"O Come Let Us Adore Him" - Shane and Shane

Being in the "Christmas spirit/mood"

As the holiday season(s) approach...starting at Thanksgiving...people begin to get "in the spirit" or maybe they don't.  It's not uncommon for some people to say:   "man, it's Thanksgiving already?"  "It's November already?"  "Christmas is only a month away??"  "It just doesn't feel like Christmas time."  "I'm just not in the Christmas spirit."  "I'm not really in the Christmas mood."  And it's not that they don't like Christmas or Thanksgiving; in fact it may be their favorite season(s).  So, why are they feeling this way?  And how does one get in the "mood" or "spirit"?  And while we're at it; some of you may be asking..."what the heck are you talking about?  and what the heck is the "spirit and mood" you're talking about?Well...
Perhaps, they feel unprepared ; maybe they're just so busy, they haven't had time to spend time baking and getting presents, and spend time with family.  Maybe they're so busy, they haven't had time to sit down and reflect on the holiday season, and take time to take it all in, to cherish it.  Maybe they've lost loved ones, and they just can't focus on the holidays, maybe it hurts too much?  Perhaps, the weather isn't cold enough outside; maybe it just (literally) doesn't feel like Thanksgiving/Christmas time?  Maybe you haven't cooked enough holiday foods/treats, spent enough time with family, done enough "holiday activities"?  Maybe you have no idea why you're feeling this way.  Well, let's see...what is this "spirit" I'm talking about anyways?  When Christmas time comes, people tend to be happier, in a better mood.  They get happy about all the Christmas music, they get excited about decorating their houses for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  They get this happy feeling inside of them, they are "ready" for the holidays; they are in said in "holiday spirit"; they have this feeling about them. 
And how, you may be asking, does one get in this mood if they aren't already.  Do they sing lots of Christmas songs and wear awesome Christmas sweaters?  Do they dive into the Bible and read more of the Christmas story?  Do the spend time reflecting and praying?  Do they spend more time with family?  Do they go shopping ahead of time so they don't feel rushed, thus they feel more prepared, thus it puts them in the Christmas mood? 
Well, I have provided a lot of possible answers to these stated question.  But, I don't have an exact answer.  I have just been hearing people say they aren't in the Christmas mood; they just aren't feeling like it should be Christmas time.  And I'm with them.  And getting more in the Christmas mood as I read the Christmas story again and listen to Christmas music.  I love Christmas, but for some reason it just doesn't seem like it's time for Christmas.  I mean, they are decorations in my house; the tree is decorated, and there are presents under the tree.  I'm on Christmas Break from school.  I've been to Christmas parties.  I have been slacking on my Christmas shopping and haven't listened to as much Christmas music as I'd lack.  And the weather isn't all that cold for this time of year.  I have been praying that this Christmas season, we would be more focused on Christ, family, and serving, and much less about all the presents we can gather.  Because it IS about Christ, period.  We get so caught up in everything else.  But, that's another blog post for another time ;). 
So, I can't clearly define for you the Christmas spirit.  I can't definitely tell you why people don't feel in the spirit, or definitely how we remedy this.  I would like to be able to.  I merely just wanted to write out my thoughts.  Perhaps you (whoever you may be, if anyone is reading this), would like to share your thoughts.

Blessings,

A poem.

A poem I wrote some time ago.  It's called Simplicity.

It’s there, it always has been, even at the beginning

We just have to come back to it,

It can be found, it is there,

Really, it’s all around us

We have to be willing to let go and let it consume us,

We would all be better off if we did that.

There is none that is as powerful as He, none that even stand close,

We like to make our names high and boast in our goodness,

But really we’re called to become small and humble,

To lose every bit of power we may have or seem to think we have.

By no stretch of the imagination is it easy,

To become less, so He can become more,

But by every stretch of the imagination, it is possible.

We get so worried about things around us, we lose that factor that has always been there,

That simplicity.

It’s in the beauty around us, but we get so caught up, we get so distracted,

We forget it and lose it.

But it is attainable, it always has been.

It may not be as easy now to get as it was but my all means it is still possible.

Oh let us become silent and wrapped up in the beauty that’s out there.

Let us get away from the distractions and the hindrances that entangle us.

Let us trust in You

Let us allow You to captivate us

So that our focus is completely on You,

There is no room for anything else,

No room for worries, anxieties, stresses,

Just us and You,

There is nothing hard or complicated about that.

For if we could just come back to the beginning where it all started,

And see that all this nonsense isn’t necessary,

It’s not needed, nor is it wanted,

It has bogged our minds and pulled us down for too long,

Surely we do want to fix this.

It’ll be tough, but yes, it will be worth it.

Perhaps we’re so caught up, that we’ve forgotten that it’s there,

And maybe we’re scared and maybe we’re comfortable.

We may not want to work at it.

But oh, if we can bring it back, oh how it’ll be worth it,

Of course, we don’t have what it takes to do it ourselves,

We aren’t supposed to that is why He is here.

Oh let us lean on Him, reach out our small hand and grab on to His.

After all, that is all that has been required of us,

To reach out our hand.

Grace

http://carm.org/dictionary-grace

The One You Need- Shane and Shane

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=eSIyIYfIkAE

Grace is Sufficient-Shane and Shane

What are you gonna do
When the doctor comes
Into the waiting room
Puts his hand on you
And says I'm sorry?

What are you gonna say to God
When all you do is pray to God
To take the thorn away?
And all you hear Him say is:

My grace, My grace
My grace is sufficient
My grace is sufficient[x2]

What are you gonna do
When your neighbor walks
Into your living room
And you to tell him
Who could deliver them
Like He delivered you?
Courtesy of lyricshall.com

What are you gonna say to God
When all you do is pray to God
For them to know His name
And all you hear Him say is:

My grace, My grace
My grace is sufficient
My grace is sufficient
[x2]

My grace, My grace
My grace is sufficient
My grace is sufficient[x4]

It's all you need

What are you gonna say to God
When everything you prayed to God
Came your way but you forgot to thank Him?
And all you hear Him say is
My grace

Truth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlJFvxad1_A&feature=share

Quotes of the day

--"Right now Jesus comes beside me and He says, I dare you to trust. I dare you to trust that I love you, just as you are and not as you should be, because you're never going to be as you should be."--

“No; do not hide in the earth the talent God hath given you.” P. Bohler

song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAQ50hrFevg