DAY TEN - Invitation to Live Chosen

Scripture~ John 4: 23-26 “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “ is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

My Lesson~ In the above passage, the Samaritan woman was anticipating the coming of the Messiah, not realizing it was He whom she was speaking to. 

Ah, anticipation. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines this as, “the act of looking forward especially : pleasurable expectation”. Christmas should be a season of great anticipation as we prepare our hearts and minds for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. Our little Bella knows something about anticipation. Each morning, I stuff a little chew toy with a bit of her favorite… peanut butter. I ask her to, “sit” and “stay”. She waits there in the kitchen as I walk away -- usually across the house to the bedroom where her crate is. It’s hard for her to keep her little bottom on the floor, but she does because she knows what is to come. When she hears, “Okay, Bella, find your diamond.” She jumps up and runs through the house in search of her treat. 

Some days, the Christmas season seems kinda… well, old. In fact, in all honesty, anticipation is not an adjective I’d use to describe my typical to-do list leading up Christmas morning. The preparation becomes my focus rather than the realization that there could never be a greater gift than Jesus, whom we celebrate on the 25th. 

I want to be more like Bella… living a life embracing each moment for the space in time that it is -- looking for the good that God has for me ahead. He has given me this season to prepare, to "sit and stay" focused on Him and his birth. The challenge is; how will I choose to live it today? 

Prayer~ Lord, today, help me live in a sense of anticipation as I look forward to celebrating Your birth and ultimately, Your coming again. Return to me the wonder of the Christmas miracle. Help my heart grow in eager expectation as I wait for You to meet me in this space.  

Invitation~ Let’s keep the main thing, the MAIN THING this Christmas. Remember what is behind each preparation and allow our hearts to be drawn back to that manger who held the Savior of the world. Prepare to celebrate Him. Let go of the things that distract rather than accomplish this purpose.