Four years ago I wrote this blog and never published it. I’ve come back to it several times, but feeling that something was missing I left it in private mode all this time.
Originally written about eight months before I launched for the first time to South America, it was the genuine, heartfelt words of a naive woman. Coming back to it this Christmas, I’ve added a few extra thoughts from a little less naive woman in RED.
12/9/2015
If Jesus’s birth happened in today’s world would you even notice? (Would I?)
How many shepherds continued with what they were doing as the small group heeding the angel’s words passed them by?
How many kings, astronomers, and religious leaders saw the star and didn’t understand it for what it was? Were so caught up in what they were doing they missed what was happening? (Did some even see the star that night (or course of nights)? I drag myself to bed many times without a glance into the sky.)
How many doors shut in their faces as Mary and Joseph sought shelter that night? (How many times have I shut doors to the people around me with my words, my countenance, my busy schedule?)
Only ONE innkeeper offered his help, did he even know the miracle that was taking place in his barn that night? (How often do I do the bare minimum for others to feel like I’m doing “good enough” while maintaining my comfortable routine?)
- If the savior WAS being born tonight, would you notice? (I don’t think I would…)
- Would you need an entire flock of angels to appear to you and tell you exactly what to do? (Sometimes I am so caught up in my own agenda the only thing that would catch my attention and stop me in my tracks is a Holy Host terrifying to behold.)
- Would you need Mary and Joseph pounding on your door pleading with you to open up? Would you continue on with your work, with your distractions, your priorities, your friends and family, your shopping…would you even look up from your life? (Well you see, I do it every day…why would this day be any different?)
Oh Emily, but it is different. It has to be. Can’t you see? If you don’t live each day with the expectancy of God’s miraculous plan of hope and salvation, the day of the Lord will come when our King returns and where will He find you?
Would you be a Wise Man? Would you see the star for what it means and leave everything behind, seeking Christ with all you had? Would you even take a minute to stop what you are doing long enough to look up in the sky, taking time to ask Holy Spirit…what are YOU doing tonight? Stopping all you are doing and asking Him, “what do you want me to take part in?”
Will you do it right now? Take a moment to stop, think about whether or not you would notice if Christ was being born in a home near you. Meditate on this scripture today and what it means for all of us.
“I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere. Today, in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority.”-Luke 2:10-11
Pay attention! The Savior has been born, and with Him comes hope, love, joy and peace. Look up from your life and don’t miss this moment for what it really means.
My dear friends, back to present Emily again. Since transitioning home permanently I have been exhausted by the constant GO our culture has come to know and do so well. The “busy” mentality of work hard, make money, buy all you can, over commit yourself and then be filled with anxiety as you try to manage everything on your plate has taken a toll on my body, mind, and spirit. As I am working hard to fight against the tide of this consumerism design and guarding my rest with the Father, I feel a tension in my life.
How crucial it is for me to stop every day and remind myself, this isn’t my life to live! This isn’t MY calendar to fill! This isn’t my work to be successful in. It all belongs to Him. It is easy to get lost in what Christmas has become, but how often the real treasure that is Christmas gets overlooked.
If there is one thing you can see in the difference in me over the course of four years (the contrast of black and red writing above), I hope you can see how drastically aware I have become of my own desperate need for the Lord. I need Him to be my anchor, my provider and my strength, to remind me to look up at the people around me. To look at HIM!
Otherwise I will miss the miracle of a life lived as if each day the Savior has been born again, offering us salvation and eternal life… because here is the secret, it’s not just the 25th of December, Jesus promises us a life full of His hope and peace every single day.
The nativity production shown at Sea World this year
Merry Christmas to you and yours, with a new year that is filled with God’s miraculous each and every day!
If you would like to be intentional about looking up for the Savior this new year I would encourage you to download the phone app One Minute Pause, an app created by John Eldredge based off of his book Get Your Life Back. It is a great tool to help you stop and invite the Lord into your daily.
Merry Merry Christmas!
W/Love The Munro Family
Merry Christmas Emily! I like your post.
The Anchor holds!
Excellent! Certainly gave me “food for thought.” I see that you have become an inspired writer and hope I am still around to continue to witness your growth as our Lord directs you. So good you got to be with your family to celebrate Jesus’ birth!
Thanks for sharing! Love the “pause” idea each day! There’s a good YouTube video titled “Look Up from Your Phone” and tracks how we are always looking at our phones and miss so much around us…check it out. Blessings on you!
Thank you for sharing your reflective thoughts. I know it’s been a struggle to adapt once again to this hectic culture. I hope in the new year you can savor more time of rest and quiet moments with the Lord. I’m so happy you’re with us this Christmas. Mom
Amen amen amen! Love this, and what a beautiful transformation god has worked in you and continues to work in you. It is a reflection of Himself in you that we see more and more!
Love you, Em!