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 |    We live much of life amid unique choices. Joy is anchored in The One beyond our life. |
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“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord. . . .” ― Charles Spurgeon “Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.” ― C. H. Spurgeon “Hope itself is like a star- not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” ― Charles Haddon Spurgeon “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” ― Charles Spurgeon “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” ― Charles Spurgeon “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” ― Charles Spurgeon “When your will is God's will, you will have your will.” ― Charles Spurgeon https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2876959.Charles_Haddon_Spurgeon (Philippians 2:13, KJV)    |
Maybe this is just what happens when you start to getting along in years, but the minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years are starting to spin for me. Maybe it was because my ability to move quickly was, actually faster when I was in my twenties, but I find it so difficult to keep pace these days with everything, that needs to be done. The Christmas Season is no different. With the years spinning by at breakneck speed, I find, that I enjoy the last half of the year, even more than the first. Maybe that's why I'm starting to tear up tonight. With Christmas less than one week away, I'm having to "brace for impact" because the world is about "to throw out Christmas, like a hamburger wrapper." Pragmatically, that's all that Christmas is for the stores. "Make the sales!" Black Friday means that the stores are finally able to turn a profit after recouping all the investment capital for operating costs, products, and taxes for the year. I have no doubt, that that is the very reason why Christmas sales are pushed so early in the year. We find Christmas items in stores as early as August for the general merchandise corporations, and as early as June in the hobby/craft-related stores. It's a great marriage for me. I'm a big fan of Hobby Lobby. That's why I enjoy June through December. I can enjoy Christmas for a long time in this store. However, in recent years it has been more difficult to shop there during the week before Christmas, since the spring product is already in that store, making my brain and heart go, "TILT!" Tonight I watched, again, the Jim Carrey version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas. In this movie one song always makes me tear up and cry. "Where Are You, Christmas?" sung by Cindy Lou Who, brings back the memory of when I first realized, that Santa Claus was not real in the sense of everything we attribute to his ability to bring gifts to all of the children of the world in one night. There is something significant about the breaking of the childlike heart. No more hopes. No more belief in something beyond oneself. No more imagination. No more Joy. No more wonder. Maybe it's just me, but we seem to spend the rest of our lives seeking to rekindle the wonder in the heart of that little child, that lives inside of each one of us. "But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'” (Matthew 19:14, NKJV) This is the very reason why I talk about Jesus so much. Since He created me, He's the only One, Who truly knows the depths of my little child's heart, encouraging me to come to Him in that way small children come to loving parents...with abandon. The years, that followed my discovery about Santa Claus made the afternoon of Christmas the saddest time of the year for me. The Christmas Story had been read. The presents had been given, opened, and become "old hat," just that quickly. The Christmas decorations had been enjoyed, and soon they would be put away, again. There is a spirit of kindness, joy, and peace, that seems to be prevalent during the Christmas season, that is rarer throughout the rest of the year. The lack thereof creates a sadness, that is palpable. In recent years I have come to realize, that the very One, Who came at Christmas time is with me throughout the year in a very real way, that I cannot fully express. I need His nearness. I need the Joy of knowing, that He came to Earth because He loves me. I need to be reminded every day, that His Birth is the start of Everlasting Hope. Therefore, though I must "soldier on" throughout the year, alone, "Keeping Christmas in my heart" as quoth Scrooge, this soldier can get alone with His Lord in the enjoyment of the Christmas carols, in hopping up into His lap like a little child, in thanking Him for everything, that He had to endure, during His Earthly sojourn, in looking at the twinkling lights in my craft area to remind me, that He is the Light of the world. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust." (Psalm 91:1-2, KJV) These verses are a warm hug to me. Jesus wraps me in His arms. That's where I want to stay. Where are you, Christmas? Right in the arms of Jesus. What's next? Secret Christmas on Resurrection Sunday morning "when the greatest gift of Christmas is opened," never to be covered, again. Let me finish this tome of a free verse with the video version of this song, that I love the best. by Jay O'Toole on December 20th, 2019 |
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