I love this time of year. Yes, it can be a busy, filled with
extra tasks and extra social activities.
People get stressed – both believers and unbelievers. As Christian women, I believe our Christmas
season responsibility is to stir up an awareness of Jesus’ birth… we are to
reflect His love, His mercy, His forgiveness, and His sacrifice. We set the
tone of the holidays for many. We have
the opportunity to stir the hearts of others!
Let’s make it a Christmas goal each day of this special
season of the year to ask God to help us extend “peace
on earth and mercy mild” to those around us. Peace and mercy are needed qualities during
the month of December. Where do we
begin?
Read the Christmas story in all
four of the gospels each week in December. Reacquaint yourself with the story of what we
are celebrating. It’s a story that is
all the more special because we know that it ends in resurrection and an
opportunity to accept forgiveness and mercy and a purpose for living, plus a
future that is glorious and without end! I promise you that you will join Mary
in singing praises… Luke 1:46-47 (ESV) And
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in
God my Savior,
Give the gift of peace. Matthew 5:9 (NLT) God blesses
those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. Daily, look for opportunities
to share calmness, harmony, and tranquility. Use your abilities to reduce
conflict and hostile attitudes in your home, your church, and in your
community. Remember that the only way
you can live in such a way must begin with Jesus! We can’t give the gift of peace without first
experiencing it ourselves. Without Jesus there is no lasting, eternal peace.
Peace during the Christmas celebration flows from our own personal time with
Jesus. JESUS …. Isn’t that who we are celebrating this Christmas season?
Give the gift of mercy. Matthew 5:7 (NLT) God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be
shown mercy. Having personally received His mercy, we then share
His mercy with others. The word Jesus uses for mercy is used to describe an
attribute of God. God is said to be "rich in
mercy." (Eph.2:4).
You see mercy goes beyond
sympathy to empathy. It is "love in action." When we give mercy, we
find a way to help a person. You see mercy is an action, not a reaction. Mercy cannot take place without
forgiveness. It’s one thing to say you forgive;
it’s another to become actively involved in mercy. Here is what mercy looks like:
.. When
I am merciful, I am patient with that unique person.
.. When
I am merciful, I forgive those who have fallen down…made a
mistake…blundered.
… When I
am merciful, I help those who are hurting. Remember, mercy is practical
assistance. It’s love in action. . Prov. 3:27- "Do not withhold good from those who
need it, when it is in your power to act."
… Here is a fourth mark of mercy, and this is the hardest of all. When I am merciful, I’ll do good to my
enemies….to those who hurt me or treat me badly. I’m talking tangible,
concrete, real actions that are good for those who hurt me or treat me badly!
Giving gifts at Christmas is so
much more than buying and wrapping items in a box!
Joyfully,
Yvonne
