Lost in a Winder WONDERland
Oh hey, short on time? No worries! I'd love to join you on your commute or daily walk/run, or shoot, even while you take care of that to-do list. We can't let these things get in the way of this friendship. It's just starting to get good! Click below to listen to the blogcast.
This time of the year, it's easy to feel a little lost.
Lost in to-dos - all the...
to-buys
and to-bakes
and to-wraps
and to-attends
and to-bes
and to-packs...
...all so we can eat and unwrap and return home a little merrier and unpack and play and maybe even throw in a few returns in the mix.
But one thing I want for me and I want for you, too, this year is for it to be a little different than the rest.
I don't want to just get lost in all the things and forget about the one thing that matters most. But, like the holiday favorite, "Lost in a Winter Wonderland," I do want to get lost.
Let me tell you what I mean. To do this, we need to revisit the very first Christmas together.
The First Christmas
I invite you to read the second chapter of the book of Luke with me. And y'all, I'm captivated from the start!
God used the ordinary happenings of the day, a census ordered by Augustus Caesar, to fulfill His prophecy.
You see, Joseph and Mary lived in the town of Nazareth, but because Joseph was from the line of David, they had to travel to Bethlehem to be registered in the city of David. There, the Savior was born - in a manger to an ordinary Jewish girl with an extraordinary call on her life.
Mary beholds her newborn baby - a baby of promise. A baby to be named Jesus, meaning Immanuel - God with us.
On the surface, it was ordinary night. The crowded town lay sleeping while the shepherds watched their flocks. But, then another extraordinary thing happens on this quiet night. Angels appear to the shepherds.
And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." - Luke 2:10-12
And the heavens open with praise for God!
Ooh, let's sit in this for a moment. Let's forget all the pressing demands and holiday bustle and let's get lost here. Yes, let's get lost in wonder.
I wonder...
As I sit in wonder with this scripture, this word "behold" stands out to me.
It's easy to skip right past, but I think there's something for us here.
To behold is to see or observe something impressive or remarkable. The angels were telling them, "See this! See this! Come see this remarkable, truly magnificent and undeserving, thing God has done!"
For something to be remarkable, it is worthy of our attention.
Holiday plans and gatherings and festivities are fun. The event planner and home decorator and Betty Crocker hopeful wannabe in me look forward to this time every year. There's nothing wrong with this.
However, are these things what makes this season remarkable?
Said another way, are these things worthy of our full attention? Are these things worthy of wonder?
When we sit in wonder of the birth of Christ all other things pale in comparison.
Because being lost in wonder leads to more wonder and more wonder. And wonder leads to appreciation and gratitude and praise. Beholding the news led first to praise and then for the shepherds to step out in faith and go see the child for themselves.
They left their sheep, their very livelihood.
...because Jesus was worthy of their attention.
That's what being lost in wonder can do. It can lead us to greater wonder and gratitude and praise and then for our faith to take action.
As we sit in wonder of this gift, we see the ordinary becomes extraordinary when God is in them. Beholding is a choice. We see the angel encouraged fear to be replaced with faith as they beheld the good news.
May our heart behold the wonder of the gift of Jesus and may our hearts experience the great joy He brings to us.
Is He worthy of my attention today? How can I sit in wonder and behold the miracle of this gift God has given me?
Let's find our strength, joy, and peace build with every moment we spend in wonder of this miracle of Christmas. May our souls find rest here.
The good life, well it starts with a good day. Then another. Then another. Let's choose to live #TheGoodDay one day at a time.
I love hearing from you, so go ahead. Leave a comment. Be brave. Maybe your comment will speak life into someone else!
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