CHRISTMAS CLEAR

Have you thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

The other day I was introduced to a verse in a Christmas Carol that I had never heard before.

O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

Ever feel that way?

Clearly the songwriter must have been a little prophetic. He knew that this time of year can present a “crushing load”. What with its hectic schedules and the pressures to meet all of the expectations, Christmas can feel crushing at times.

And let’s be real for a second.
Christmas can be painful.
There are those who have lost folks at this time of year. There are folks who have little or no resource thus making Christmas more downer than delightful.

But as you continue in the lyric I love what the writer offers!
That there are GLAD AND GOLDEN HOURS still to come!

2 Corinthians 4:16-17
Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us.

There is rest for the road-weary!

Jeremiah 6:16
…ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.

And if you listen and look closely, you can and will hear and experience angels.

…when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind.” ― Jeffrey R. Holland

What song is this you ask?
“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”

And yes while life and season can have toil, can have rough roads, can present uphill climbs and heavy loads, GOD is always at the ready to provide rest, to restore, to bring help and to “CLEAR” things up!

Romans 8:1 (MSG)
…The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently CLEARED the air, freeing you…

I love you all.
Freedom Church