Sabbath Christmas (A Ruby Christmas extra)
Today, in the Embattled Studio we feature yet another author of A Ruby Christmas. To what beautiful country did Phee take Ruby? Check out her chapter (#9) here: WIP
Sabbath Christmas
This Christmas I want the Advent season to be a Sabbath rest.
Resting on the Sabbath is putting God first. It’s setting aside one day in seven to focus on Him. I don’t just want to slow down this month; I want to set aside huge chunks of time to focus on Him. I want to rest from an entire year of ordinary life. I want to be refreshed this season.
But I love all the Christmas traditions. I love decorating the Christmas tree and baking cookies and wrapping presents. I love singing Christmas carols and hosting parties and reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas. But even though these things are special for Christmas, they’re part of the ordinary life from which I need to rest.
I need to find a way to enjoy the Christmas season and set aside chunks of time to rest in Him.
I need to celebrate Advent.
So this is what I’m going to do:
I’m going to choose an evening to turn off all the lights except the Christmas tree and listen to Handel’s Messiah – the whole thing, not just the Hallelujah Chorus.
I’m going to set aside one morning to read and meditate on the entire Christmas story, including the prophecies in Isaiah.
When I plan my prep for each of the three parties I’m hosting, I’m going to schedule an hour to pray for each of the guests.
On Christmas morning, before I get out of bed, I’m going to thank God for His amazing gift of salvation. And when I think of my son during the day (he won’t be joining us this year), I will stop and thank God for His Son.
This Advent I don’t want to just anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ birth; I want to spend some quality time with Him.
Phee Paradise celebrates Christmas in South Carolina with her husband, children, grandchildren, cat and bird. The rest of the year she writes, teaches public speaking and volunteers at church. She loves God’s Word and you can read her meditations on it at http://delightedmeditations.blogspot.com/.
