Christmas is such a busy time!
Every year, I find myself in a flurry of never-ending to-do lists, rushing from one half-finished task to the next, getting more and more stressed the nearer it gets to Christmas Eve. Celebration meals to plan, buy and prepare. Gifts to choose and wrap. Cards or emails to write and send. The house to decorate. Charity donations. Book deadlines. A zillion other things (possible slight exaggeration).
The season that should be a time of joy and peace ends with me grumpy and irritable, feeling anything but love and goodwill!
I’m guessing that maybe I’m not the only one to feel that way?
This year has been a powerful process of God teaching me to surrender to Him more and more. It hasn’t always been easy! Now, He’s teaching me to rest in Him. To listen to the whispers of Spirit and do all He asks me to and all I need to do, but to stop the stressing and the rushing and the worrying. To let go of all that is not Him and His Love.
He’s teaching me that I can get so much more done when I’m still before Him, knowing that He is God and resting in His loving arms, than when I’m running around stressed.
I’ve been listening to this piano cover version of Word of God Speak, and praying the words.
God is reminding me that the meaning of Christmas is Jesus, the Word made flesh. He’s reminding me that being at a loss for words might be part of His plan for me (I’m thinking of all the books I planned to write this year and didn’t!). That to know Him, I need to be quiet. That resting in Him is the only place to find peace, and to find my self.
Advent isn’t just a reminder that Jesus is coming, but something even more wonderful. It’s a reminder that He is with us now, and we can rest in Him.
Not just at Christmas, but all year.
And that makes me smile!
USA Today bestselling author Autumn Macarthur writes romances full of faith and hope, celebrating God's love as well as a man and a woman finding their happily ever after. She prays they’ll warm your heart and make you smile. An Australian transplanted to Britain, Autumn lives just north of London with her lovely English husband and three demanding cats, in a very small house with a teensy tiny garden. She loves talking to readers, so please get in touch! And get a free Christian romance novella when you sign up for her reader newsletter at http://bit.ly/Autumnsubscribe
Beautiful post, Autumn. Word of God Speak is such a lovely song. The lyrics certainly strike a chord.
Yes! He came. He is here. He is coming.
Beautiful reminder of God’s love for us. He sent His only Son to save us. Thank you, God.
Hi Jill! :) I do love the words to that song. They are speaking deep into my heart lately. Praying your Advent is blessed and joyful <3
He is! That puts the biggest smile on my face and in my heart! Blessed Christmas, Katy!
The amazing thing about giving thanks is that it feels so good! Thanks so much for commenting, Melissa. <3
Even though I’ve got several Mercy Me albums, I wasn’t familiar with this song before. If anyone else wants to hear it with lyrics, check this link: https://youtu.be/LyIrr6NWjvk
Thanks for blessing me today, Autumn!
Oh, thank you so much for posting that link, Valerie! I spent an hour on YouTube searching for that version and couldn’t locate it!
Thanksgiving is my rush-rush holiday because we go out of town, so I have to plan everything from cooking dinner at my sister-in-laws, to what to pack & all that! Since they aren’t able to come down for Christmas, we combine both holidays….so double the stress! Christmas is more laid back as we stay home. This year, I decided to simplify. Pre-cooked ham dinner from the store, fewer presents since the budget won’t allow for much anyway, and gift cards for the rest. I’m not even sending cards (does that sound terrible?). Maybe I’m getting older and slowing down more, but I want to treasure time with my family more than material things. I want to make memories and those cost nothing but are priceless!
Sounds like a wonderful plan for Christmas! Relaxed and happy time with your family is definitely way more valuable. <3
Nice post. Happy holidays to you and your family!!
Thanks for reading, Linda! I hope you and your family have a wonderfully blessed Christmas :)