Light A Heart Or Two!

Now that the Christmas season is here, a number of people may be asking you “do you have the Spirit of Christmas”? In most cases it seems like they may be asking you what you have done in preparation or how ready you may be feeling. If we look at what the “Spirit of Christmas” actually means we may come up with all kinds of thoughts and ideas! For some it may be a smile, good cheer, an attitude of sharing, giving and receiving, fellowship and feasts, expressing true sentiments or caring for those less fortunate. I believe what is important to us will show through in our lives and actions.

When we are selfless and contribute to those in need, hearts light up and we bring joy to their lives. We can do this by spending time and listening to someone over hot chocolate or cider, give a small gift, bring a food hamper, donate to a mission, invite someone over for Christmas dinner or send a card with encouraging words. There are many ways that we can show we care.

The real Spirit of Christmas is to love, have mercy and grace. When God sent His son Jesus into the world, He showed us what it was like to love, to give mercy and grace even in the most trying times. He brought light into a dark world that was in need of Him and His forgiveness. Because of Jesus Christ’s affection for us we did not get what we deserved; we got what we didn’t deserve, His unmerited favor. This is love!

Jesus was a man full of the fruit of the Spirit. He loved, brought joy, peace, and was forbearing, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled. My desire is to be like Christ and be full of His Spirit. Jesus read the prophecy from Isaiah and said “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free”. May we want to do the same…to share the good news with the broken and forgotten and shine through the dark!

Here are a couple of quotes I came across that I thought were really meaningful and may they bless you as well:

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. ~Author unknown

“And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans--and all that lives and moves upon them. He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit and all that we quarrel about and all that we have misused--and to save us from our foolishness, from all our sins, He came down to earth and gave us Himself.” - Sigrid Undset.

Jesus came as a light to this world. In John 8: 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” I hope that we are seeking Him and that during this Christmas season you and I will be able to know this Jesus and be like Him, to share the good news and light a heart or two!!

Merry Christmas to you all!