Tis the Season…
Busyness walks hand in hand with an overwhelming feeling of never completing your to do list
Stress creeps in with a sense of urgency as the days pass by quickly
Our minds scatter thoughts faster than we can blink and cohesive ideas flee from our overtired brains
Life during the holiday season might feel much like you read above and the beginning of Silver Bells might be playing on repeat in your head…
“City sidewalks, busy sidewalks dressed in holiday style, In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas”
Everything around you screams “hurry up, get your shopping finished, decorate your house and feel the holiday spirit, but your heart has a conflicting message to slow down, center and prepare intentionally for the birth of Jesus.
Can we take the hustle and bustle which is sure to be present and use it in a way that it becomes our gift to Jesus this Christmas? Will we open our hearts to the soft whispers of a crying newborn in a manger, who came to save each of us? Can this Christmas become a chance to serve others and share Jesus’ name right in our own community? Can our worship become our gift to God and our local community?
This Advent I am preparing myself for Jesus’ birth by busying myself with Awaited, my church’s show of the Christmas story. As a choir member, I am blessed to use my gift of song to worship God for fifteen shows (yes, it really is that many! Actually there are 29 shows – I am doing half! :)) Our church is intentional in their mission to reach out to the local community at Christmas time in a way that provides a chance to enter church for a show and maybe hear God’s voice for the first time. This outreach is an opportunity to go ALLIN for God and send His message through song, dance, His Word and worship by sharing the message locally to thousands. In the busyness of this season, I have been given a gift from God through my part in this show. I learned the power of who God is and that He is who He says is last year when I stepped out of my comfort zone to audition for Awaited. Since then I have been blessed by this unique experience, which allows me to open my heart and hear God’s voice through the story that He wrote for the world over 2000 years ago.
I am blessed beyond words each show by the amazing Spirit that fills the church as friends, family and many others stand and worship at the end of the show. I am given more than I can possibly give in return but I pray that God’s light is always shining through. My preparation for Jesus’ birth is the honor I have to be part of my church’s mission to reach our city and share God’s story through Awaited.
[Tweet “The gift of Christmas is the one that shares God’s perfect love and light for all.”]
What will you bring the King this Christmas? Will your holiday busyness become a chance to share your gifts with others in the way of hospitality, homemade gifts, music, dance, etc.? Will your mission to make your house and gifts perfect, change and instead become a way to use your own gifts to honor God?
Blessings,
Mary
Blessed to be linking with:
     
      
      
This totally echoes what God is telling me about less is more. So glad you shared at #ThreeWordWednesday, Mary!
Thank you for hosting Three Word Wednesday. It’s a blessing to be a part of that community. I love your three words-Less is more because it echoes what has been in my heart for this Christmas season as I prepare to make room for what is important. Blessings!
Hi Mary! What a blessing to be able to use your gifts for your church community! I used to sing in a choir and just loved it, it would give me chills to hear the harmonies. I’m sure it’s the same with you. Enjoy your time of praise!
Oh yes, the holidays can be CRAZY busy, that’s for sure. It’s nice that you ask if the busyness can be turned into praise. I think it can. As long as I am intentional, and don’t lose my temper and patience! There is much to do because there are many people in my life that I love, so that’s a reason to be joyful right there!
Have a joyful Wednesday 🙂
Ceil
I’m so glad that you share a love of singing with me. It brings me such joy and that joy is sent right back to God in praise. I will pray for all that our busy is intentional in its focus and looks toward honoring God in the midst. Blessings!
Your Christmas show sounds like a wonderful ministry!
I seem to always wind up being narrator for our church Christmas musical. Recently someone asked why I was always narrator. I responded that I lack the talent to sing, but they figured out that I’m literate enough to read.
I really do enjoy it, though.
Have a blessed Christmas!
You brought a smile to my face with your story about being a narrator. Just think-we need your part as much as a singer! Blessed you stopped by and I pray you are blessed this Christmas.
Sure would love to live closer so I could come to see you praising our King!
I’m laying pretty low these days, doin’ what I need to do so I can be fully present for clients and family.
I’m saying ‘no, thanks’ to some invites that I normally would head off to. I’m grateful He understands.
Praying for you as you minister in such a beautiful way, Mary.
Hugs.
I would love to ave you come to the show too! Really I would love to just meet you! I love how you are truly listening and taking the insight into this holiday season. Knowing who you need to be available for and at the same time making time for yourself is a gift. Praying for you and your family this season. Blessed to call you friend!
You ask some hard questions, my friend! I don’t feel as if I’ve been given any gifts such as song or dance (think frog in a bucket and Elaine from Seinfeld). I’m an introvert, so being a gracious hostess takes a lot of time and energy and mental preparation (I hosted our faculty Christmas party on Sunday). I guess I feel my biggest talents lie in photography and maybe writing–so I’ll be intentional in sharing those things this season. Of course, I should really be intentional about being a good guest…I’ll be visiting some relatives where I’ll be WAY outside my comfort zone. I’ll start praying and meditating on how I can be of service (and not go stir crazy). Thank you for the challenge!
I love your honesty Anita! I also love how you are up for the challenge of thinking outside the box a little this Christmas that will be a blessing to others. My son brought his girlfriend home over Thanksgiving and I met her for the first time. She stayed with me for four days and totally stole my heart by just being her and making sure she could help wherever she saw a need. It was perfect. I hope your visit with relatives will be a blessing for you and for them. I’ll be praying! Hugs!
I wish I could come! Sounds exciting. I am looking for simple ways to serve. Since we don’t have a lot of extra money this year, and we haven’t been able to give financially, God is showing me other ways I can show his love and light to others. Have a blessed day Mary!
I wish you could come too! What fun we would have! 🙂 I love how God is willing to show us what it means to give in ways that mean more than a monetary gift. I love your heart girl! Thanks for stopping by! I love seeing your beautiful face!
Oh, how lovely it would be to come to your Christmas show. I will be thinking and praying for all of you as you your gifts to bring Christ to your community.
So far the busyness of the season hasn’t hit us and I am praying we are able to continue to move at this slower pace of focusing more on Him and each other. I do love that twice this week hubs and I together are stepping out to serve. Our first opportunity will be tonight. I’m both nervous and excited!!
Blessings to you friend.
xoxo
You know stepping out of my comfort zone hasn’t really been part of my vocabulary until the last year or so. God’s love and belief in me has made me bolder for Him. It’s a beautiful thing. I pray that your serving opportunities become a blessing for you as you bless others. Hugs!
I’m so proud of you and happy for you, Mary. You inspire me. ❤️
Awww! You are so sweet! God is the inspiration and I love how He works through this show to the city of Cincinnati! Blessed you popped over today!
Oh how I wish I could see your show!!! I miss the wonder of a Christmas show and a Christmas service. Hope you have a wonderful week! xoxo
I wish you could be here too! Sure would be glorious! I pray your week is full of wonder of all that God is doing in and around you. Hugs!
“What will you bring the King this Christmas?” A question that’s really been on my heart this year. Sometimes we get so caught up in our busyness, even when that busyness is doing Kingdom work, and forget to take time to just be with God. Trying to give my time to Him this Advent and just listen and be prayerful. And in that listening and prayer, give my soul rest and renewal. Love this post!
I have been praying that what I do and how I approach Christmas would be honoring to God. I find it very hard when I am being pulled din different directions to focus on what truly matters at times. I pray we can all lean in and learn from God this season. Have a blessed day!