Corona Devo 649

I had a Grinch-moment today.

Not like you might (kindly) think...that I had a single moment of being like the Grinch, and slipped into a tiny bit of grumpiness/or I lost focus on what really matters for a minute/or I was momentarily missing the real meaning of Christmas.

Embarrassingly, those Grinchy characteristics would describe too many of my December days lately. It's like I stepped into a big green Grinch costume and zipped it up over my skin and heart just as December got rolling. The holidays approaching should be shouting of Christ's birth and the salvation that He brings to anyone willing to believe on Him.

But instead I've been "shouting" lately (in attitude and body language), and not about Jesus being born. About lists/gifts/things-to-get-done/events to attend/people-to-see/food-to-prepare and planning "merry" things...but the stress of the pace and my mis-focus has made me (and those near to me) anything but "merry", which nullifies all of the other actions.

Then a Christmas light flipped on for me.  I'm not saying the "star of Bethlehem" shone over my house, but as I read the Bible today and my poor attitude (sin) was revealed, it might as well have.

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ~Acts 17:26

My Lord and My God, You made us (each) for right here and right now. We are in the determined times and exact places You have set for us.

You determined this year/this job/this career/this marriage/this family/these children/these parents/this neighborhood/this church/this situation/this opportunity/this struggle/this success...this everything. And You have divine purpose, teaching and blessing in all of it for us.

Forgive us for missing what You have right in front of us. It is good. And it is determined and exact for us...by You. Help us to seek You...to feel our way toward You, and Heavenly Father, thank You that we can find You, even if we have been lost for a while. Amen.

He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ~Acts 17:26

We are right where we need to be. If we realize, accept, and apply this to our life and our attitude today--it changes things, and hopefully it will help us to take off the Grinch-suit and to put on Christ.

For He made us, and He determined the times we would live and the exact places too. This is our time, and this is our place: may we embrace it instead of rushing/stressing/crabbing/lamenting/and Grinching our way through it.

But I also realize (by the enlightenment of God's Word today), that even our Grinchiness is a part of God's plan. Not that He wants us to be Grinch's, but when we "go through things" as we figure-out/become-convicted/get-back-on-track/and come-back to Him (feel our way toward him)...this all becomes a part of us seeking Him, and He is never far from any one of us.

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. (27) God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. (28) For in him we live and move and exist.  ~Acts 17:26-28

When we "lose our way" and become Grinchy during the Christmas season (or any season of our lives), Jesus is the key to our "costume change", which must hinge on our attitude and heart change. Realizing God's plan for us (which is exactly where we are here and today) redefines and clarifies our attitude.

My Grinch-moment came today when these verses (Acts 17:26-28) and their teaching washed over me, and the reminder of what Christmas really is/and God's determined times/places for us made my heart "grow three sizes".

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.

Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

And what happened then...?

Well...in Who-ville they say

That the Grinch's small heart

Grew three sizes that day! (How The Grinch Stole Christmas! ~By Dr. Seuss)

May we rejoice in the truth that God has determined everything about us, and that His plan and timing are good. May we step out of the Grinch-suits and into living like Christ. May we relax our unrealistic standards enough to enjoy the simple and profound advent of His coming birth. Today, may we seek him and perhaps feel our way toward him and find him. Amen.

Blessings, 

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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