Don't Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle

The magic of Christmas comes to all of us in different ways: in the putting up of the tree, drinking hot cocoa with little marshmallows, singing carols, seeing the lights, visiting Santa, baking goodies for our loved ones and neighbors, and giving to those in need. And, of course, and most importantly, celebrating the birth of our Savior. I used to love, when my children were small, how the most exciting thing to them was to hear about baby Jesus and knowing it was HIS birthday.

Looking at this season through the eyes of a child is probably the smartest thing we can do to put ourselves in the right frame of mind for Christmas. As adults we all know the meaning of Christmas, and know that that is where we should be focusing, but no one else is going to get the tree up, do the baking, finish the Christmas shopping, make sure family pictures are taken, get Christmas cards out, buy presents for the teachers, PLUS manage the day to day household tasks, and worry about how we are going to pay for all this ho ho ho without buying anything on  credit! SO how do we make sure that, as we create the Christmas magic for those around us, we actually get to feel it too, and how can we keep our tinsel from getting in a tangle.

When it’s the week before Christmas and it’s impossible to find a parking spot at the mall, the grocery store is packed with all the crazies preparing for a house full of company, it’s pretty easy to get your tinsel all tangled.  We want everything to be just right.  We are so busy being “Martha” that we can’t seem to find time to be Mary; we can’t seem to find the time to get our tinsel untangled. 

May I encourage you this blessed season to take a moment and remember the real reason for the season.  So what if your peanut butter blossoms lost the kisses, your Christmas tree is a little crooked and the cookies have too many sprinkles from a little helper.  And so what if you don't get your Christmas cards out until New Years – just so you have time to truly enjoy the magic of this Christmas season and truly celebrate our Savior's birth!  So, please try not to get your tinsel in a tangle and remember if you do, just tie a knot in it and hang on.

Please let me share with you scripture from Matthew 6:25-34 taken from The Message. . .paraphrased (by me):

^25-26 “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t get your tinsel in a tangle [fuss] about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and untangled [unfettered], not tangled in [tied down] to a job description, untangled [careless] in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

^27-29 “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—getting your tinsel in a tangle - do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, and worrying about your tinsel, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

^30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, don’t get your tinsel in a tangle, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works, get their tinsel in a tangle and fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle! Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

³⁴ “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get your tinsel in a tangle about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. “

Have a very blessed and merry Christmas.  May you have a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous new year and whatever you do, remember: DON’T GET YOUR TINSEL IN A TANGLE!!!

It's Not About You. . .

"It’s not about you!"  I remember the first time I read those words in Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life.  For some reason in this first week of Advent, I thought of those words.  

Throughout history, Israel anticipated the coming of their Messiah. The Old Testament contains more than 400 scriptures and prophecies outlining the birth of this Messiah, His life, His death, His resurrection, and His return. It was always God’s plan to redeem His people, since the beginning when Adam and Eve chose a life sin over a life of abundance. God declared His plan to His prophets over many centuries and continues to fulfill His Word even now.  So, you see, it's about "Him".

"Prepare the way of the Lord" serves as a main theme of Advent.  As we are hustling about, buying, making, baking, partying, and anticipating Christmas, most importantly, we should not neglect to prepare our hearts for Jesus, who came as "the light of the world." His light penetrated a darkened world. His light provided the opportunity for all to see their Messiah, to accept their Messiah as the hope of their future. 

Since the 7th century A.D., Christians have included the celebration of Advent in their Christmas preparations.  "Advent" originates from the Latin word advenio which means coming to. Advent is the time when we, as believers, focus on Christ coming to the world.  With a twofold purpose, Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas.  First, it prepares us for the celebration of the birth of Christ and second, it reminds us that we wait eagerly for the return of our Messiah, Jesus, in glory. 

Today, more than ever before, we need to have our hearts prepared in such a way as we await the return of Christ, that we can breathe the words and mean them, “come quickly Lord Jesus!” As you are preparing your Christmas, take time to read and to learn more about what God’s Word reveals about Christ's return and the significance of world events as they unfold before us.

Be ready. Be watchful. Be prepared. The Light of the world has come and will surely come again.  Father God, let the light of Christ shine through our lives so that we may glorify you in all that we do and help us to walk in the light of the Lord and in the truth of your Word. Amen.

"The birth of Christ is the central event in the history of the earth -- the very thing the whole story has been about." -- C.S. Lewis