Friday, December 14, 2007
Tis the Season
I don’t know about you, but this time of the year can be very hectic and often times overwhelming. I am blessed with two wonderful sons who have December birthdays. In addition to the festivities surrounding their special days, there are always holiday school functions and social parties that you must (and desire to) attend. Already over the past weeks, I have had to confess on several occasions my negative attitude toward this time of the year as I have found myself checking off a to-do and a to-buy list. With each check mark I grow more and more excited yet at the same time, I grow more and more exhausted as I run around like a ‘chicken with my head cut off’ (to use a southern term) trying to complete the list before time runs out.
I know within my heart of heart that the Christmas season has evolved into something that is entirely different from what it was intended to be. I know without a doubt that my Lord, whose birthday it is we are supposed to be celebrating, never intended for people to run around in a frenzy and stand in enormous lines at 5 AM in order to get the hottest items of the year. I doubt he ever intended for people to go into debt to celebrate His birthday. I doubt he ever meant for people to only remember people who are in desperate need once a year. I am certain he never meant for people to grow ever so depressed during the season of His birth (as the suicide rate is highest during this time of year). I am sure he didn’t mean for us to check off a list just for the sake of feeling like we ‘have to!’ I imagine God must look down from heaven just shaking his head saying, “What are you all doing?”
Do you know what upsets me the most? It is my inability to change what my family and I have come to experience at Christmas. Every year I vow that this will be the year that I do not succumb to rushing around and buy just for the sake of buying. This Christmas, I always vow, will be different! This year four of our closets friends and I decided that we weren’t going to exchange Christmas gifts between our families, rather we were going to spend an evening together in our home and enjoy one another’s company. This was our attempt to lessen some of the chaos of Christmas. I am here to report that this ‘agreement’ we have between our families did nothing to lessen the overwhelming feeling I have!
So, I must examine why I have this sense of being overwhelmed. Why is it that every year, even against my best intentions, I seem to grow more and more exhausted and frustrated? I believe I can sum up the answer in this sentence….I grow more and more frustrated each year because of the internal struggle that I encounter. With many swipes of the credit card I grow more and more anxious because I know that I am not following the guidance of the Holy Spirit that is within me, rather I am being motivated by fear (not a fruit of the spirit!). What kind of fear? Fear of people!
I am so afraid of disappointing someone, especially my own kids and family, by not having ‘enough’ under the tree. Even now, I should fold up my list as being completed, but I think, “I need to go get a few more things for so and son.” I don’t know about you, but I have to confess that I even have ‘extra’ presents all wrapped up just in case someone shows up with a gift and they weren’t on my list! What is the motive behind that? You guessed it…fear of hurting someone.
On the other hand, I so often see things that I really want to buy for someone, perhaps a friend or a family member, but because of our ‘agreement’ to not to buy anything for each other for Christmas, I can’t! Why? I am afraid I will upset them and make them feel bad!!! Isn’t this insane? Am I the only one who has found them self in this predicament?
Now, don’t get me wrong, and please don’t label me the “Grinch.” I don’t have a heart that lacks generosity. I am not against gift giving and let me be the first to say, I love getting gifts and I love surprising people with gifts, especially ones I found that have their names written all over it!
This year more than ever I have been challenged to slow down, to rest and to lay aside my fear of disappointing people. I have been challenged to have the courage to do what is right in the sight of the Lord’s eyes rather than seeking the approval of man. Fortunately, I can say that there has been some progress in this area, but oh how far I still have to go!
As I was preparing a few weeks ago to sing in church, I was led to sing the song Alabaster Box by CeCe Winans. The moment I heard the song I knew it was the one I was to sing as my heart was quickened by its message. The song is the account of a woman, most likely a prostitute, who approaches Jesus while He is dining at the home of some Pharisees (Luke 7:36-50). This woman came to Jesus, knelt down at his feet, wiped His feet with her tears, and dried them with her hair. One of the most beautiful acts she performed was when she broke open an Alabaster box of perfume, a box worth a years wage, and anointed his feet in the sight of the Pharisees who sat in judgment of both her and Jesus.
I saw from this story that this woman was a woman of courage and in order to experience the plans of God, we need to be people of courage. This lady laid aside her fear of people. She laid aside her guilt of her past. This woman was courageous as she refused to allow anything to get in the way of her coming to Jesus and doing what she knew was right. I was challenged right then to not focus on what I feel like I have to do but rather look deep in my heart and bring all I have to Him despite what others may think.
What can I bring? What can we bring as believers? We can bring our heart, our passions, our resources, and our talents to Him so that He can use them for His purposes. We can bring our fears, anxieties and cares and lay them at His feet so that He can carry them for us. We can bring our praise and thanksgiving to Him. We can bring our weaknesses to Him so that He can exchange them for His strength. We bring our love to Him. How? By loving Him through our obedience, by loving Him through the act of loving His people (not just at Christmas, but year round). We can bring to Him our lives and say, “Whatever you desire Lord, let it be done!” This was the response of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and through her hearts’ response our lives were forever changed. Can you imagine how the world will be changed when we as believers approach Jesus daily with courageous and willing hearts?
I was challenged to have the courage of this lady so that I could experience all that God has for me. I was challenged to walk in courage so that I could receive what I most desire…..peace. If you read the end of the passage, I love Jesus response to the lady. He didn’t look at her in disgust because of her past failures and sin. He didn’t judge her harshly. He didn’t push her away and say come back later. Rather, He allowed her to pour out her heart and He responded, “Your sins have been forgiven, your faith has saved you, now rise up and enter into peace!”
Isn’t peace what we as believers so desperately need? Isn’t peace what this Christmas season is supposed to be about? Wasn’t it the “Prince of Peace” that came to us in the form of a baby? Think about it, we are to celebrate Peace at Christmas as “God is Peace.” This season is the celebration of God coming to earth in the form of man. Isn’t it ironic that the one thing we are supposed to be celebrating is the one thing we lack during this beautiful time of year?
I am thankful for the forgiveness of sins. I am thankful that my faith in Jesus Christ has saved me! However, I often lack the third blessing this lady received…peace. Is it because it isn’t available to me? No way. It is because I don’t make the choices that will bring peace into my life. Why? Because I don’t always come to Jesus, kneel at his feet and do what I know is right in my heart. Rather, I seek the approval of man and do things for the sake of tradition. The result is a loss of peace.
So how do I regain peace as a believer? How can anyone truly find peace within their own hearts so that they can have peace in their lives? For believers and non-believers, peace is found at the feet of Jesus. For many, it begins by kneeling at His feet with a repentant heart saying, “Lord, forgive me. I have so often failed you. I need you in my life. Please come into my life and save me.” His response will be, “Your sins are forgiven and your faith has saved you!”
Peace, however, for many of us who have already made this confession of sin and profession of faith will need to come to Jesus with a heart that is courageous. We must be ready to throw off whatever is hindering us so that we can run the race He has laid before us. We will need to lay aside distractions, defilements, fear, guilt, pride, and our need for man’s approval.
As we step out in courage and do what the Spirit is telling us to do, as we do what we know in our heart of hearts is right, we will experience His peace. Confusion, chaos and a sense of being overwhelmed come from our tendency to follow after the flesh. It comes from our fear of man and desire for approval. It also comes in the form of condemnation from the enemy.
This Christmas Season let’s vow to make a difference and take steps to have an encounter with the Prince of Peace who more than anything is ready to lavish his peace upon us. Will you walk courageously with me and join me at the feet of Jesus? Forgiveness of sin, salvation of soul, and peace of mind awaits each one of us!
