“It just doesn’t feel like Christmas.”

“I’m just not in the Christmas spirit.”

How often do we hear people say this around the holidays? Or even say it ourselves?  I know I have.

I didn’t want to be that person this year. This year I wanted to let go of the expectations set for me this time of year and fix my eyes on the present that was truly given to me. It was so important for me to wake up early, sit in front of my tree while it was still dark out and remind myself that Christmas wasn’t about a feeling. Instead I woke up to think on, pray about and thank God every morning for what He had done for me so many years ago.

Instead of making sure I made cookies, gingerbread houses, watched every Christmas movie, went to Christmas shows, sat the kids on Santa’s lap, put all the lights outside, etc. I made sure that my heart woke up everyday meditating on the real gift.

There is one week left until Christmas and it’s not too late to get your heart ready.  It’s not too late to “find Christmas.”

Refer back to this post each day for the next 7 days.  I think you’ll find that no matter what you’ve been through this year, Christmas isn’t too hard to find if you answer the knock on your door to “make room” for the reason we celebrate.

Day 1: Meditate all day on “if you were Mary”:

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the LORD’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:35-38)

Day 2: Meditate today on “if you were Joseph”

19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the LORD had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the LORD had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Matthew 1: 19-25)

Day 3: Meditate on “if you were a Shepherd”

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2: 8-20)

Day 4:  Meditate on “if you were an innkeeper”

Are you not making room for Jesus because you’re too busy? Maybe if we realized He is knocking on our door like He did so many years ago to the innkeepers, this Christmas could look different! The innkeepers don’t have the gift of insight like we do today. We know that it’s the Savior of the world knocking on our door.

The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Day 5: Meditate on the Wise Man

How far would you go to bring your best to Jesus?  Each Wiseman brought the best they had to this little baby. Are you bringing your best to Him? Have you worshipped him with all your heart? Let’s bring our best with thanksgiving and joy these next couple of days.

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)

Day 6: Meditate on the night of Jesus’ Birth

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (Luke 2: 1-7)

Day 7: Meditate on the gift that Jesus is to you= Eternal Life

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  (John 3:16)

Merry Christmas!

XOXO,

Jill