A Reminder for the Holiday Season

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%209-11&version=NIV

"So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
- 1 Corinthians 10:31

The Holiday season is in full swing. It's interesting the the signs of a season (at least for me) that is meant to celebrate the birth of Christ and the incredible gift of grace from our loving and faithful God are marked mostly by a barage of holiday parties over the next several weekends. Now that is not to say that we should not celebrate during this season, for God has given us much to celebrate. However, it is interesting that our celebrations can easily take our eyes off of Jesus rather than keep them focused on him. How does this happen? It happens in the way we celebrate.

We celebrate with parties and sharing meals together. All in all not a bad thing. But Satan likes to take a good thing and turn it into a place of temptation. Our Holiday eating and drinking because Holiday indulgence and gluttony . I must confess that way too often during the Holiday's I have been guilty of gluttony and walked away from the season filled not with joy, but regret. We eat, eat, eat - more than our fill - but don't walk away satisfied. But God says, "Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the riches of fair" - Isaiah 55:2. We drink Spirits but often are not filled with the Spirit of God. But God's word says, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit" - Ephesians 5:20

It happens in the way we gift one another - spending much - often more - than budgets can afford. Many American's put Christmas on their credit cards and spend the rest of the year paying thing off. God's word says: "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satifsy?" - Isaiah 55:2. How much greater is it to give our lives to one another - to be Jesus to one another? How much greater is it to share the Greatest gift - that of eternal life (Romans 6:23). Are our eyes on the physical or the spiritual gifts of the season.

I happens in the busyness of it all - party planning, party going, baking, decorating, concerts - even volunteering and worship services. Again - all of these things can be beautiful things and part of a celebration. But what happens to me is that I get so caught up in the doing and going that my time for God becomes extremely limited.

This season God has been gently calling to me to be still and know him instead. He's been boldly challenging me to be a Mary, and sit at his feet in a time when it is too easy - especially because of my personality - to be a Martha who is distracted by many things (Luke 10:38-42).

Friends, I so desire to answer the call to be still and the challenge to choose what is better and sit at Jesus' feet. I so desire that my heart and my life might be empty of things so that they can be filled with Jesus. I desire so much to experience Jesus more this Christmas and not less. So I've been praying about that and I've made some commitments to God and myself to help take me there. I have to say I am so excited to just bask in God's love this season. Yes, there will be changes in my celebrating. I am certain, though, that my tummy and the rest of my body will not miss the over-indulgence. I am certain my bank account will welcome the extra money. There may be a friend or co-worker that might miss the goody they've come to expect from my oven. But I am certain that the most precious gift I can give them are my prayers in the time I have to be at the feet of Jesus and I've committed to carrying my family and friends there with me in prayer.

So be certain, precious friends, that I am praying for you this Holiday season. I pray that your eyes would be open to the amazing light of the glory of God that came to earth at Christmas - a light that the most beautiful Christmas display cannot begin to match. And I pray for you what might seem like an odd prayer - that you would have empty hearts this season. I pray this so that your hearts may be filled to all the measure and the fullness of Christ Jesus and his love. My friends, I pray that you would also listen to the gentle calling and bold challenges of your Father God this season - that whatever you eat, drink, or do, you would do it all for the glory of God in the face of his precious infant warrior king.

Blessings to you precious ones!

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels