For many years now, my heart has considered the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas as the "holy days." I have encouraged my children to be extra attentive during this season as well. I reminded them only a few nights ago that the Lord will be whispering something specifically to each of their hearts in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the season... so... be still... don't miss it.

God has something for you as well over His holiday. This "something" may be nestled in a phrase from a Christmas carol; it may be words from a sermon, or it might be a new thought from the age-old nativity story. Be still, hear Him.

As I traveled back from Mississippi over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Lord gave me "my something" this season. Through the first Christmas carols that were being played on the radio on the long ride home, my mind kept settling on one word: holy. One word, one gift to open. So I'm in the process of "gathering" this word from statements, from songs, and from Scripture. For example, I have jotted these things down:

A Statement-- Synonyms to holy are: set-apart, sinless, ordained, righteous, blessed.

A Song-- "O Holy Night" -- So according to the "like-minded" words above, the night of our dear Savior's birth was a set-apart night, a blessed night, an ordained night.

Another Song-- a line in "Silent Night" is: "holy infant so tender and mild." Yes, even as an infant, He was holy.

A Scripture-- Isaiah 6:1-3 says... I saw the Master sitting on a throne--high, exalted!--and the train of His robes filled the Temple. Angel-seraphs hovered above Him, each with six wings... and they called back and forth to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is God-of -the-Angel-Armies. His bright glory fills the whole earth." And this holy God is the King in the manger-bed? Were these same angels hovering...and singing back and forth to one another? And He lay there... for me?

And the gift grows each day, and I am awed.

What one word or phrase does He have for you this season? Peace, comfort, joy, love? We have so much to celebrate! He is not just one word, He is the Word. And He is not just packaged in one gift, He was wrapped in "swaddling clothes" as the Gift. Let's you and I enjoy Him throughout the Holy-days.

If you need daily guidance in your thoughts over the next several weeks, please refer to my website at www.respitefortheweary.com and view my new 25 day devotional Who is this Jesus and Why did He come? It is meant to direct you, and help you meditate on the Word...the Gift...Jesus.

On December 2nd just before lunch, I was racing to my first Christmas party--and I mean racing. I was the "set-up" lady for the celebration at my daughter's tutorial, and I was LATE. As I was I flying down highway 65, I felt much like Santa in his sleigh, especially because I had all the decorations in my back seat, one of which was a small bell on top of a Santa-hat that literally jingled all the way. Becoming aggravated at every slow-moving-vehicle in my path, as if they were to blame, I said to myself, "This is NOT how I want to spend my entire holiday--rushed, frazzled, and in a fix."

So, how do I keep from entering this whirlwind of frenzy, all in the "name of Christmas"? Because, undeniably, there are parties to attend, presents to purchase, homes to decorate, families to house. The answer came to me as I was sitting frustratingly still in a long line of traffic the day of my daughter's party. Through the lyrics of a Christmas song, the Lord spoke these two words, "Behold Him."

Hmm... behold Him... I have contemplated these words since my hectic car ride. In fact, I decided to look up the word behold in the dictionary. It means: to look at, see; especially something remarkable or impressive. If we were to divide this word, it would look something like this:

be-- exist; synonyms: have life, draw breath, arise, prevail

hold--grasp, carry, keep, remain secure, embrace.

I then investigated further and read the Christmas story located in Luke 1 and 2. Did you know "behold" is mentioned nine times in this passage? Indeed, something remarkable and impressive was happening; and Zacharias, Elizabeth, Mary, the angels, the shepherds, and Simeon, to name a few, were all drawing breath from it and carrying it in their hearts. They were beholding Him, Jesus, the Almighty, the all Holy One. Now the question is, am I?

In order to do this, I must first and foremost, sit still with Him. In this place of rest, He can speak wonder-full things to me, just like the true characters of the first Christmas story. I too, want to exist and then embrace the Saving One. But then, when I get up from this restful state and start running into the midst of all the Christmas cheer, I must pull my heart and mind away from the chaos and then intentionally choose to behold my Savior. So, as I drive, I will worship Him through beautiful songs. As I decorate, I will celebrate Him through meaning-filled expression. As I wrap, I will contemplate Him, the gift of Life nestled in swaddling clothes. And as I attend parties, I will take Him with me and share His love.

Breathe in, my friend, and behold Him this entire Christmas season and you will be bountifully blessed by the King of kings. He is worth every thought, and then some.

As you can tell from my previous three entries concerning Celebrating Christmas, I have "nestled myself into" the appointed feasts of the Lord found in Leviticus 23. Once again, another feast, the Firstfruits Feast, (say that seven times real fast!), caught my wondering heart and mind. Listen to these words of instruction concerning this Israelite celebration:

When you enter the land which I am going to give you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord for you to be accepted. Leviticus 23:9

A sheaf is a bundle; so the priest would take a bundle of the first of the harvest, barley in this case, and lift it high into the air, all the while praising and thanking God for His provision to His people.

Listen now to this part of the first Christmas story:

And when the days for their purification were completed they (Mary and Joseph) brought Him (Jesus) up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord...and behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And when the parents bought in the child Jesus...Simeon took Him into his arms, and blessed God. Luke 2:22-28

Simeon the priest knew the instant Mary and Joseph entered the temple that they were carrying with them the long-awaited Messiah, Savior of Israel (and of the world). He humbly took their first-born Son, the fruit of her womb, and raised Him high into the air, praising and thanking God. Yes, this bundle was of another kind than the days of old. This bundle was the fullfilment of all the other wave offerings that had come before. This bundle was the final firstfruit so that we may be accepted. This bundle was the best of the best, the holy of holies, the perfect blessing--Jesus, high and lifted up, for you and for me. And now ponder all that He has given us in the Spirit:

But the fruit of His Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galations 5:22

I encourage you to bring visual reminders into your homes concerning God's final wave offering, His own Son. Whether it's earthy grains tied with a beautiful bow, or fresh fruit and berries sitting in a glass bowl, let these things created by Him cause you to worship Him with praise and thanksgiving. He gives and keeps giving, just like the harvest.

I love my Bundle of Blessing. And He will be high and lifted up in my heart this Christmas season.

Yes, thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! II Corinthians 9:15

One of the God-appointed feasts in the Israelite's day was called the Feast of Trumpets. How interesting--trumpets. I decided to dig a little deeper to find out more about this musical instrument. First of all, God loves trumpets! In fact, I'm wondering if these are His favorite instruments. (Remember, when He comes back for us on the last day, the trumpet of God will be blown for all the world to hear!) In Biblical times, this magnificent sound was used:

-to signify the first day of the month and at the beginning of feasts

-to assemble the Israelites when moving throughout the wilderness

-to lead the Israelite army into battle

-and to announce extraordinary events

Extraordinary events? Wouldn't you agree that the night that the Messiah was born was the most extraordinary event in all of human and heavenly history up to this point in time? The Creator of the universe in a feeding trough? The bliss of heaven sleeping in a bed of hay? Yes, extraordinary. Let's re-visit that holy night, that night divine:

...There were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flocks by night...and suddenly an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them...and the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."...and suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God...(Luke 2:8-13).

Indeed, the angelic trumpet section was on that night, with full range and projection! If I could have been anywhere in the first Christmas celebration, that's where I would have been--to hear the angels play and dance and sing--to feast my eyes and ears on the resounding praise concerning the wonders of His love. The only response would have been to fall on my knees. But then, I would have gotten up and run in haste with those lowly shepherds to find the newborn King--the King of kings, the Lord of lords!

But, I was not there; I (and you) are here, today...

Dear friends, it's now our generation's turn to make a joyful noise! O come let us adore Him! Praise Him with your Christmas carols--praise Him with your ipods, praise Him with your CD's. Praise Him with your musical instruments, praise Him with your merry dancing--praise Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Yes, O come all ye faithful, and sing to the world:

Immanuel, God with us. Your joyful noise is sweet to your Savior's ears, and to your neighbor's hearts.

As my family and I traveled home from a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend in Hernando, Mississippi, we passed by many homeowners pulling out their decorations for the next upcoming holiday, Christmas. I saw lights being strung on railings and rooftops, wreaths being hung on windows and doors, and various fixtures being placed in front yards and on porches. Yes, Christmas is upon us, and we're all getting ready for...what? Is there a purpose behind this preparation? I wonder, across America, and the world, has Christmas become just another reason to throw a seasonal party in order to break the monotony of every day life?

I asked this very question again as I began decorating my own front door. Why the wreath?Does this circular object have meaning, or is it just "pretty" and "fitting" at Christmas? And then, why the greenery with the velvety red ribbon that I was placing around my door frame? I do love the look, but is that it? When I asked these heart-questions, the Lord of my heart faithfully answered. He sweetly reminded me of a certain passage of Scripture while I held the red ribbon:

Each household is to take a lamb...your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old...the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight. Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the doorposts..." Exodus 12:3,5-7

When my mind settled on these verses, the crimson red ribbon that I was hanging around my door frame became much more than traditional decor that I found on the shelf at Michael's. I suddenly felt a beautiful connection to the Israelites of old. Their Savior is my Savior. I have a Protector over my household as well. He has come, and He lives within. So, I continued hanging the greenery with red ribbon, but now, in humbled worship.

This led me to my next thought concerning the red-ribboned wreath on my door. (God had more answers for my heart.) Could this decorative piece represent God's matchless love that is complete because of the birth, death, and resurrection of His Son? In your mind's eye, trace your finger around a wreath from top, to bottom, to top while reading these all too familiar words:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

So as the world celebrates, does the world know why? When you hang your wreath and greenery at your door, celebrate your Savior. May the red ribbon remind you of His crimson blood shed for you and your household. His entry into the world has purchased your entry into heaven. This is what the world needs to know. Yes, may our homes and our hearts and our voices sing, "Joy to the world, the Lord has come!"