2MefromHim Devotional
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel…
(which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23
I was 24 days old on my first Christmas. My favorite picture shows me seated on my dad’s knee, a decorated tree in the background. His note on the back says he was explaining to me all about Christmas.
Every year the department stores seem to begin their push to get us to buy the perfect gift earlier. It’s no longer unusual to see Christmas decorations right across the aisle from Halloween stuff—something that never ceases to strike me as paradoxical. The struggle to keep Christmas focused on the birth of Jesus is harder all the time.
“Deck the halls with boughs of holly…” the song proclaims. We decorate our homes inside and out, bringing in beauty and greenery to brighten the stark winter season, but what about our hearts? Are we as deliberate to prepare our hearts for Christmas as we are our homes?
Several years ago a friend of mine gave me a devotional book with 25 readings for morning and evening. It has become a precious ritual of mine to begin on the first of December to prepare my heart for the coming of Christ by filling it twice a day with reminders from scripture.
The Christmas rush of department stores can destroy “the season to be jolly” rather quickly. A heart rightly prepared for the coming of the Christ Child can be filled with joy anywhere, anytime, even if your life circumstances keep the holidays from being one of your favorite times.
As you “don” your “gay apparel” spend some time listening to the words of the age-old Yuletide carols about the birth of Jesus Christ.
This year concentrate more on preparing your heart than your home. Spend time telling about the real meaning of Christmas—the coming of Immanuel—God with us.
© Copyright, Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, November 17, 2011
About the author:
Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, set in Scotland and New Mexico released in April 2014. She is a former Bible Study Fellowship discussion leader who established the first weekly women’s Bible studies in her church in 2003 and continues to lead a weekly small group. Her devotionals, poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She has led weekly women’s Bible studies for 19 years. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. She is a former RN and homeschool/soccer mom who loves family research, history, and Scotland. Norma lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 38 years. They have two adult children.
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5 Comments
Awesome picture and such wonderful memories, huh? Innocent times. Jeremiah 29 : 11-14 #LandofMyDreams
Yes, they were! Thanks for stopping by!
You are so right. It’s becoming more and more difficult to give Jesus first place at Christmas. Not only the commercial end of things causes problems, but the sheer fact of busyness. I think that’s Satan’s greatest deception and strategy – keep us SO busy that there is no resting in Him, no focus on Him. Everything becomes an obligation rather than a celebration.
I agree that the focus of Christmas is more on the gifts rather than the birth of Jesus. #LandofMyDreams
Sad but true! I’m glad you stopped by!