Preparation

Preparations for Christmas began weeks ago! Today, it's hard to believe that Christmas is just a few days away? Remember when you were a kid and Christmas took forever to arrive? Remember when we were kids and all we had to do was wait... wait for Christmas to arrive! Now that we are "grown up" it seems as if the waiting and anticipation has been replaced by the busy preparations of buying gifts, making cookies, cleaning our homes... all of which are imporatant when put into the right perspective. Most of the holiday preparations fall on the shoulders of the woman. The pressure to prepare the "perfect" Christmas, stage the best party, serve the best food wrap the prettiest presents... it's easy to miss out on the true beauty and meaning of this season if your heart isn't prepared. Preparing our homes is important, but most important, preparing our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child.

As I have been making my Christmas preparations I have been reflecting on Mary. Thinking about how different her preparations were for that very first Christmas. She didn't have to put lights on a tree... God provided a star! She didn't have to worry about where to host a party, God provided it for her... and the Country Inn was not the place. She didn't have to worry about the invitation list... God invited the shepherds, angels and the Magi. Yes, Mary's preparation was much different. She was preparing for the birth of her first son... God's son, God incarnate. Can you imagine what must have been going through her mind? Ponder that for a moment. A young girl, heavy with child. Preparing for birth. Not in the comforts of a hospital, but a cold stall in Bethlehem. Rigourous travel has made her even more weary.

Yes, the first Christmas preparations were much different than the preparations of today. But we can still prepare for the coming of Christ, both as an infant and also for His triumphant return! The first Christmas hostess delivered the ultimate Christmas gift, giving birth to God's son. Emmanuel...

Joy to the World
The Lord is Come
Let Earth receive Her King!
Let EVERY Heart
PREPARE Him Room....

I love this song and I hope you enjoy the words as you view scenes from the movie "The Nativity Story". If you have yet to see the movie, I urge you to watch it this Christmas season!



Much Love to you all... Preparing my Heart!