Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Something to think about

This has been on my mind since the first signs of the holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas)
began to hit the air waves and store shelves.
It is something that I have talk about in short with a friend and I think God is encouraging me to go ahead and share it. We will see where He takes it.

There have been many changes in our lives in the past year.
Some of us have lost loved ones. Maybe some have experienced the loss of a job.
While others just have been struggling with life and relationships.
Maybe you have gone to the healer and allowed Him to put His gentle hand on
the situations and the pain and discomfort began to heal and mend.
And then all of a sudden the season hit and a heaviness began to descend.
You may have once again began to think of things gone by....just let me say that it is normal to miss loved ones who have passed during this time of family gatherings.
But, maybe you can't explain where this feeling has come from.
You search your mind and heart and begin to think that something is wrong with you.
Maybe you think that it is just because you can not get into the "reason for the season".
Your heart does a downward spiral each time you think about it.
You look around at the parties and festivities and you just feel disassociated.
Blah! or even.........Humbug. :)

I want you to stop and think about how we know this time brings so many people down.
Saved and unsaved are not able to escape it.
Why?
Why the crash now?
I know society tells us it is because people are lonely and some have expectations that are too high....and that is true.
But I want you to just think about this.
Do you think that our enemy enjoys what we are bring to everyone's mind at this time of year?
Do you think that he rejoices in the joy that is spread when people celebrate our Saviors birth?
Do you think he feels the discomfort when someone gives a gift out of love?

Remember the verse that talks about how we often entertain angels unaware?
Have you ever just all of a sudden had an emotion (anger, guilt, sadness, depression)
hit you and you did not know what sparked it?
I don't think that we have to see the angels to be entertaining them.
I think sometimes when they want to get to us they will allow us to feel their presence.
Now I am not saying that every time we get sad that it is satan.
I just think that this season drives him crazy....look at how he has tried to destroy it.

So.... when heaviness comes this season.....take time to openly praise God for who He is and what He is doing in all of our lives. Thank Him for the loved ones that are with Him in glory.
And you know I haven't been able to find this in scripture so if anyone knows something, please let me know. But there have been times when my heart was hurting for the one who had gone on to be with the Lord. I do know without a shadow of a doubt that we are not to try and communicate with them or even to talk to them......they can not hear us.
(I do know that is in scripture.)
But there have been times when I have shared my hurt with God an asked Him to let the person know that I was thinking about them and that I loved them. I will also say here that I don't think that it would be a good idea to get wrapped up in this. We are here to live for Him and not to get lost in what is waiting for us. Understand?
Did God tell them what was in my heart.....I don't know.
But by talking to Him about it it made me feel a tad better. He hurts when we hurt. He is not untouched by our trials and pain.

So thank Him for His goodness that He has lavished on us.
Open your mouth and say it out loud!
Praise opens the heavens and brings the glory of God down......and satan and his forces can not stand to be in that presence.
Do it a little while before you stop and just give up.
And see if your spirit does not begin to lift as Jesus comes to inhabit the praise of His children.
And yes, that can be found in scripture! \o/

And just a friendly reminder.....this is not doctrine...just something to think about.
Love ya!

5 comments:

luvmy4sons said...

You know it makes sense that Satan would try to make this season about loss instead of joy and the celebration of Christ! I don't like to give the enemy too much power, but we ARE told we wrestle not against flesh and blood. I think putting on the whole armor of God every day is good...but especialy around the holidays. And since He inhabits the praise of His people..that is a great way to battle. Once again I enjoyed your musings! Blessings to you!

Anonymous said...

This was very good. You said a word that I have been getting in my spirit for slightly over a week and I had to grin to see it in this post. LAVISH. God lavishes on us. It keeps coming up in me.

Anyway, I have done the same thing that you have mentioned. It did make me feel better. When those thoughts seemed to start to squeeze me on the inside I prayed and did as you have done. I figure I can't do anything about it and crying and getting all muddled won't bring them back so I begin to speak to God and give it over to Him. I felt so much better. God knows our hearts even better than we do ourselves. He is defintiely able to to soothe them. :)

Denise said...

Powerful post dear sis, love you.

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

You know, I think our expectations should be high, not just at Christmas but always. Christ seeds the expectant heart with the hope of his glory. We've simply put our focus on the wrong things. Instead of looking to the world for the "filling" let's look to Bethlehem. I know that you are. You have such a pure heart, Sharon. May this next week house the beholding of Christ at every turn.

peace~elaine

Bev Brandon @ The Fray said...

You have such a tender heart Sharon to the things of God. We all do need to live in the present moment and embrace what's really going on and enter it and find God in the midst. You certainly live that way! Hey, I came by to tell you that my son was going to do a service project for this Christmas for orphans and wondered about what your post was last Christmas and if you were doing it again or was that a one time thing? Can't remember.