In the quiet times

It is quiet here as I sit here alone. I enjoy the silence sometimes.  It gives me the opportunity to reflect on my life.  I find that I use that quiet time to talk to the Lord, and to let Him talk to me.                         This time of year, we all have our Christmas trees up, and our decorations outside.  The lights are turned on and the essence of the magic that is Christmas is everywhere.  As I sit here,  I stare at my Christmas tree.. enjoying the beautiful white lights.  I look at the ornaments and some of them tell me stories of Christmas' past.  I love the memories they invoke in me.  I enjoy this time of year.   I love the way the streets of downtown are decorated and the way  the store fronts invite you in to come and buy.  Christmas is the time of year when we make sure we take the time to spend it with those we love.  And yes, sometimes even those we would rather not be with. :)  We smile and we sing songs that speak of the birth of our Savior.  We sing of snow falling and candy apples and reindeer.  Christmas.....more than any other time of the year, is a time for making memories.  Why?  What is it about this time of year that we hold so dear?  I thought about that for a long time during my time of reflecting.  If you, like me,  are a born again Christian, than Christmas means the birth of a Savior.  It means the time when Jesus came as a little baby, born of the Virgin Mary.   He came to give us life.    Today I went to a live theatrical production at the Gilbert Theater with a close friend of mine.  It was the first time I had ever been  there,  yet it has been in existence here in our town for over 15 years.  The show was a Charles Dicken's: A Christmas Carol.  I have seen the TV show a million times (ok, maybe not that many!,)  but never before have I seen it done as a live production.  It was wonderful!  The man portraying the character of Ebenezer Scrooge done a fantastic job!  He portrayed the character so well, that I felt like I was right there in the story with him!  His whole body language "felt" the part he played, and as I watched, I felt everything he portrayed in that character.  As I sat there,  I thought about my own life.  What do I portray to those who watch me play out my life day by day?  Do they "feel" the things that I feel?  Do they understand the reasons" why" I feel the things I do? The biggest question I had to ask myself was,  do I show them Jesus?  That was the real issue that burned in me as I watched the character of Ebenezer  battle with the way he lived his life.   At this time of the year, we usually reflect back over the days that have past, and hope that we made a difference.  Did I encourage someone?  Did I help make someone's day a bit easier?   Did I love just a little bit more?  Ebenezer was taught a good lesson, and he was given the chance to change the course of his existance.  He turned his life around and made a difference for others.   That is the opportunity Christ gives to us if we will but heed His calling.   My prayer is that I would do just that and that my life would make a difference.  That my light would shine so bright that men will see "His" good works complete in me.   I never want to live the life of a scrouge.  I want, this Christmas season and every day there after, to live life showing the world that Jesus is the reason for living!

This is my prayer this Christmas season!

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. —Philippians 2:1-4