"Christmas Is"

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While sitting in Dunkin Donuts with my Sunday school class one morning, I heard this song and thought it was just too cute. After looking up the lyrics, I was excited to see that it was by an artist I listen to on KLove quite often!  It has so many relevant verses to life around Christmas time both spiritually and how things go crazy here on earth sometimes! 

 

Here's how it has has been true for me. 

 

Christmas is music and family in town

Christmas is Snoopy and Charlie Brown

 

 

 

 

It's anticipating that snow's gonna fall

(gotta stay warm inside school)
And praying for someplace to park at the mall

(Shopping in Charlotte)

It's mom going crazy cause the turkey got burned

(or the house is full of crazy girls and hot chocolate got spilled on the carpet)It's saying thanks for some gift you'll return

(luckily I didn't have to return any gifts this year; they all fit!  But admit it; we all regift things but just appreciate the thoughts.)
Christmas is caroling kids at your door

(and at church and little neighborhoods)
It's paper and ribbon all over the floor

Christmas is coming, Christmas is near
I've been counting down the days all year
Christmas is almost here

Christmas is rooftops covered in lights

It's away in a manger, it's a wonderful life

Christmas is caring for those who got nothing

It's dropping your change in the bell ringer's bucket

Christmas is coming, Christmas is near
I've been counting down the days all year
Christmas is almost here

Christmas is all of these fun things for sure
But, Christmas is really, oh so much more
It's good news of hope for the whole world because
Christmas is Jesus!

Christmas is coming, Christmas is near
I've been counting down the days
I've been counting down the days
I've been counting down the days all year
Christmas is almost here!

More Verses Coming Together

Yesterday, I was getting a little worried that I wouldn't find a great verse for me this week that I wanted to share at Bible Study with the team.  But have no fear!  Jesus always answers my prayers in one way or another.  So I had prayed for Him to lead me to some great scriptures.  Looking through the verses I had found in my reading the past couple days, I read one of them again and had the Yes! excited thought go through my head. 

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."  Proverbs 16:9

This goes right along with the song Strangely Dim by Francesca Battestelli.  This is the part of the song that I thought applies to my life, especially now as things are so busy: 

"I've had all these plans piled up sky high, a thousand dreams on hold, and I don't know why...

...But when I fix my eyes on all that You are, then every doubt I feel deep in my heart grows strangely dim

All my worries fade and fall to the ground

cuz when I seek Your face and don't look around, any place I'm in grows strangely dim"

I love to make plans of things I want to do, but no matter how hard I try, God's plans overrule mine.

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."  Psalm 139:16

Just knowing this gives me peace because I know as long as I do my best, God will "make all things work together for the good."  Romans 8:28.  Whenever I start to get nervous or stressed out, I just try to remember that I really have very little contril.  When I feel overwhelmed with obligations and work to do, and I don't get everything done that I feel I need to, and I don't get to do things that I want, there is no reason to be worried or disappointed, because there is a reason that it didn't work out.  Something I know I always have to focus on improving is following Hebrews 13:5 "Be content with what you have, becuase God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"

When I fail, but look to Christ, He is exalted.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness...For when I (my human self) am weak, then I am strong."  2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

With God in my heart, I have all I need.  I don't need victory, good grades, people's attention, pretty clothes, money, or other silly things I worry about accomplishing.  By setting my sights completely on serving God, I am filled with joy that I can never bring myself.

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."  Proverbs 37:4