“So, I’m seeing you guys come Sunday, Christmas?” the pastor asked my family and I as we exited the Sanctuary after our first worship service. Hugging each of us and seeing his enthused-powered smiles every time, we couldn’t help but smile back.
“Of course,” I replied with a grin to match his and that was what the three of us discussed and agreed upon when we realized as he announced from the altar that Sunday would be Christmas Day.
“Let’s go,” I told my husband who already said “Yes” anyway even before I was done asking him and my son agreed, too.
My smile eventually vanished when I remembered that I was scheduled to work come Christmas Eve, meaning that I would miss our fellowship on Sunday, Christmas Day.
“That’s okay,” my husband tried to reassure me knowing how heavier my heart grew when I told him.
“Kristian and I would still go even if you would miss it,” he added.
Of all places to be on such an important day of remembering Jesus, I would spend it on this place I had been dreading the most. I didn’t want to be there. I lost my enthusiasm ever since I was given a hard time by those people having higher positions. All because of their ill intentions to do what they want to do, showing how powerful they could become that they could do what they decided to do. It didn’t matter if people under them were not happy. It didn’t matter even if they didn’t want to announce and always surprised the staff with many changes that most of them were driven to more stressful situations on their part.
“Bummer,” I whispered to my husband and son.
At the back of the car, as my son drove to go to our favorite breakfast place, I had been contemplating about missing the fellowship. As I tried to say “I’m sorry” in my silent prayer only God could hear, I felt some comfort in my heart at the same time. The type that strengthened me and reassured me that it was okay for me to miss the service.
“What if He wanted me to be there?” I suddenly thought to myself.
“Who am I to refuse with what He wanted me to do?”
I didn’t know the reason why I felt comfortable after that thought but there was one thing sure in my heart and mind these past few days, even months and years….
“That there are lots of people suffering, both physically and much more spiritually.”
“How can I serve You God?” I sometimes asked Him, sometimes afraid I even asked Him knowing it could be uncomfortable many times.
But with His grace, I know I can… Only by God’s grace…
“3We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. 4God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.
5Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, 6self-control, patience, devotion to God, 7concern for others, and love. 8If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. 9But if you don't grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven.” – 2 Peter 1:3-9 (CEV)
Father, please forgive me for all my short-sighted visions. Give me a pair of eyes like Yours that see the needs of others around me. Give me ears that hear other's afflictions and give me hands that love to help out and reach out to others with the best I can. Give me a compassionate heart like Jesus', able to love unconditionally, even my enemies. Thank You God for loving us unconditionally and sending Jesus, Your only Son, to save humanity. This Christmas, help me remember the precious gift You had given me was not for me to keep, but also to be shared among others. Thank You Lord for Your love and mercy and grace. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Thank You, I love your posts!
ReplyDeleteThere is also so much to consider when living for, and before the Lord, isn't there? I love that He never leads us where He doesn't plan to keep us.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, my friend.
Kathleen
Bless you for this, love you.
ReplyDeleteTouching..... yeah wonder if he does you want you there. I found out yesterday that the possibility of me going into my first bosses dept. again did not go well over her. We had our differences. But the biggest thing was she holds grudges. Especially against people who "know the real her." She detests me. Hugs to you
ReplyDeleteSometimes submitting to God's will takes us to places we may not have chosen. And yet even in the midst of challenging circumstances, we can shine the light of Jesus. Jesus went into places and saw into the hearts of the people beyond outward appearances. I'm thinking of the woman at the well, the Samaritan. You are a light in the midst of this facility. May you be encouraged by your Christian sisters to continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I loved the video. I never heard that song before and saved it to my favorites on YouTube.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
I'm so happy to have found another Believing sister who is unafraid to be REAL. (I love the MLK quote, btw)
ReplyDeleteJust getting back to my blog, and looking around to find whom to follow. Please visit when you can. abbiegrrl.blogspot.com
Blessings!
Hi Rcubes, have a merry Christmas and blessed new year! :)
ReplyDeleteLove this post...joy and blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteHope you will have a wonderful, God-blessed Christmas. Wherever you spend it He will be there.
ReplyDeleteRosel, thank you for dropping by again... to offer comfort and reassurance. I believe that by being at your workplace on Christmas Day, when you would rather be somewhere else, is the best birthday present you can give your King.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this story... a heart of obedience, that's the best gift anyone can give!
Much love
Lidia
Beautiful, Dear ~ I'm sorry you have to work and miss the service. I know you will be a blessing though. God bless you. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDelete"Someone might ask, “Have you always had such contentment, Joni?” And I would have to answer no. I well remember the first Christmas I got out of the hospital, my first visit home since the accident. Depressed and frightened, I remember going to church with my family on Christmas Eve. One particular carol stands out in my mind. I remember singing, with tears falling from my eyes:
ReplyDeleteHail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings.
When we got to that third verse of “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” I thought, Im sure this Christmas season I’ll get up out of my wheelchair-risen with healing in His wings!
Little did I know (and I don’t know if I would have understood even if you had explained it to me) that in due time, God would heal me-but on a level I would have never dreamed.
Just two years later, on another Christmas, I found the very peace and contentment that had eluded me. I also found joy, simply because I had embraced His will for my life.
And what is His will?
That you and I be in the best position, the best place, the timeliest circumstance in which God can be glorified the most.
For me, that place just happens to be a wheelchair.
That happens to be my place of healing."
Joni Eareckson Tada, A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’s Sovereignty, Kindle Location 469-77.
May you and your family have a blessed Christmas....and may our Lord continue to make "us" conformed to the image of His Son!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VyR0lwO-nXc
P.S. Merry Christmas Keystone....if you're out there:-)
Ike
I am seeing this on January 20, 2012 Ike.
DeleteAnd I have to tell you that it made me smile...a lot!
You bring many good memories to me, and a closer position to God, for having known you.
I pray your wife is well and I pray your faith in HIM is strong, as a result of being with Carol.
We pledge to be with one another "In Sickness and In health", but in that moment, we really mean In Health.
Your faithfulness in sickness is an inspiration. We are told "you will know them by their fruit".
Well, the fruit is in Galatians 5:22-23 saying:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, FAITHFULNESS, gentleness and self-control.
Anytime I read that, I think of Carol and Ike and smile.
I copy every comment I have ever made in any location (many bloggers die off online and comments lost) and I find YOUR comments a wonderful read as I peruse older material put out for all on Earth to read, and grow in love with Him.
Sadly, some comments and posts are missing online.
But not for me. I enjoy rereading ALL that you wrote Ike!
I hope your Christmas found you closer to Christ. Manger means "to eat", for it is the spot where cattle come to get their grain.
What a sense of humor our God has, to place His Son, the Bread of Life, the grain we need for our souls, in a Manger, for all of us to eat.
The Word was made flesh!
I got a new manger this year as a gift from a niece. (a new tree from her too).
Raising children, I always needed unbreakable manger people and animals, but always wanted glass.
This year was glass finally.
Many years ago, I told my youngest daughter as we put away Christmas decorations, that we should NOT put the Christ child away.
Put Him in our bread drawer and we will think of the Bread of Life every day as we go to get bread. She did. She was perhaps 4.
Her cousin came the next summer one time for dinner. I asked my little girl to set the table as I cooked.
I asked my niece (cousin to my girl) to get the bread out. She did.
Much to her surprise, she spotted the manger Christ child.
"HEY! There's a baby doll in here!", she exclaimed.
My daughter looked at her cousin, and loudly proclaimed:
"THAT'S NOT a baby doll; THAT'S the Bread of Life!".
It was a marvelous summer meal and discussion, as Christ came alive in His manger bread drawer as we went on "to eat".
May your soul be filled with the Bread of Life all year, Ike.
And, all of the above goes for Rosel too. Rosel is also often in my deepest prayers.
Rosel, if you have my email address, send it to Ike that we may communicate.
I will bookmark this page and glimpse at it again, and if you do not have it, I will give it to you to give to Ike. Lemme know here.
We Pennsylvania guys are gab type guys, eh?
Marvelous winter here. Instead of measuring in feet, I have used the snowblower but one time all winter....for 4 inches.
I am ready for Spring and all the new life it brings to us.
Last Spring, myself and 6 siblings went to the Holy Land and the Bible came alive in all Jordan and Israel. I saw things too wonderful for me to know. As I read the Bible now, everything is completely different, for I relate to the exact spots. I must consider blogging, eh?
God bless you abundantly Ike!
God bless you abundantly Rosel!
Keystone :-D
Greetings Keystone! What a pleasure to be able to hear from you and I'm glad you saw bro. Ike's shout-out! I pray you're also both doing well, remaining strong in the Lord's mighty power! Your comments always are heavy nuggets that always increase my faith. I pray my posts will do the same with you bro. Ike...and others as well. God bless you both and thank you...for always blessing me with your visits.
DeleteBummer that you have to work on the Eve. I pray that God will make it special for you and Him somehow. And may abundant grace flow to you, precious friend! Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteBro. Ike: Thank you for sharing that beautiful song/video. God bless. Merry Christmas to all of you bros. and sisters in Christ.
ReplyDeleteSorry you have to work too but maybe He has something He needs you to do....someone At the prison who will be open and ready to hear......Wishing you a wonderful Christmas......
ReplyDeleteHi Rcubes -
ReplyDeleteBased on reading your CHRISTmas day post, it certainly was a blessing for you to be at work to join with another member of the body of Christ in a time of deep need.
GOD always knows, doesn't He?
Praise His loving and wonderful name!
Your faith is so strong, and you are such an awesome witness. I hope your trial at work that has been going on for so long soon comes to an end, and I am happy to read that at least one supervisor is on your side and a kindred spirit. I pray that 2012 will be a year of unexpected blessings and happy changes for you.
ReplyDelete