WHERE WILL YOU BE SPENDING CHRISTMAS?

No matter what you’ve been through, Jesus is still alive. He is seated at the right hand of The Father and interceding for you and I that our faith will not fail. Have faith to believe that He is coming back again! His mercies are new every morning…and His love never fails. He is doing great things in the earth—and we can expect revival and refreshing. 

I was recently listening to someone share how Christmas was ruined for them because their father walked out at Christmas several years ago, and the painful memories left him shattered…even to the point of not caring about Christmas this year. He didn’t care about a Christmas tree or decorations… when it used to be his favorite time of year. 

People who work in the medical field will be spending Christmas in hospitals, in emergency rooms, and in urgent care facilities. Firemen will be on duty, police officers, highway patrol, and the list goes onward. Moms will be in the kitchen preparing, some will be in hospitals, some will be traveling abroad. Some people find themselves as a widow, fatherless, or alone in nursing facilities with adult children not coming to visit. No matter where you will be this Christmas—Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore…and you can choose joy. 

Jesus is the reason to celebrate life, love, family, friends, and seasons. I remember a movie I watched last year where the news of a family’s son being killed in war was delivered on Christmas eve. The family had a daughter who was very much alive. The parents were so focused on the past that they refused to celebrate Christmas with their daughter until one day she broke down in tears and told them they celebrated Christmas while her brother was alive—but everything stopped when he died—like she didn’t exist to them.

Pure joy is not our natural response when we face trials and the weakness they reveal. Struggles come to all—from the announcement of overwhelming news, betrayal, cancer, death, divorce, emotional abuse, financial stress, loss of a job, or an unexpected tragedy. Family disasters to family upheaval, but bad news can be faced with the Blessed Hope—His name is Jesus.

I don’t know what you’ve been through, the tears you’ve shed, or the pain you are walking through currently. What I do know is that everybody is walking through something. When you decorate your home and tree, if you drop an ornament and it shatters on the floor—it’s okay. It’s only temporary. 

We live in a fallen world—but even while hurting and grieving—we have a reason to be joyful. 

The Bible says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). 

Whatever we give to Jesus—He can make whole again. He is the expert in taking lives that are shattered and making them whole again. Pain—aligns us in need of God. (excerpt from God’s Priceless Treasure…published 2011). 

Take time to enjoy family and friends this season and celebrate life. Jesus is coming back again…and until He does, we are called to worship Him—being fully alive and sharing the love of Christ to all. Choose joy this Christmas season. You are blessed by God!

His love and mine,

Deborah 

Books by Deborah Starczewski:

 GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed and Know Your Purpose)….how to move from drama to destiny, from a mess to a message, from trials to triumph…and how to cross over into the promises of God through standing on His Word. 

A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)…the full account of God raising my husband from early death, healing him through two open heart surgeries…and the Holy Spirit’s guidance—will keep you turning the pages—and give you faith to believe for anything.

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)

ALL AVAILABLE ON AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE, ETC. 

SHIFT HAPPENS….(stories of trial and triumph)… click on Dr. Deborah Starczewski (Available on Amazon)