Sunday, December 15, 2024
“T Minus Ten Days”
The ten-day countdown has begun! That’s right! In just ten days, we will finally reach that moment that some of us have anticipated for an entire year!
What will it be like? What will it feel like?
One of my fondest memories of Christmas occurred about fifteen years ago. I had just finished a midnight Christmas Eve service. As I walked out of the auditorium and looked out the front windows, it was snowing. All was calm. All was bright.
That feeling lasted for just one moment, and yet, fifteen years later, I can still remember what it felt like. Quiet. Peace. Calm. Joy.
I don’t think that will be the greatest Christmas moment I’ve experienced. I still hope, no, I still expect to experience moments even more powerful and memorable than that one. For me, it’s that part of what drives me in this final stretch. My internal engines are running at full capacity, but I know once Christmas arrives, I’ll be able to stop, breathe, and thank the LORD for a life better than I deserve.
These Holiday moments, whenever they occur, are important. We can’t create them for ourselves. Only God can deliver the kind of hope, peace, joy, and love that lasts a lifetime. Yet, still, I am the only one who can allow myself to become vulnerable to what Christmas can do for me.
The same is true for all of us. We can only experience the full potential of Christmas by giving ourselves to the LORD, fully and completely, so that God can fill us with the gifts of Christmas. It’s not as difficult as we might think. We don’t need to be perfect to give ourselves to God. In fact, this is why God created Christmas in the first place: To save, protect, and empower imperfect people who need another chance in this life.
T minus Ten days remaining to Christmas. The best part of the 2024 Holiday Season begins now, or at least, the best part begins as soon as we are ready. Are you ready? The engines are running! Climb aboard, close the hatch, and hold on tight. Here we go!
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” (Colossians 4:2, NLT)