Surviving Christmas

How does the Holiday season make you feel?

For some folks, it’s their absolute favorite time of year, but for others, it’s a sad reminder of lost loved ones, broken households and perhaps even being alone.

So, how do we survive the good, the bad and the ugly of the Christmas season?

There really is a simple answer.

Focus on Jesus.

How do we do that in all the hustle and bustle?

Listening to Christmas music that focuses directly on Him.

Unfortunately, secular Christmas music has even invaded Christian radio stations.

But, traditional Christmas carols and modern songs that celebrate Jesus’ birth really can help us stay focused on why we celebrate this holiday.

How do we survive this family oriented holiday if we’re missing a loved one or our family is broken through divorce?

Finding something each day to thank God for will shift our thinking from loss toward gain.

The enemy wants us to focus on what we don’t have (a loved one, a marriage, a happy home, etc.).

This negative focus will suck us down into the pit of despair, and we will bah humbug everyone around us as we wallow in our pain.

Instead, we must resolve to thank God for something or someone each day, and our mindset will shift from the negative to the positive.

Doing this will enable us to stay cheerful and joyful even though our circumstances are not ideal.

Remember that Satan is the ultimate Grinch who wants to steal our joy.

So, beloved, no matter what life circumstances we’re facing this Christmas, let’s purpose to celebrate Jesus and give thanks to God for something or someone, and then the enemy won’t be able to steal our joy.

I hope this encourages you, and have a Merry Christmas everyone!

Robyn Henning

A Baby to the Rescue

Do you like action adventure movies?

You know, the ones with storylines involving the hero doing whatever it takes to rescue those facing death.

They can have you on the edge of your seat anticipating the hero to snatch lives from the jaws of death.

Well, Christmas is the ultimate rescue mission.

Satan, of course, is the villain seeking to destroy humanity.

Jesus is the hero.

Did you ever think that a baby could be a hero?

Jesus was!

Jesus humbly entered this hostile world on the ultimate rescue mission.

He spent 30 years under cover as an ordinary Jewish handyman.

The Father activated His Operative, Jesus, and announced the beginning of His mission as He declared when John baptized Jesus, “This is My Beloved Son, in Whom, I am well-pleased.”

So, Jesus spent the next three years preparing His team to carry on after He returned to the Father.

Jesus knew His mission would end with a horrible, painful death followed by His glorious resurrection.

So, Jesus knew there would be a ‘happy ending.’

While His followers were disappointed after His death, Jesus always knew He would succeed in His mission to redeem mankind.

Satan launched many plots in an effort to foil God’s rescue plan.

The Nephilim of Genesis 6, Haman’s attack on the Jews, and Herod’s attempt to kill the baby spoken of by the magi are just three examples of Satan’s efforts to stop God’s redemptive plan.

As you ponder the real meaning of Christmas, think about the reality that this little baby was born the hero of the greatest rescue mission ever launched in the history of mankind.

The really good news is that we know the end of the story.

Jesus accomplished His mission!

He rescued us from sin and death.

Satan has no hold on us.  He is defeated!

And, one day soon, Satan will be locked up forever in the lake of fire never to be heard from again.

All of this is thanks to the birth of a little baby boy; born in a stable, laid in a manger, celebrated by angels and shepherds one starry night in the little town of Bethlehem.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Robyn