Month: December 2022

Advent Reflections

Posted on by Wendy
In the midst of the busyness of the season, we can still choose to make room for Jesus.

I recently read a post from Max Lucado where he focused on the inn keeper in Bethlehem when Joseph and Mary, his very pregnant wife, were looking for a place to stay for the night. He missed a personal encounter with Jesus, likely not because he was evil, but because he was busy.

This man could have had a front seat to the Divine becoming one of us, but he missed it because his focus was elsewhere. He had the opportunity to serve the living God right where he was, doing his current occupation. He wouldn’t have had to leave his home or job or even learn to speak eloquently. He could have shared what he had, but he didn’t.

We don’t know his name, but we all know this particular chapter of his story.

Lucado has a way of focusing on the nameless folks in the Bible that end up showing up over and over again, even without names. He once wrote about the person who owned the donkey that Jesus rode on in the Triumphal Entry.

In Matthew 21:1-3 Jesus said, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

We never learn the donkey owner’s name, but we all know his story too. He said yes, when Jesus asked.

Notice how certain Jesus was of the donkey owner’s reaction? I can’t help but wonder if Jesus is that certain of my reaction when He asks something of me to be used for kingdom work.

Do I tend to be more like the inn keeper or the donkey owner?

As Christmas draws near, it seems like a great time to reflect upon the space in our own hearts. We still have the opportunity to make room for Jesus. Even thought we are living through a busy and sometimes stressful season, the invitation still remains.

Advent reminds us that it doesn’t matter whether or not people will remember our choices and names because God will. We can intentionally choose to be like the inn keeper or the donkey owner.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too!

Have an awesome day and a Merry Christmas! I will be spending time with family and will not be posting over the holidays. I hope to see you back in this space in the New Year.

Wendy 🙂

Visiting with Family

Posted on by Wendy

My son has just arrived home for Christmas. It’s his last year in college and I am soaking up every minute. I hope you too, are taking a little time to enjoy the many gifts of the season that don’t come wrapped.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Finding the Joy and Wonder of Christmas

Posted on by Wendy
“Oh come let us adore Him!”

This year, my family gathered for Thanksgiving at my parents’ house. I learned that the close by city of Macon, was having an “Extravaganza of Lights,” in their downtown which began on Black Friday.

My family loves a Christmas light display, so we couldn’t resist.

I’ll have to admit that I was a little skeptical of what we would find. It was put on by a church and it was free, even the parking. I suppose I have become so accustomed to having to pay for everything, especially parking, that I couldn’t imagine what a free light display would look like.

Nevertheless, we piled into the car and headed over to Macon as it got dark. The streets were crowded with people, but we were able to find a free parking space. When we got out, we could hear someone over a speaker discussing the lights and preparation and we started towards it, when a gentleman stopped us and told us we should, “Wait for it,” as he pointed to a tree next to him.

We looked around and every single tree was wrapped in unlit lights. There were other people just standing in place as well.

Not wanting to miss anything, we waited.

The man on the speaker finished talking and then he said he was going to say a word of prayer.

I was a little stunned. Christmas has become so commercialized and secular, a prayer? On main street America?

I bowed my head and when he finished, an orchestra started playing a traditional Christmas song and the landscape sprang to life. With the flip of a switch, I became a child again, basking in the magic and wonder of Christmas that we were never meant to outgrow.

The display spread out over five city blocks. Every block had different colors and displays and they all were synchronized to the music. Not only could I see the joy on the face of every man, woman and child who I passed by, I could feel the joy in the air.

I felt like I was walking around in a Hallmark movie.

Afterwards, when I was back at work, I was telling a friend about it and she said, “It sounds a little like heaven, with the music, lights, praise and joy.”

I hadn’t thought about it that way, but I supposed it did. Maybe that was the reason I had to fight tears the entire time we were there.

Although Christmas is meant to be the celebration of when Heaven came to earth, we sometimes lose that along the way, yet our hearts were made to long for more.

Our hearts were made to long for Jesus.

Someday, when we get to heaven, our days will be filled with light, joy and songs, but until then, may we all remember that Jesus is the reason for the season and take time to bask in the knowledge that He is with us even now.

That truth alone, should fill the season with both joy and wonder. A Christmas light show reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 😊