My Personal Revolution

This morning, I came to the real awareness that it has long been ingrained in my head that even though I am a Christian and know why we celebrate Christmas, I am still almost completely caught up each year in the gifts and the tree and the lights and the festivity and less so in the true Reason for the Season!

I kept thinking about Pastor Troy's calling us out to give our greatest gift and it really, finally sunk in that the real reason we celebrate Christmas is because it is the celebration of the greatest gift ever given - SALVATION - which began with Jesus' birth those thousands of years ago! He didn't come wrapped in shiny paper, sitting under a tree! He was born in a stable and was wrapped in strips of cloth to keep him warm...

It sounds crazy to me that this is the first time it really sunk in - but it finally happened because for the second year in a row, God has been teaching me the hard way that my heart and mind were focused on the wrong things! Here I was, sitting here feeling sorry for myself and it hit me - what am I feeling sorry about? What do those brightly wrapped gifts mean anyway? So maybe I could have given my husband a shirt - maybe he'd like it, maybe he wouldn't...

In the long run, how does this do anything to bring God to someone; to bring Him glory? When any of us receive a gift at Christmas, do we truly spend any time thinking how wonderful God is that we got that great gift?

That's when it hit me - my greatest gift is the gift that will show someone who Jesus is and truly ENRICH their lives with the ability to develop a relationship with HIM and receive salvation!!!!!
Today's devotional by Pastor Brian talks about a personal revolution - thank you God for my own personal REVOLUTION!!!!

Today's Prayer...

Philippians 4: 4-7

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Lord, You know the petitions in my heart... You know my fears and anxieties! I surrender them to You Lord - in Jesus' name.

Amen...