This is the month. The month of Christmas pageantry which we all love and enjoy. This is a time of year near and dear to our hearts….
- the lights
- the trees
- the Christmas plays
- the music
- Christmas outfits
- family photos
- the cards
We can make much of Christmas. But is it about Him or more about us? I wonder if it has become a means to showcase ourselves:
- how we can give to others
- how large (or how many) gifts we can donate
- how well we can sing
- how beautifully we can decorate
- the goodies we can bake
How much of Christmas can be about us? Perhaps even rooted in pride, making us feel a tad bit better about ourselves. Maybe even deceiving us into thinking that we are good, better than we truly are or ever can be.
Yet this morning, I found myself questioning …. Is He always in the midst of it all? Can He truly be found in all this activity?
As the days pass in a blur of busyness and of doing, can I miss Him? Just Him?
I am thinking of Elijah and the manner in which the Lord Himself appeared to him.
Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.”
A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before the God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. (1 Kings 19:11-12, MSG)
He was to be found in the quiet whisper.
Praying that I find Him in the whisper during these days.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy29mQfiavg&w=420&h=315]
Today I am joining … Hear It , Use It and Sharing His Beauty and Inspire Me Mon. and Motivation Mon. and Making Your Home Sing and Mommy Mon. and Living Proverbs 31 and Mom’s Mon. Mingle and Mon. Musings and The Modest Mom and Playdates With God and Miscellany Mon. .
Dear Joanne
This is the question that has been bothering me for quite a few years. I have a BIG family and buying everyone Christmas gifts cost us a fortune. Therefore my husband and I have decided that this years we are only buying gifts for the little ones and our sons. I wish that we could all have a “Christmas tree” in our hearts with the fruit of the sweet Holy Spirit as decorations. Great post, dear one.
Blessings XX
Mia
Mia – may we all learn to see Him in the small things. Thank you for sharing. You thoughts are always appreciated!
Beautiful song and thoughts. I’m with you, desiring to hear God in the whisper of this season.
Bless you,
Gail (Bible Love Notes)
Thank you, Gail! May you hear His whisper loud & clear.
Ah yes…. a quiet whisper…
Joanne, I have heard this little whisper questioning me as well this year. This year it seems like I’m slow going in getting into the holiday cheer. Just managed to put my tree up yesterday and hope to actually get it decorated this week. But in all of my doing I want to have the right heart attitude.
Wanda – You are ahead of me. We haven’t even decorated a bit yet. 🙁 But I must say so far, less decorations but more awareness in my life this year 🙂
Exactly
We have to STOP and take time with HIm or we will miss the entire meaning of Christmas.
Blessings,
Janis http://www.janiscox.com
We can find Him in the whisper and in the hustle and bustle too if we take the time to stop and listen. I simply love Christmas although it has taken a different turn for me now that My Three Sons are grown and out of the house 🙁 But there is still much joy to be found in making merry and making others happy! I must seek for it and listen for it and in doing so I will also find Jesus…and BE Jesus to others. Thank you for the reminder today!! ♥
My He fill your heart with new found joy this Christmas! May we each keep our eyes open – joy is there to be discovered 🙂
I am discovering that I am hearing Him more and more this Christmas season. Maybe it is because all the commercialism around is bothering me this year…so, I’m taking the time to sit and listen to Him. Even as I go about my preparations for Christmas, I’m thinking about why I am preparing and I’m feeling the joy that being in His presence brings!
Blessings, Joan
Isn’t it true! As we make the time & room, He comes & fills it up!
Thanks for this timely post. I am praying that all the busyness will not crowd out His quiet whispers to me. The question was “Is there room in the inn…? I am asking myself, is there room in my schedule? Jesus means everything to me. The answer has to be YES. Holy Spirit show me the WAY. I know I have Your grace to be obedient.
Love & Blessings,
Marilyn
Mare – Yes, if we make the room, He will come & fill it. Love you, my friend!
The fact that you know you need to keep your heart open to seeking God’s presence during this time of year says more than you know. You are aware that you need to be intentional about hearing God in the whisper. I agree that its what I need to do as well. Thank you for the encouragement and for sharing at WJIM’s Monday’s Musings. Have a blessed week in the Lord.
Thank you for sharing back with me. I have found that I need to be intentional in my walk every day. It will never happen for me by accident. See you Monday at WJIM 🙂
Love you dear friend! Loved this. This is why this trip was exactly what I needed. It helped remove all the noise so I could hear Him…so I could see Him better. It has refreshed me soul because I knew this Christmas I couldn’t miss Him.
Much love to you,
Beth
Beth – So glad that this trip has ministered to you deeply. He always knows what we need, doesn’t He? And He so perfectly provides.
Love,
Joanne