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An Unhurried Holiday
•NacNaz Morning Devotional•


So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger." Luke 2:16 (NIV)

"Hurry up! We're going to be late!"
"Come on Kode. Help me unload these groceries right now.” “I've got to get this done today." “Jess your going to make us late.”

With the holiday season here, the music tells us that folks are dreaming of a white Christmas. That may be true. But, what I feel like we should desire is a little more white space on the calendar.
Parties. Shopping trips. Wrapping nights. Practice. Parades. Family in. At every turn there are people to see, things to do, stuff to buy. The hustle and bustle of this season is supposed happy, magical, but it can knock the holly-jolly right out of our holidays and replace it with hurried-up headaches instead. Rushing. Running. What’s a priority? What’s not? (As I’m writing this I am thinking of a meeting this morning).

Then what happens, our calendars become overloaded, our days, crowding out the spiritual significance of the season.

I wonder if the people in the original Christmas story ever dreamed that the celebration of Christ's birth would become so hassled and hurried. Unfocused. The shepherds? The angels? The wise men? Mary and Joseph too?

Was hurriedness a thing the night Jesus was born? We might think that it was not. But actually, there was hurry present that night. However, it wasn't to practice or Walmart that people were rushing. Running.

The shepherds were working in the fields when suddenly angels told them the Christ Child had been born. Luke 2:16 says they hurried off to find Him lying in a manger.

If I had been one of those shepherds, I would have been quiet and amazed once I got there. Being around a newborn baby makes me whisper for some reason, and feel such amazement as I see new life. Its the best. It’s peaceful. Fills me with joy. In the presence of Jesus I wonder if those men too were amazed and silent.

Maybe we could do the same today. In the midst of our holiday hustle and bustle, we could stop; leave our work. We could slow down long enough to hurry in another direction. We could put our activities on hold so we might quietly meet with Jesus. We could be settled and silent in the presence of Jesus. Be still. Maybe with our family. Slow down. Make time this season. 2020 has showed us what is important, and what’s not.

As a result we just might discover an unhurried holiday, a season that will strengthen us spiritually instead of sucking our energy and joy. Showing us what matters, and what does not. What needs our attention and what does not.

Will you join me? Will we pause and purpose to hurry into His presence instead of rushing from task to task? Thing to thing. What if we created more room this season for Jesus? Room for our family? Our kids? Make memories?

I want to be intentional with this thought, I desire this. Desiring Jesus. Desiring alone time with Him. With my family.

Pastor Joe Ward
Love God, Love People, Make Disciples
 
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