Lost ?

I live under a lot of different thoughts that help me in my walk. One thought I use to keep me on my toes is to think; if I am walking with Christ then to sin I have to leave His presence. I like to picture myself turning to Christ and saying excuse me but this is more important. The thought of those words leaving my mouth is just absurd, my walk with Jesus is far more important. This has helped me more times than I can count.  

While this thought helps me to detour the smaller offences I might do, it doesn’t stop them all.

I was out shopping with my daughter, it being a busy time of year she knows to stick by me so as not to get lost. We made our way through the department store looking at all the various Christmas items on sale and made a pass up and down at least every isle at least once. Not finding anything we decide to call it a day and make our way to the front exits. On our way out I noticed my daughter stopping to browse a counter of stuff we hadn’t yet explored. I don’t recall what it was that caught her eye but it wasn’t age appropriate for those she was supposed to be shopping for; she was eyeing stuff on her list. I say to her come on sweetie you don’t want to get lost, and I do the I am going to keep walking thing, but this did not detour her from just looking.

I stop and turn and as I am watching her now several feet out of her line of sight, I get this strange urge to tie what she is doing to my behavior. 

When we are making our way walking with the Lord how many times does He have to get our attention? How often are we distracted by the cares of this world and all of it's shiny new things? Have you ever felt the Lord say this isn’t for you keep walking? Have you ever felt Him call you away from something to suddenly having that I am so lost feeling? I never took my eyes off my daughter but if she had turned to not see me she would have panicked. If we know the things that displease God do we have a case against Him when we turn and we don’t see Him? Who lost who?

The Presents of God

I  have found the more I walk, the deeper my faith grows I am enjoying the Christmas season even less. Which I find extremely odd, this is a Christian Holiday isn’t it? But I am finding the very thing that drew me toward the Christmas season is now the very thing that drives me away. If the reason for celebrating Christmas is to celebrate the birth of our savior, how will we ever find Him in the blinding festive lights and ton of flashy tinsel? Maybe our savoir can found behind the three wise snowmen?

As this Holiday season comes barreling in with all of its new and improved gaudy wares I prayed to God for a way to reconnect with the true Christmas spirit. I realize a one man war waged against celebrating Christmas isn’t going to go over well, there are many who find joy in Christmas as it is. I mean no one says I have to get swept up in all the big traditional to do’s to truly enjoy this season. As I searched and prayed for meaning behind the joy of the season I think I found it in one word.

Did I do this right, did I buy a big enough turkey, are the lights bright enough, did I remember to say merry Christmas instead of happy Holidays?  Far too much for anyone to be stressed out about.  I think this year I want to concentrate on something much more meaningful. This can be given and received wrapped or unwrapped. It can take on the shape of anything and yet cannot be contained no matter how hard you try. It gives and it gives filling everyone it reaches with unending joy that can last a lifetime. The one and only gift we will ever need the one and only gift you can give to those who thought they had everything. One size fits most; no way this is a gift that fits all. No lines to wait in, no web surfing required no credit card needed. No more wondering did I get the right color or the right size. You won’t even need a gift receipt.

Instead of the usual Holiday rush and fuss to find the perfect Christmas presents I want to give and receive the presence of God. A little over two thousand years ago in the felids of Bethlehem a savoir was born. Wrapped in swaddled clothes lying in a manger a baby was born, the Son of God given to us with the presence of God inside. The only thing you and I will ever need as already been given, all I want for Christmas is the presence of God.