It’s amazing how simply writing out where you are in the process of change can be helpful – to say this is where I am and then also to say, this is where I want to be and this is how I plan to get there, with God’s help. The comments in the last post are encouraging, especially to those of us just now starting the journey of Christmas Change.
We want to encourage you to think beyond Christmas morning in our warm homes. Think beyond our giving options within our own families. Think about what we represent.
I want to share a small portion of one of my all time favorite poems, Telling the Gospel Truth, from Tender Hooks, by Beth Ann Fennelly.
I’d been looking for Mary
like that,
her robes spread
her knees by her ears,
her veins rivering
the cracked and leaking
bowl of her belly that can hold no more,
and the baby crowning, skulling
through that fringe—but reaching the statue’s front I found
just another passive pietá.
Let us tell the truth about what’s really going on – what was going on then, when Spirit-God put on people skin, and what is going on now, now that people become tents for Spirit-God .
On Christmas Day, God came to us through a laboring woman. He came, and people are still looking for Him, wanting Him to follow through.
Christmas Change is an identity shift. Being able to accept smaller material gifts so that we can give larger is understanding how truly great a gift we’ve already been given.
I believe that we can entrust Christmas to Him all over again. I believe He’ll follow through.
What can we entrust to Him this year?
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Love this. Our hearts beat for this.
I’m thrilled to find encouragement as we redefine what Christmas looks like.
We ( my 4 little ones and I) will be cleaning a childrens home and playing with the 15 children that live there. We are also recommiting our sponsorship to sweet Manasa in India. we continue to pray for doors to be opened for us to give and serve. Thank you both for doing this.
Truly a delightful way to bring in the season of Christ. Giving to those in need.
Patricia
This year I’ll be trusting Him with my sons’ hearts– that He can stir their passion and compassion, that He is making masterpieces of them and it is really my job to quiet the noise and let Him speak.
I entrust to Him my peace, that I would repent of Christmas anxiety, especially in regard to Christmas parties and what to wear and how to fit in when we’re trying to change.
that ‘make me cry’ kind of amazing….
~thank you for sharing ~
amen.
and thank you