Merry Christmas

Christmas isn't for the faint of heart.  If you embrace the true meaning of this season, the birth of God's one and only Son, then you are confronted with something far more terrifying than a line of Walmart shoppers or tacky Christmas sweaters.

This morning, on this eve of Christmas, I'm struck by 3 words:  Suddenly, Radiance, Terrified.  These words stuck out to me while reading Luke 2:8-12.

While the Shepherds were doing normal life, they experienced a SUDDENLY.  They were brought good news that would bring great joy.  For whatever reason, God chose to announce what was the equivalent of the opening of the new Star Wars movie to common ... shepherds.  Suddenly ... their world was not as it had been just milliseconds before.

How many SUDDENLY moments have I experienced?  I've received bad news, been offended, had a prayer answered, was surprised, offered a gift and the list goes on and on - these SUDDENLY moments.

However, the SUDDENLY moments that really get to me ... are the ones that are followed by RADIANCE.  For me, the RADIANT moments are pretty similar to those above mentioned outdoorsy fellows caring for their woolly creatures.  They experienced RADIANCE that illuminated God's glory in a dark field where the only recipients were ... well, the outdoorsy fellows and their woolly companions.  Yet, because God's RADIANCE is not limited to time, today, when I read something, hear something, see something that I know the Holy Spirit has orchestrated to illuminate something in my life that needs redirected ... in that sacred second there is a RADIANCE that forever changes my soul.  Shazam!

Shazam ... because sometimes that which is being revealed brings terror!  Our shepherds, bless their hearts, are just like me.  RADIANCE shows up and they are ... TERRIFIED.  This is why I say in my opening this Christmas thing is not for the faint of heart!  The things God often illuminates in me are things that make make me holy ... not comfortable.  Things like a challenge to extend kindness to the one that hurt me; embrace a flaw that keeps me weak to show His strength; sacrifice what I want for what He needs.  Get it?  This is hard core.  This is the message of Christmas.

But ... but the beauty of the TERRIFIED is the promise that followed:  You will find.  This is what the Angel told our rustic crew.  They would find a baby and told them just what to look for ... and that's exactly what took place.  It was a perfect promise.

And that ... THAT is really the message of CHRISTMAS.  It's the perfect promise that this little infant God has brought to me and to all people everywhere.  When I choose to abandon all fear, placing my life into capable hands that were born as tiny human hands that touched straw and held fingers of Shepherds ... I will have abundant life.  Not free from pain or trouble or heartache ... but abundant, reusable, worthy life moments that will be filled with SUDDENLY moments and will bring RADIANCE because of the power of the Holy Spirit!

Merry Christmas ... from one not faint of heart!
christina