In the Christmas Season we often focus on the Birth of Christ
We celebrate His birth and his coming to bring salvation
What a wonderful gift!!
And on top of that He has promised to come and take us home to be where He is!!!
Christmas time can be a wonderful time for many and at the same time be a very difficult time as we face the challenges of life.
Many can have the Christmas blues as suicide rates tend be higher at this time of year. As many suffer from loneliness, depression, loss of loved ones or financial problems.
But we must focus on the true meaning of Christmas is not the gift under the tree, the lights, the parties but rather it is the gift of a savior!!
In life there are some things that seem to take forever to happen and yet others seem to come and go so quickly.
Sitting in the Dr’s office can seem like an eternity
We can sit there and get frustrated, anxious, angry, impatient or we can sit and wait patiently.
1) Trusting in the Lord preparations
Waiting for a job, a significant other, relationship to be healed, whatever your case maybe it what we do in the waiting that can make all the difference.
Do we give up on those dreams, hopes, plans getting angry, bitter, frustrated or do we keep trusting in the Lord.
Sometimes the best Gifts, or answers to prayer take time to set things in order God is a God of order.
God has to prepare us and the Blessings.
Just like we start preparing for Christmas God is preparing us for His Gifts and Blessing.
A Gift too soon could turn into a curse
We often try to speed things up by taking them into our own hands.
Luke 2 :21-32
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,
28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
Simeon was given a promise and stayed in expectation and trust
Trusting in the promises of God
2) Often it is what we do while we wait that makes the difference.
Luke 2:36-38
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;
37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fasting’s and prayers night and day.
38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Annaat the age of 84 kept the faith she stayed connected to God and the family of God in service at the temple, praying, fasting and witnesing.
3) Don’t fall into the trap of comparison with others.
Galatian’s 6:4
4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For each one shall bear his own load.
The excitement of a child waiting for Christmas the anticipation of a gift
Should be the excitement we have waiting for the Lord to Return and give us the best gift of all HEAVEN
4) Trust in Gods timing
I’m sure Mary was asking how much longer on this bumpy, rough road to Bethlehem
How much longer for us to find a place to stay
The question every woman has while in labor pains
How much longer
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
1) Trusting in the Lord preparations
2) Often it is what we do while we wait that makes the difference.
3) Don’t fall into the trap of comparison with others.
4) Trust in Gods timing
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