The Countdown

Note: I posted this morning and then unposted as I was having a huge struggle with that nasty thing called the flesh. I'm praying hard for myself and anybody else who's doing a little pre-Christmas freakout!!

I've been trying not to have freak-outs this Christmas season. I have to confess, though, that today I'm really tired from two parties this last weekend at my house. It's been two crazy weeks, and I'm really worn down today.

I'm praying for God's strength not to do the usual when I'm tired--getting snappy and irritable. God's using two things to fuel me today. Yesterday my Sunday school class went to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. Incredible! Thinking about how God has preserved His Word for thousands of years boggles my feeble mind.

The second thing is sort of a corollary. I'm reading the book i am not but I know I AM. In this morning's chapter, Lou Giglio describes his one-word Bible study method. He takes one word at a time in a passage and studies and meditates on it for a whole day. In the chapter, he describes using this method on John 1:14 while he spent time where Jesus walked in the Holy Land.

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

When he meditated on the word "became", he realized that it is a compound word, be-came. As in "Be came". Think back to God's answer to Moses when he asked "Who should I say is sending me?" God anwered "I Am". Am is another form of the verb "be". Get it? Cool, huh?

Jesus is the Word is flesh. God has made sure that His Word is never far from us by sending His son to be the Living Word and by preserving His Word in written form throughout the generations. That's enough to charge me up for the day!

Will you pray with me? I don't know about you, but I really need it today.
Lord, I have been so busy that I'm run down and tired today. I believe that the things that I've been doing are in your will, so I know that You'll provide for everything I need. Today I ask for your Spirit to take over my weak flesh. Help me to rest in your Spirit and the fruitfulness that He brings. Help me to bite my tongue when I feel sharp words coming and to treat my family with love. They're the ones who usually catch it!

Jesus, thank You that You came. The Message says that you moved into my neighborhood. Please move right into the midst of my life today. Thank You for Your faithfulness in the midst of my weakness. Amen.

Have a great day, friends, as we count down the the world's greatest celebration!