Season of Love
The holiday season is a time for celebrating, a time for togetherness, and a time for joy. However...it can also be a time of intense stress. Family gatherings have a tendency to bring out the best and the worst in people. There's always someone, somewhere wanting to know all the knitty gritty about something that is none of their business, and the children...the poor children. Between the lack of schedule, sleep, abundance of treats, and the stress of adults, it's nothing short of a miracle when any of them behave somewhat normally.
How do I combat what can only be termed blessedly wonderful chaos, Lord? As I go before the Father to prepare for the approaching holidays in prayer, He whispers in His still, calm voice "learn of Me." "Learn of Me. I am Love. Learn of Love. Learn of Me. Abide in Me. Follow the way of Love. Follow Me." *
Aaaahhhhhhhhhh, He's done it again. In HIs still, calming way, God the Holy Spirit has led me in the way I am to go. How He does it, I don't know. I'm just ever so glad He does.
It's Christmas time, but a song of Easter is singing through my heart. "Christ the Lord is risen today, Al-le-lu-ia! sons of men and angels say: Al-le-lu-ia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Al-le-lu-ia! Sing, ye heav'ns and earth reply, Al-le-lu-ia!" It really is ALL about Jesus.
"Lives again our glorious King: Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once, He all doth save: Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won: Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise; Alleluia!
Christ has opened Paradise. Alleluia!
Soar we now, where Christ had led, Alleluia!
Foll'wing our exalted Head; Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise; Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies. Alleluia!"
Charles Wesley
from Lyra Davidica
*Some of the scriptures related to Word in post: 1 John 4:8, John 15:9,10, 1 Corinthians 13, 1 Corinthians 14:1, Luke 6:27, Romans 12:9,10, Galatians 5:6,13, Ephesians 3:17-19, 5:1,2, Philippians 2:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, Hebrews 13:1