That Spirit of Christmas

after finishing the last post about Christmas, i felt led to write another one about my true feelings regarding the holidays this year. for some reason i was never really able to get into the "Christmas spirit" this year. there are several things that could explain why the normal feelings of merriment escaped me this year; the loss of captain, a brutal year at work...but i really don't believe these things are the real issues that have caused a loss of joy for me this year. it seems as though there is this overwhelming sense of fear and doom among so many of us.

so many people i have talked to lately seem scared, angry and uncertain about the way things are today and very fearful of things to come. i must admit that i too have allowed my worldly circumstances and concerns overwhelm my mind and emotions to the point of dejection. it just makes me wonder, what is this dark cloud that seems to hang over so many of us, and more importantly why do we fear it? i have no answers for either of those questions, but in writing this blog one thing has been revealed to me. this is exactly why we celebrate the coming of Jesus.

before God sent his son we were doomed, and any feelings of despair were warranted. but Jesus came to save us from all of this. because of Jesus we all should be walking this earth in boldness and in peace, knowing our debt has been paid and we have been saved from all the brokenness and pain that this world leaves us with. this is what Christmas is all about.

writing this post has made me feel a little guilty about wasting my time on any feelings of uncertainty for the future and allowing those feelings to manifest into fear and despair. God is in control of all these things and i have salvation through Christ, therefore, from this point i will repent of my sin of doubt and move forward in boldness and peace. i am sorry that i missed this point during Christmas, but i will spend the following days in much prayer and celebration for the coming of our savior. if you have shared any of these feelings, i pray you will do the same.

oh come Emmanuel!!

peace and love.