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| [Graphic mine; image via Unsplash] |
Merry Christmas, my friends!
This time of year likes to sneak up on me, even though I should see it coming. (Y’know, it’s not like it lands on December 25th every single year.) Now that I’m on Christmas break and can forget about college for a couple of weeks, I’ve been basking in a quieter pace at home with my family. Somehow the rushing around to mail off Christmas letters and pick up the last few gifts doesn’t feel all that crazy when there are no more textbooks to study.
Something I’ve been doing in my quiet time with God is read a series of verses picked out for Advent. My Bible has a convenient list of suggested readings, and it’s only a verse or two each day, so I get to camp out on each one for a while.
Several days ago, this was the day’s passage. It’s something I’ve read plenty of times before, but it stuck out in a new way to me.
Ah, how beautiful the feet of those on the mountain who declare the good news of victory, of peace and liberation, the voice that calls to Zion, that chosen place for God’s promise people, announcing to them, “Your God rules!” (Isaiah 52:7, The Voice translation)
What are you declaring?
I want my whole life to proclaim the good news of victory, peace, and liberation that’s found in Jesus. In December we sing, “Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere.” But where have I been telling it? And what have I been telling?
Do people hear God’s love when I’m standing in line at the mall? Chatting with friends on Instagram? Speaking to family and relatives?
Everywhere we go, our words, demeanor, and actions are a package deal. Together, they’re communicating something twenty-four seven. So what are we saying?
Are we communicating stress with our frazzled tone and frantic pace? Are we sharing frustration and discord with our snappish replies?
Or could we perhaps slow down long enough to reconnect to peace–to the source of it, our Prince of Peace–and let our lives sing out a refrain of victory?
I get it. It’s hard to do when all month, our to-do lists have grown longer instead of shorter. It’s hard when polarizing family members are placed in the same room and expected to get along. It’s hard when a loved one is in the hospital. It’s hard when bills are stacked on the counter and the boxes under the tree number fewer than you wish. It’s hard when you’re picking up the slack for others going through crises, or you’re sifting through difficult memories of Christmases past, or things just aren’t falling into place.
Those things are real. They hurt, and they’re hard. But the Prince of Peace came for you, too. And the beautiful thing is that by welcoming Him into your brokenness, you let His light shine through to everyone around you. They will see the peace you carry amidst the darkness. Ah, what wonder. A small and humble miracle. A declaration of good news proclaimed from the mountain for all to hear.
Have a good break, Tracey! And love the title and the verse you drew it from. Lovely post 🙂
keturahskorner.blogspot.com
It's been a wonderful break, so far! Thank you, Keturah! 🙂
Your posts bless me every single time! Which is proof your words ARE a source of encouragement. Love and kindness always pours from your words, and you honest to goodness inspire me. Like with this post! You're so, so right that we're always communicating SOMETHING, and that we should intentionally make our words always point to Jesus. Just…AWK. *clutches heart* That is a life-changing thought right there, and something I will absolutely be thinking on, because…I fail at it. A lot. But I love how you put it. "Or could we perhaps slow down long enough to reconnect to peace–to the source of it, our Prince of Peace–and let our lives sing out a refrain of victory?" <—YES!
Thank you for this beautiful reminder!
And Merry Christmas, my dear!!! I do hope you and your whole family have an absolutely blessed one! <333
Aw, Christine! You're so kind, and YOU inspire ME too! <3 Oh, trust me, this is something I have to work on every day myself. I get annoyed or snappish or self-focused too often, too easily. But we're all a work-in-progress. ^_^
Thank you! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, my friend! <333
Merry Christmas! It's a good time for reflection, yeah. And it's a time for us to help others see the beauty in the world. There are a million rough edges to this good world, but that doesn't mean that we can't help polish it, smooth it out, and admire where it sometimes shines.
Merry Christmas! This time of year is always a good reminder to reach out to better the lives of those around us, I agree.
Hope you had a good Christmas,Tracey! This was a really encouraging post.
I sure did–hope you did as well. Thank you, Skye! <3
I hope you had a great break. This is a great message!
It was so relaxing! And thank you!