Coming out of the dark...

This can be a hard season.   We are surrounded by gleeful (or quite Grinchy) shoppers, jangling carols, and images of perfection from television chefs and decorators and gift consultants.  Our calendars are packed full... I have visions of mine exploding into tiny shreds and falling from the refrigerator door to the kitchen floor.  Work demands increase and frustrate us as the days left to complete tasks decrease.  The memories of Christmases Past can be so painful when there is an empty chair and a stocking that won't be filled.  My own pain is so great this year, missing Daddy more and more as time goes by (not less and less as my well-meaning comforters have told me).

But in the midst of this chaos is The Miracle.  The Lord who came as a babe to save us.  The Lord who lived simply and sinlessly.  The Lord who died willingly.  The Lord who rose and lives to intercede for us.  The Lord who prepares a place for us.

My eyes have fallen from this miracle in recent days.  Today's morning devotion brought the cure for my wallowing ways:

Dear brothers and sisters,

honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work.

They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 

Show them great respect and wholehearted love

because of their work.

And live peacefully with each other.

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy.

Encourage those who are timid.

Take tender care of those who are weak.

Be patient with everyone.

See that no one pays back evil for evil,

but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

Always be joyful. 

Never stop praying. 

Be thankful in all circumstances,

for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 

Do not scoff at prophecies, 

but test everything that is said.

Hold on to what is good.

Stay away from every kind of evil.

1Thessalonians 5:12-22

During this sometimes difficult season, never stop praying, no matter how long the list.  Always be joyful in His grace; bring the sadness and pain to God for healing.  Show patience and tender mercy to even the Grinchiest Grinch; it may be the only love of Christ they see this day.  Live in peace; take a step away from the chaos for a cup of cocoa with a marshmallow (thank you, my sweet Trista).  Listen for that small, leading voice of the Spirit.  Hold on to what is good.  Seek Him. 

This is my lesson today... I pray for the strength and will to learn it well.