We can so easily get caught up in the hustle and bustle of preparing for parties and presents at this time of the year that we forget to prepare our hearts for the arrival of our Savior. In my dear husband’s message this past Sunday, he shared four ways we can prepare spiritually with eager anticipation.
We know how to bake, shop, wrap, and celebrate, but how do we prepare our hearts for the celebration of our Savior’s birth?
1. Live in humble repentance – Most of us like to believe that we are basically pretty good people. We look around at other people and determine that we’re “not so bad.”
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Do you love a clean house, but hate to clean? That is what I always believed… I loved it when my house was spotless, but I hated the process of getting it there.
I tried using the joke . . . I clean house every other day, and today is the other day! I procrastinated, used excuses, anything to avoid actually putting on my rubber gloves and getting to work.
Early this summer, my dh and I started working on cleaning projects together and setting aside specific days to get the job done. Guess what I discovered? I don’t hate cleaning; I hate getting dirty!
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It’s another ordinary day.
You woke up to your three-year-old whining, “I don’t feel gooood.” You stumble into the kitchen to find last night’s dishes still piled in the sink. You are days overdue on the laundry, and your six-year-old is yelling from her bedroom, “Don’t forget, Mom, it’s my turn to take the snacks to Brownies today.”
Most of us have been there . . . waaaay tooo often!
What’s a girl to do when she has reached her last nerve and all she wants to do is climb back into bed and pull the covers over her head?…
Stop, breathe, and remind herself that she is not alone.
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Our children are in the process of potty-training our two and a half year old grandson. He is a willing and happy learner, but he is definitely still in a work in progress. A few weeks ago they shared the following story with me:
“Your grandson is trying, but lately when he misses his potty chair and leaves a little puddle on the floor, he goes and finds Zoe. (Their new puppy, who is still little enough for a two and a half year old boy to carry and is still in training herself).
JJ carries Zoe to the puddle, puts her nose by it, and scolds her.
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Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His loves endures forever. Psalm 136:1
Each of the twenty six verses in Psalm 136 ends with the words, “His love endures forever.” It’s hard to wrap our brains around forever. The dictionary defines forever as: through eternity. Always!
What things can you think of that last forever?
I went looking for quotes on the topic of “forever” and discovered yet again why it’s hard for us to understand this word.
- “Everything is temporary. Everything is bound to end.” ~Keren Ann
- “This too shall pass.” ~Author Unknown
- “This is just a phase.”
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Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
Does this verse give you a little knot in the pit of your stomach? I am always so grateful for God’s amazing grace, for His overwhelming love, and for mercy given in undeserved forgiveness. I only wish I found it easier to extend the same mercy, grace, and love to others.
Do you struggle with memories of offenses that have hurt you? Words that betrayed? Cruel comments that left you with a broken heart? Do you feel justified when you replay those memories again and again?
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…those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
How did your week go? Are you soaring above your troubles, or are you simply thankful to be able to place one foot in front of the other and move forward inch by inch?
I used to think there was something wrong with me. I had faith. My hope was planted on the Rock that is Jesus. However, there were days when I was quite certain there was no soaring going on at all.
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