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WEEKLY ENCOURAGEMENT
Updated: Tuesday, December 23, 2008
What would you wish for?
If you could have anything you wanted for Christmas, what would you wish for?
I am sure the wishes would cover a large gamut of possibilities. Our youngest daughter would probably wish for her husband, who is presently stationed with the Air Force in Iraq, to be home for the holidays. Others might wish for a cure to an illness that is racking their body with pain. Still someone else might wish for a job, a vacation, or peace in a particular relationship.
The Lord is most graciously granting one of my wishes. My husband and I will be flying to America on īDec. 25 and will have the great joy of spending time with all three of our children and their families including our twelve grandchildren.
The truth is, however, that Christmas is supposed to be a celebration of the birthday of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So maybe we should be asking what He would like for Christmas. What do you think His heart would desire?
God has said that if we love Him, we should keep His commandments. The greatest of these is to love Him with all our heart, mind and soul. Some may immediately think of all the works they can do or have done for Jesus. Others may think about the sacrifices they have made to accomplish some meaningful and difficult task. But to love Christ with all our heart, mind and soul means to relinquish all our own hopes, plans, goals and rights. It means not for Him to be our first priority but rather that He is our only priority! The greatest gift we can give to Jesus on His birthday is ourselves in humble submission. It is to bow before Almighty God in adoration and worship recognizing His Lordship in our life.
How did Mary respond when the angel told her she was going to have a son in spite of the fact that she was still a virgin? She did not argue, discuss the pros and cons of the matter nor did she complain. She said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." In other words, she said "Lord, here I am your servant. Use me however you choose".
Are you and I this submitted? How are you responding to the things the Lord is bringing into your life right now?
May each of us honestly proof our own hearts and consider the following questions: Have I really given Him all of my heart? Is He honestly THE priority of my life? What will you give Him for His birthday?
I do pray that the Lord will bless each of you this Christmas and may you experience the reality of Him in your everyday life more in 2009 than ever before. I encourage you to take a minute and share something from your experience with Christ on our guest book. God bless you, Sandy
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- Sandy Hastings |
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