Preoccupied? Yep, I Am

You know, it's already December fifth.....and I'm already wishing the whole season would slow down.  I always want Christmas to last longer than it does; and not only because I enjoy all the fun and festivities, but because I want to take it all in.  I want Christmas to be really and truly meaningful each year.  I don't ever want to become so busy with activities and traditions, that I gloss over the whole point of the season.  I want Christmas to be even more special with each passing year as I realize afresh the wondrous love of Jesus. 

The miracle of His birth, and the incredible gift He gave me.

It's simply indescribable.

With each day that goes by this month, I want to be constantly aware of how great my Saviour is.  It's really easy to get distracted with all the business of Christmas - I'm reminded of that again this year!  Gift buying, decorating, baking, special events, parties, etc.  It's ironic that the traditions which are supposed to remind us of the birth of Jesus can so easily distract us from that very event.  I don't want to be so caught up in the "stuff" of Christmas that I lose focus and get off track.   I'm learning right now, this very week, to take my gaze off of things, and put it on the Author and Finisher of my faith.   HE is all that matters. 

Easy to say, but oh, so difficult to put into practice.  It's so natural for our sinful flesh to crave stuff.  Things.  Material possessions.  Fads that come in one day, and walk out the next.  Isn't that how it's always been?  Since as early as I can remember I've always had the "if I can only get this or that" mentality.  And not long after finally getting whatever I was pining after, I'd found something else I wanted. 

I still have this mentality to some degree - it's part of being a sinful human.  More more more, for me, me, me.  It'll never stop.  If I get something, I'll want something else.  It's like one of those treadmill wheels for gerbils!  Depending on things to satisfy me is just pointless, because it simply won't.

Needless to say, I've been realizing again this week that "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8)

By His grace, I'm learning to say "no" to every little thing my flesh screams out that it wants.  I am learning to refuse the impulse to buy every little thing that catches my attention.  I don't need everything I want.  I need Him.

So as Christmas approaches in just a few weeks, I intend to make every day count.  I want to make sure that each day this month, I spend time with the One which Christmas is all about - I want to make Jesus Christ the priority of the holidays.  My total and complete focuse.  What I'm really excited about.  Because it's very likely that what I get for Christmas this year (or give, as well) won't be around ten years from now!  But my relationship with Jesus will be.  And that's what I want to spend time celebrating. 

Let's all be pre-occupied with Jesus Christ, this Christmas.

Remember, He is the Reason for the Season!