I check the 75-90% sale racks all year long, just a quick look, whenever I go to my favorite stores, and if there is something special, I quickly pick it up and add it to the bins in the garage that hold next year's Christmas stockings for our 6 grandkids.This morning I found some more treasures, and as I am adding them to the stash, and thinking about what will go where, and maybe even personalizing some of it... it occurred to me how carefully and joyfully I prepare for Christmas all year long, and how it intensifies when December comes.
The next thought was...
Do I prepare for eternity with the same diligence, preparation and joy?
Some days... yes.
Other days... what on earth am I doing?? I can go running around and hours go by without one thought of anything eternal.
Oh how I pray that my heart and life would treat God's work and His kingdom in the same way I treat the celebration of Christmas.
So that... every day my life will say Merry Christmas Jesus!
25 comments:
As always you are so profound and you make me wish I was planning for eternity the way I plan for Christmas. :)
Oh your right....it IS what we should be doing...and MOST of the time I am afraid I am not. I am soo easily caught up in the "urgent" things that seem to crop up everyday. Great thought! Have a good day!
Sometimes I am very eternally minded, other times I let life get in the way and become so bogged down. The most sensible thing we can do is to be like Brother Lawrence and practice God's presence in all we do. If we stop and make ourselves aware of His sweet presence we can't help but stay eternally focused.
Blessings~
A huge AMEN to this. I have thought the same about other times of the year too.
I'd love to say that I stay in a "Christmas" state of mind, but I don't always do that. All those things that Christ warned us to oppress us and take our focus creep into my life. But the other times...
And we all said 'AMEN'!
It is so easy to get caught up in the things of this world and lose our eternal focus. I will be thinking of this as I make my holiday preps
I'd leave my Christmas tree up all year round if I could get away with it; the outdoor lights too. Everything just comes alive when it's bedazzled. Come to think of it, I'd bedazzle my spirit if I could think of a way of doing it.
Then again, some days I just wanna wear my pajamas. So much for my eternal joy :)
Lucky you; the greatest gift of all;six grandchildren, what joy Christmas must bring.
I don't think God mind us finding joy in giving, within reasons and without limitations. The Salvation army is getting huge support by Christmas time in Norway. They need it. The poor are always with us.
I try to keep enough oil on my lamp, and trust God to take care of the great celebration that is coming nearer day by day in heaven.
I'm so looking forwards to giving you a great hug then, and be telling you face to face what you have meant to me.
That is how my mother always does Christmas...but she has also been known to forget where she hide the things.
Yes I too need to remember eternity more and be as the wise virgins waiting for the return of the groom.
..or, as my little granddaughter says, "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" :)
I haven't been on here in a while and your post is what I needed today. I have been thinking about getting the rest of my Christmas shopping done and can't seem to find the time to do it, but like you said, we need to be as diligent about our salvation! Wow, thanks for the prompt. I've missed you lately! Robert is getting me a new computer for Christmas!
Oh dearest, how I wish I could stop long enough to savor these thoughts. What troubles me is the intense systems that have been created in the work place that don't let us just BE. I used to find great joy in teaching. Not any more. Not because of the kids....but because of the system that keeps creating tension for both students and teachers. All I can RUN ON is that whatever I do to squeeze in life-lessons and good communication with my studnets, that it is in THAT where I know I am doing an eternal-based work...the rest is just running around, aimlessly.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS FOR SURE! Anita
Praying you unwrap the unexpected treasure of Jesus in small and simple ways this day!
peace~elaine
I'm just in awe at how you already have stocking stuffers! That is always the very last thing on my list (and if I'm being honest, was always my favorite thing to unwrap as a child). Preparing for eternity with diligence, preparation and joy? Sometimes, I'm diligent. Sometimes, I feel prepared. But a lot of times not joyful. Too many times I do those things that will count for eternity with grumbling. Shame on me! Merrily! That's what I need to remember.
you are such a great grandma and wise steward.
oswald chambers had a devotion in the past week
about our subconscious worship and love for the
Lord. something about loving Him so deeply, so
full of devotion that everything we do (stocking
stuffers, etc) is an act of worship.
i probably got that wrong.
All too often I wear my "Martha Shoes" and rush around attending to all the inconsequential things of life. We do well to let ourselves be infused with some "Mary" adoration. Worship the King - every day of the year.
GOD BLESS!
Sonja, a wonderful post. Thank you for putting a smile on my face. Blessings.
It would be a tough way to live focusing exclusively on any future event with such intensity. Whether it's eternity, the most important future event, or having a new baby or getting married or retiring or whatever. You exude the love and grace of God and that's what speaks volumes to me. Enjoy finding those treasures!
Hi Sonja,
So well stated! Amen!
God bless you,
Hugs ~~ Michele
Amen!
"Do I prepare for eternity with the same diligence, preparation and joy?"
I love this post Sonja! Thank you for sharing!
Love you!
i love your post! thanks for sharing... God bless you loves soraya
This is so true, not only of Christmas, Sonja.
How we need to put heaven as the first priority of our daily lives to prepare for.
Have not been here for a while... but I always feel a glad welcome each time I visit.
I praise God for your faithfulness is sharing an encouraging word!
Love
Lidia
Good evening darling Sonja!!!!!!!
MERCI MILLE FOIS for your visit, your kind words and your dear regards to RUBEN! teeheee...you would not believe what people have called him. Have they never heard of the biblical name? The fabulous Jewish name? He has been called RUFUS, ROBIN and who knows what else, but the common mistake is the spelling, but no harm, no foul! teeheee.....
MAY JESUS BLESS YOUR HEARTS ON THANKSGIVING DAY and always! Your comments are just so, so kind! Anita
My kids' Christmas lists change so frequently, I can't buy all year long. I"m having fun though... this year things are so different from last and my perspective is much clearer! I'm really enjoying the decorations, shopping, etc. There is peace in my home.
Love you, friend. You're a treasure!
peace~elaine
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