It all goes back in the box.



  Christmas is over...

      So much time and energy went into plans and preparations for a day that went by so quickly I can hardly believe it's over. Now it all goes back in the box. Well, there's a lot more than one box, but you know what I mean...Christmas is packed away and taken to a shelf in the garage or closed away in the attic to rest quietly for eleven months, until it can come out again.

      Twinkling stars and tinsel, glitter bulbs and silver bells, are tucked away with their tinkle and shine hidden by tissue paper and cardboard. Gingerbread boys, snowmen, and angels, keep each other company in the dark, as dry dead trees are taken down and drug to burn piles where they receive their honorable burial ceremonies, leaving trails of needles to follow back to the houses. In my case, the artificial tree was taken apart and shoved into a huge box, taped up and hoisted into the attic.

      As I put my last box away and the house is set back to "ordinary," it seems quieter than usual, and a little sad. I'm not sure which is heavier, the boxes or this feeling inside me. It's that let-down feeling you get when you've been excited and anxiously planning a special event or celebration...and then it's over...just like that! It came, it went, and took the cookies and chocolates  with it.

      Life has temporarily lost its sparkle and sweetness, the house mourns the loss of its luster, and I weigh five pounds more than I did in November (thanks to the cookies and chocolates). I'm tempted to pull down the shades and go to bed in the middle of the day, to tuck myself away in the dark room the same way I tucked away the wrappings of Christmas. But if I did, I know it wouldn't be long before I would be awakened by the knowledge that the true meaning of Christmas can never be packed away in a box.

      The light of the knowledge of the glory of God which was revealed in the face of His Son, Jesus Christ, can never be hidden in the dark. Those words He spoke - "I am the light of the world" would illuminate the room and wake me up. I'm sure He would remind me that the sparkle and glitter I boxed up with the decorations can't hold a candle to the light shining brightly from His Spirit within me, and that the best celebration is the one that takes place every day of my life, as I take hold of the gift He sent on that very first Christmas morning...His Son - the Prince of Peace. Christ's birth is a celebration without end, and accepting His gift is just the beginning of life forever with Him.

      The memory of that promise seems to brighten the house, causes the sun to shine warmer on the frosted roof, and makes my heavy heart lighter. I can imagine the heavenly anthems ringing around the throne of the King of Kings; His voice calling to me - "Let the dancing begin!" as I'm reminded that life with Him is the celebration. It's never packed up or stored away; it is a life lived outside the box.

A different celebration, a long time ago...

      On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, when the celebration was coming to an end, and the lights were being taken down, Jesus said these words - 
"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  (John 8:12)

"Get on your mark...get set...go!"

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it....v26, Therefore, I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air."

1 Corinthians 9:24,26

      I've been thinking a lot about what it means to run the race Paul talks about in 1Corinthians 9:24-27. He tells us to run the race to obtain the prize. What prize is he talking about? It's not a trophy or a plaque to hang on the wall, and it's not a gold medal to wear around your neck; nothing like that. It's not so much something you get as it is something you accomplish. Obviously, you reach the finish line on the last day of your life. When you step over the line and the race is finished -you will either have won or not. There won't be another chance to win, and you get no trial runs...only one try...that's it. When your foot touches that line the stopwatch button is pressed down and the running shoes come off, the race is over.  On the other side of that line stands the Judge who determines the winners and there are only two things that will matter at the end - What you did with the life He gave you and what you did with His Son.


      I've decided to crawl over the line...yes crawl. I'm determined to be incapable of running when I get to the finish line - not one ounce of strength left, completely pooped out, used up, worn out...done! I want to run in such a way I use every bit of energy I have; every gift, opportunity, deed, kind word - holding nothing back. I want my foot to touch the line with no regrets, no words unsaid, no love withheld or turned away, and with my shoes in need of repair. I want to be emptied out and leave no left overs behind - to use it all for Him.

      It's a new year with new opportunities...good works God planned for each of us to do. People to love and God's Son to share. Let's lace up our shoes and run the race of 2011 in such a way that will wear the soles right off, and use ourselves up for Him.


      Erma Bombeck said it beautifully -
         
          "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left and could say, 'I used everything You gave me.'"

"...forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:13-14

Immanuel - God with us...

The Name above All Names

He has a name above all names, His Father gave to Him,
A name that intercedes for us, brings hope when times are dim.

A name that heals the broken hearts, makes blinded eyes to see,

Restores the lame to walk again, and sets the captives free.

A name that shakes the prison bars, that we erect from sin,

Removes the chains of bondage there, and makes us free again.

The holy name of Jesus Christ, the Perfect Prince of Peace,

Mighty God, King of Kings, the name that brings release.

He came as Light to shine the way, and bring us back to God,

He did not come with judgment’s wrath, but with a Shepherd’s rod.

He is the one True Way to God, the Door we enter through,

The only name that saves a soul, Jesus-Faithful and True.

He came to pierce the darkest night, find those who lost their way,

And set their feet on Solid Rock, bring hope with each new day.

His name means more than we can know, it holds all power and might,

By it our ransom has been paid, exchanging wrong with right.

One day all flesh will bow their knee, proclaim Him Lord of Lords,

The precious name that paid the price, which no one could afford.

The Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and End,

Came down to earth to touch our hearts, relationships to mend.

The Great I AM has come to us, a babe so long ago,

To be the Way, the Truth, and Life, for those He came to know.

Immanuel – God’s with us now, the gift we can’t ignore,

Exalt His name, accept His love, it’s YOU He came here for.

©2010 Charlotte Foster

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11