The Glow

“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness.”  (Bob Hope)

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem they came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home.  Her sister Mary sat on the floor, listening to Jesus as He talked.

 But Martha was the jittery type and was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Sir, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

 But the Lord said to her, “Martha, dear friend, you are so upset over all these details. There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I won’t take it away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42, TLB)

To have a simpler schedule this Christmas

1.     Use “no” or “or” not “and”

2.     Be fully present

3.     Hurry less so that you can love more

4.    Sit at the feet of Jesus

“Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values. “(Thomas S. Monson)[i]

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[i] Inspired by the sermon “Christmas, Pure and Simple: Simpler Schedules” (installment one) Sunday December 2, 2018, Pastor Dave Jansen CenterPoint Gahanna Church Gahanna, OH.