Trees are trimmed, stockings are hung, and decorations have been strategically placed throughout homes and in the marketplace. It’s the busiest time of the year: more activity, more pressures, more expenses, more red lights, more travel,….and the Church announces Peace on Earth. Next, the days get shorter—and nights longer and dark….and the Church proclaims it the Season of Light.

Really…another year has almost come and gone. It’s that time of year again….the Christmas season. What a whirlwind adventure—living with balance as a believer in Jesus Christ. He is the same God of miracles, signs, and wonders—and He is coming back again!

The Bible says, “Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). Come is the root meaning of the word Advent. We celebrate an event that happened 2,000 years plus ago…and the Church calls our attention to the future—His return. 

While we are in the final four weeks of preparation for Christmas day, some might say it is a strange and contradictory season. It’s a time of sadness for many who have lost loved ones or those who are overcoming illness, or at the end of this life as we know it. It’s a time of excitement for little ones, and older ones too. It’s a time of eager expectation with “tidings of joy” (Luke 2:10). 

Joy is often presented as “true” contentment based on faith—not on our circumstances. 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV).

The word “paradox” means “a statement that is seemingly contradictory, yet true.” 

Is it really movement and stillness that brings us closer to God? Effort or repose? What is truth? 

Truth is the whole counsel of God—and could be said to be the tension between paradoxes. Truth is found in the beautifully decorated dining room table that is perfect for all to see—and the same table that is not so pretty after all the guests have finished dining, then had dessert and coffee. It is the same table where family and friends will gather together and either celebrate life, love, and loss—or argue, attack, and accuse. Truth is found when we turn to Jesus. It is truth that Jesus was fully man and fully God. He came as a baby, born of a virgin—and He is coming back again as Lord of lords and King of kings. 

May we reflect on the reason for not just the Christmas season—but for life. His name is Jesus. May we see the meaning of Christmas in the tensions of this holiday season—in the hustle and bustle, with all the noise—to the silent night. From the red and green lights on the trees to the “red lights” that force you to stop in traffic. From the noisy dining room tables to the kitchen and dirty dishes. From the excited kids unwrapping presents to the Holy Presence of God that we get to experience all year long because of relationship and redemption. 

Instead of trying to pick and choose what appeals to you, don’t miss what God is doing all around you—in every situation and in every heart. This Christmas season, learn to listen and speak from your heart. There is always something you don’t know in every situation. 

May the LORD come into every part of your Christmas preparation and move you into divine purpose. 

You are blessed by God…….Deborah Starczewski

BOOKS BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI:

GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed and Know Your Purpose)…move from drama to destiny–in your personal life, marriage, and family.

A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)…. the full account of divine intervention that will keep you turning the pages. Learn how to be led by the Holy Spirit of God.

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?) … a must read

SHIFT HAPPENS (Co-author)

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

Never underestimate the small things you do for others—or the compassion and help you extend to someone in need. As I was studying to teach a class, I was reviewing history and came across an amazing story of God’s intervention—that is still a good reminder today. It also reveals the heart of a good leader. 

It was a cold and bitter Virginia evening as an elderly man waited on a path by a river—hoping and longing for someone on a horse to carry him across. His body had grown numb and his beard was glazed with frost before he heard the thunder of horses’ hooves in the distance. 

The story went that the elderly man watched as the first few riders passed, without even making an effort to get anyone’s attention…….till the last rider remained in sight. As this final man drew near, the elderly man caught his eye and asked, “Sir, would you mind giving me a ride to the other side?” 

The rider not only helped the man onto his horse, but decided to take him all the way home which was several miles out of the way. He noticed he was extremely cold and needed help. The horseman asked the elderly man why he didn’t ask any of the other riders to help him. He told the horseman that he had lived for a long time and knew people pretty well—and that as he looked into their eyes and saw they had no concern for his condition, he knew it was useless to ask for help. The elderly man told the horseman that when he looked into his eyes, he saw compassion and kindness.

It was noted at the door of the elderly man’s house….the rider on that horse made a decision—that he would never get too busy in his own affairs that he would fail to respond to the needs of others. With that decision, Thomas Jefferson returned and directed his horse back to the White House.

May we never get too busy with our own affairs that we fail to respond to the needs of others. 

I have heard this saying for many years—don’t know who said it first—but it is still a great reminder for all:

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care….

“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).

I thank God that Jesus is coming back again—for His Bride—not just taking us to the other side, but bringing us home to spend eternity with Him. May the Lord bless you this Christmas season. Extend love, sow grace and mercy, and cultivate a heart of compassion like Jesus. 

Pray Psalm 51:7: “Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” 

God bless you.

Deborah Starczewski

BOOKS BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI:

A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)…. a modern day resurrection story—that will keep you turning the pages, and increase your faith to believe God for anything.

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

GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed, And Know Your Purpose)….learn how to move from drama to destiny. 

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

While the table is set and the guests are arriving, there may be one empty seat at the dining room table this year. For some of you, there may be two or more. There will be times when the pain of losing someone you love will be nearly more than you can bear, but God will be with you and He will sustain you. He may not take the pain away and the sadness that comes, but He sees every tear that falls and He will give you strength to bear it. 

The Lord is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34 KJV), and that gives us great assurance that what He has done to encourage and comfort other people who have lost loved ones, He will also do for you. Having witnessed God’s amazing grace firsthand, I can assure you that God will be with you. He is the “Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). 

He walked with us through the loss of our daddy in 2010…I still remember the beautiful way the Lord opened my eyes to see the angels come into the room; from the snow falling outside—and all the memories that flooded my mind as we all gathered around him for his last hours and final breath here on earth. While it has been a few years, I still remember his hand touching my head and hearing the sound of his voice and his heartbeat those last 17 days as we surrounded him in the Cancer Center. Sometimes, when a movie is on that brings back memories, my eyes fill with tears. But I KNOW I will see him again in heaven for all eternity. 

Grief is very real—and can leave you with a hollow feeling in the pit of your stomach. Even when you know your loved one is a believer in Christ and gone home to be with the Lord, the pain of death and loss is still heartbreaking. The time it takes for healing is different for each person. Don’t allow anyone to make you feel guilty because you are still grieving. Give yourself permission to work through your loss. 

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). Jesus wept with Mary following the death of her brother Lazarus. Just as surely as Jesus wept with her, God weeps with us in times of loss and sorrow. 

The apostle Paul tells us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). 

Grief is not an enemy—it is a healing gift from God—that when embraced, you can walk through the process to healing. As you share your sorrow with God, you will experience His comfort. You can move forward in healing as you face your hurts, pain, doubts, and fear in God’s Holy presence. 

Understand that Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. It is God’s presence that will see you through. Grief is part of the process—the redemptive work of God—that brings healing to every broken heart that turns to Him. 

My prayer is that instead of reliving the death, you will cherish the memories. 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3). 

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He has conquered death, hell, and the grave; and He is coming back again. 

Thank God for family and friends. 

By Deborah Starczewski

*BOOKS BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. 

 A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days at the Mercy Seat)… an amazing account of God’s divine intervention, with the bittersweet story of how the Lord took my daddy home, how God walked with us through open-heart surgery for our son, and the 25 days at Mercy Hospital with my husband—through life and death situations. 

GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (Learn how to move from drama to destiny).

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

Be blessed today—knowing that GOD loves you with an everlasting love. He bottles your tears for all eternity. Scripture reminds us of this, and in fact, we are told in Psalm 56:8, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.”