, will be overjoyed!

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger …”                                                                                                   Luke 2:1-7

The scene is pretty much the same after each Christmas celebration and this year is likely to be no different. 

After hosting family gatherings on Christmas Day. We give out our last hugs and wave goodbye as each person drives out of sight. Returning to the family room and eyeing the spoils of the day I will say, “What a mess.”

Bags of torn paper from those once neatly wrapped gifts. Stacks of dishes in and around the sink with remnants of our feast. Who knows what dried on the counter and those mysterious spots on the floor. Extra chairs pushed about to accommodate all. Trash cans overflowing and random items left behind (a toy, a jacket, a gift that wouldn’t fit in the car). A new water ring on the table. What a mess.

All of that planning and preparing – the anticipation – and in a few hours it’s over leaving a mess to be cleaned. A good deal of time will be spent cleaning, rearranging, and putting things back in order. If I’m not careful, it will be easy to get lost in the tossed aside tinsel. To wonder if it’s all worth it. To focus on how tired I am and doubt that extra effort really made a difference. 

That first Christmas was pretty messy too. Everyone had to travel to their “own town” to register for the census. (Today ours is done electronically and we still find that challenging.) Throw into the story a young man with his betrothed who is pregnant. (Scandalous.) And then a manger as a baby bed. (Not an ideal setting, especially for our Savior.) What a mess. 

I am sure on more than one occasion Mary, Joseph, and their families thought, “But I had other plans … I thought this would be different … Is it worth it … What a mess.”

Over the years, I’ve learned to look past the messy and find the magic. The magic of family and friendships. The magic of time well spent in the company of loved ones. The magic of the laughter of the young and the smiles of the old. The magic seen through the eyes of child. The magic of the baby in the manger who came to save us. 

After reading Luke 2:1-7, look past the mess and find the magic – the miracle. The miracle revealed when the angel announced to the shepherds … “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12)

Life for today is the same as long ago. We have to train ourselves to look past the mess, find the magic, and expect the miracles. The miracle found in a family reunited or a good medical report or the gift of another ordinary day. Miracles come in all shapes and sizes. All we have to do is listen and look. 

Today and every day – Embrace the mess. Find the magic. Expect the miracle.