Table of Contents
- What are our Christmas wishes?
- Missed opportunities
- Making deliberate choices to achieve our Christmas wishes
There are some Christmas wishes we all want this year, aren’t there?
What are our Christmas wishes?
Health and happiness
I think I can safely assume most everyone wants health and happiness for all those those they love. But for Christians, there is one more, isn’t there?
God’s love
We want God’s love to be real and experienced by each one on our list, and particularly for those we love.
We had our Christmas celebration this past weekend. It was great except for the fact that one family, my daughter’s, wasn’t there. They have Covid. I was truly disappointed. We all were. But we made the best of it. The main course was great because I basically bought it all from a local supplier. It was delicious and no one had a problem that I went that way this year. All the cookies and desserts were homemade and they all turned out great as well.
Missed opportunities
I had prayed that my husband and I would find a way to witness as there are those within our family network that have not personally experienced God’s love yet. My husband’s prayer was spot-on and certainly paved the way. But as I think back I realized I missed a lot of opportunities to direct the conversation to God.
Am I the only one lacking in this area? And by directing the conversation to God, I am not talking about shoving it down people”s throats. Too many people have been turned away from God because of well-meaning but clueless Christians.
I write this today because most of you have yet to celebrate your Christmas, so maybe this gives you a heads up.
So what could I have done differently?
Well, when someone told me how creative I am, I could’ve said, “I give God the credit. This is how He made me.” I’m sure there were other occasions but I can’t actually think of specific ones. But I think that gives you the idea.
Making deliberate choices to achieve our Christmas wishes
We have to be deliberate about these things or they simply won’t happen. AND, we have to be sure that our lives reflect what we say. In Romans 15:14, Paul states that in order to witness to others (he uses the word “admonishes” but I think it applies to our witness as well), we need to be filled with goodness (our walk) and knowledge (God’s word).
Looking for opportunities
I have some time yet to be bolder than I was. I’m praying I will be bolder at the hospital with the staff and the doctors. I hope to share with them how I’ve been praying for them, how I have complete faith that the surgery will be successful.
Christmas wishes fulfilled requires something
If ever there were a season to be verbal witness, it’s this one. I pray you will see the opportunities and find the right words. It’s easy when we are surrounded by believers. It’s quite a different story when we’re not. We are afraid of offending and that’s not all bad. But if we pray about and remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit, he will direct us.
We share our faith because we want other to experience what we have. To know God’s deep and abiding love and have a power they can always turn to..
I like what Max Lucado writes in God Came Near.
“Those who missed HIs Majesty’s arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no, they missed it because they simply weren’t looking.”
Look for God this week and your Christmas wishes might just be realized.
I hope your week is going well and you are all wrapped and ready.
