WHAT IS THE HEART OF THE MATTER?
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 3:2-3)
Our Family would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas from our Home to yours! Whatever is your life’s journey remember God love’s you so much that He sent His Son as a baby, Jesus (Emanuel With US), who lived, died, and rose from the dead, so that we might have life and life more abundant, eternal life.
May He encourage your heart and help you remember what is important even when things might not be as you expected or would like. And be thankful for the things that you do have. Stop and reflect how God has blessed you then pray about ways to bless others. You are blessed to be a blessing.
As I think of Christmas my heart often is drawn to various people from around the world or people around me who are less fortunate or broken, in need of Christ. People, who may not have a family to spend Christmas with or even heard the name of Jesus. How can I bless?
So what is it like for many overseas Gospel workers to be away from one’s mom, dad, siblings, “back home”, all that is familiar, especially at Christmas and find oneself living in another culture?
Many workers around the world and you may be one, too, wrestle with such conflicting thoughts. I was reminded of this the other day when I read an article in alifeoverseasblog.com “Tis the Season of Incongruity” by Marilyn on December 9, 2018. She helped put into words how one might feel this time of year. She stuggles with it, too, like many of you might.
The beauty of Christmas we often experience over against the hopelessness and brokeness of one’s reality around them gives us time to pause and think of those less unfortunate. Marilyn said “And yet, God’s story has always been a story of conflicting images…..God came into a world of contrasts. A world of the beauty and the broken….. I cannot make sense of this world but He can.” She concludes with
“The words of a Christmas carol”, where she said “I rest in these words”
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.” 1
Jesus, the True and only one God is the Hope of One’s Faith that satisfies the longing of the human heart. He is the key to the joy that makes sense of life’s incongruences.
I was in my early 20’s when I experienced my first Philippines, Christmas where we moved and would spend the next 13 years calling the province of Bohol home. Recently I found an article (update newsletter) I wrote from that time period. To my surprise it got published. As I read it again it was fun to reflect back on those early days in mission service in Asia. How did I handle that first Christmas away from what I knew to be home, before the Philippines became that place too? Maybe you can relate.
The Heart Goes Home
“Christmas time can be one of the hardest times for many missionaries especially when you are 10,000 miles from family. We found that by giving to those around us, we were able to see people brought together. I asked myself. “What am I giving of myself to make this the best Christmas ever for those I love and I am ministering to-like Christ gave of Himself to me?”a
Taking the advice of a friend, we had brought our own Christmas tree (4 ft Tall) with us from the States to our new home in the Philippines. Having it really helped us feel like we had a bit of “home” with us.
Reaching out to other” team-mates “was my next step. I had surprise gifts made for them and then packaged “native-made” gifts to send to our family in the United States.
On Christmas night, we got together with” some of the believers we were serving, “gave them gifts, sang Christmas songs, and presented the Christmas story. In giving to others, we were able to lose some of our home-sickness. We are very thankful for the ministry God has given us to these special people. “2
From the article even in my early 20’s I loved traditions, people, family and opportunities to express and reflect Christ to others. Also I looked for ways to give back to Jesus by giving to others in need.
This year I was given a gift for a free class with Coach Marcia Ramsland (https://organizingpro.com “Simplify Your Holiday Season This Year: Overcome Season Stress with a Plan” .3 Even as a Life Coach myself I still need and love to be coached.
So Marcia stressed the importance of giving time and space for our hearts so it got me thinking about what I might want to cut back on or what I might add to make sure my heart is prepared to serve others during this season. The point is to keep my heart on track with Jesus and the values important to me in the midst of the culture in which we live that doesn’t always lift Jesus up as the reason for the season.
Of course every year is different, so I have been reminded to simplify my Christmas to what I can fit in with whatever schedule given, saying yes to some things and saying no to others.
With all the traveling this year, unlike other years, and with all our children coming this year to celebrate Christmas with us, having Marcia’s class and coaching has helped me stay focused. To keep the main thing the main thing. Her coaching has allowed me to be able to be ready for Christmas both inside and out with much less stress and more time to feel relaxed and be ready for my family coming.
She encouraged us to put Jesus at the top of our Christmas gift list of people to get gifts for. “What can you do for Jesus this year?”. Almost the same question I asked myself in my early 20’s in the Philippines that first Christmas there.
So one thing we did this year was clean the house by getting rid of Christmas ornaments, clothes, etc… we didn’t want anymore but others could use.
We found an organization, “Global Charitable Resource” 4 who provide resources to those who are involved in changing the world. They also provide resources to those in diaspora communities and people around the world who might have greater needs at this time of the year.
Jim also preached a sermon last Sunday on “When Heaven and Earth Meet” on the characters in Luke 1 and 2. This study helped us stop and reflect in a deeper way into the lives of those God tells us about when HE (Jesus) was born into this world many years ago. Today He is still using us to tell His story in the midst of life’s messes.
Can you stop for a moment and reflect on where your heart is this Christmas if you haven’t yet? Seek to feel his presence then ask: what do I need to give up and what gift can I give Jesus this year? It is not yet too late!
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS: Where are you this Christmas? How is this Christmas different for you than before? What traditions enhance your season and enrich your life and faith? What can you do this year to make it more simple and less stressful? What ways can you give a gift to Jesus? Would love to hear some of your journey at the end of the section on “Merry Christmas 2018”
From One Pilgrim to another together on the journey,
“Consider how you may spur one another on towards love and good deeds….. encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
Recommended Citation
1.”A Life Overseas: Tis the Season of Incongruity”; alifeoverseas.com/tis-the-season-of-incongruity/(opens in a new tab)
2″The Fundamentalist Journal, Volume 4, Number 11″ (1985). 1985. 8: The Heart Goes Home, page 47.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fun_85/8
3″Simplify Your Holiday Season This Year: Overcome Season Stress with a Plan”: (https://organizingpro.com:
4Global Charitable Resources: https://www.globalcharitableresources.com/
One extra resource to encourage your heart during this Christmas season. 12-days-of-christmas-an-audio-devotional by Josh Davis, Founder of Proskuneo Ministries.