Preparing my heart for Christmas

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him - I give Him my heart.

Christmas is upon us. The next 24 days will spin by in a flurry of activity and render us exhausted and 7 pounds heavier. What a bleak, dismal thought. Is that all there is to this holiday season? Yes, if that's what we are out to celebrate...a holiday.

There's more to Christmas. Christmas is a celebration of the first advent - Christ's coming to earth. "And the Word become flesh, and dwelt among us..." John 1:14 (NAS) Christ IS Christmas! Apart from Him, there is no Christmas. He came to us in a form that we would recognize. He had growing pains and skinned knees, just like us. And yet He was so unlike us...He was and is the Living Word of God. Perfect in all things. He breathed life into our very being, and with that breath He placed within us a desire to seek Him, to know Him.

This Christmas, I'm committing to seek Him and know Him more through the dailies of my life. He came as an ordinary man, therefore I will look for opportunities to radiate Christmas in my day to day activities. I'm committing to keep the truth of Christmas ever present in my mind, body and soul. My heart has been filled by Him with wonderful gifts. It's now up to me to prepare my heart. To take what He has given and use it for His glory, to hold out my heart to Him and say, "Apart from what you have given me, I have nothing worth offering to you. So I lift up my heart to you." By offering my heart, I will be able to radiate what He has given me to those around me.

So amidst the flurry of activities, won't you join me in preparing our hearts as an offering to Him? Look at each day as an opportunity to demonstrate Christmas, whether it be to your children, your husband, a co-worker, the cashier at the grocery store, or your neighbor. A heart radiating the true Christmas is always the perfect gift.

Christmas Blessings to You All! *
Chiamaka
Nigerian