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| Taken from my favorite Christmas book, The Christ Child, Iilustrated by Miska and Maud Petersham |
Good morning. This day will be busy. I'm dashing this off before preparing for today's guests. I hope each of you have a lovely day. I know I will.
I'm a bit under the weather. Yesterday, I met
with a friend in the morning and had a session with one client. I took the rest of the day off. I'm recuperating from illness.
What is Christmas? Nope, it isn't about gifts. It's about one Gift, Christ. This holiday is about God's incarnation, dwelling among us, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
Thank you, for journeying with me this year. I appreciate your visits. Inspired and cheered, is my hope, each time your drop by. What Christmas gift can I offer you? How about serenity?
I find serenity is attainable when we learn to do what we can, letting go of the rest. Our best efforts for today is good enough. (Courage to Change, p. 9)
Worry avails little. I'd rather light a candle, doing something, directed by God's will----the result of having Quiet Time with Him----than cursing the darkness of my despair and circumstances. Constant complaining and moaning----where's the growth in that? You're right, there's none.
The gift of joy I wish for you. It's quite easy to have, really. It's about perspective, how and where we place our thoughts. My life growing up was difficult, more than you can imagine. Yet, as you know by now, my life is full of joy, wonder, hope and fulfillment. This can be your lot, too, for....
"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7
Perhaps what you lack is abundance. With the economy as it is, we can be worried about our future. While I don't have a crystal ball, nor would I use one, I do know who holds the future. My confidence is in Him. My faith is NOT in faith. That's folly. Where I place my faith, is what counts. No matter how tentative and insecure my faith may be, as I put my toes on seven foot thick slab of ice, covering a lake, and detect it's ability to undergird me, my trust strengthens. When I see a Zamboni of results, due to my faith, racing up and down on this surface, my trust grows more confident.
On the other hand, I could have all the faith in the world, while stepping on a 1/8th of an inch thick sheet of ice covering another lake. Intense faith will not prevent me from crashing through, getting soaked and miserable.
It is not the fervor of my faith, my faith in faith, but the object in which I place it, that matters. For me, it's been in the God of my understanding, the great "I Am", the God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph. God has consistently demonstrated his unwavering love for me, from my youth to this very week. His love is marked with patience, grace, truth and forgiveness.My wish for you this Christmas Day is that you may know the gift of a personal, loving relationship with Him. The Wise Men found Him, lo, many years ago. May you discover Him, too, is my prayer.
He's waiting for your invitation, that He may enter through the door of your heart, as you turn your will and life over to Him. I pray you will discover the joy that happens, when you do.
May you have a great and grateful Christmas!
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5 comments:
Our Dearest Innkeeper,
Thank you for this beautiful Christmas Day message and wonderful pictures!
May you too have a joyous, serene, healthy-healing (please feel better...) and blessed Christmas Day.
Sometime today may we all stop by this refuge of the soul we call the Gratitude Inn.
As we enter, let us shake off the chill from our coats, the snowflakes from our hats, the frost from our mittens and shed our muddied boots?
And here, we will finally warm our stiffened hands, toes and hearts, chilled by the cares of this world.
And yes, finally...we shall warm our weary souls by the hearth of this Inn; a fire fueled on this Sacred Day by the Love of Christ the King, and the God of our understanding.
And...as the child, Tiny Tim said so innocently some 170 years ago;
"And God Bless Us, Everyone."
Just checking back for any new items you may have posted.
I left a note of invitation in the comment section on one of your past posts’ and invited you to follow my blog. Just in case it was accidently overlooked, just want you to know the invitation is still very much valid…and of course, I am already following your blog.
P.S. I hope you had a very Merry Christmas.
Pablo, I sent you an email answering your questions. Thanks for responding.
Dear Carl,
Thank you, for dropping by. I agree with your vision as to what this inn offers.
I'm glad hearing, in subsequent comments of yours, that a terrific Christmas was had. You have my prayers as you'll be in surgery soon. Fasting mending, is my prayer request.
Covenant Keeper,
Thank you for your comments and your interest in me. You'll note that today, I responded to your request.
Thanks, also, for answering my questions. I pray your Christmas was merry and filled with blessings.
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