We are done with the turkey....soup, stew. gravy, stuffing, pot pies.... ugh.

We are moving on. 

What's next??

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!

We started last Sunday with the Advent season. 4 weeks of preparing ourselves to greet a special person,,, to be ready for a special event. That is a definition of Advent.

Yeshua/Jesus is the special person.

His return is the special event.

We are no longer looking for a baby to be born. That has already happened! The wisemen have moved on. Mary & Joseph are at rest.

BUT The Messiah/Savior will be coming back as the King above all kings. He will be the One who will make right all the wrongs. He will reward His faithful followers. He will vanquish His enemies. He will make everything NEW again. 

WOW. That makes today's Christmas celebrations seem pale by comparison.

All the tinsel, decorations, cookies, parties and wrapped gift and pretty cards are like trash compared to the glory that will be revealed when He returns.

The question is: What are you celebrating this year? 

Frankly, last year was so hard for me emotionally that I declared that I did not care to "do" another Christmas. I was depressed and drained. Nothing felt joyful. It was all like ashes in my mouth.

This year, I am determined to take a different approach. Although I like a little tree with pretty lights to brighten the darkness and a few warm cookies to perk up the taste buds, we are not going to stress over the right decor or lots of types of baking or buying everyone the right gift. We won't chase parties and gathering until we are exhausted. We will bypass the drinking groups, the loud music and the miles of traveling.

This year will be smaller, more intimate, quieter, less expensive & less stressful.

We will have a couple of traditional favorites baked for treats. There will be fewer decorations, but they will be traditional, again, and more meaningful for the memories they invoke. 

There will be a few gifts for us to unwrap... things we share with great love.

The music will be sweeter and more gentle on the nerves and we will sing them in the glow of our Christmas tree lights.

We will gather weekly with our Church family. They are precious to us and they also WANT to be around us. There is laughter and gaming in Our Gathering Place following the worship service.

And we will be looking for the return of Our King as the focus.

We will find HOPE in who we are in His Presence and what will be when He returns.

SO stow the bird and move forward.

Jesus is coming back. Stay ready and keep hope alive.

Maranatha, y'all.