Just twelve days to Christmas 2017. Are you too immersed in preparation? In all honesty, I’m scrambling a bit in order to accomplish the remaining items on the must-do list: finish the Christmas cards, wrap the gifts, clean the house before the first guests arrive on Saturday, etc.
And for me, with the scrambling comes that uncomfortable feeling I’ll never get everything done.
It’s so silly, I tell myself. In the final analysis will our friends and family care if their cards arrive after Christmas? Is it necessary the packages be just so? Will our guests mind if every surface of the house isn’t gleaming?
Of course not. But my OCD tendencies still want to press me toward those expectations.
So what can I do to calm my spirit? I’m thinking the answer is worship. I can express to God my gratitude, praise, and adoration–even while writing cards, wrapping gifts, and cleaning the house.
Scripture assures me that, as I worship in God’s presence, I will experience:
- Peace.
- Joy.
You, [O God], will fill me with joy in your presence.”
Psalm 16:11b
- Rest.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Psalm 91:1
What a glorious gift worship is! Isn’t it just like our loving Father to bless us as we seek to bless him?
And so, while writing the Christmas cards, I am praising God for friends and extended family spread all over the country, and praying for them, too.
Heavenly Father, I praise you for (insert name).
Thank you for their influence in our lives,
Their support and affection.
Thank you for treasured memories of time spent together.
We may have lived apart for many years,
Yet the bonds of love hold firm because of you.
Bless them, I pray, with joy in each day,
Provision and protection too.
While wrapping the family’s gifts I can offer praise on behalf of the recipients.
Your goodness, O Lord, has impacted our family again and again.
Every member has his/her stories to tell of
Your wonders, interventions, and miracles.
I praise you for each loved one—
His/her gifts and personality traits,
The delight You give us in each other.
I praise you we are able to gather once more
In celebration of you, our indescribable gift.
.
While cleaning, I can focus on gratitude. What am I thankful for in each room?
I praise you, Father for our cozy home,
for the perfectly sized dining set you provided
And the hutch we found rather miraculously.
I praise you for the large windows
Across the back of the house,
giving us a grand view of the backyard trees.
And I praise you that with gratitude
Even housekeeping can be turned into joyful worship.
Throughout the day, whatever the task, I can meditate on the wonder of what Jesus our Savior has accomplished.
And marvel again that it all began with his humble birth in a stable-cave:
(Gerard von Honthorst, 1622)
“O Sovereign God!
You have humbled yourself in order to exalt us.
You became poor so that we might become rich.
You came to us so that we can come to you.
You took upon yourself our humanity
In order to raise us up into eternal life.
All this comes through your grace,
Free and unmerited;
All this through your beloved Son,
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
–Karl Barth
Come! Let us adore him—even as we work!
(Art & photo credits: http://www.pixabay.com; http://www.wikimedia.commons.org; http://www.flickr.com; publicdomainpictures.net; Nancy Ruegg; http://www.flickr.com; Nancy Ruegg; http://www.wikipedia.org.)
From the Inside Out 
Beautiful and so very true. My prayer this Advent is I will let God pace me and so far it is working. Thank to Him not me. I Praise and glorify Him. Janet
What a great prayer, Janet. Too often I’m guilty of pacing myself–make that push myself–to be useful and productive. Your way is MUCH better! With you I praise and glorify Jesus. He continues to work on me, showing me the way I should go and helping me to walk in it. A very merry Christmas, Janet!
Yes, He is so worthy of our thoughts. You reminded me that while doing all things Christmas, I can easily forget all about Christ. I hope you will enjoy a beautiful time with your family! Wishing you a blessed Christmas, dear Nancy!
Thank you, Heidi. I’ve been cleaning the house today, and found my thoughts slipping away from worship, in spite of strong intentions. I’m definitely a work in progress! I pray that you, too, enjoy the presence of the Spirit as he augments your celebration of Jesus’ birth. Merry Christmas to you, my friend!
perfect post for this time of year, Nancy and wonderfully written. Inspirational too. Merry Christmas!!
Thank you, Jean!
Perfect! Peace, Joy, and Rest! So thankful for your gentle reminder of what is truly important during this Season of His Birth (and every other day as well). I especially love the idea of focusing on gratitude. There are so many struggling in this world in many different ways. I pray for those depressed, in financial difficulty, experiencing health challenges, grieving over the loss of a loved one. Isaiah 26:3 provides peace to my soul. May I grow stronger in my faith in Him to handle the difficulties in my own family and life so that I may experience even greater peace in the coming days and year. (Loved your own prose in this post, Nancy.)
Thank you, Cheri. God bless YOU for the prayers you send heavenward on behalf of those who are struggling. I love your heart–always thinking of others!
“Come let us adore Him–even as we work!” Amen….. I’ll be tackling Christmas cards today and tomorrow (which might arrive in time for Epiphany :-).
Great post my friend.
Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Jody. I’m thinking those cards that arrive after the 25th supply a delightful extension of Christmas joy to the recipients. You’re actually providing an honorable service to those on your list! 🙂
I’m a bit late sitting down to read this, Nancy, but the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Today is clean the house, wrap the gifts, check the lists to see what has fallen through the cracks day and I’ve been a tad overwhelmed. This sets my mind squarely where it should be. Thank you!
God’s timing is amazing, isn’t it? Praise Him that these words eased your mind and spirit, Rebeca, amidst the challenge of preparation. And now that Christmas Eve is just hours away, I pray your to-do list is complete and you can rejoice with exceeding great joy!