A Christmas Note from Our Founder
By Kelly Burnett
In a year of Chaos, one thing remains TRUE - Emmanuel, GOD with us, the JOY of Christmas - is the gift and peace of JESUS. We are wishing all of this for you and your family.
This Christmas I pray you take time to rest in Jesus and find joy and gratitude for all He has done for you this year, in spite of all of the challenges of this unprecedented year. I would love to encourage you to try a new spiritual practice of moving into God’s story as you read the Christmas story. This is a simple way to spend time with God during this season and experience His peace, grace and love for you.
Ask God to give you new insights and imagine what it would have been like to be part of the Christmas story back in those days long ago. Take time this week to slowly read the story of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2, asking God to give you a fresh perspective. Imagine yourself in the story in each of the key character’s shoes. What can you learn about God and yourself as you ponder how you would respond if you had been there in the time God came to earth as a baby boy? Then consider how His life-giving Word is speaking to your heart in this season of your life? This would be great to do individually or as a family. Let God unfold His love for you in this story into your hearts as you share a special time together in the Word.
Ponder each character with questions, remembering there is no right or wrong way to place yourself in the story; you are just taking time to be with God in His Word. You might consider questions like:
Is God trying to birth something new in you like Mary? If so, what is your response..will it be ‘Let it be to me according to your word?’
Or perhaps you find yourself in a season of conflict, sadness or crisis...like Joseph you have a choice in how you respond to what life throws at you...are you willing to move forward, doing what you have to do even though you are scared? With God’s help, are you willing to trust in God’s plan like Joseph did?
Perhaps you feel more like the Innkeeper, and you know Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart...He’s asking you to make more space for Him...will you make room in 2021 for His work in you?
Or maybe you feel more like a lowly Shepherd, feeling passed over time and time again and this year was no exception; you don’t know if God even sees you...will you be willing to pray and look UP for God’s favor? Do you believe it could fall upon you? Pray and ask to hear the choir of angels sing to you as they did in Luke 2:14 “Peace to you. God’s favor rests on you!” As you pray to believe it...pray it forward as well. Who do you know who needs encouragement and hope? Perhaps just like the Shepherds, you are being called to ‘spread the good news of the gospel!’
God’s Word is alive and active...how is He inviting you ‘in’ to His story? Take time to be in His Presence and then consider like the Magi are you being called to follow Him with all you have? What will it take from you to ‘seek’ Him at a deeper level...will you move toward the light?
The wisemen from the East were seeking the Lord. They did not fully understand who they were seeking but it did not stop them from doing so. They traveled a long distance and were willing to make sacrifices.
If we are paying attention, we know in our lives, we too are on a journey. What do we seek? Whom do we seek? What sacrifices are we willing to make in our day? Will we set aside a time in our lives to seek God with all of our hearts?
Merry Christmas ~ may the peace of Christ ring true in your life this coming year!
~Kelly Burnett
Founder & President
Spiritual Director, Enneagram Life Coach, Inner Healing Prayer Partner