Too many of us tend to put a plethora of excess on our plates this time of year- literally and figuratively. When we go to those potluck Christmas parties we take one of everything and then leave feeling like a glutton when our pants are too tight. We say "yes" to the invitations to cookie decorating parties, home shopping get togethers and volunteering in the kids' classrooms. Christmas Day comes and goes and what we are left with is wadded up wrapping paper and a dried out Christmas tree on December 26th.
So, how do we get more out of this season? The answer is simple, yet some of us don't know how to slow down and invite Jesus to be in all that we do. The first thing we need to remember is that when we say "yes' to one thing, we are saying "no" to something else. Make sure to choose your best yes. Next, begin and end your days in the Word. Read a few verses, a short devotional or maybe the story of Jesus' life in one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John). Listen to Christmas or praise music while you are in the car. As you are filled with the Holy Spirit, begin to tell everyone you see, "Merry Christmas", especially those store clerks that are forced to greet you with a "Happy Holidays"! Could you imagine the joy when a Christian is forced to say "Happy Holidays' in order to keep their job and you respond with a "Merry Christmas"? You will feed their soul!
Lastly, pray without ceasing! Walk around praying. Pray for others. Pray for the people in the traffic jam to be touched by Jesus today. Pray with and for your loved ones. Don't let another phone call end in a goodbye; end those conversations in prayer. At ReFresh Church, we want everyone to feel ReFreshed by the Holy Spirit via the love we show them daily. Go ReFresh someone today and have a very Merry Christmas!
