Tama Fortner - Simply Christmas: A Busy Moms Guide to Reclaiming the Peace of the Holidays: A Devotional

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The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

john 1:4, nlt

The Christmas season is filled with lightson the trees, on our homes, and in the eyes of little ones glittering with excitement. Even the Christmas story itself is filled with light. The heaven-bright angels that lit up the shepherds dark skies, the shining star that the wise men followed, and most radiant of all, the light of Gods own Son born into the world and so gently laid in that Bethlehem manger.

That light still shines.

But do we see it? Or have we allowed it to be dimmed by the endless onslaught of tasks and to-dos?

Maybe the questions youre asking right now are, How do I see that light? How can I get it to shine in my life and chase away the darkness? Because youlike me, like each and every one of us courageous enough, or perhaps desperate enough, to admit itneed that light. How do we find it?

In a world where so few answers are simple, this one is: the Word . It is the good news Jesus came to give. It is the light to guide our path and chase away the darkness.

Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, guide me this day and every dayby the light of Your holy Word. Amen.

Remember

Open up the Light of Christmas and let it shine.

Reclaiming Christmas

Take a moment to ponder what you really want out of this Christmas season. What is most important to you? What feelings and experiences do you want to be sure are included, both for yourself and your family? And what would you rather live without? Be honestno one else has to see this list! Let these answers help guide your yeses and nos as you seek His Light in the coming days of celebration and chaos.

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The angel went to her and said, Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.

Luke 1:28

To the world, Mary was just a poor girl from a poor village. Young, insignificant, and unimportant. So when the angel appeared and declared her to be highly favored, I suspect Mary didnt feel that way at all. In fact, the very next verse tells us that she was startled ( ncv ), confused ( nlt ), and even greatly troubled ( niv ) by the angels greeting.

We dont have to dig too deep to understand why, do we? Because though many things have changed between Marys time and ours, one thing has notour simultaneous longing and reluctance to feel highly favored . With all its subtle and not-so-subtle competitions and comparisons, Christmas sometimes seems to highlight all our self-perceived shortcomings. Its so easy to look around at others and feel insignificant, unimportant.

Dont listen to the doubts. We areyou are, I amhighly favored.

If those words startle, confuse, or trouble, let the angels answer to Marys fears be the answer to our own: Dont be afraidGod has shown you his grace (Luke 1:30, ncv ). The free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness ( ampc ) of Gods grace is ours . Not because of what we do or dont do, but simply because of who we are: His . We dont need an angel to tell us that. God Himself has told us. The message is there in the manger. Weyou and Iare highly favored because the Lord has chosen to be with us.

Lord of lords, teach my heart to believe that I am highly favored by You. Amen.

Remember

Grace is the message of the manger.

Reclaiming Christmas

A childrens librarian once told our group of young moms gathered in her story hourwith toddlers in our laps, around our necks, and on our backsthat slice-and-bake cookies dont count. And I believed her. For years . Why? Because I was trying to live up to everyone elses expectations of who I should be. Because I wanted to be highly favored. I now know the truth: slice-and-bake cookies count . So do break-aparts, no-bakes, and made from scratch, roll out, and frost cookies. Its not about the cookies. Its about time spent together.

*Bonus Tip: Sprinkle those slices of sugar cookie dough with cinnamon and sugar for super-easy, super-yummy snickerdoodles.

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I am the Lords servant.

Luke 1:38

Can I be honest? Servant is not my favorite word. Thats because there are days when I feel it describes a bit too much of my life, particularly around the holidays. And to be brutally honest, there are times when I feel completely served out. Can you relate?

Perhaps thats why I stumble over this one line of Marys reply: I am the Lords servant. Yes, I know shes talking to an angel. But that word, servant , still gives me pause.

Yet Mary offered it without hesitation. As a woman of that time (and a poor woman, at that), she surely knew what it was to serve. If something needed doing, it was likely Marys hands that would be found doing it. Or a mothers, sisters, or cousins.

Then I remember that her answer wasnt really for the angel; it was for the Lord. The One who sent His Son to Marys womb, to the manger in Bethlehem, to the Garden of Gethsemane. And that Son, the Servant of servants, came to seek, save, and serve us.

Could it be that servant is something far less Cinderella and something far more lovely? For in serving those made in His image, we both mirror and serve the King. So when the next chore on that endless list of must-be-dones beckons, remember the words of the One who was born to serve: Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of theseyou did for me (Matthew 25:40).

O Holy Lord, when I am tired and frustrated and feeling served out, remind me of all that Jesus did to serve and to save me. Amen.

Remember

In serving, we both mirror and serve the King.

Reclaiming Christmas