Dear friends,

I’m was trying to come up with a prayer & audio for the holiday season, but it’s not coming out. So I’m just going to share what I’m feeling today.

Here we go….

We all know about the significance of Christmas and the New Year, but the holidays are stressful, aren’t they?

I see a lot of people suffering during these times. There’s so much pressure from all sides it seems. It’s not always from bad intentions, but the stress appears.

During this time of festivity, why are we sometimes sad?

I think a lot of it has to do with being busy and overwhelmed. Or missing someone we’ve lost.

It also has to do with high expectations that our reality can never live up to. We want the perfect holiday moment, but it always seems to fall short. Sometimes it’s even a disaster.

Isn’t that the story of our lives?

But the thing is, we actually set our sights too low. That’s right.

We actually should look for more. Look higher.

What do I mean by this?

Many times we desire an earthly perfection that forever escapes us. We see our miseries and the misery of others. And we don’t like it. We don’t like the pain.

Instead, we should remember and know a heavenly perfection awaits us.

Jesus waits for us.

The promise of God is real. Don’t let our fallen reality darken this truth in your life.

If the holidays aren’t filling that emptiness inside, it’s because they can’t. Only the love of God can. That love is rooted in Christ.

Go back again to the basics. The birth in the manger is just the beginning. Symbolically, today, Jesus is a newborn. One. Day. Old.

And he promises you an eternity with him in heaven.

So look there. Aim higher. Rest in him.

Don’t let the worries of this world put out the yearning and fire that burns in your heart.

Your soul cries out to God. He sent his Son as an answer.

You are loved deeply by God.

That is our hope. He is our joy.

Live the promise of heaven. Today. Here. Now.

Your feet firm and solid on earth. Your heart full of the Spirit of Christ.

Your soul, free in God’s loving grace.

Peace be with you!