CHRISTMAS IS OVER

 Unfortunately, that is the case for many of us. He came, we saw, commercialism conquered. Now let’s put Him away for another year.

I hate to sound jaded but that is basically all the celebration of the birth of the Christ-child is to many who claim to be followers of Him.Many people are worn out by all of the preparations they’ve felt necessary in order to have a “fulfilling” Christmas experience. But what about the day after Christmas? Are you going to be like Jesus’ mother and treasure all of these things in your heart? Or are you going to pack away the spiritual along with the temporal until next Yule season? If you are, you have missed out terribly in your observance of the Nativity. The entrance of the Son of God into our place in the universe was monumental and if we treat it as such, it can begin (or continue) a journey that should ultimately bring us to our knees as we arrive at the events of Good Friday and finally - the Resurrection of our Savior! Have you taken that journey yet? It’s so important that you do. For with the acknowledgement of the Incarnation, Sacrificial Death, and Resurrection, a place was reserved for you in heaven. All you have to do is invite Jesus to be #1 in your life and seek to do His will in all that remains for you to do in this life. Jesus said, “come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” After the hectic Christmas season, that’s what many of us are looking for - rest. Some actually take vacations leaving their homes to resorts, or cabins, or cottages (or even cruise ships in normal years). But unless we include God in our attempt at rest and relaxation, we will have just changed venues while retaining the burdens of the world in our hearts and minds. Make a conscious decision to take Him with you; and then, spend time with Him every day by engaging Him in His Word - the Bible - and getting to know Him better. God told Joshua, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8) “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

I seldom know where I’m going to go when I begin one of these entries but this is where I felt God to lead me this morning. Greet Him in the morning when you arise, spend time with Him throughout the day - especially in the Bible - and thank Him at night for where He took you throughout the day and ask. His forgiveness for your failures.

Christmas may be over but the impact of it on your life doesn’t have to be.