Breaking to keep the manger in the middle

Are you looking towards the manger yet?

It’s so easy for the manger to get pushed aside or covered up by … well, so many good things. I’ve done 3 things this first weekend of December, so that I keep my Christmas on “Christ-control.“

“Finding the Word in Christmas” with Do Not Depart

This month at Do Not Depart, we’re giving out lots of tips and tools for how to weave the Word into your Christmas celebrations in natural, fun, and beautiful ways that will keep Jesus where He belongs: right in the middle of the festivities! Finding the Word in Christmas kicks off our team focus for December.

“A Brighter Christmas” with my team & church

I spent Saturday morning with my Women’s Ministry Team, hosting the women of our church for our Christmas event called “A Brighter Christmas.”  After some amazing workshops, we heard an inspiring testimony of how God used one family to adopt a helpless, broken, and blind baby girl.  They made her their own and nurtured her to health, and today she sings for His glory. Laura West challenged us, and then we had the joy of taking part in an adoption gift for a family in our church who is on their own journey of sheltering one of the fatherless. It was a joyful day of getting my heart and mind in the right place to celebrate the Heavenly Father who adopted me when I was helpless, broken, and blind, and then sent His Son as His ultimate gift! I’m ready for Christmas! 

“A Blogging Break for Christmas” with Jesus

Lastly, I made a decision I had been praying about, and I want to share with you. I’m a bit like the Little Drummer Boy, asking, “Oh, what can I give Him, as poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I’ve give Him a lamb … ” You know the rest. I don’t have a lamb either, but I have a blog, and I think the Lord would have me set aside the blog He has given me for the rest of December. It makes a blogger a bit nervous!

Why nervous? Because I would hate to lose YOU like I dis those candy-cane striped pajamas of my childhood!  But I know it’s what the Lord would have me to do, so please stay subscribed or subscribe anew, and plan to be with me in January. This break will create some space in my mind and life, so I can keep Jesus in the manger, instead of piling too many “good things” on top of Him! It will also give me the chance to finish something He has given me, but I have ignored. If I come to mind, pray for me as I’m doing some prayerful writing. I’m looking forward to savoring the gift of His peace during this month of Advent.

 

I’ll pop in to Do Not Depart and The Mom Initiative a few times, but otherwise, I’ll be back to Come Have a Peace at the beginning of 2013! You can also keep up with me on the Come Have a Peace Facebook Page. We are only 10 “likes” away from 500!  That’s amazing! It would be really fun to reach 500 by the end of 2012! If you find you don’t see CHP updates on your Facebook page, be sure to include Come Have a Peace on a “list,” and you’ll be sure not to miss them.

I pray that the Lord gives you a sweet celebration of His coming to earth and His presence with us. “Oh, what can we give Him? Let’s give Him our hearts!”

Are you making any changes to keep your Christmas on “Christ-control?”

 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:3-5).

Merry “Fullness of Time!”