Author: Renee Harnish

MY OFFERING

How did I have miss including Jesus’s name on my gift list for so many years?

Our family likes to use an app to create our own personalized wish list so we can shop for each other. Giving someone what they really want guarantees to bring a smile, right? One year before shopping, I looked down my gift giving list: our parents, the kids, grandparents, and friends. I realized Jesus’ name was not on the list.

HOW DID I MISS JESUS’ NAME ON THE GIFT LIST?

For the past 35 Christmas’s our family has gathered around a decorated birthday cake for Jesus. We sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.  How did I have miss including Jesus’s name on my gift list for so many years? Since Christmas is Jesus’ world-wide birthday party, giving Him a gift should be a no-brainer for me.   Since I cannot simply send Jesus an invite to join our family wish-list on the app, I began asking Him what He would like from me for His birthday. 

WHAT IS ON CHRIST’S WISH LIST?

I pray, “Lord, what is on your wish-list?  What meaningful gift can I possibly give You, the Creator of everything known to man? Oh, yeah, You have been asking me to give You my eating habits, and my daily quiet time with You could use some specific improvements. There is that attitude or habit I have that is not exactly Christ-like. Words that come out of my mouth could use Your touch.  I say I trust you, but then I allow myself to worry. And what about my tithing?”  There are many things to choose from on His wish list.

Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way (Psalm 139:23-24).

The wish-list Jesus has for each of us is different. What has He been working to (or wishing to) transform in your life? After giving it some thought and prayer, consider getting out a piece of paper and envelope and writing a letter to Jesus telling him what your gift(s) to Him this year are.  Put it under the tree for Him and only Him. This action guarantees to make Him smile. Happy birthday Jesus!

Holy Spirit, guide us each as we look for parts of ourselves we can give (surrender) to You this Christmas. We do not need to be afraid to ask, Your conviction is gentle, full of grace, mercy and love. Transform and purify us You shape us to look more and more like Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Over the skies of Bethlehem appeared a star while angels sang to lowly shepherds.
Three wise men seeking truth, they traveled from afar, hoping to find the child from heaven.
And falling on their knees they bow before the humble Prince of Peace. We bring an offering of worship to our King. No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing.
Jesus, may you receive the honor that you’re due.
O Lord, I bring an offering to you, the sun cannot compare to the glory of your love.
There is no shadow in your presence, no mortal man would dare to stand before your throne.
Before the Holy One of heaven.
It’s only by Your blood, it’s only through Your mercy Lord, I come I bring an offering of worship to my King, no one on earth deserves the praises that I sing.
Jesus, may you receive the honor that you’re due.

MY SURRENDER

I realized that I am not responsible to make everyone’s Christmas wonderful; that is what Jesus already did. 

When our kids were little, “Give it back!” frequently echoed in our home.  A favorite toy or stuffed animal had usually been snatched up by a sibling, causing turmoil.  Last Christmas, I realized sometimes I need to “give it back!” too, but with something much more important than toys.

CHRISTMAS CAN FEEL SO STRESSFUL!

Christmas can feel SO stressful!  To-do lists are full of shopping, menu planning, wrapping, decorating, baking, cards, visiting…it is overwhelming.  Why?  What is the purpose of this worldwide holiday?  Am I trying to please man or God? What am I making room for?

MY REALIZATION

In pondering this, I realized that I am not responsible to make everyone’s Christmas wonderful; that is what Jesus already did.  I am here to walk alongside people and be with whom I care about. We recognize and celebrate who Jesus is – Emmanuel, God with us. Trying to make Christmas great for everyone around me with my feeble human abilities is laughable, prideful. I need to humble myself, yield to God, and celebrate Christmas differently than the world does. I must give Christmas back to Jesus and make room for Him. 

HOW DOES GOD WANT ME TO PREPARE?

Lord, how do You want me to spend the time, money and energy You entrust me with?  How do You want me to prepare to celebrate Your birth and tell the world Who You are? You tell me: “And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you] “ (Romans 12:2). How do I live Your way?

Prayer: Father, I lay down my self-sufficient, “personally-responsible-for everyone’s-Christmas” way of doing things. Please show me what is important and what to let go of. Help me enjoy, soak up Your presence, and abide in You as I prepare to celebrate Your first coming to be with us.  Help our family to see You more and love You more above ALL else as we prepare for Christmas.  I’m giving Christmas back to You. Transform the way I prepare and celebrate. Help me to make room for you. Amen.

Here is where I lay it down, every burden every crown. This is my surrender! This is my surrender! Here is where I lay it down, every lie and every doubt. This is my surrender! And I’ll make room for you, to do whatever you want to, do whatever you want to. Shake up the ground of all my tradition. Breakdown the walls of all my religion. Your way is better! Your way is better! Here is where I lay it down, You are all I’m chasing now. This is my surrender!

THE LEAF THAT DREW ME TO CHRIST

I discover a leaf lying on the bottom of the bag.  I grab it impatiently, but on my short journey to the trash can I notice its beauty.

It is a hectic season. Responsibilities with work, family and church overflow my days. Unloading my work tote, I discover a leaf lying on the bottom of the bag.  I grab it impatiently, but on my short journey to the trash can I notice its beauty. Something makes me stop to look more closely at the leaf. It is deep burnt orange and bright crimson swirled together, so incredibly rich, like a sunset in my hand.  The crisp, jagged outline and stem, so perfectly crafted by The Creator. 

THE INVITATION TO CONNECT WITH HIM

I realize God placed the leaf in my bag to draw my attention to Him in the middle of my hectic life.  The Creator and Sustainer of the universe intentionally reaches out to me with an invitation to connect with Him. So, I pause and decide to accept His invitation. I am seen, loved, cared for by my Beloved. He asks me to linger. It is wonderful to be fully in His presence. In those moments, the words from Psalm 46:10 sink deeply into my soul: “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God” comes alive in me. I carefully place the leaf aside, as a remembrance of this time of heart-to-heart connection with God. 

THE LEAF LOST ITS BEAUTY

Days later, I picked the leaf up again, but the leaf in no way resembles its previous beauty. It is an ugly blotched brown, dry, shriveled and crumbling. How disappointing!

CONNECTED TO THE VINE

Oh Lord Jesus, is this what you mean when you tell us to stay connected to You, The Vine?  When I take time to connect with You, my spirit is alive, vibrant, and beautiful.  But when I discard time with You and focus only on the cares of this world, my spirit quickly becomes dry, brown, and crumbled. I do not resemble the creation You intended me to be and cannot do the things You created me to do.

I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing (John 15:5).

DRAW US TO YOU EVERY MOMENT

Jesus, in this season when we prepare to celebrate Your coming to earth, draw us to You every moment. Help us keep our eyes and heart fixed on You, not on the temporal distractions swirling around us or the trappings of the season. Help us remember that we are the branches, and You are the Vine. Apart from You we can do nothing.

All is calm and all is bright; everywhere but in your heart tonight. They’re singing carols of joy and peace, but you feel too far gone and too far out of reach.

Somewhere in your silent night, heaven hears the song your broken heart has cried. Hope is here, just lift your head, for love has come to find you somewhere in your silent night.

From heaven’s height to manger low; There is no distance the Prince of Peace won’t go. From manger low to Calvary’s hill; when your pain runs deep, His love runs deeper still. He has always loved you, child and He always will.

Somewhere in your silent night, heaven hears the song your broken heart has cried. Hope is here, just lift your head for love has come to find you, somewhere in your silent night.

Lift your head! Lift your heart! Emmanuel will meet you where you are. He knows your hurt,
He knows your name and you’re the very reason that He came.

Love will find you! Ooh, love will find you! Love will find you.