Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

Don’t Forget Jesus

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Today’s reading: Luke 2:41-46

Every year I wait for it.

A family down the road decorates their yard for Christmas each year. Every year, they display the larger-than-life wise men, camels, shepherd boy, and lambs, all outlined in bright lights.

But they don’t have THE lamb. 

Every year I wait for them to place baby Jesus in the scene. To complete the picture with the One who completes us.

Maybe they are waiting until Christmas Day?

But no. 

They have forgotten Jesus.

Don’t forget Jesus.

Mary and Joseph forgot Him. Oh, it wasn’t on purpose. They were traveling home with a caravan of relatives, after celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem. They thought Jesus was with them, assuming He was probably with a cousin or an uncle. After all, it was a large extended family. Surely someone was watching out for Him, weren’t they?

They thought they had Jesus. 

But they didn’t. 

He got lost in the shuffle. Left behind in the hustle and bustle of packing a crowd of people to go home.

“And when they failed to find Him, they went back to Jerusalem, looking for Him [up and down] all the way.” Luke 2:45 (AMP) 

This year, don’t let Jesus get lost in the shuffle. 

Don’t leave Him behind, because of a busy schedule. 

After all, He is the One we are waiting for, longing for, hoping for. Jesus is the fulfillment of all our hopes.

Even though the place and the circumstance in which Jesus was born was not ideal, his mother Mary found clothes and wrapped Him tightly. She didn’t forget to care for Him.

The shepherds didn’t forget to tell others about the One they had seen.

The wise men didn’t forget to worship the One they found.

Joseph didn’t forget all the angel had told him to do, in anticipation of this Special Child.

Simeon didn’t forget to look. He knew he could depart this earth and go home, because he had seen the Consolation of Israel.

Don’t forget Jesus. He is Christmas.

Points to Ponder:

*Don’t forget Jesus. Read the story of His birth in the gospel of Luke while your family is gathered and before gifts are opened.

*Before your day begins, plan to spend some quiet time alone in God’s Word.  Just you and Jesus. Ponder His birth. Fill your heart with the joy of the Lord.

When Grief Steals Christmas

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It has been almost ten years since my mama passed away. By far, that was the hardest circumstance in life that I have ever gone through. It’s a hard thing to lose a mama. Mom’s death threw me into a pit of grief that I didn’t think I would ever crawl out of. I wasn’t sure I could claw my way to the surface and see the light of day again. Only my sweet husband realized the depths of my sorrow. He asked if I needed to talk to someone – a pastor, a counselor. And tell them what, exactly? That my heart had been ripped out of my body? That my grief was a literal heart ache?

Dear one, if this is how Christmas finds you, please know you are not alone. May I share with you a few things I learned all those years ago?

ALLOW yourself time to grieve. Oh, I know, I know. Life goes on, the world keeps turning and you only get three days funeral leave. But don’t tamp down those feelings you have. Don’t push them aside. Give yourself time and space to grieve. Visit with your family. Talk about your loved one. Those memories you made together? Remember them! Look through pictures and share your stories. It’s okay to grieve.

KNOW that grief is a long, winding road with many twists and turns, hills and valleys. Many days you won’t be able to see the forest for the trees.

Grief is a slow process. The deeper the love, the deeper the pain. Grief will blindside you when you least expect it. You may be in the grocery store looking at bunches of bananas and suddenly burst into tears. Shoppers around you will give you strange looks, wondering if they should call the EMTs. But the thing is, those bananas reminded you of homemade banana pudding. It tasted just okay, but that banana pudding had cups full of love as the main ingredient. Grief rears its ugly head at the most inopportune times. Know this will happen. Know this is normal. And don’t worry about the old man in the produce section who thinks you are a fruitcake. We all know it’s about banana pudding! If tears come, let them flow.

CLING to Jesus. Reach out, grab the hem of His cloak (Luke 8:43-48) and hang on for dear life! Hold on to Jesus with all you’ve got! Read His Word, even though it may not soak into your soul. Read devotions for those who are grieving. Pray, even if you have no words. Groan if you must (Romans 8:26). Grab Jesus and don’t let go! His grace is sufficient. It is a supernatural, enabling grace that will carry you (or drag you) through the darkest days of your life. It really is amazing grace.

Right now, your heart is tender and hurting. But ever so slowly, it will mend. Oh, yes, there will be a scar. Your fingernails will be broken and torn from clawing your way out of the pit. But when you cling to Jesus, you will see Son light again!

Please know I am praying for you, as you navigate this new normal. 

To all who mourn in Israel,
    he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
    festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
    that the Lord has planted for his own glory. Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)

 

In memory of my sweet sister Honey.

Alpha 2/14/51

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