There is a layer of frost on the ground this morning. It's chill might as well be wrapped around my heart. My friends are hurting. A LOT of my friends are hurting A LOT. It seems the slightest momentum of Christmas spirit is halted by upsetting news.
My current prayer list includes :
A friend whose teenage daughter ran away with her lover,
a friend whose fiance died of a heart attack 3 weeks after his proposal,
a friend who has walked away from his amazing wife and his baby boy,
two friends whose jobs are sucking the life out of them,
one friend who is seriously ready for him to put a ring on it,
another friend whose husband just lost his job,
and the teeth of divorce are gnawing on yet another friend.
Add to that those reeling from loved ones taken in death or caring for loved ones battling disease and the pain level is maxed out. I can honestly tell you my heart is ACHING for those I love during this season to be jolly.
Looking at my calendar I recognize how busy this season can be. And I realize if you have not been touched by the pain mentioned above that you may easily be unaware of unmet needs and ways to show compassion. Please pray that God will show you those who are hurting so you can extend his love and mercy to them. Who do you know that is dealing with a first? First Christmas in this town, first Christmas after the loss of a loved one, first Christmas after their divorce...Ask God for eyes to see what they need and daily cover them with prayer.
And ladies I would also ask that you be gentle with your husbands. In our attempt to plan a wonderful Christmas with parties, events, gifts, and to-do lists often I see husbands get chewed on. I would liken it to a road trip where the driver is so focused on the completion of the trip that the ambiance is an after thought and relationships go unnurtured. Please be gentle with your words and glances they can bring joy and celebration or reduce your beloved to feel like a child in the way.
I highly recommend starting each day asking for directions and trusting His planned pit stops as divine appointments. During this season consider all whose path you cross as a divine appointment. Take a moment to see if you are intended to bless them or if they will be the blessing to you. This approach allows the focus to be on blessing and all the other things will fall into place.
Psalm 67 God, mark us with grace and blessing! Smile! The whole country will see how you work, all the godless nations see how you save. God! Let people thank and enjoy you. Let all people thank and enjoy you. Earth, display your exuberance! You mark us with blessing, O God, our God.
My current prayer list includes :
A friend whose teenage daughter ran away with her lover,
a friend whose fiance died of a heart attack 3 weeks after his proposal,
a friend who has walked away from his amazing wife and his baby boy,
two friends whose jobs are sucking the life out of them,
one friend who is seriously ready for him to put a ring on it,
another friend whose husband just lost his job,
and the teeth of divorce are gnawing on yet another friend.
Add to that those reeling from loved ones taken in death or caring for loved ones battling disease and the pain level is maxed out. I can honestly tell you my heart is ACHING for those I love during this season to be jolly.
Looking at my calendar I recognize how busy this season can be. And I realize if you have not been touched by the pain mentioned above that you may easily be unaware of unmet needs and ways to show compassion. Please pray that God will show you those who are hurting so you can extend his love and mercy to them. Who do you know that is dealing with a first? First Christmas in this town, first Christmas after the loss of a loved one, first Christmas after their divorce...Ask God for eyes to see what they need and daily cover them with prayer.
And ladies I would also ask that you be gentle with your husbands. In our attempt to plan a wonderful Christmas with parties, events, gifts, and to-do lists often I see husbands get chewed on. I would liken it to a road trip where the driver is so focused on the completion of the trip that the ambiance is an after thought and relationships go unnurtured. Please be gentle with your words and glances they can bring joy and celebration or reduce your beloved to feel like a child in the way.
I highly recommend starting each day asking for directions and trusting His planned pit stops as divine appointments. During this season consider all whose path you cross as a divine appointment. Take a moment to see if you are intended to bless them or if they will be the blessing to you. This approach allows the focus to be on blessing and all the other things will fall into place.
Psalm 67 God, mark us with grace and blessing! Smile! The whole country will see how you work, all the godless nations see how you save. God! Let people thank and enjoy you. Let all people thank and enjoy you. Earth, display your exuberance! You mark us with blessing, O God, our God.
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Merry Christmas