Peace in the Midst of Chaos

This Christmas season has felt different for me. I have had a difficult time feeling the Christmas Spirit. I want to feel it -- I love Christmas time. I have gone through the motions of the season, and done our traditional activities. We have served, and loved, and sang, and been together as a family. But my heart has struggled to really feel it. I have had a few moments here and there where I have felt it, but nothing lasting.

I do not think I am alone in this feeling. I have heard many say they feel the same way.

There is so much going on in the world right now, so much chaos, and so much darkness. I am blown away by the amount of contention and hate that fills the news and social media. I was having a discussion with my mother about "the haters"  and we were wondering why this term is so popular right now? People love to hate, love to judge, love to find fault with others. I am guilty of these things myself, as I have proven recently.

There is so much contention.

I have felt feelings of strong contention this year, and it has been sad for me. I am working through the feelings, and I will try and be better with what I have learned from my experience. I will try and be kinder and more thoughtful with my words and actions -- and less judgmental.

There are also politically charged issues going on in the world that make my heart concerned and disappointed. It seems as though their is an accelerating political/social domino-effect of excepting bad as good, and good as bad. Religion is being seen as evil, while worldly vice is openly praised, accepted, and conquering. It seems so intense right now, with people so divided and so confused. Sometimes I feel so angry about what is going on with our country, and the world -- I feel angry and helpless to stop any of it. I am helpless to stop any of it.

The darkness seems to be winning . . .

But we have always known that would be the case in the last days before the Savior comes again. And He will come again. Before He does come, things will get harder for those who try to follow Him. Those who believe in Jesus and try to be His disciples will be persecuted, and it will be harder to stand up for what you believe in. The world will want to silence you -- the world will want you to feel small and helpless, and defeated in your cause. But we cannot ever give up as long as we still breath. We endure to the end -- no matter what.

I feel in my heart a sense of the Hastening of God's work. I feel as if the hourglass of time has been turned, and the sand is quickly running out. The word "hasten" means: to hurry, rush, race, fly, scurry, scramble, dart, bolt, run, sprint. And I believe that is where we are at now. We are "sprinting" to the end . . . we are sprinting to The Return of Jesus Christ, our Savior and our King.

The baby that was born in a manger will come again, whether we are ready, or not.

I have been made keenly aware of my weaknesses as of late, and I have felt the pain of my mistakes. But I have also -- through my stress, pain, and errors -- been able to draw closer to Jesus. He is the only One who can save a wretched soul like mine. I have felt that in a powerful way lately. No matter what our sins and weaknesses are, He can wash them all away if we go to Him. He can heal anyone willing to believe, and follow Him. He wants us to come to Him. He loves us!

Jesus is our Savior. He is King of Kings. He died for you, and He died for me. And He will come again to the World, and there will be peace. I so long for peace. I so look forward to that day. I do not fear it. I worry about what happens before He comes, but I hope to be around for that Glorious day.

My heart burns with love for Jesus. I hope your heart burns too.

May the Spirit of Jesus fill your heart (and mine) for Christmas. He is the only source of peace and true happiness -- that happiness is not in the toys, or the trinkets, or the tree -- it is in Christ.

Take a moment, even just a small moment, to allow the Spirit of Jesus Christ into your heart.

Jesus is what Christmas is really about. Allow Him in, and you will feel the Spirit of Christmas.

Let everything else go, and Let Him in.

*Watch the video, it is so beautiful. I have played it over and over again. Music pricks my heart like nothing else can.